Cycling in the city has many advantages: it is emission-free, the maintenance costs are low and the annoying search for a parking space is no longer necessary. At the same time, you get the added benefit of exercise in the fresh air. There are some cities in Europe that are particularly bike-friendly and where many people travel to work and school by bike every day. In this article, you can find out which cities in the world are the most bike-friendly and what makes them stand out. And who knows, you might even find inspiration for your next bike trip!

What is a bike city?

A cycling city is a city in which cycling plays a particularly important role. This may be because the inhabitants travel a larger than average proportion of their daily journeys to school, work and shops by bike, or because the infrastructure is designed with cyclists in mind. Tourists also often use bicycles and incorporate cycling into their sightseeing program. In bike-friendly cities like Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Utrecht, a bike tour is an integral part of any visit to the city.

The Copenhagenize Index – measuring bike-friendliness in cities

The Copenhagenize Index is the most comprehensive ranking of the world’s most bike-friendly cities. Since 2011, the ranking system has evaluated bike-friendly cities every two years. The ranking includes criteria such as safety for cyclists, number of cycle paths and promotion of cycling. Over the years, Copenhagen and Amsterdam have repeatedly won the coveted trophy for the world’s most bicycle-friendly city. On cycling trips in Europe, you can explore many of the world’s most bicycle-friendly cities by bike.

The top 10 cycling cities in Europe

From the winding bike paths of Amsterdam to the innovative bike lanes of Copenhagen, the following cities are setting new standards in infrastructure for cyclists.

10th place: Helsinki

In the Finnish capital Helsinki, cyclists will find not only well-developed bike paths but also diverse architecture, impressive coastlines, and Nordic specialties and specialties.

9th place: Vienna

The Austrian capital Vienna is known for its imperial palaces, rich cultural heritage, the MuseumsQuartier, the Wiener Prater and the Hundertwasserhaus. At the Wiener Naschmarkt, you can fortify yourself during your sightseeing or cycling tour and try many different delicacies. Many well-known cycle paths and some of our cycling tours in Austria end or start in Vienna, so there is plenty of time for sightseeing.

8th place: Paris

In the French capital, Paris, you can explore the many different districts and enjoy croissants and other specialties in one of the numerous cafés, in addition to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Versailles Palace. Cycling tours in France, for example, take you along the Seine to Paris or along the French Atlantic coast by bike and boat.

7th place: Oslo

The Norwegian capital of Oslo is known, among other things, for its museums and green spaces. The ski jump and the Vigeland Sculpture Park are also worth seeing. Another advantage of the Nordic countries: the climate is bicycle-friendly even in midsummer, because temperatures rarely rise above 25 degrees.

6th place: Bordeaux

Bordeaux is enchanting, with its French flair, cobblestone streets, delicious wines and romantic buildings. Bordeaux and its surrounding area are particularly easy to explore by bike, with 1,182 km of cycle paths.

5th place: Strasbourg

The French city of Strasbourg even makes it into the top 5 most bike-friendly cities in the world, making it the most bike-friendly city in France. 16% of working people here ride their bikes to work every day. Rental bikes and bike sharing also make it possible for tourists to explore the city by bike. In addition to cycling, you can visit the Strasbourg Cathedral, relax in the Parc de l’Orangerie, visit the Alsatian Museum or take a stroll through La Petite France.

4th place: Antwerp

The port city of Antwerp in Belgium is ranked 4th. Particularly worth seeing are the Cathedral of Our Lady, Steen Castle, the Grote Markt square and the Museum Aan de Stroom. The city is very easy to explore by bike thanks to safe and well-developed bike paths and bike highways.

3rd place: Utrecht

The Dutch city of Utrecht, which in many ways can be compared to Amsterdam, takes third place on the Copenhagenize Index. It also has canals running through the center and beautiful wide bike paths. But there is one thing that sets Utrecht apart from Amsterdam: there are fewer attractions and tourists, but many alleys and small cafes where you can enjoy delicious apple pie. And of course, Utrecht is a great place to ride a bike or just watch the incredible number of cyclists that crowd the city during rush hour.

2nd place: Amsterdam

In Amsterdam, it is almost de rigueur as a tourist to rent a bike and explore the city by bike. Thanks to the numerous bike lanes and rental offers, this is also quite convenient. Amsterdam is also home to the world’s first bicycle parking garage. Otherwise, you can take a canal cruise in the Dutch capital and explore the canals, swing over Amsterdam at a height of 200 meters or simply immerse yourself in the nightlife. During our bike tours in Holland, you can also marvel at the tulips in bloom and experience typical Dutch landscapes. Well-developed bike paths, flat routes and friendly people also speak in favor of a bike tour in Holland.

1st place: Copenhagen

Denmark’s capital Copenhagen has been ranked the number one cycling city in Europe and worldwide since 2015. And for good reason: in Copenhagen, the bicycle is the most important means of transport. Furthermore, Copenhagen aims to become a CO2-neutral city by 2050. For this reason, cycling is particularly encouraged here. A full 50 percent of residents commute to work by bike every day. Traffic lights that are adjusted to bicycle times, a smart traffic management system and motorway bridges, among other things, promote a cycling culture. The bicycle bridges are part of the cityscape and also guide tourists impressively through the harbor and to other attractions. Cycling trips in Denmark are characterized by the capital city, the coast, exciting islands and harbor towns.

Bike-friendly cities worldwide

But Europe is not the only continent with bike-friendly cities. The following international cities are also among the top 20 bike cities worldwide:

Bogota

A cycling movement has emerged in the Colombian city of Bogota that could permanently change the cityscape. This is intended to curb the abundance of cars and motorcycles as well as air pollution.

Tokyo

The Japanese metropolis scores points with a road safety training program designed to make motorists more aware of cyclists. Tokyo also offers plenty of parking spaces for bicycles. What is still missing, however, is the option of covering longer distances by bike.

Vancouver

The Canadian city of Vancouver is easy to explore by bike thanks to its well-developed cycle paths. For example, most of the coastline is connected to the Seaside Cycle Path.

Exploring urban areas on two wheels – discover bike-friendly cities

The importance of bike-friendly cities has increased significantly worldwide in recent years. Cities like Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Utrecht, which regularly top the Copenhagenize Index, impressively demonstrate how bicycle infrastructure can transform urban life. These cities not only offer extensive and safe cycle paths, but also actively promote a culture in which bicycles are used as a primary means of transport for everyday life. Other bike-friendly cities around the world include Bogotá, Tokyo and Vancouver, where a comparatively high number of people cycle or are working to strengthen the cycling culture.

FAQs – bike-friendly cities

Which is the most bike-friendly city in the world?

Copenhagen is and remains the most bicycle-friendly city in the world. The capital of Denmark has been at the top of the list since 2015. A full 62 percent of Copenhageners travel to and from school and work by bike.

What is the most bicycle-friendly country in the world?

The most bicycle-friendly country in the EU is Denmark, followed by the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland. Germany is ranked fifth in the EU. European cities also lead the way in the global comparison.

Which city has the highest rate of bicycle use?

The Danish capital Copenhagen has the highest rate of bicycle use. Copenhagen residents travel by bike for as much as 62 percent of their school and work commutes.