Data showed that France is the second-most popular destination for cycling trips, right after Italy. Photo: Michal Szymanski/Shutterstock
According to the data, the most popular type of bike in Europe is a “touring” bike, at 63 percent. (It’s similar to a road bike, but with sturdier materials and thicker tires so it can better carry packs and gear for multi-day trips.) Next most popular is road biking, at 14 percent, and mountain biking, at 10 percent. But US-based companies who responded said mountain biking is the most popular, followed by touring (more commonly called “bikepacking” in the US,) and road biking.
When it comes to destinations, companies reported that perennial favorite Italy is the most popular destination for their guests, especially in Tuscany. The second-most popular options were bike tours in France, followed by Germany, Austria, and Spain. For tours within Europe, Germans are the most common guests, especially on self-guided bikepacking (or touring) trips. But outside of Europe, it’s Americans who are booking trips, preferring guided mountain bike trips to individual road or bikepacking trips. In Europe, four-to-eight trips are the most popular, with companies from across the world saying that seven-day tours are the most popular.
Why are European bike trips growing in popularity?
The availability of e-bikes has made European bike tours more accessible for people who wouldn’t consider themselves regular bikers. Photo: Bonn Bonn Photo/Shutterstock
The data collected also offer insight on why European bike trips could be growing as a travel trend. One key point is that e-bikes have become readily available, with 72 percent of European companies saying at least a quarter of their clients use e-bikes. Additionally, most bike trips include activities other than biking, including visits to small villages and towns (83 percent of tours), visits to parks and outdoor sites (68 percent of tours), and trips to castles, museums, and historic sites (57 percent of tours). The combination of e-bike availability and non-biking activities means that cycling trips are more accessible to more people, reaching a broader audience instead of just die-hard cyclists who want to spend the majority of the day in the saddle.
The survey also showed that bike tours within Europe are significantly less expensive than those outside of Europe (though that’s partially because unguided trips are more common in Europe). In Europe, the average bike traveler spent an average of 128 Euro per day (about $141), but that number climbs to 214 Euro (about $236) per day for trips outside of Europe.
If you’re worried about your athleticism or stamina, don’t be. The top challenge to running successful trips faced by bike companies isn’t client fitness — it’s finding accommodations. More than half of companies said that’s their top challenge, especially as cyclists prefer to stay in traditional accommodations, with two-thirds of companies reporting they use three-star-or-higher hotels for guests.
Where is the next big European bike destination?
Tour operators think Eastern European destinations will grow in popularity in 2025. Photo: rbrechko/Shutterstock
According to the survey, Europe will continue to grow in popularity with cyclists in 2025. But it’s possible travelers may spread themselves out a bit in the coming years. Companies responded that Eastern Europe was growing in popularity among clients, especially around Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, and Croatia. Türkiye was also mentioned as a growing destination, including the area around Cappadocia — a destination already known for its popularity with mountain bikers. 
Source link : https://matadornetwork.com/read/european-bike-tours-2025-trend/
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Publish date : 2024-10-03 19:52:13
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