10 of the world’s top cities to explore on two wheels

Cycling is an ideal way for travelers to experience a city. Not only do you gain easy access to popular sights, but it's also great for your health, wallet, and the environment.

However, not every city is bike-friendly. The last thing you want is a frustrating vacation, navigating through a maze of roads dominated by cars and traffic.

The good news is, some cities have embraced cycling and sustainability, creating a welcoming environment for cyclists.

Here are 10 of the best cities across the globe for tourists (and locals) who love to ride their bikes.

Antwerp, Belgium

A local's perspective is always valuable, and Jurga Rubinovaite, founder of the Full Suitcase family travel blog, calls Antwerp home. She’s also an avid cyclist.

"Cycling is the perfect way to explore a new destination or rediscover a familiar place in a more intimate way," she shared with Dinogo Travel by email. "I make it a point to bike whenever I can."

Antwerp holds the No. 3 spot on the latest Global Bicycle Cities Index and is also highly praised by Rubinovaite.

"The city offers a fantastic blend of historic landmarks, modern architecture, world-class museums, and some of the best shopping and dining in Europe," she said. "Plus, it’s a relatively flat and bike-friendly city surrounded by lush greenery, just a short distance from the charming old town."

Her advice: "If you're pressed for time, I suggest cycling along the river to the Eilandje district, just north of the old town. Notable spots include the MAS Museum, Port House of Antwerp, Red Star Line Museum, and the Park Bridge."

Although Antwerp is great to visit year-round, she recommends traveling between April and October for the best biking conditions.

Click here for bike rental options.

Bern, Switzerland

Exploring the Swiss capital by bike is a fantastic idea. There are bike routes to suit every level of fitness and sightseeing preference.

The City of Bern route takes you through neighborhoods like Kirchenfeld, the museum district. It spans 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) with a 200-meter (656-foot) elevation gain along the way.

The UNESCO Tour route begins in Bern’s Old Town and takes you to the Rose Garden, a favorite selfie spot with stunning views. The route also passes by the Bern Cathedral and the Gurten mountain, eventually leading into the countryside. It covers 60 kilometers (37 miles) with 'easy' riding conditions.

For those seeking an adrenaline rush, the downhill trail at the Gurten offers plenty of thrills. Riders take a funicular to the top and then zoom down the mountain at high speed.

Bern offers bike rentals of all kinds: from e-bikes to mountain bikes, there's something for everyone.

Copenhagen, Denmark

The Danish take their biking seriously, and the numbers prove it. Around 70% of Danes own a bike, and approximately 45% of commutes in the Copenhagen area are made by bike, according to the Danish Centre of Cycling Knowledge.

Copenhagen introduced Denmark’s first bike lane in 1892, and today, the city boasts 385 kilometers (239 miles) of bike lanes. Bicyclists and drivers often share the same road, thanks to Danish design innovations like narrower streets and textured surfaces that encourage slower driving.

Tourists can also hop on a bike for general transport or explore themed routes.

For design enthusiasts, there's a 22-kilometer (16.7-mile) route showcasing the works of innovative architect Bjarke Ingels. The Harbour Circle route spans 13 kilometers (21 miles) with scenic waterside views. Tivoli Gardens is easily accessible by bike, though you'll need to park your bike at a rack before entering the park.

Click here for a list of bike rentals, and then click here for the city's biking rules. A bonus for tourists who aren't in peak physical condition: Copenhagen is mostly flat.

Leipzig, Germany

Several German cities are highly ranked on the Global Bicycle Cities Index, and Leipzig, a long-standing cultural powerhouse, is one of them.

Located about 185 kilometers (115 miles) southwest of Berlin, Leipzig was the long-time home of Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach. It is also known for its rapidly expanding bike infrastructure.

In 1990, Leipzig had just 70 kilometers (4 miles) of bike paths. Today, that number has grown to over 400 kilometers (nearly 250 miles), according to the city government. Cycling is generally allowed in parks and green spaces throughout the city.

Travelers can bike directly to key landmarks such as St. Nicholas Church, which has historical significance from Bach’s time in 1723 to the 1989 revolution in East Germany. Classical music enthusiasts might consider spending a few extra euros on a three-hour historical music tour.

The city offers both hilly and flat biking routes, and Nextbike is the go-to rental service throughout Leipzig.

Melbourne, Australia

Exploring Melbourne’s scenic beauty, cultural landmarks, and laid-back eateries becomes even more enjoyable when you bike through the city.

Melbourne boasts over 135 kilometers (84 miles) of cycling routes, both on- and off-road, and the city is quickly expanding its bike network.

A must-ride is the Capital City Trail. This 29-kilometer (18-mile) loop, shared by cyclists and pedestrians, winds through the inner city and several eastern and northern suburbs.

In Melbourne, bike paths and waterways are a natural combination, providing a scenic and convenient way to cycle around the city.

The Maribyrnong River Trail offers an easy to moderate ride, passing the iconic Flemington Racecourse and the historic Pipemakers Park, where visitors can explore heritage buildings and wetlands. For those up for a challenge, there's a steep climb to the scenic Lily Street lookout.

The Main Yarra Trail stretches for up to 33 kilometers (20.5 miles), offering breathtaking river views and a direct route to the lively CBD.

In Melbourne, bike helmets are required by law. Click here for more information about the city’s bike-sharing app and general biking tips.

