Top 10 Global Cycling Destinations

As a Taiwanese cyclist, the beautiful routes on our island are certainly captivating, but the world is vast, and even more wonders await. Here are 10 cycling destinations most worth a long-haul flight for Taiwanese riders.

Top 10 Global Cycling Destinations

1. French Alps 🇫🇷

Must-ride climbs: Alpe d’Huez, Col du Galibier, Col du Tourmalet
Best season: June-September
Difficulty: Intermediate to advanced (climbing ability required)
Highlights: Ride on the Tour de France course, where every corner holds history

2. Dolomites, Italy 🇮🇹

Must-ride climbs: Passo Giau, Passo Fedaia, Sellaronda
Best season: June-September
Highlights: UNESCO World Heritage site, the most spectacular mountain cycling scenery

3. Mallorca, Spain 🇪🇸

Must-ride routes: Sa Calobra, Cap de Formentor
Best season: January-March (winter training), April-June (pre-season)
Highlights: A training mecca for pro riders, mild climate year-round

4. Flanders, Belgium 🇧🇪

Must-ride routes: Ronde van Vlaanderen cobbled sectors
Best season: March-May (alongside the Spring Classics)
Highlights: Cobblestone culture and a deep-rooted cycling atmosphere

5. Shimanami Kaido, Japan 🇯🇵

Route: Imabari (Honshu) → Onomichi (Shikoku), or the reverse, 70 km
Best season: April-May (spring, before the foliage) or October-November (autumn)
Highlights: One of the world’s most beautiful bridge-hopping cycling routes, with views over the Seto Inland Sea

6. Intercity Routes in the Netherlands 🇳🇱

Recommended routes: Amsterdam → Utrecht, or the Dutch coast LF1 route
Best season: April-June (tulip season) or August-September
Highlights: The world’s most complete cycling infrastructure, experience cycling paradise

7. South Island, New Zealand 🇳🇿

Must-ride routes: Queen Charlotte Drive, Otago Central Rail Trail
Best season: December-March (Southern Hemisphere summer)
Highlights: Stunning fjords, snow-capped mountains and pastures, with almost no traffic on the road

8. Colombian Andes 🇨🇴

Recommended base city: Medellín
Best season: Year-round (stable high-altitude climate)
Highlights: An excellent venue for high-altitude training, experience Colombian cycling culture

9. Tibet-Qinghai Plateau (based in Lhasa) 🇨🇳

Recommended challenge: The Qinghai-Tibet Highway, or sections of the Yunnan-Tibet route
Best season: May-October
Highlights: The ultimate challenge on the Roof of the World, a transcendent high-altitude experience

10. Vietnam Coast 🇻🇳

Recommended routes: Based in Da Nang, heading north to Hoi An and south to Nha Trang
Best season: February-April (central dry season)
Highlights: Low cost of living, beautiful scenery, and an authentic Asian cycling culture

Practical Advice for Departing from Taiwan

Choosing a Destination That Matches Your Level

Conclusion

Every great cycling destination is waiting for you to arrive. Plan your first international cycling trip, start with one destination, and let the road beneath your wheels take you out into the world.

Related Reading

• Top 10 World Cycling Routes: European Alps, Colorado USA, and New Zealand’s South Island
• The World’s Most Beautiful Cycling Routes: Top Destinations in New Zealand, Iceland, Norway, and Japan
• The Complete Guide to Cycling in Taiwan: The East Coast Line and Sun Moon Lake Loop
• A Cyclist’s Travel Philosophy: 36 Ways to Explore Taiwan by Bike