If you are planning your next holiday and like to mix in a bit of cycling, Europe is a pretty perfect playground. Here are a few destination ideas that have it all — scenic routes, good vibes and plenty of fellow riders along the way.

Girona is one of Europe’s most iconic cycling destinations, thanks to its vibrant cycling community and kind weather year-round. It is the sort of place where cyclists settle in quickly, with bike cafés, repair shops and great routes in every direction — no surprise that many professional riders choose to live and train here. And if you are craving a change of pace, the region’s gravel scene is just as impressive, with more off-road paths than paved roads to explore.

Alpe d’Huez is one of those climbs every fanatic road cyclist knows by heart — 21 famous hairpins, a steady 13.8 km ascent and decades of Tour de France mythology wrapped around it. It is a challenge, but a doable and very rewarding one, especially with the stunning Alpine backdrop. Once you have reached the village at the top, you can keep the adventure going: with a gravel bike, you can roll further up towards the glacier for a completely different, high-mountain experience.

Austria’s Grossglockner High Alpine Road is pure drama in the best way — a ribbon of tarmac climbing through a national park towards the country’s highest peak. Hairpins, big views and rugged scenery with almost no vegetation once you gain altitude.

Note that the descent demands fresh brake pads and a few cooling stops along the way to prevent your gear from overheating. Just take a pause to stay safe and enjoy the views.

If you want your holiday rides to come with a dose of adventure, Iceland will happily oblige. The Ring Road that circles the coastline gives you front-row views of waterfalls, volcanic cliffs and black-sand beaches — scenery you will struggle to find anywhere else in Europe. The weather has a mind of its own, so preparation (mental included, for those inevitable last-minute plan changes) is essential, but the payoff is spectacular. And if you are into off-road riding too, places like Landmannalaugar offer some of the most unique mountain-bike terrain around, with colourful rhyolite hills and lava fields.

The Ardennes are perfect for anyone after quieter roads and rolling hills. There are endless forest paths for gravel riders, and plenty of smaller country lanes for road cyclists (the main roads can get busy, so it is best to avoid them). One local highlight is the Ravel network: old railway lines turned into smooth, traffic-free cycling paths that guide you through fields, villages and forests without a single car in sight — and they are very beginner-friendly.