The World on Two Wheels: 15 Award-Winning Cycling RoutesBicycle touring offers an intimate connection to the landscape that no other form of travel can match. Across the globe, specific pathways have earned international acclaim, official sustainable tourism awards, and prestigious design recognitions for their exceptional infrastructure, breathtaking scenery, and cultural depth. These fifteen award-winning routes represent the pinnacle of cycling design, offering unforgettable journeys for casual riders and seasoned cyclotourists alike.
1. The Shimanami Kaido, JapanStretching across the Seto Inland Sea, this spectacular route connects Japan’s main island of Honshu with Shikoku. Winning global praise for its cyclist-first infrastructure, the path utilizes a series of magnificent suspension bridges equipped with dedicated, gently sloped ramps for bicycles. Riders enjoy pristine coastal views, citrus orchards, and small island hospitality along this masterfully engineered seventy-kilometer marine highway.
2. Route Verte, CanadaSpanning thousands of kilometers across Quebec, the Route Verte is a certified marvel of eco-tourism. It won national accolades for revitalizing rural economies while promoting green transportation. The network guides cyclists through a diverse tapestry of historic villages, dense boreal forests, and the dramatic cliffs of the Gaspe Peninsula, all supported by an extensive network of certified bicycle-friendly accommodations.
3. The Great Ocean Road Waterfront Trail, AustraliaWhile motorists crowd the main asphalt, the dedicated cycling infrastructure flanking this iconic coastline has claimed numerous regional tourism design awards. Bicyclists experience the dramatic meeting of Southern Ocean waves and towering limestone stacks, including the famous Twelve Apostles. The route offers designated eco-stops and pristine wildlife viewing zones filled with wild koalas and kangaroos.
4. Otago Central Rail Trail, New ZealandAs a pioneer of the modern rail-trail movement, this South Island route transformed an abandoned railway line into a thriving recreational corridor. It received supreme tourism awards for preserving pioneering history while fostering community-based hospitality. Cyclists pedal through dramatic schist rock canyons, crossing historic viaducts and old wooden bridges completely free from motorized traffic.
5. EuroVelo 15: The Rhine Cycle RouteHolding the prestigious European Cyclists’ Federation certification for exemplary signage and safety, EuroVelo 15 follows the Rhine River from its alpine source in Switzerland to the North Sea in the Netherlands. This cross-border journey takes riders past fairy-tale German castles, sprawling French vineyards, and historic Dutch windmills, showcasing the peak of continental bicycle infrastructure.
6. The Wild Atlantic Way, IrelandIreland’s rugged western edge features award-winning cycling loops that hug towering sea cliffs and windswept peninsulas. Recognized internationally for immersive cultural tourism, the route invites cyclists to navigate ancient stone walls, vibrant Gaelic-speaking coastal towns, and the dramatic, lunar-like landscapes of the Burren, where traditional music sessions reward riders every evening.
7. The Dolomites Cycle Path, ItalyCarved out of a disused mountain railway line, this northern Italian route has earned global design recognition for accessibility amid extreme terrain. The path offers a gentle gradient through a UNESCO World Heritage site, allowing recreational cyclists to experience the towering limestone peaks, lush alpine meadows, and charming Tyrolean villages of the Dolomites without grueling vertical climbs.
8. The Parenzana Trail, Croatia, Slovenia, and ItalyThis unique tri-border route breathes new life into a historic narrow-gauge railway line that once connected Trieste to Porec. Awarded European structural funds for cross-border cooperation and cultural preservation, the gravel path winds through dark stone tunnels, over soaring viaducts, and amidst the olive groves and truffle-rich forests of the Istrian peninsula.
9. Death Road Cycle Trail, BoliviaOnce known exclusively for its danger, this gravity-defying route from the high Andes down into the Amazon basin has been transformed by award-winning safety management and community-led adventure tourism initiatives. Cyclists experience a breathtaking transition through multiple ecological zones, dropping over three thousand vertical meters past cascading waterfalls and misty cloud forests.
10. The Vennbahn, Germany, Belgium, and LuxembourgAs one of Europe’s longest continuous rail-trails, the Vennbahn won the coveted European Greenways Award for outstanding cross-border integration. The path cuts through the High Fens nature reserve, crossing international borders multiple times in a single afternoon, and features meticulously preserved railway architecture, heritage stations, and perfectly smooth asphalt.
11. Munda Biddi Trail, AustraliaDeep in Western Australia, this globally acclaimed off-road cycling trail represents a triumph of conservation and sustainable trail building. Meaning “path through the forest” in the local Indigenous language, the route cuts through majestic eucalyptus forests, utilizing a network of purpose-built, solar-powered eco-shelters that provide remote wilderness accommodation for long-distance bike-packers.
12. The Kattegattleden, SwedenNamed Europe’s Cycling Route of the Year shortly after its completion, Sweden’s first national tourist bicycle route stretches along the rocky west coast from Helsingborg to Gothenburg. The path is highly praised for its seamless connection to public transit, taking riders past sandy beaches, fishing villages, and royal gardens with constant views of the shimmering sea.
13. The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, United States and CanadaAs the premier dirt-touring route in North America, this monumental path follows the Continental Divide through remote backcountry. It has received legendary status among outdoor organizations for its rigorous wilderness mapping and preservation advocacy, testing riders with high-altitude mountain passes, expansive valleys, and encounters with pristine mountain wildlife.
14. The Loire à Vélo, FranceThis highly celebrated valley route tracks the last wild river in France and boasts exceptional accessibility standards. Winning numerous national tourism accolades, the path winds effortlessly through the “Garden of France,” connecting world-famous Renaissance châteaux, subterranean troglodyte caves, and historic river ports via flat, car-free greenways.
15. The Van Gogh-Roosegaarde Cycle Path, NetherlandsCombining infrastructure with high art, this innovative path in Eindhoven won international design awards for smart, sustainable urban integration. The surface is embedded with thousands of solar-powered, glowing stones inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s masterpiece, “The Starry Night,” creating a magical, self-illuminating nighttime cycling experience that represents the future of active transportation.
These award-winning routes prove that when communities invest in thoughtful, safe, and culturally integrated cycling infrastructure, they create destinations that enrich both visitors and residents. From repurposed industrial railways to solar-powered artistic greenways, these paths celebrate the beauty of slow travel and provide a blueprint for a more sustainable, two-wheeled future.
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