Best time to go cycling in Europe

Part of Europe’s charm is the unpredictable nature of the weather and as long as you’re equipped with suitable lightweight layers, including waterproofs, you’ll be able to hit the ground pedalling in Andalucia, Sicily and the Algarve, pretty much all-year-round. The further north you travel, or the higher the altitude, the more chance of snow and ice, with the Alps, Scandinavia and the Baltics not renowned cycling locations over the winter. Best advice as to the best time to go cycling in Europe is to head south during the winter and north during the summer with spring and autumn often finding the most pleasant conditions across the board. Seasonal festivals, cycling competitions (the Tour de France is in July) and cultural events can also provide a best or worst time to cycle in Europe with July and August school hols bumping up prices and creating congestion, especially along the coast.

Even as early as February, March and April you’ll find good cycling conditions in Southern Europe with the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in Andalucia often flourishing in fragrant orange blossom. Other Southern European regions, such as Catalonia in Spain, the Alentejo and Algarve in Portugal and Italy’s Amalfi Coast and Etruscan hillsides, are also best cycled either side of summer with September and into October also good times to cycle alongside the fiery foliage of autumn.

“No matter what the time of year, pack lightweight waterproofs that can be pulled out if needed and go for wider cycling sunglasses as they offer complete protection from ‘fly in the eye’.”