Explore Europe with our top bike and boat holidays

The only cabin fever that you get on our bike and boat holidays is one of delirium and delight. This might be brought on by watching the stars fill the night sky while sailing through a Croatian archipelago, or disembarking with your bike in Budapest to explore one of many cultural greats along the River Danube. Our top bike and boat holidays cover both seascapes and rivers, cities and islands, and all of them are small boats of between 50 and 150 passengers. The joy of these bike and boat holidays is that you get to moor up and mosey off on your bike regularly, sometimes with guides and other times self-guided. Either way, these holidays are all about going slow and letting the skipper keep you in tow.

Cruising through Croatia

Pedal your way to paradise on our Croatia bike and boat holiday, where you cycle around remote island trails by day, and embark your aqua-accommodation for nights under the Adriatic’s stars. Highlights of these trips include the Dalmatian archipelagic gems of Mljet, Brac and Hvar, as well as the ancient town of Split. We also have the option to use e-bikes on these holidays. In addition, unlike the giant cruise liners that dominate the likes of Dubrovnik or Split, our captains navigate their way to quiet bays rather than massive marinas. With plenty of stops for swimming in secluded places.

Waltzing down the Danube

Strauss nailed it when he called his famous composition the Blue Danube Waltz, or An der schönen blauen Donau, as this is one massive, beautiful, blue space. It will feel as if you are dancing on air on our bike and boat holidays along the Danube, whether you are taking on the Ultimate Danube bike and boat holiday, between Passau in Germany and Belgrade in Serbia, following the iconic river through six countries, or if you are just taking on one of its sections. The most popular section is that between Passau and Budapest, while also taking in two other great capital cities of Vienna and Bratislava.

You can also explore the Danube even further on our Danube Delta bike and boat holiday and cycle with a wildlife guide through the wetlands of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, protected for its reed islands, lagoons, birdlife and rare flora.

The MS Swiss Crown is the beauty that guides you through six countries of the Danube’s course.

The Netherlands by bike and boat

The Dutch do many things brilliantly, two of the main ones being waterways and cycleways. Which is why we are over the moon to offer five bike and boat holidays in the Netherlands, the cycling aspect of which are easy peasy-cheesy, just to bring in one of the other Dutch greats. They are all on traditional riverboats, staying in outward-facing cabins with meals provided. Our North Holland bike and boat tour takes you through the country’s northern polder areas, to the wilds of the North Sea coastline and to Texel, one of the Dutch Wadden Islands and national park. In contrast, our South Holland tour has more of a city focus, starting and ending in Rotterdam with stops at Gouda, Delft and Utrecht en route, and the tranquil wetlands of De Biesbosch National Park in between. You can also top and tail your trip with the glories of Amsterdam on this holiday, which also includes the iconic 19 windmills of Kinderdijk.

A bike and boat holiday in North Holland is on board a boat aptly called Serena. Moor right up beside the cycle path and go

In Bruges, on a boat

It doesn’t get much cooler than breezing into Bruges on a boat, or a bike for that matter. This two week tour starts in Paris and finishes in Bruges, with you cycling the last leg through the countryside of Western Flanders to reach Bruges. One of Europe’s most striking medieval cities, famous for its UNESCO World Heritage status, museums and chocolate, as well as for the cult movie, of course, this is a show-stopping way to be in Bruges. As is the bike and boat holiday from Amsterdam to Bruges. In addition, you get to cycle some good long-distance trails, challenging yourself mentally and physically but with a chance to chill on board, with no other responsibilities at the end of the day. Or indeed skip a day of cycling for sailing instead. It’s a holiday after all.

Our bike and boat holidays, such as this one that finishes in Bruges, are top family adventure.

A passage to Poland

This lesser-known aqua adventure starts in the cultural hub and capital of Berlin, and then takes you sailing on a bike and riverboat holiday between here and the Hanseatic town of Stralsund. Sleeping on board, by day you cycle along the likes of the Oder-Havel or Finow Canals, through the Ruppin Lake District and Lower Oder Valley National Park, which straddles the German and Polish border, as well as to the historic Polish port city of Szczecin. There is so much history and nature to explore on this tour, and you can also rent e-bikes to power through Poland, or dash through Deutschland. In addition, keen train travellers can access both start and finish cities by rail.

Your trip from Germany to Poland and back ends in the Hanseatic town of Stralsund, which is Pomerania at its prettiest.

We hope that you have enjoyed joining us on board our beautiful collection of bike and boat holidays. They are all about just going with the flow, not taking on too many challenging bike rides and seeing new places from new perspectives. If this appeals, you may also enjoy our blogs on Our most popular easy cycling holidays, Our most popular easy walking holidays and E-bike holidays that aim high. We see our bike and boat holidays as a healthy antidote to unsustainable holidays on giant cruise liners, something we address in our blog Waking up to and walking away from overtourism. For details on any of our bike and boat holidays, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Please note that the price of bike hire is generally not included in the price of these bike and boat holidays.