Between June 2025 and January 2026, I cycled 13,038 km from Athens, Greece to Nordkapp in Norway — the northernmost point of mainland Europe — and then turned south, cycling through Scandinavia and Western Europe to Tarifa in Spain before finishing in Lisbon, Portugal. This is the story of the Cycling Everywhere bike tour: 231 days, 18 countries, and one bicycle.
The Full Route
Cycling through Greece
The Cycling Everywhere tour began in Athens on 4th June 2025. Heading north through the Greek mainland on my Thorn Nomad Mk2 touring bicycle, I took a ferry across to the island of Evia before cycling through Thessaly and up towards the Macedonian border. The Greek heat was intense from day one, but the quiet roads and welcoming tavernas made for a memorable start to the journey.
10 days cycling | 756 km | 5,014m elevation gain
First selfie of the tour — standing with my loaded bike among the olive groves of Evia, still getting used to the weight on day one.
Read my Greece bicycle touring blog posts here: Bikepacking in Greece
Cycling through Bulgaria
Crossing the border at Kulata, I found myself on some of the quietest roads of the entire trip. Bulgaria was a pleasant surprise — rolling countryside, friendly drivers, and incredibly affordable food and camping. The route took me through Blagoevgrad and up into the mountains before crossing the Danube into Romania.
6 days cycling | 442 km | 4,201m elevation gain
Cycling through Romania
A brief but scenic passage through Romania, following the Danube westward. The riverside roads were flat and fast, and I made good progress through towns like Drobeta-Turnu Severin before crossing into Hungary.
3 days cycling | 334 km | 1,464m elevation gain
Cycling through Hungary
Hungary brought sunflower fields, thermal baths, and long straight roads across the Great Plain. I followed the Tisza River northward through small towns and farmland, enjoying some of the easiest cycling of the trip before the terrain got hillier approaching Slovakia.
6 days cycling | 528 km | 1,001m elevation gain
A sea of sunflowers on the road from Romania into Hungary. One of the most iconic images of cycling through this region.
Cycling through Slovakia
A single day’s cycling through Slovakia, crossing the mountainous border region from Pálháza in Hungary to Sabinov. Short but steep — the Carpathian foothills made this one of the tougher days of the journey.
1 days cycling | 98 km | 735m elevation gain
Cycling through Poland
Poland was one of the longer country stretches, with 11 days of cycling from the Carpathian south all the way up to the Lithuanian border. The route passed through Kraków’s outskirts and then Warsaw before heading northeast through the Podlasie region — some of the most remote and beautiful countryside in Europe.
11 days cycling | 846 km | 4,168m elevation gain
Cycling through Lithuania
Crossing into Lithuania felt like entering a different world — dense forests, lake-dotted landscapes, and almost no traffic. Four peaceful days cycling through the Baltic countryside, with excellent cycle paths and some of the best wild camping spots of the entire trip.
4 days cycling | 312 km | 1,611m elevation gain
Well-signed Lithuanian cycle paths — the infrastructure for cycling through the Baltics was better than expected.
Cycling through Latvia
Latvia continued the Baltic theme of forests, lakes, and quiet roads. I cycled through Daugavpils and up to Sigulda in the Gauja National Park, enjoying the late July weather and the gradual sense of heading further north.
5 days cycling | 381 km | 1,514m elevation gain
Cycling through Estonia
Estonia brought charming coastal towns, efficient cycle infrastructure, and a growing sense of anticipation as the Nordic countries drew closer. I cycled through Pärnu and along the coast to Tallinn, where I caught the ferry to Finland.
5 days cycling | 283 km | 674m elevation gain
Cycling through Finland
Finland was the longest single-country section of the northward leg — 20 days of cycling from Helsinki up to the Arctic. The Finnish lake district was stunning, and as I pushed further north the days grew longer and the forests thicker. Crossing the Arctic Circle near Rovaniemi was a milestone, and the final push to the Norwegian border felt genuinely remote.
