Cycling is the right way to see some European cities and the wrong way for others. Here's the honest sort.
Tier 1 — built for cycling
- Amsterdam: The world capital of urban cycling. Rent for 2-3 days, navigate by bike paths.
- Utrecht: More bike-friendly than Amsterdam, slightly less congested.
- Copenhagen: Bike paths everywhere, 50%+ of locals commute by bike.
- Münster, Germany: University-cycling-city.
Tier 2 — strong cycling cities
- Berlin: Wide streets, growing bike-lane network. Treats cyclists as legitimate.
- Stockholm: Increasing investment in bike paths.
- Strasbourg: Densest bike-path network in France.
- Bruges, Brussels: Bike-paths developing.
- Munich: Englischer Garten + Isar bike trails.
Tier 3 — possible but cars-first
- Paris: Bike-share (Vélib') exists; lanes have improved but main roads are still cars-first.
- London: Boris/Lime bikes, bike lanes, but main roads still car-dominated.
- Vienna: Some good paths, others sketchy.
Cities to avoid for cycling
- Rome, Naples, Athens: Cars rule, scooters everywhere.
- Hill cities (Lisbon, Porto, San Francisco-of-Europe): Brutally steep.
- Cobblestone-heavy old towns: Bumpy, hard on bikes.
Strategy
For cycling cities, build a 2-3 night minimum — bike rental is most cost-effective for that range. For non-cycling cities, walk + metro.