Escaping the cold and wet weather

Biking in central Europe can be challenging during the cold, wet and mostly dark winter months. Therefore, a lot of riders who want to bike in the cold season head south in search of dry and dusty trails. 

In winter, destinations can be divided into two groups: One with a high certainty that there will be good constant conditions and the other where the conditions can change depending on the current weather situation. 

You can expect good, mostly save biking conditions in Portugal, Spain, the Canary Islands, in the South of France and Italy. If you are based in central Europe, this usually means getting on a plane or driving for a while until you arrive at your preferred destination. 

Make sure to check the current weather, webcams and the forecast before travelling to central Europe with destinations such as Switzerland, Northern Italy and Germany as there can be snow and ice or maybe you are lucky and will be able to ride in shorts. 

In well established winter biking locations there will be larger groups of bikers, especially in the off season. A prime example of this is Finale Ligure and Massa Marittima. If you are looking for destinations less travelled have a look at our Hidden Bike Treasures article. 

If you travel to a location where regular tourism peaks during another season there is a good chance that you will not have access to all amenities as they are closed. Especially in coastal regions in Southern Europe, you might find that some restaurants, bars, etc. might be closed during the winter months.