Articles and Photos by David "Q" May All rights reserved ©2001-2012
This page last updated on: November 19, 2013

Home Page

Cycle In Paris:

What you need to know about renting bikes in Paris; bicycling in Paris; subways, trains, and the RER; where to put your bike overnight; and cycling out of Paris.

Cycle to and from the Paris Airports:

How to transport or ride your bike from the Paris airports to Paris or elsewhere.

Cycle Out of Paris on Bicycle Paths and Low Traffic Roads:

Low traffic bike route along the Seine River in Paris with Notre Dame in distance:

Notre Dame from bicycle route

Seven bicycle routes from central Paris into the countryside, mainly free of traffic, amply photographed, and with precise directions.

For a good day's tour, the two most enjoyable are:

Route #2, returning by Route #1 (about 75 kilometers - 45 miles).
Route #4, returning by train (about 60 kilometers - 48 miles).

Use Routes 1, 4, 5, 6 or 7 for pleasure and also to begin a long distance cycling vacation.

Route #1		How to Bicycle Northeast from Paris towards Meaux or Chantilly along the Canal de l'Ourcq. Calm, pleasant, flat, canal-side route without traffic, 15 miles (25 kilometers) one-way, return possible by train. This is the best route to begin a long distance trip to the northeast or east.
Route #2		How to Bicycle East from Paris, along the Marne River, with a return possible by Route #1 or by Route #3. Beautiful route with flowers and woods, then riverside, flat and without traffic, ending at large lake, 18 miles (30 kilometers) one-way. A loop continuation with one big hill leads to the return by Route #1, about 45 miles (75 kilometers) in total.
Route #3		How to Bicycle Southeast from Paris — The Marne River Meander circuit. Calm, pleasant, nearly flat, loop route in the Paris suburbs along the lower Marne, 24 miles (39 kilometers) in total.
Route #4		How to Bicycle South from Paris, along the Seine River, to Barbizon and Fontainbleau. Complex, varied route — often along the Seine — through industrial areas, residential cityscapes, suburbs, exurbs, villages, forests, and farmland. Most of the route is on bike paths or quiet lanes, but 2 miles (4 kilometers) is on roads with light to moderate traffic. Total one-way ride is 45 - 48 miles (75 to 80 kilometers), with a return possible by train. Though mostly flat, there are two big hills. This is the best route to begin a long distance trip to the southeast or south.
Route #5		How to Bicycle Southwest from Paris in parkland, with return loops, or to head towards the Loire château Amusing, pretty, mainly traffic-free, rolling, slow ramble on bike paths and in parkland, along and over the Atlantic TGV tracks. Several extensions and return loops are possible, for rides totaling 12, 16, 19, or 30 miles (20, 26, 32 and 49 kilometers). This is the best route to begin a long distance trip to the southwest.
Route #6		How to Bicycle West from Paris to Versailles and beyond In 10 miles (16 kilometers), ride through woods, parkland, and some quiet suburban streets from the edge of Paris to the Château of Versailles and beyond. There is one short, steep hill and one long, not very steep hill. This is the best route to begin a long distance trip to the west or northwest.
Route #7		How to Bicycle Northwest from Paris to Auvers-sur-Oise A rapid, easy, safe 31 kilometer route to the home of Van Gogh and Cezanne, often on bicycle paths or in bicycle lanes, and then on a highway with only light traffic. Mostly flat. Some interesting or beautiful sights on the way. This is the best rapid route to reach Beauvais, and Dieppe on the English Channel, with a continuation on to London. Other route options are discussed.
Airports		How to transport a bicycle to or from a Paris airport
C D Gaulle		Low traffic and bike path route form Charles De Gaulle Airport to Paris.
Orly Airport		Low traffic and bike path route from Orly Airport to Paris .

French pronunciation; French bicycle types and repair vocabulary; Road signs and their observance; helmets.

How to get regional maps, lodging, and tourist sight information

Sister Sites: EuropeBicycleTouring.com—Directions, and information on choosing and self-organizing a great European Bicycle Tour. Discussion of the most important issues of European cycle touring, such as budget, styles of tours, selecting a tour, selecting a bicycle, renting versus bring your bicycle, security, and so on.

Trip planning and self-guiding directions for Austrian Danube to Vienna, Dordogne Valley, Loire Valley Chateaux, North Sea Route from France to Holland, Alentejo province Portugal, Alsace Wine Route, Ijsselmeer, Netherlands, Austria-Bavaria, Bodensee (Constance) Circuit, French Riviera, Provence, Southern Tuscany and Umbria, and the Saint James Pilgrimage.

Grfive.com—for complete information on hiking the GR5 long distance trail across the Alps from Lake Geneva to the Meditteranean.

Send Comments, Suggestions or Corrections: To send an e-mail about this site, click here: q.may@mayq.com. Suggestions, comments, or corrections will be highly appreciated. Due to travel and other activities, response time may be long. Credits.