Beautiful national bike trails to explore around the world

What if you could ride bike trails from one end of your country to the other, without ever facing off with a car? Well, maybe not ever, but suppose that most of your route was an off-road path. You start your journey on a national border or coastal point; then you pedal through the heart of your homeland, safely sampling its vistas and communities along the way.

Well, some countries have pulled this off, or are on the cusp of doing so. Not only can you ride a bicycle across these nations, but you can do so on – primarily – non-motorized bike trails.

Granted, the concept is pretty loose. What does it mean to bike “across” a country, especially for lands with peculiar shapes and topography? How much of a route can be motorized before it no longer counts as a dedicated bikeway? And what do we mean by a “path”? Is this just flat asphalt for hundreds of kilometers, or is there gravel and singletrack mixed in?

Well, bike routes aren’t an exact science, but these are some trail networks that have impressed us in recent years. Each of these nations has invested heavily in cycling infrastructure, cordoned out cars as much as possible, and blazed a path through its cultural heartland. As borders (hopefully) start reopening this spring, these passages may tempt you to take a far-flung tour.

Did we miss one? (Or two, or a dozen?) Let us know in the comments!

Belgium: Meuse Cycling Route

The EuroVelo network is easily the most sophisticated cycling infrastructure in the world, with a web of 17 routes connecting every corner of the European continent. EuroVelo is the envy of cyclists everywhere, both for its ease of use and diversity of people and landscapes. That said, most routes are a mix of roads and paths, and they don’t always lie “across” a country so much as “through a small section of it.” But the Meuse Cycle Route goes directly across Belgium, following the eponymous river through the fairytale countryside. Here you’ll find level pavement, stately architecture, and all the waffles you can eat.

South Korea: 4 Rivers Path

For our money, the 4 Rivers Path is by far the most polished example of a national bike path. The bike trail is mostly smooth and level, and it crosses South Korea diagonally from the capital of Seoul to the port city of Busan. Offshoots extend the route in several directions, skirting the four most significant rivers in South Korea. The path is popular among Koreans and tourists alike, and riders can claim a 4 Rivers passbook, which can be filled with stamps along the way and even traded in for a medal, once you’ve finished the 633-kilometer journey. The off-road system is part of a larger environmental effort, the Four Major Rivers Project.

Taiwan: National Cycling Route #1

Cycling Route #1 is the only route on this list inspired by an indie movie. Island Etude tells the story of a hearing-impaired cyclist riding the circumference of Taiwan. The 2006 film was so motivating that the island nation spent more than US$36 million on cycling infrastructure. Separate paths and bike trails follow the ovular coastline, with one small section passable only by car or train. The 968KM route cuts through cities, rice paddies, and subtropical forest, with plenty of hotels and beef noodle stands along the way. Taiwan is also the home of Giant Bicycles, and tourists are welcome to rent a bike from one Giant location and drop it off at any other Giant store along the way.

Israel: National Bike Trail

The most rugged trail on this list is the Israel National Bike Trail, which starts on the Lebanese border and winds its way down to Eilat, on the Red Sea. Note that this is a mountain bike trail, which crosses the same rugged mountains that mystics and merchants have traversed for millennia. As of this writing, the trail is also incomplete, but you can ride long segments through the Negev Desert and find ample trailheads and camping spots along the way. The desert is beautiful, but it’s also unforgiving. There’s no shame in an organized tour, and full-suspension bikes are a must.

Qatar: Olympic Cycling Track

Technically, the Olympic Cycling Track does not run “across” Qatar. But given that the pristine path is 32.8KM long and the Middle Eastern nation is less than 200KM across – and mostly desert – the route seemed fitting for the list. Aside from its flawless pavement and breezy riding through the outskirts of Doha, the Olympic Cycling Track also holds a Guinness World Record as the “longest continuous bike path in the world.”

Germany-Austria-Hungary: Danube River Trail

Many know this ride as the second half of EuroVelo Route 6, which starts in southern Germany and follows the Danube River to the Black Sea. It’s not a single “national route,” but the Danube is famous for flowing through 19 countries and four capital cities. The “path” part of the Danube River Trail is best maintained in Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. Travelers routinely ride from Vienna to Bratislava to Budapest, which offers a soul-stirring cross-section of languages and heritage. You can continue on, but the route becomes far hillier in the Balkans, and bike trails are replaced with country roads. Still, once these nations open up again, those roads may very well call you.