I S LAND- HOP P ING IN STOC KHOLM Known for its design aesthetic, it’s no surprise the Sweden’s capital has created a tour that involves hopping on stylish wood-framed bikes — cyclists on Stockholm’s Wooden Bike Tour might spend as much time gawping at their wheels as the city around them. It heads across some of Stockholm’s 14 islands, including Södermalm, filled with bars, restaurants and boutiques. Another highlight is the Royal National City Park. Eight times the size of New York’s Central Park, it’s the world’s first urban national park, dotted with palaces, museums and historic taverns.
visitstockholm.com
toursofstockholm.com/tour/wooden-bike-tour
UNEARTHING ANCIENT ROME Rome is more associated with the Vespa than the pedal bike, but it’s a great destination for cyclists, too; they can weave between piazzas to uncover ancient ruins, museums and art galleries, fuelled by espressos enjoyed during cafe pit-stops. Another option is to take the cycle path along the
Tiber. Veer away from the river at the Ponte Palatino and head east to the Appia Antica Regional Park. The arrow-straight Roman Appian Way is 2,300 years old; the 10-mile section in the city is largely car free and lined with mausoleums and catacombs, passing villas hidden among the cypress and pine trees. A mountain e-bike will make light work of cobbles once trodden by legions of Roman soldiers.
romastarbike.com
turismoroma.it
E NG LAND’ S BOHEMIAN CYC L E C I T Y Crisscrossed by greenways and cycle paths and with free public bike pumps, it’s no surprise Bristol was designated Britain’s first ‘Cycling City’. Joining a tour with Cycle the City is a great way to discover less-visited areas. Cyclists can stop to take in views of the Cliſton Suspension Bridge, which spans the Avon Gorge, and learn about maritime history in the Harbourside neighbourhood, where you can hop off to board Brunel’s SS Great Britain. Along the way, there’s street art — including some by local boy Banksy — and you can tuck into local food and wine at cafes and delis. Another option is the Bristol to Bath Railway Path, a flat, off-road, 13-mile route.
cyclethecity.org visitbristol.co.uk
DU B L IN BY THE WAT E R With 118 miles of cycle paths, Dublin is a great place to discover on two wheels. Taking you to parts less commonly visited by tourists, the Docklands route leads east from the historic harbour area, where former warehouses now contain microbreweries and coffee shops, to Ringsend and the sea wall. Fans of local band U2 might want to stop off en route to visit Windmill Lane Recording Studios, where the band recorded many albums. On a warm day, take a dip in Dublin Bay before pedalling along the wall to brightly coloured Poolbeg Lighthouse.
visitdublin.com/guides/scenic-dublin-cycle-routes
20
nationalgeographic.co.uk/collection
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