21 days cycling | 1,743 km | 10,106m elevation gain
An impressive cycle bridge with colourful murals — Finland was rolling out the welcome mat for cyclists.
Cycling through Norway
Norway was the dramatic climax of the northward journey. Cycling through Finnmark towards Nordkapp, the landscape became increasingly stark and beautiful — fjords, tundra, and reindeer on the road. Reaching the Nordkapp globe monument, the northernmost point of mainland Europe, was an unforgettable moment. From there, I turned south through Alta and Kautokeino before crossing back into Finland.
9 days cycling | 711 km | 5,771m elevation gain
Made it! Standing at the Nordkapp globe monument — the northernmost point of mainland Europe. Athens to here by bicycle.
Cycling through Sweden
Sweden was the longest single-country stretch of the entire trip at 25 cycling days. From the Arctic north near Pajala, I followed the coast south through Umeå, then cut inland through the forests and lakes of central Sweden. The autumn colours were spectacular, and the right to roam made wild camping effortless.
25 days cycling | 1,953 km | 12,483m elevation gain
A long quiet road through Swedish forest. Barely any traffic and brilliant autumn colours.
Cycling through Denmark
A short but enjoyable crossing of Denmark, staying with hosts and cycling through the flat, agricultural countryside before catching the ferry south to Germany.
3 days cycling | 256 km | 1,054m elevation gain
Cycling through Germany
Germany offered well-maintained cycle paths and efficient routing through the northern plains. From Schleswig-Holstein through Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia, I crossed the country in 11 days, mostly following dedicated Radwege (cycle routes) through towns like Bremen and Cologne.
11 days cycling | 803 km | 3,267m elevation gain
Cycling through Belgium
Two days through the Ardennes region of Belgium — short but surprisingly hilly. The autumn colours along the Meuse valley approaching Dinant were some of the most beautiful scenery of the western European leg.
2 days cycling | 127 km | 1,106m elevation gain
Stunning autumn ivy covering the stone buildings near Dinant. Belgium in October was gorgeous.
Cycling through France
France was a long, leisurely traverse from the Ardennes down to the Basque Country. I cycled through the Champagne region, along the Loire Valley, and into the rolling countryside of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. The Véloroutes and voies vertes made for pleasant, traffic-free riding, and the boulangeries kept morale high.
16 days cycling | 1,330 km | 7,851m elevation gain
Cycling through Spain
Spain was the longest country section of the entire journey at 33 cycling days. I entered through the Pyrenean foothills and followed parts of the Camino de Santiago across northern Spain before turning south through Castilla y León, Extremadura, and Andalucía. The route took me through Pamplona, Salamanca, Cáceres, and Seville before reaching Tarifa, the southernmost point of mainland Europe. From Tarifa, I turned west for the final stretch to Portugal.
33 days cycling | 1,735 km | 13,781m elevation gain
Mountain views near Pamplona. The Navarra landscape was dramatic after the flat Landes of France.
Cycling through Portugal
The final country, and a fitting end to the journey. I crossed from Spain into the Algarve and followed the Atlantic coast north through the wild beauty of the Costa Vicentina before turning inland towards Lisbon. After 231 days and over 13,000 km, arriving in Lisbon on 20th January 2026 was a moment I’ll never forget.
8 days cycling | 399 km | 2,907m elevation gain
Arriving at the Lisbon ferry terminal. The final ferry crossing of an epic 231-day bicycle tour from Athens.
– Dave BriggsDave is a long-distance cyclist and travel writer from the UK who has been living in Athens, Greece since 2015. Between June 2025 and January 2026, Dave cycled over 13,000 km from Athens to Nordkapp (the northernmost point of mainland Europe) before turning south through Scandinavia and Western Europe, reaching Tarifa in Spain and finishing in Lisbon, Portugal. Follow Dave on social media for travel inspiration from Greece and beyond: