Bike tours for families
Bicycle tours are a great way for families to explore a country and to really get a feel for its geography and terrain, scents and smells, history and culture, and its people—experiences that aren't often possible from a train or rental car.
Another bonus for parents? Built-in physical activity every day means worn out kids at night!
Dedicated bike paths
Most of the popular family-friendly bike tours in Europe follow dedicated bicycle paths. You're away from traffic nearly the entire time and follow wide, well-marked asphalt trails – safety for the kids, and peace of mind for parents.
It's often easy for some family members to ride ahead—perhaps to get rid of pent-up energy, get away from a sibling, or just scope out the best ice cream or pastry shop in the next village!
Self-guided bike tours
Most families enjoy the independence of a self-guided bicycle tour, which still includes lodging with breakfasts, luggage transfers, detailed route information and maps, rental bikes, orientation with the local tour company, and a service hotline. With self-guided tours, you can ride at your own pace, and make stops at sights (and ice cream shops) that interest you.
Self-guided bicycle tours are also a great value, with most costing less than $1,000 for one week – and even less for children sharing rooms with parents.
Guided bike tours
However, many families appreciate the support of a guided bicycle tour, where the group rides together with a guide, and a support van is always at the ready to ferry tired riders.
Home-base tours
While most bicycle tours travel from town to town and stay overnight in different hotels along the way, some families prefer tours that are based in one town and do day tours. That way, there’s no pressure to get the to the next town – every day is a possible rest day!
If there are family members with different skills or interests, it’s also possible for some to take the day off or do a shorter route, while the others do a longer or faster ride.
Logistics bonus: you skip rounding up and repacking multiple bags each day!
Bike and boat tours
Another similar option: bike and boat tours, where your "floating hotel" travels with you. If you don’t feel like riding, watch the world pass by from the comfort of the deck. Plus, sleeping on a boat adds an extra level of fun and adventure for kids. (Okay, adults too!)
Family favorites
Our most-recommended family-friendly bike tour is Austria's Danube Bicycle Path. The route features castles, medieval towns, vineyards, cathedrals, beautiful scenery and the exciting cities of Passau and Vienna on each end. If you get tired, you can often roll your bike onto a train or riverboat to cut down daily distance. The tour can be tailored to your preferences: number of days, daily distance, and built-in rest days. We can also make sure that your overnight stops reflect any special interests.
The Danube Family Tour is ideal for families. In addition to the benefits of the actual bike path, the tour has shorter daily distances than the usual tour, some built-in transfers by boat and train, and hotels that are especially family-friendly. It's available in 7-night or 9-night itineraries.
France's Loire a la Carte program is unique in that you stay at small bed and breakfasts and really have a chance to interact with your hosts. The operators of the tour program own a small inn in a rural farming village, and you start and end your tour there. (You also have the option of all nights there with daily loop rides). While you're there, it feels more like you're Claude and Jacqueline's personal guests in their centuries-old home than hotel guests. Jacqueline is an amazing cook (though you can dine out, too), and Claude will keep you and your family entertained with story after story. It's as much a cultural experience as a bicycle tour. It’s definitely a bicycle tour that your kids will be talking about (maybe in French) till you’re old and gray!
View tours recommended for families traveling with:
The bicycle tours listed are suggestions only. Some are appropriate for families with younger children, some for those with older children. Please contact us for advice!
