A bike is a game changer when exploring a new city: It’s cheap, speedy and a fun way get in some exercise while on vacation.
From a 1,300-foot climb in Bogotá, Colombia, to a 22-mile, best-of-Paris loop (don’t worry, there’s wine and ice cream at the end), seven writers offer their favorite rides in cities known for their urban trails.
Copenhagen, Denmark
— LISA ABEND
Head south along the waterfront from the statue of Hans Christian Anderson’s Little Mermaid, and you’ll soon pass Kastellet, whose cute red barracks belie its status as an active military base, before crossing the cobblestone square that is home to the royal palace, Amalienborg. (Keep an eye out for Prince Frederik, who frequently pulls up to the gates on his cargo bike.) Zip past the candy-colored houses of the old harbor, Nyhavn, and back down to the water’s edge, where the old city gives way to the sharp angles of the Royal Library and the chunky architecture of Blox, which houses the Danish Design Center. From here, you can turn left immediately to sail over Lille Langebro, the city’s newest bicycle bridge, or pedal on to the serpentine Cykelslangen. Either way, you’ll land in the harborfront neighborhood of Islands Brygge, whose swimming area is a favorite spot for winter bathing and summer tanning.
A short jaunt north brings you to the tall masts of artist Olafur Eliasson’s Cirkelbroen, or Circle Bridge. From there, zigzag your way toward the Opera House, stopping at the nearby Hart bakery for buttery pastries. Continuing roughly north will bring you to the dramatic swoop of CopenHill — the Bjarke Ingels-designed power plant and urban ski slope — and from there, it’s only a little further on to the Refshaleoen area, where you can find natural wine and more swimming at the dockside restaurant La Banchina, or tasty fried-chicken sandwiches in the garden at Amass restaurant. Someday, you’ll be able to return to the starting point via another bridge, but for now, a harbor ferry that departs from the dock outside Amass makes the crossing. And yes, it takes bikes.
Distance: 7 miles.
Difficulty: Easy.
Good for kids? Yes.
Where to eat/fill up your water bottle: La Banchina, Amass, Hart.
Time to ride: 30-60 minutes, with no stops.
Bogotá, Colombia
— AARON GULLEY
In cycling-mad Colombia, nothing puts a finer point on the country’s frenetic obsession with riding than a Sunday morning in Bogotá, when 70 miles of the city’s normally gridlocked streets are closed to motor vehicles. From 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., an estimated 2 million people — nearly a quarter of the city — take to the streets on two wheels for the closure, called Ciclovía, a mass-participation event dating to the mid-1970s.
But the true fanatics start even earlier. On Bogotá’s east side, an avenue leads to the nearby town of La Calera (the road begins just across from a park). There, cyclists begin congregating before sunrise to ride a 3.7-mile, 1,300-foot hill climb called Alto de Patios. By 6:45 a.m., a deluge of riders four and five abreast pours up the hill. The road, just a few car-widths across, cuts pretty oxbows through dense cloud forest as it ascends into the Eastern Hills.
Unlike the laid-back vibe during Ciclovía later in the day, cyclists here jockey for position. The throng of riders is speckled with fans dressed in replica black-and-scarlet Ineos Grenadier jerseys of Egan Bernal, a Tour de France and Giro d’Italia winner from Colombia. And everyone, from would-be racers in Lycra to families with kids on rusted-out clunkers, sprints for the King of the Mountain finish line atop Patios, just shy of 10,000 feet, as if there were real prize money at stake.
Distance: 7.4 miles (there and back).
Difficulty: Challenging. A 1,293-foot climb, but plenty of places to rest along the way.
Good for kids? Older kids who are accustomed to riding will do fine. Younger children will want to stop along the way for snacks and a rest. (They won’t be alone.)
Where to eat/fill up your water bottle: Roadside stands.
Time to ride: 30-90 minutes, depending on your speed and if you stop along the way.
New York City
— JANE MARGOLIES
The Hudson River Greenway is the most popular cycling route in the city. Riding this path through a series of linear parks on the western edge of Manhattan is your chance to fall in with locals while cruising along the mighty river that helped make New York the powerhouse it is.
You can hop on the Greenway, which is part of the island-circling Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, at multiple points along its 13-mile length between Battery Park, at the southern foot of the island, and Inwood, on the northern tip. But consider launching from the intersection of Chambers and West Streets off Tribeca, where views of the river open up (and there’s a Citi Bike dock; $15 per day). Pedal north and keep your eyes peeled for cultural hot spots.
