There’s loads of benefits to hopping on a bike; it’s healthy, good for the environment, and a fun way to get to know a city, but it’s not always easy. Some places haven’t even got dedicated lanes, while others have entire streets carved out as cycle highways.
When we think ‘cycle-friendly’ and ‘Europe’, we naturally picture Amsterdam, where significantly more people travel on two wheels than four, but according to new research from Nordic ferry company DFDS, it isn’t even in the top three cities in the continent for cyclists.
DFDS measured every major European city’s compatibility with cyclists by scoring each in five categories: average daily wind, average daily rain, flatness, how many kilometres of bike lanes there are per 10,000 people, and how many people search the city plus cycling each month. Then, a total weighted score, with cycle lanes being the most important category, was calculated, and the cities ranked.
After all that it was Paris that triumphed above the rest with an overall score of 80.1. There are more than 1000km of cycle lanes in France’s capital, which can take you most places across the city. Plus, there are miles of gorgeous parks to cycle through on a sunny day. DFDS adds that ‘with world-famous landmarks around every corner, choosing a bike as your main mode of transport lets you see the sights quickly and safely’.
In second place was Munich, which, scoring 78.9, has plenty of dedicated cycle routes for seeing the city on wheels – there are even guided cycling tours of the city’s best landmarks. DFDS notes that ‘the narrow streets of the cobbled Aldstadt are perfect for traversing on a bike’.
Helsinki took the bronze, narrowly losing to Munich with a score of 77.6. The Finnish city was described as ‘made for cyclists’, and had nine kilometres of cycle lane per 100,000 people – a higher ratio than Paris or Munich. DFDS’s tip? ‘Cycle on marked routes in parks and nature reserves to escape the city during your trip’.
The top 10 cities for cycling in Europe
- Paris, France
- Munich, Germany
- Helsinki, Finland
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Strasbourg, France
- Frankfurt, Germany
- Lyon, France
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Ghent, Belgium
- Lille, France
You can have a look at the full list, including how each city scored in each category, on DFDS’ website.
ICYMI: The European capital named the top trending destination for Gen Z travellers right now
Plus: The emerging destinations to visit in 2026 – from the Mexican highlands to Europe’s new Capital of Culture
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.