The Top Ten Motorcycle Routes in Europe

What makes a great motorcycle route varies slightly from rider to rider. According to MotorbikeTrader.co.uk, the very best routes have a mixture of both, hair-raisingly tight bends and stunning scenery, so with that in mind, we’ve put together this list of ten of the best on the continent, featuring twists, turns and epic landscapes to boot.

Bergen to Geiranger, Norway 

 

 

Clocking in at around seven and a half hours, this ride may be best split up into a couple of legs, but it features some truly stunning scenery. Including a couple of ferries as you cross the fjords of Norway, you’ll take in the stunning glacial valleys, some of which feature sheer cliffs of over 1,000m as you make your way across the country’s longest fjord, the Sognefjorden, ending up at UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord, home to the Seven Sisters waterfalls.

The Transfăgărășan Highway, Romania

 

After being brought to the world’s attention after being featured by Top Gear (described by Jeremy Clarkson as the “most amazing road he’d ever seen”!), this road crosses the Carpathian Mountains in Romania. Before setting off, be sure to check that it’s open, as snow closes it between mid-October and early June. You could also choose to combine this route with a wider journey around the neighbouring Balkan countries or through the Alps.

Trabzon to Şavşat, Turkey 

 

Starting out with a nice coastal ride along the Black Sea, this ride takes you right up to the border with Georgia, where you’ll turn inland and up into the tea plantations. However, in the space of about 100m, the scenery changes from lush and green, to the dust bowl of Eastern Anatolia, before emerging into the final stretch or lush meadows and Alpine trees!

Verdon Gorge, France

 

Known as ‘Europe’s Grand Canyon’, the Verdon Gorge is quite close to Nice and Monaco, and while it’s a stunning sight on its own, it’s got the surrounding roads to match, with endless twists and turns, and sections right alongside the rim of the canyon below. There’s also the option of dropping down onto the D23 which runs through the middle of the gorge, but do be wary of traffic, as the area experienced high numbers of tourists during peak seasons and do the loop clockwise if you’re not as experienced as youll avoid most of the drops.

The Cat and Fiddle Run, England

 

Bringing things back here to the UK, don’t forget that we’ve got great runs such as thr Cat and Fiddle right here on our doorstep! Running along the A537 from Buxton to Macclesfield, this road has been named as the most dangerous in the country by the RAC, so be sure to take care as you navigate the tight turns, before you hit the moors where you can appreciate the views a little more. Also, be sure to stop off at the Cat and Fiddle Inn, a popular rest point for fellow bikers.

The Normandy Beaches, France

 

History buffs will particularly enjoy this ride along the French coast which is also fairly easy to get to, stretching from the city of Rouen to the medieval monastery Le Mont Saint-Michel. After passing through Caen, you’ll hit the beaches famed for being the sites of the D-Day landings, with coastlines littered with old German bunkers and you’ll also pass the many war graves where the thousands who lost their lives were laid to rest. Note that while Dover to Calais is probably your cheapest and quickest ferry crossing, travelling from Portsmouth or Poole to Le Havre, Cherbourg or Caen will leave you a lot closer to this route.

Sarandë to Vlorë, Albania

 

Perhaps not the first place you would think to head for a biking trip, but Albania is actually home to some amazing scenery and roads. Head from the southern resort town of Sarandë along the Ionian coast through the olive groves and orchard, with the sea to your left and mountains to your right. Eventually, you’ll hit the Longher Pass, a steep incline to about 1,000m with amazing views over the sea.

Icelandic Ring Road

 

An ideal way to take in all that Iceland has to offer, this ring road circles the whole island, but the obvious problem here is how to get the bikes over there! There’s a two-day ferry from Denmark, or you can have the bike shipped over there, but expect amazing sights and challenging roads as you make your way around this unique country.

Amalfi Coast, Italy

 

One to avoid during peak tourist season, the Amalfi Road takes you right down the beautiful coastline past Sorrento and other seaside towns such as Positano and Ravellom twisting and turning as it does (it’s known as the ‘Road of a Thousand Bends’).

The Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

 

You don’t, necessarily need to tackle this whole route (which is one of the largest coastal roads in Europe) in one go, with lots of notable sections along the way, including Great Skellig island, which has featured in the last two Star Wars movies. Best of all, it’s relatively easy to get to via the ferry and a good scenic route which is close to home.