Cycling doesn’t need to be just about mega miles, legs of steel and burning too many calories. It can be a gentle and enjoyable form of transport, which also keeps you nicely fit. Likewise, cycling holidays can be more about flatter, easier-going routes than epic Tour de France style trips. If all this sounds like your kind of riding, why not check out our six top “easier” cycling tours?

Cycling Lake Constance Lake Constance is located on the Rhine at the northern foot of the Alps, and comprises three bodies of water, the Obersee, the Untersee, and a connecting stretch of the Rhine, called the Seerhein. And looping around the lake’s shores is the 170-mile Bodensee-Radweg cycle path, which offers flat, car-free and stunningly scenic riding. This Lake Constance Cycling tour is set up for short, daily cycles with lots of opportunities for stopping off and admiring the views, enjoying a bite to eat or visiting various attractions.

Munich Lakes Cycling Ride paved cycle routes around stunning German lakes and in full view of the Bavarian Alps. Highlights of the Munich Lakes Cycling holiday include exploring the cosmopolitan city of Munich with its museums, galleries and grandiose beer halls; taking a boat trip on Lake Starnberg; and visiting the memorial to the beloved but famously eccentric King Ludwig II. Electric bikes are also available. 

Cycling Portugal’s Atlantic Coast Surprisingly attractive for newbie cycle touters is the fabulously scenic Atlantic coastline in north central Portugal. The route of the Cycling Tour in Portugal begins in Porto, which is a UNESCO World Heritage City, and heads down the coastline past beautiful beach resorts, small towns and villages and Portugal's "Little Venice” of Aveiro. Other highlights include São Jacinto Dunes Natural Reserve, the lagoon of the Ria de Aveiro and the huge pine forests.

Canal du Midi Cycling Tour If you have not visited the Canal du Midi in France, you’ve missed a real treat. And for cyclists, there is a wonderfully flat and easy canal towpath to ride. Highlights of the Canal du Midi Cycling Tour include riding across a 240m arched aqueduct and the impressive Gothic Cathedral at Narbonne. This is also a great trip for foodies, with many French culinary specialities to enjoy.

Cycling the River Danube Flowing for more than 1800 miles through the heart of Europe, the River Danube presents an amazing location for a cycle path. The easy, mostly flat path follows the Danube for much of its length and through the countries of Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. The Danube Cycle Path Passau to Vienna tour is a delightful trip on dedicated cycle paths and quiet country roads, heading through gorgeous countryside and between some of Europe's most iconic cities.

Danube Bike and Boat Another River Danube trip to be recommended for an easier cycling holiday is the Danube Bike and Boat. "Bike and boat" is a great idea and offers a number of advantages, including the opportunity to travel by boat when you’re feeling a little pedal-weary. There is no need to pack and re-pack your kit each day, either, because you stay on a boat that travels alongside the cycle path every night.