Cycling holidays in Europe

There’s no better way to explore Europe than by bicycle. A cycling holiday offers the opportunity to discover the real, authentic nature of Europe’s countries - whether it’s the vineyards of France, Spain’s historic paradors, Holland’s canals, the remote Baltic spit of Lithuania, or the dramatic coast of Portugal.

Cycling holidays in the spirit of slow travel

Here at The Carter Company, we believe in ‘slow travel’ - which means mainly gentle (alongside a few not-so-gentle) routes that allow our customers the luxury of time to slow down and soak up the details. Unlike most operators, our cycling holidays have just 20 miles or 32 km of cycling each day so they are all about rediscovering the fun of exploring. The majority of our trips are self-guided, which means you can travel at your own pace and stop off en route as you please - whether it’s for a spot of olive oil tasting in Emilia Romanga, a lake dip in Austria or a pint of Guinness in a traditional Irish pub.

We believe the magic is in the detail

We are passionate about sharing authentic European culture through our thoughtfully designed, unusual routes. With over 25 years of experience in creating cycling holidays, what sets us apart from other tour operators is our choice of local partner with their flexible expertise and in-depth knowledge of the areas we cover. We craft the outline of the tour which they carefully research and then we cycle, because we know that the magic of holidays is in the detail. Our itineraries are put together to take in not just the headline attractions but also the hidden gems of the local area that most tourists never see. We are picky about the hotels we use, to ensure our customers enjoy the highest quality and best located accommodation for exploring the area. Alongside the route directions (or in addition to your guide if you prefer to have one), we give each customer a Carter Company Adventure Handbook, which is jam packed with interesting nuggets of information and our insider tips we have accumulated over the years on the best things to see and do in the area.

Please do get in touch and we’d be delighted to help you choose a fantastic cycling holiday in Europe.


Our Europe Cycling holidays


  1. Castles and craft in the Alentejo

    Set among the numerous medieval castles of Portugal's rural Alentejo, this cycling holiday blends picturesque landscapes with the World Heritage…

    From £1,610

    Not so gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / Portugal

  2. Pootle in the Peloponnese

    This relaxing but captivating gentle cycling holiday is a sophisticated spin on the Greek seaside escape. Explore the vibrant culture and breathtaking…

    From £2,990

    Gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / Greece

  3. Provence Hills and Vineyards

    Provence is famed for its beautiful landscape of rolling hills and dramatic mountainous backdrop. Combine your two favourite hobbies of cycling…

    From £2,945

    Gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / France

  4. Mallorca in style

    Mallorca is a wonderfully attractive island offering so much that is unspoilt and historic along with a very attractive coastline and some beaches…

    From £2,820

    Gentle / 8 nights + / Self-guided / Spain

  5. Hidden Gems of Holland

    This stunning cycling tour combines the hidden gems of Holland with stays in characerful and elegant hotels offering award winning restaurants.…

    From £2,180

    Gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / Holland

  6. Dutch Tulips in Spring

    A superb cycling holiday through the tulip fields of Holland, encompassing Botanical Gardens, antiquities, waterways and windmills, and the 'Dune…

    From £1,350

    Gentle / 4 or 5 nights / Self-guided / Holland

  7. A Grand Tour of the Southern Netherlands

    A stunning nine day cycling tour from Amsterdam to Maastricht that takes in the beautiful and varied landscape of the Southern Netherlands, its…

    From £2,865

    Not so gentle / 8 nights + / Self-guided / Holland

  8. A really rather special tour in Italy

    With stays in the finest luxury hotels, traffic free gentle cycle rides to historic villages and towns and long days of relaxation by the pool…

    From £1,845

    Gentle / 8 nights + / Self-guided / Italy

  9. The best of Holland

    For our best of Holland cycling tour, we have combined our most interesting and picturesque bike routes with what we think are the most characterful…

    From £2,395

    Gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / Holland

  10. A jolly around Connemara

    Connemara is often described as the 'western wonderland of Europe', and when you come here you'll see why: it's where rugged mountains soar above…

    From £2,710

    Gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / Ireland

  11. Provence and the wild Camargue

    This gentle bicycle tour weaves its way through the picturesque Van Gogh landscapes of Provence and into the wild heart of the Camargue. Pedal…

    From £2,205

    Gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / France

  12. Austrian lakes and mountains

    What with the fairytale charm of the Baroque city of Salzburg, the unparalleled natural beauty of the Austrian Lakes area and the magnificent…

    From £1,535

    Not so gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / Austria

  13. Mallorca coast to coast

    A wonderfully gentle ride takes you from the turquoise waters of the south to the north coast giving you plenty of opportunity to enjoy the many…

    From £1,255

    Gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / Spain

  14. The Curonian Lagoon

    This is a truly fascinating trip that explores the World Heritage listed Curonian Spit in Lithuania. Blessed with stunning sandy beaches, remarkable…

    From £760

    Gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / The Baltics

  15. Land of the Spanish conquistadors

    This tour covers the land of the Spanish Conquistadors that grew in wealth from the conquest of South America and as a result boasts a string…

    From £1,550

    Not so gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / Spain

  16. Highlights of Holland

    Of all countries, Holland offers the most fabulous gentle cycling for it is wonderfully flat and has an astonishing network of well signed &…

    From £1,465

    Gentle / 6 or 7 nights / Self-guided / Holland


Can't find what you're looking for?

Many of our trips are tailor-made, so tell us what you're looking for and we'd be delighted to design the perfect cycling or walking holiday for you.


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