When you visit a new place, it’s easy to tell pretty quickly what the best way to get around is. Some cities rely heavily on cars and are bogged down by traffic. Other cities have a thriving public transportation system and streets filled with pedestrians and cyclists, while other cities are walkable and easy to get around on foot.
Biking is a wonderful way to see new cities at a slower pace and take notice of interesting things along your route. It’s easy to pull over and hop off your bike to check out a cute café or a public art sculpture when you’re on a bike. But admittedly, some cities are better geared towards cyclists than others. Based on ample bike lanes, cycling routes, and a bike-friendly culture, these are some of the best cities around the world to explore on two wheels.
Copenhagen, Denmark
It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the number of bikes whizzing by in Copenhagen when you visit for the first time. So many workers here commute to their jobs by bike, even ones who live in the suburbs. There are lots of designated bike lanes throughout the city to keep cyclists safe and protected from car traffic, and the Cycle Super Highway connects Copenhagen and Albertslund. On this route, you’ll find well-timed traffic lights and even air pumps in case you need to pump up your tires. The city has made a lot of infrastructure investments in making the bridges over the harbor ideal for cyclists. Copenhagen and Amsterdam often rival each other as the most bike-friendly city on the planet.
Portland, Oregon
The city of Portland has been known as the most bike-friendly city in American for quite a while now. Biking is a big part of the local culture here. When you arrive in Portland, pick up a free bike map to understand the best routes and safety tips. The city has a shared bicycle system that uses preexisting bike corrals to cut down on kiosks. A fun way to enjoy local beers and some pedaling in is to join a BrewCycle tour, which is a large human-powered bike that takes guests from one brewery to the next to sample local favorites.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Like Copenhagen, tourists are sometimes intimidated by the sheer number of bikes on the streets of Amsterdam. This is a place where bicycles actually outnumber the residents, and the streets are flat enough for even the most beginner of riders. When you visit Amsterdam, it’s fun to embrace the city’s bike culture and rent a bike for yourself. Or better yet, join a bike tour with a local guide company to learn about the city’s history and sights to see while you get a little exercise. One popular bike tour route takes visitors out to see a windmill and to a cheese and wooden shoe shop in the countryside.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The city of Rio de Janeiro started adding bike lanes to their roads in the 1990s, and many people bike to get around town still today. There’s a bike-sharing program that has stations to distribute bikes throughout the city, which is affordable for both locals and tourists. Rio de Janeiro added new bike lanes in the downtown area to make getting around even easier. There are three main cycle routes in Rio that connect transit stations and neighborhoods. The beach avenues are great for biking because they offer scenic views of the ocean and access to the beach.
Antwerp, Belgium
Compared to all of the cities in Belgium, Antwerp is the best for cycling. People of all ages and backgrounds embrace biking here. There are bike share stations and lots of places to park bikes on the city streets. The bike-sharing project is called Velo. One thing to look for is the bike parking facility under the central station. Bike tourism is also a growing industry in Antwerp because tourists come here looking for an authentic local experience, and that’s often best had on two wheels.
Montreal, Canada
Montreal is sometimes referred to as the most European city in Canada, and Europe has emerged as a world leader in bike-friendliness. So it should come as no surprise that people in Montreal love their bikes and that there are lots of bike paths here. Montreal was an early adopter of bike-friendliness and has had bike lanes since the 1980s. It’s fun to explore Montreal on a bike because there are lots of food and drink stands along the popular cycling paths. There’s even a bike festival that takes place here each year and welcomes bikers of all types and skill levels.
Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg may be a small city, but it is a place that has really embraced bike culture in a big way. This popular getaway from Paris is charming and picture-perfect. The city has goals of making cycling the preferred way to get around town and is improving infrastructure to make that happen. Biking is often the quickest way to get from Point A to Point B in Strasbourg, and there are over 300 miles of biking paths in the city. The bike-share system here, Vélhop, has short-term and long-term rental options from its docking stations.
Seville, Spain
Seville is quickly becoming one of the best cities to bike in, and there are at least 100 miles of bike paths in Seville. The city has put a lot of effort into expanding its bike-sharing program, and new bike shops keep popping up to meet the increasing demand. Barcelona is another Spanish city that is becoming more bike-friendly by expanding bike paths and the bike share program. Bicycle safety has also become a top priority here.
Berlin, Germany
Car traffic in Berlin can be stressful, but biking around town provides a hassle-free way to explore the area and stop at fun places along the way. There are over 500 miles of bike paths in Berlin, and the streets here are great for beginners because they’re flat and wide. Consider taking a food-themed or sports-themed tour on a bike with a local company to get the most out of your visit to Berlin.
Chicago, Illinois
Some travelers may be surprised to see a huge city like Chicago on a list of the most bike-friendly cities. But Chicago has put a lot of work into improving its bike lanes and paths in recent years. Throughout the city’s diverse neighborhoods, you can find designated bike lanes and protected bike lanes on many of the city’s main streets and side streets. The Lakeshore Path is also a nice place to go for a ride and enjoy views of Lake Michigan, but cyclists do need to beware of the heavy pedestrian traffic here. With the grueling car traffic that hits Chicago during the morning and evening rush hours, biking is often a quicker way to get around! When you visit Chicago, you can rent a Divvy bike, the city’s bike-share system, by the hour to explore the neighborhoods at your own pace.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
In just a short amount of time, Buenos Aires has started making lists of the most bike-friendly cities. It is one of the few Latin American cities that has been consistently making lists for the most well-cycled cities in the world. Many new bike lanes have been added in the past few years, many of them protected, and a bike-share program has been implemented as well. Buenos Aires is a good example of how a very large city can embrace bike culture as a way to make itself more livable to the residents.
Budapest, Hungary
There are well over 100 miles of bike paths in Budapest, which makes it easy to get around this historic and beautiful city on two wheels. There are lots of parks scattered around town, and it’s fun to branch out from the city center and explore these parks as you ride. This is another place that has many opportunities to join a guided bike tour to learn more about the city from an experienced local.
