For those who love cycling, this European capital is the ultimate destination. It is neither Copenhagen nor Amsterdam.
While bike friendly destinations in Europe might first bring Amsterdam to mind, a city with a strong cycling culture, a recent study revealed that another capital sits at the topof the list of the best cities for cycling.
As reported by Time Out, the Scandinavian company DFDS conducted a study across major European cities, examining various categories such as kilometers of bike lanes per 10,000 people, terrain smoothness, weather conditions, and visitor interest based on monthly searches. A total score was then calculated (with bike lanes as the most important category), producing a ranking of the best cities for cyclists.
Paris, the top European city for cycling
Paris ranked first on the list, with a total score of 80,1. In the French capital there are over 1.000 kilometers of bike lanes that can take you to most parts of the city. In addition, in Paris you will find many beautiful parks where you can cycle on a sunny day. «With world famous sights on every corner, choosing a bicycle as your main mode of transport lets you see the sights quickly and safely», adds DFDS.
Second place goes to Munich, which scored 78,9. The Bavarian capital boasts many bike lanes for exploring the city on two wheels, and you will even find guided bike tours to the top sights of the city. DFDS notes that «the narrow lanes of the cobbled Aldstadt are ideal for cycling».
In third place is Helsinki. According to this study, the Finnish capital is a city «made for cyclists», with nine kilometers of bike lanes per 100,000 people (a higher ratio than Paris or Munich).
The top 10 cities for cycling in Europe
- Paris, France
- Munich, Germany
- Helsinki, Finland
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Strasbourg, France
- Frankfurt, Germany
- Lyon, France
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Ghent, Belgium
- Lille, France