Montreal, Canada

Montreal, a vibrant bilingual city set on an island in the St. Lawrence River, has become a cycling haven, with bicycles playing a major role in its urban landscape.

Since the 1980s, Montreal has heavily invested in its bike infrastructure, with hundreds of kilometers of bike lanes and paths, according to the urban cycling advocacy group Copenhagenize.

Looking ahead, Montreal plans to add about 200 kilometers (125 miles) of protected bike lanes over the next five years, as reported by the CBC.

Cyclists in Montreal can already enjoy biking between six of the city’s most beloved parks, including the iconic Mount Royal, Parc Frédéric-Back, Parc Jarry, Parc Jean-Drapeau, Parc Maisonneuve, and Île-de-la-Visitation along the Prairies River.

For more biking opportunities, the Lachine Canal route (approximately 40 kilometers or 25 miles roundtrip) takes riders through some of Montreal’s trendiest neighborhoods. The Réseau Express Vélo (REV) offers a fast route through busy districts, free of car traffic.

Explore other fantastic biking routes for sightseeing by clicking here.

While most bike paths remain open throughout Montreal’s harsh winters, some sections may be temporarily blocked until snow removal is complete. The city’s BIXI bike rental service resumes in the spring.

San Francisco, California

While many of the top biking destinations are in Europe, the U.S. also has its share, with San Francisco being a favorite among tourists.

As of May 2022, San Francisco boasted nearly 464 miles (747 kilometers) of bike lanes, with 121 miles (195 kilometers) of them being protected.

Dinogo Travel reached out to Nesrine Majzoub, the director of marketing and communications for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, for some expert biking tips in this famously hilly city.

“Fortunately, our bike paths are designed to take the safest routes with the least elevation gain. It’s incredibly useful to check the ‘biking’ option on your GPS or map, as these paths will help you avoid the hills as much as possible,” said Majzoub.

“For instance, if you’re in downtown and heading west towards the Panhandle and Golden Gate Park, you can take what we call ‘The Wiggle’ – a bike route that gently bypasses the hills, providing a much smoother ride,” she explained. Click here for additional bike route recommendations.

Another option is to rent an e-bike. “You can go at your own pace and savor the ride,” Majzoub suggested.

If you’re feeling tired, you can always place your bike on the front rack of a Muni bus. Get more information about public transit here.

For those seeking a truly unforgettable challenge, click here to learn more about biking the Golden Gate Bridge.

Strasbourg, France

Several German cities are renowned for their strong cycling cultures, so it's no surprise that Strasbourg, often called the 'French Cycling Capital,' is located just across the Rhine River from Germany and has been heavily influenced by its Germanic neighbors.

Strasbourg, with a metro population of around 480,000, boasts nearly 600 kilometers (375 miles) of bike paths, according to the Office de Tourisme Strasbourg. Approximately 16% of workers commute by bike, and tourists can easily join in the fun.

There are over 6,000 bikes available at self-service stations around the clock. Vélhop, the city's primary bike-sharing service, offers a range of bikes including traditional ones, children's bikes, tandems, e-bikes, and electric cargo bikes.

The Komoot app recommends a 19.3-kilometer (12-mile) route through the heart of Strasbourg. This easy route, which takes about an hour, weaves through the charming Petite-France neighborhood along scenic canals, where iconic half-timbered houses line the streets.

Strasbourg is so bike-friendly that hotels like the Best Western Plus Monopole Métropole have dedicated pages and staff to assist visitors who wish to explore the city on two wheels.

Tel Aviv, Israel

Tel Aviv, Israel's chic, Bauhaus-inspired city by the Mediterranean, is fast becoming a cyclist's dream destination.

With its flat landscape, reminiscent of Copenhagen, Tel Aviv offers an ideal biking environment along with its warm, sunny climate. The city is committed to fostering a top-tier cycling culture.

Tel Aviv promotes biking as a time-efficient way to explore the city. For example, cycling from Rabin Square to the lush HaYarkon Park takes just about seven minutes. Gordon Beach is also just a short ride away.

Rothschild Boulevard, shaded and lined with cafés, winds through the iconic White City and is an excellent route for cyclists.

Tel-O-Fun provides an app-based bike rental service available throughout the city.

While helmets are not required in Tel Aviv, as noted by Tourist Israel, more and more locals are choosing to wear them.

Utrecht, Netherlands

Amsterdam is renowned for its biking culture and tourism appeal, but with the city now working to curb overtourism, Utrecht, the fourth-largest city in the Netherlands, has stepped in to offer a quieter alternative.

Utrecht has earned the top spot on the Global Bicycle Cities Index, boasting its own abundance of parks, canals, museums, and historic sites – all connected by bike paths, without the overwhelming crowds of Amsterdam.

With a population of around 362,000, Utrecht had 420 kilometers (261 miles) of bike paths in 2021, and it claims to have the world's largest bike parking facility at Central Station, accommodating up to 12,500 bikes.

The Dutch flair for creative design is on full display in Utrecht, with bike-friendly infrastructure that seamlessly integrates with the city's urban landscape.

The Dafne Schippersbrug bridge spans the Amsterdam-Rhine canal, linking Utrecht’s historic center with the Leidsche Rijn district. This unique bridge, dedicated to cyclists and pedestrians, even incorporates a school and a park into its design.

For bike rental details, click here.

Top image: Experience the vibrant Copenhagen waterfront on two wheels. (Photo by nantonov/iStock Editorial/Getty Images)