In Paris and its close suburbs, cycling is now part of daily life. Many use it to go to work, meet friends, or simply cross the city. The capital's cycling infrastructure is now very developed. But over time, traffic density, successive traffic lights, and constant urban noise can tire out even the most motivated cyclists.
If you want to change pace and go beyond the périphérique (ring road), the surroundings of Paris offer dozens of routes that, in just a few kilometers, allow you to find yourself among fields, forests, and quiet roads without complicated logistics or special preparation.
France is particularly well suited for this type of getaway. The cycling network is well-developed, trains facilitate travel between regions, and there are plenty of destinations to combine movement, landscapes, and a slight sense of adventure, all without extreme passes or an overloaded schedule. Routes and Roads experts have selected some iconic routes below for those who want a change of scenery, comfortable riding, and true freedom away from urban hustle and bustle.
Table of Contents:
Avenue Verte London–Paris Route
La Véloscénie Paris – Mont-Saint-Michel Route
Tour de Bourgogne à Vélo Route
Loire à Vélo Route
Vexin Français Regional Natural Park Route
Fontainebleau and Rambouillet Forest Routes
How to Prepare for Your Cycling Trip
Conclusion
The Île-de-France region offers a wide variety of routes. You'll find peaceful itineraries for a nature weekend as well as longer routes that can extend over a week or more. Just leave the city and you'll feel the atmosphere gradually change: the noise fades, replaced by fields, forests, small villages, and clear roads, far from traffic.
In France, there are many opportunities to escape urban chaos
Avenue Verte London–Paris Route
Region: Île-de-France → Normandy → United Kingdom
Duration: 3–4 days (Paris–Dieppe) / 5–7 days (Paris–London)
Difficulty: medium
Recommended bike: gravel / touring bike / road bike with tires from 30 mm
The Avenue Verte is one of the most logical routes to start directly from Paris. It crosses France and the United Kingdom: the route begins in the French capital and, in its full version, ends in London. However, it is possible to limit yourself to the French part and simply cycle to Dieppe, the boarding point for the ferry across the English Channel. The French section between Paris and Dieppe is approximately 200 to 220 km. For most cyclists, this represents three or four days of travel at a leisurely cycling pace.
The Avenue Verte is a particularly picturesque route
The surface varies: a mix of asphalt, greenways, and compacted gravel sections. The further you get from Paris, the more traffic disappears, while the terrain remains moderately hilly. The route is well-signposted and offers an excellent first bikepacking experience in France.
Crossing the English Channel by ferry
If you complete the entire route, you will need to board a ferry from Dieppe to Newhaven. The crossing takes approximately four hours. Including boarding, disembarking, and any potential waiting, it is reasonable to allow half a day. Bicycles are accepted without difficulty, but during peak season, it is advisable to book tickets in advance.
Once in the UK, there are still about 90 to 100 km to London, usually covered in one or two days depending on your pace.
Documents for entry into the United Kingdom
Since Brexit, French citizens and EU nationals traveling to the United Kingdom must obtain certain documents, without which boarding the ferry is not possible:
-
a valid passport;
-
an electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) obtained in advance.
The ETA application is made online before departure. Once obtained, it must be linked to your passport. It is advisable to do this several days before your trip.
If you are looking for gravel routes around Paris, the Avenue Verte remains one of the safest and most predictable routes. All the necessary equipment for the trip can be found at Routes and Roads. And if you want to test the equipment before purchasing, our rental service allows you to rent a bike and accessories for a short or long period.
At the Routes and Roads rental service, you can rent a bike to try out different cycling styles
La Véloscénie Paris – Mont-Saint-Michel Route
Region: Île-de-France → Centre-Val de Loire → Normandy
Duration: 4–7 days
Difficulty: medium
Recommended bike: road / gravel
La Véloscénie begins southwest of Paris and passes through Versailles before joining quieter roads in the Centre-Val de Loire region. This route naturally combines cultural heritage and athletic effort. Daily stages generally range from 80 to 120 kilometers, making it particularly suitable for cyclists already accustomed to long distances.
The route of La Véloscénie Paris – Mont-Saint-Michel
The surface is mostly asphalted, with some more uneven sections. A versatile gravel bike therefore remains the best choice. This route often attracts cyclists accustomed to road rides in Île-de-France, ready to embark on a multi-day journey with a clear goal: reaching Mont-Saint-Michel solely by the strength of their legs.
Tour de Bourgogne à Vélo Route
Region: Burgundy
Duration: 3–6 days
Difficulty: easy to medium
Recommended bike: gravel / touring bike
Burgundy offers a completely different pace. A large part of the route follows canals and greenways, with very little car traffic. The terrain is generally gentler than in other regions, allowing you to focus more on distance and the pleasure of riding than on managing climbs.
