Europe has emerged as a major destination for travellers seeking spectacular cycling experiences, with eight of the continent’s routes featuring among the world’s 15 most visually appealing cycling trails in a new ranking.
The findings come as interest in cycling holidays continues to grow. Google searches for “cycling holiday” have reportedly increased by 292%, highlighting rising demand for trips that combine outdoor adventure with sightseeing.
The ranking was compiled by adventure travel company Explore, which used eye-tracking technology to measure the visual impact of 52 well-known cycling routes around the world.
Researchers showed images of the routes to 200 participants and recorded how quickly the images attracted their attention and how long they maintained it. Those measurements were then combined to produce an “eye-catching” score out of 100.
Canada’s Bow Valley Parkway, which links the resort communities of Banff and Lake Louise, topped the international ranking with 97 points. Australia’s Great Ocean Road followed in second place with 94 points.
Europe’s strongest performer was Italy’s Tuscany Gravel Routes, which secured third place overall with 91 points.
The Tuscan routes are known for their combination of rolling countryside, vineyards, cypress-lined roads and medieval hill towns. The landscape is also associated with a major professional one-day cycling race held in the region each spring.
Germany’s Elbe Cycle Route ranked fourth with 90 points. Covering approximately 1,220 kilometres along the Elbe River, the route runs from the Czech border towards the North Sea, passing through historic towns, rural landscapes and Hamburg.
The Netherlands also made the European top 10, with Amsterdam Cycle Route 10 taking sixth place on 86 points. The circular route combines Amsterdam’s famous canals and historic districts with parks and quieter areas beyond the city.
Italy featured again with the demanding Stelvio Pass, which ranked eighth with 82 points. The high-altitude Alpine road is regarded as one of cycling’s toughest climbs and is renowned for its dramatic mountain scenery.
France contributed another visually striking entry through the Provence Lavender Route, which placed ninth with 81 points. The route is particularly attractive during summer, when lavender fields across Provence turn vivid shades of purple. Riders can also expect views of villages, rolling farmland and the landscapes of the Luberon and Valensole Plateau.
Scotland’s North Coast 500 was the next European route to appear, ranking 11th with 78 points. The circular journey begins and ends in Inverness and covers more than 800 kilometres, taking riders along some of Scotland’s most dramatic coastal and Highland scenery.
France’s Route des Grandes Alpes also scored 78 points, placing it among the top 15. The route crosses the French Alps between Lake Geneva and the Mediterranean, featuring major mountain passes, valleys and high-altitude landscapes. Its steep and lengthy climbs make it more appropriate for experienced cyclists.
The final European entry was the Lake Ohrid Circuit, which ranked 14th with 76 points. The approximately 90- to 96-kilometre route crosses the border between North Macedonia and Albania, connecting destinations including Ohrid, Struga and Pogradec and passing near the Monastery of Saint Naum.
Explore travel expert Luke Judd said cycling offered travellers an unusual balance between covering substantial distances and experiencing landscapes at a slower pace.
The study, he added, provided a data-driven way of assessing which cycling destinations produce the strongest visual impression.
Top 15 most eye-catching cycling routes
1. Bow Valley Parkway, Canada — 97/100
2. Great Ocean Road, Australia — 94/100
3. Tuscany Gravel Routes, Italy — 91/100
4. Elbe Cycle Route, Germany — 90/100
5. Carretera Austral, Chile — 86/100
6. Amsterdam Cycle Route 10, Netherlands — 86/100
7. Pacific Coast Highway, USA — 82/100
8. Stelvio Pass, Italy — 82/100
9. Provence Lavender Route, France — 81/100
10. Road to Hana, USA — 78/100
11. North Coast 500, Scotland (UK) — 78/100
12. Route des Grandes Alpes, France — 78/100
13. Slickrock Trail, USA — 76/100
14. Lake Ohrid Circuit, North Macedonia/Albania — 76/100
15. Vancouver Seawall, Canada — 75/100
