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10 of the Best Bike Tours to take in Paris
Calling all bikers. Calling all people who are tired of walking. Traveling around Paris by bike is one of the best ways to explore this magical city. This is because you can cover distances that are tedious to walk – and you’ll also be able to skip traffic queues and avoid the hassle of finding and paying for car parks.
In recent years, France has set out to become one of the top bicycle-friendly cities on the planet by investing massively on cycling infrastructure. There are 700 km (430 mi) of cycle paths and routes in Paris.
The cycling lanes include piste cyclable (bike lanes separated from other traffic by physical barriers such as a kerb) and bande cyclable (a bicycle lane denoted by a painted path on the road).
These cycling infrastructures have highly contributed to the rise in bike tours within the city and below we discuss 10 of the best bike tours to take in Paris;
1. Introduction to Paris bike tours
Point of view handle of a bicycle near Eiffel Tower in Paris – Unsplash
If you are planning a trip to Paris, how do you decide what to do? There are the places that people dream about visiting, like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, but there are also neighborhoods to explore and so much more to see.
This is where this introduction to Paris bike tours comes in, as these 3-4 hour orientation tours are the perfect options for anyone who wants to see all the most important landmarks in Paris. You will cycle to the Notre Dame, to the Eiffel Tower, follow the river Seine, along the way you will also learn about the history and interesting facts about the different landmarks you will pass.
Introduction to Paris bike tours is a must as you get the opportunity to explore the very best things that Paris has to offer.
Practical information
Book this tour with us: Best of Paris by bike
Idea for: Families, Individual travelers and small groups
2. Day bike tours
Group of bicycle riders crossing a bridge – Unsplash
Day bike tours may have limited time, but the visual and overall experience is far from being limited, as it allows for a truly immersive experience and view of the city.
This day bike tours can incorporate every aspect of Paris, from its must-see landmarks to visiting the best cafés and restaurants Paris has to offer. Biking during the day also allows you to witness how the locals interact and spend their day.
Day bike tours are a must as they give you the opportunity to maneuver easily and effectively through Paris. With the sun shining bright, you riding a capable bike, there is no limit to what you can see, what you can experience and what you can taste.
Practical information
Idea for: Families, Individual travelers and small groups
3. Night bike tours
Cyclist standing and taking in his surroundings at night – Unsplash
Biking through Paris during the day can be a wonderful experience, but they don’t call Paris the City of Light for nothing! When the sun goes down, several of the most beautiful landmarks in this city begins to light up.
Before even wondering what are the best nighttime attractions the City of Love has to offer, you first have to appreciate the sunset from one of the many beautiful locations that Paris has to offer. For example, the view from the Arc de Triomphe, the Parvis du Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre, and the viewing deck of the Tour Montparnasse all provide perfect bird’s eye perspectives of the city.
During the night bike tours you will cycle along the beautifully lit up monuments, the great avenues and see the city’s best nightlife.
Exploring Paris at night is a must for everyone, as there really is no city more magical after dark than Paris.
Practical information
Idea for: Families, Individual travelers and small groups
4. Guided bike tour
A guided bike tour – Wikipedia
Guided bike tours have the convenience of having everything planned out for you: hotels, rental bikes, routes, meals, luggage transfers, sightseeing tours and so on. You get to truly enjoy your vacation without the hustle and bustle of trying to figure out what to do, where to go and how to get there as an itinerary has already been outline for you.
Joining a guided bike tour is not just helpful for when you get a flat and don’t know how to fix it, or because you can get to have your tour planned out. Most importantly, you benefit from the insights and knowledge of a local guide, making your travel experience much richer.
Guided bike tours are a great option as a professional tour guide will point out important details and provide a plethora of information about each location on your journey.
Practical information
Book this tour with us: Guided Segway Tour in Paris
Idea for: Families, Individual travelers and small groups
5. Hidden gems bike tours
Cyclist viewing Pont du Gard – Pixabay
After visiting all the famous landmarks that Paris has to offer, you start to wonder how comes I don’t see many Parisians in these locations. Does it mean that there are hidden gems within the city where locals enjoy their time without having to worry about the long queues and unwanted attraction brought by tourists? Where are these places?