The Tour de Bourgogne is an ideal route for a first bikepacking experience
The Tour de Bourgogne is an excellent choice for a first multi-day trip with luggage. From Paris, simply take a train to Dijon or Auxerre to start almost right outside the station. It's an ideal route for discovering bikepacking in France in a relaxed format, without demanding technical sections.
Loire à Vélo Route
Region: Loire Valley
Duration: 2–5 days
Difficulty: easy
Recommended bike: road / gravel
The Loire à Vélo is one of the most famous cycle routes in the country, and undoubtedly one of the most accessible. The profile is generally flat, the surface is of good quality, and the infrastructure is perfectly developed. These conditions make it a particularly attractive choice for those who wish to increase their distances without facing challenging terrain.
Before you go on a trip, remember to buy a compact bike pump
The route follows the river and connects several towns and historical sites, allowing for flexible stage planning. For Parisians, it's also an excellent option for a short loop, easily accessible by train.
Vexin Français Regional Natural Park Route
Region: Île-de-France
Duration: 1 day / short weekend
Difficulty: medium
Recommended bike: road / gravel
The Vexin is one of the best destinations for cyclists looking for interesting routes in Île-de-France without leaving the region. Just a few dozen kilometers from the western districts of Paris, the landscape changes dramatically: gentle hills, country roads, and vast open spaces.
A few dozen kilometers are enough to discover spectacular landscapes
The terrain is more pronounced there than in the south of the region, making it an ideal area for road bike training rides. With a gravel bike, it's also possible to explore many farm tracks and small secondary roads, making the Vexin one of the most flexible destinations for day trips from Paris.
Fontainebleau and Rambouillet Forest Routes
Region: south and southwest of Île-de-France
Duration: 1–2 days
Difficulty: medium
Recommended bike: gravel
The Fontainebleau and Rambouillet forest massifs offer more dirt tracks and sandy sections than most other areas in the region. They therefore particularly attract gravel cyclists who want to get off the purely road-based trails.
The routes can easily be combined to create a bikepacking weekend with an overnight stay, or a long day trip. It's important to consider the sandy sections and choose an appropriate tire width. For Parisians, these forests are one of the simplest ways to diversify their gravel rides without complex organization.
How to Prepare for Your Cycling Trip
If you already cycle regularly in the city and on the roads of Île-de-France, embarking on a multi-day trip primarily requires good organization rather than exceptional physical condition. The main difference lies in the duration of the effort and the degree of autonomy. Small errors that go unnoticed during a day trip can accumulate over a three- to five-day journey.
Choose the right time
For most routes, the most pleasant periods are April–June and September. During these months:
-
traffic is more moderate on popular routes;
-
temperatures are comfortable for long stages;
-
the risks of overheating or dehydration are lower than in mid-summer.
Late spring is a beautiful time to travel
Adapt your bike to the type of terrain
For mixed and gravel routes, a gravel bike with 35 to 45 mm tires offers an excellent balance between performance on asphalt and stability on gravel or forest paths.
If the route is mostly asphalt and involves long distances, an endurance road bike with 28 to 32 mm tires maintains efficiency and comfort. The Routes and Roads rental service allows you to rent a bike and panniers for a long or short period to test them before your trip and make a decision before purchase.
Service your bike
Multi-day trips quickly reveal the weaknesses of a drivetrain or wheels. Before you go, it is advisable to visit the Routes and Roads workshop for a complete technical check. Experienced mechanics will prepare your gravel or road bike for a long journey, thus avoiding technical problems far from the city.
A multi-tool is essential for any bike trip
Anticipate logistics and food
It is best to plan water and food resupply points in advance, especially in rural areas where shops may have reduced hours. Daily distances should be evaluated not only in kilometers, but also according to the terrain and type of surface.
If certain sections must be covered self-sufficiently, you need to bring enough water and food. Bikepacking bags allow you to carry everything you need. Find out in this article how to choose an optimal set of bike bags.
For bikepacking, equipment is easily transported thanks to bike bags
Thoughtful preparation allows you to maintain what's essential: the energy to enjoy the road, the landscapes, and that feeling of freedom unique to cycling travel.
Conclusion
Paris is an ideal starting point for a wide variety of itineraries: from day trips in the Vexin to real cycling journeys towards the Atlantic or along the Loire.
Good preparation makes the experience comfortable and truly memorable. If you are considering your first bikepacking trip in France, start by clearly defining the format of your adventure and the actual conditions of your chosen route. Routes and Roads experts can help you select the most suitable bike and equipment for a chosen destination.