The last stretch of the Greenway involves a killer hill. Instead, turn around at the base of the bridge and meet a treasured local landmark: the Little Red Lighthouse, immortalized in a 1942 picture book beloved by many New York families.
Distance: 13 miles, one-way (length of the entire Hudson River Greenway).
Difficulty: Easy.
Good for kids: Yes.
Where to eat/fill up your water bottle: Grab a seat with a river view at Pier 57’s City Winery at 15th Street, off Chelsea.
Time to ride: 1-2 hours of pedaling — or up to a day if you stop to explore along the way.
Paris
— SOPHIE STUBER
Paris is a city transformed by bike lanes. Mayor Anne Hidalgo has already spent 150 million euros ($158 million) developing the first stage of the city’s bike plan, aimed at making the city “100% bikeable” by 2026, when it plans to have added 112 miles of protected cycling paths.
This 22-mile loop takes advantage of the new cycling infrastructure, mixing in many of the city’s main attractions and plenty of green spaces.
From Place de la République, follow Canal Saint-Martin north. Early in the morning, the bike lane is often deserted, save for a few joggers. A short ride leads to Bassin de la Villette, which has playgrounds and park benches with soft morning light. In the summer, the city transforms this section of the canal into an outdoor swimming area.
Turn around and ride south along the canal to Rue Amelot, in the 11th Arrondissement. The quiet side street leads to Place de la Bastille. This can be a tricky roundabout, but after hitting Boulevard Henri IV, it is a straight shot to Île Saint-Louis, where you will be rewarded with views of Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower.
After cycling along the Seine, the route cuts into the Left Bank for the longest climb of the day, which finishes at the Pantheon overlooking Luxembourg Gardens.
From here, the path rejoins the Seine, following the river to the Eiffel Tower. After crossing the Pont d’Iéna and a short but steep climb past Trocadéro, the route winds through classic Haussmannian architecture to Bois de Boulogne, a park 2 1/2 times the size of Central Park. The lake is a perfect picnic stop (you can swing by the nearby Desgranges to pick up your lunch, including their “Passy Passion” baguettes).
The route returns along the Right Bank of the Seine, passing the Tuileries Garden and the Louvre. After riding along the river’s banks, return to street level at Pont Louis-Philippe to cross Île Saint-Louis.
Distance: 22 miles.
Difficulty: Easy to moderate. About 500 feet of elevation.
Good for kids: Yes. The parts with the most traffic are the Bastille roundabout and the area near Trocadéro.
Where to eat/fill up your water bottle: Near République: Dreamin’ Man for coffee, or Mamiche has excellent pastries and sandwiches. Near Pantheon: Treize au Jardin, for its lovely and relaxed terrace. Near Île Saint-Louis: Le Peloton Café, for coffee, waffles and bike expertise; and Berthillon is a Paris classic.
Time to ride: 2.5-4 hours, depending on stops.
Bike repairs: La Chouette near the start of the route for any bike tuneups. Friendly staff and very knowledgeable.
Geneva
— PAIGE McCLANAHAN
Here’s an easy route that takes you through quintessential Geneva, with a stop in the United Nations area, a cruise along a lakeside promenade, a quick dip in the lake, then a swing past the city’s historic center.
From the Cornavin train station, head north up the gently sloping Rue de Montbrillant and into the heart of Geneva’s international district. Stop for a wander around the plaza in front of the city’s iconic Broken Chair, just in front of the main offices of the U.N. in Geneva. From there, coast downhill to the shady and manicured Parc Mon Repos, then along the lakeside promenade of the Quai Wilson, taking in views of Mont Blanc in the distance if the weather is good.
Set off across the Mont Blanc Bridge, at Lake Geneva’s westernmost tip, then pause for a photo of the famous flower clock in the Jardin Anglais. From there, continue along the lake and past the Jet d’Eau — a fountain that shoots more than 400 feet into the air. Then lock up your bike and go for a swim (or just lounge on the sand) at the public beach at Baby-Plage.
For the final leg, head back along the lake, then wind around the edge of Geneva’s Old Town (the Vielle Ville) to the Plaine de Plainpalais, where you can ogle a creepy statue of Frankenstein’s monster, who committed murder along this very stretch in Mary Shelley’s famous novel. From there, it’s a short ride back to the train station.
Distance: About 7.5 miles.
Difficulty: Easy; one moderate climb, but otherwise mostly flat or downhill.
Good for kids? Children need to be able to navigate some road traffic in places.
Where to eat/fill up your water bottle: La Buvette des Bains, along Quai Wilson.
Time to ride: 1-3 hours, depending on stops.
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