The hidden gems bike tours take you to the favorite spots that the locals treasure. You get to cycle to places that are not commonly advertised as tourist destination. These places allow you to truly experience Paris as a local, and what more says Parisian as cycling around the city to local hot spots?
Hidden gems bike tours are a great option because they give you a better understanding of Paris, since you get to experience the lesser known parts of Paris, and its rich history and culture.
Practical information
Book this tour with us: Electric Bike Tour of Paris’ Hidden Gems
Idea for: Families, Individual travelers and small groups
6. Food bike tours
No doubt that French cuisine is one of the best in the world. For many people, their introduction to French food comes in the shape of wine and cheese, but there’s a whole world of French cuisine beyond the cheeseboard.
Food bike tours gives you the opportunity to explore the flavors and fitness of French cuisine. You get to cycle through the different markets that offer fresh ingredients for your meal. Learn the rich history of open-markets along the way and how to select the best products in the market.
Your guide can also direct you to the cafés that offer the best meals, guide in selecting the most delicious pairings, and even get a discount for your meal. Since you came in cycling, and you will leave the café cycling, do not hold back on the fatty and sweet foods as you have burned a lot of calories cycling!
Food bike tours are a must simple because a well-prepared French meal is a luxury that we should all try at one point in our lives.
Practical information
Book this tour with us:Paris: Versailles Food & Palace Bike Tour
Idea for: Families, Individual travelers and small groups
7. Off beaten road bike tours
Woman climbing a trail with her mountain bike while enjoying nature – Unsplash
On the off beaten road bike tours you cycle on backstreets and discover hidden secrets, ancient ruins, as well as learn the rich history of these places. This tour stands out from our other bike tours as it dives deeper into what makes Paris so unique aside from its monuments and museums.
On your bike, you’ll cycle past Paris’ off-the-beaten-path charms and see what makes it so captivating to the local. This tour takes place entirely on backstreets, so you’ll see a more authentic and charming side of Paris, one that most tourists only dream about finding.
You should participate in the off beaten road bike tour of Paris, as it will allow you to explore the lesser known areas within and around Paris.
Practical information
Idea for: Families, Individual travelers and small groups
8. Bike and wine tour
Black mountain bike on a vineyard – Unsplash
We all know of don’t drink and drive, but is there a don’t drink and cycle? Jokes aside, don’t cycle when drunk, always call for a sober person to take you home.
The bike and wine tours are not targeted at getting you drunk, but instead allowing you to taste the different rich flavors of wine available in Paris. You will get to cycle to different wineries within the city and enjoy each wineries’ product. Take your time to appreciate the richness in each sip.
A bike and wine tour is a great way to unwind during your vacation, as you get to pedal around the gorgeous rolling vineyards and enjoy a great glass of French wine.
Practical information
Idea for: Families members above 18+ years, Individual travelers and small groups
9. E-Bike Tours
Cycling around Paris with an e-bike – Unsplash
The joys of cycle touring are now within easier reach for people of varying fitness and experience levels thanks to electric bicycles. Electric bikes give cyclists a helping hand — or push — to get them up and over hills or make longer distances feel achievable.
Save your energy for sightseeing as the e-bike’s motor propels you to standout Paris attractions such as the Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Elysées, the Petit and Grand Palais, the Pont Alexandre III, the Invalides and many more locations.
E-bike tours in Paris are a necessity since e-bikes allows you the comfort of reaching your destination without huffing and punting like crazy. You get to really enjoy the landmark or monument and not spent the whole time trying to catch your breath.
Practical information
Book this tour with us: Electric Bike Tour of Paris’ Hidden Gems
Idea for: Families, Individual travelers and small groups
10. Paris Tour de France Bike Ride
Tour de France cycling race -Unsplash
The legendary Tour de France cycling race takes place each year, is the oldest of the Grand Tours and generally considered the most prestigious. While the route changes each year, the format of the race stays the same, including the appearance of time trials, a passage through the mountain chains of the Pyrenees and the Alps, and a finish on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
Snag a spot on this magnificent tour and have the opportunity to cycle the Tour de France route through Paris on the day of the final—just hours before the winner crosses the finish line. Cycle along the traffic-free Champs-Élysées, past the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Place de la Concorde.
Hands down, Paris Tour de France Bike Ride is a must as it gives you the thrill of taking part in an iconic cycling event.
