By David May
When to Bicycle Tour in Europe
The chart, below, is a rough guide only. Remember that climate is influenced by the sea, by elevation, and by the protection of mountain ranges to the north. For example, the weather of the French, Italian and Spanish Rivieras is suitable for biking for longer periods than nearby regions, such as Provence, which is more exposed to northern cold and the Mistral wind. Since the climate has been warming, it may well be wise to avoid mid-summer for any European bike trip. When researching climate data, remember that it is based upon times when the climate was cooler.
Regions |
Best Season for biking |
Southern Portugal, southern Spain, southern Italy |
April, October |
Northern Portugal, northern Spain, middle
Italy,
southern France |
May, September |
All middle and northern Europe |
June, July August, September Consider avoiding the middles of summer |
Alpine regions |
July, August |
If you have a specific time frame during which you must take your biking vacation, my advice is to choose a trip to a region where the weather is likely to be favorable. And if this is not practical, be prepared to brave the heat, cold or rain!
