A Family Cycling Holiday in France: Plan Ahead for an Easy Ride

Cycling offers the perfect playground for families looking for adventure during their time away. Here’s how to get ready for the journey – from choosing your destination and mapping out stages with stops in our budget-friendly hotels, to selecting the right gear, finding family-friendly routes and picking up tips to make the most of every mile.

Here are our favourite hints and tips for successful – and unforgettable – family cycling adventures in France.

Before setting off, think about your children’s ages, seasonal weather patterns and the type of terrain you’ll be covering. With younger riders, it’s best to stick to flat routes and avoid Tour de France-style climbs. Well-maintained cycle paths along rivers, canals or the coast are ideal, letting little legs pedal steadily without too many stops while parents relax and enjoy the views. For summer family cycling holidays, head for forested areas where you can cover plenty of ground in the shade. Travelling with teens? Opt for gently rolling landscapes – a touch of challenge to keep things exciting but without taking the fun out of the ride. And if your children (or you!) love snapping Insta-worthy pics, choose routes with plenty of scenic viewpoints – perfect excuses to pause and capture the moment.

The perfect route blends safety, variety and pleasure. Greenways and marked cycle paths are ideal for riding with children; local tourist offices or France Vélo Tourisme can provide reliable information about cycle-friendly routes in your chosen region. Aim for an itinerary that suits all abilities, while also factoring in breaks, overnight stops and points of interest to keep things engaging. Build in natural pauses – a shaded picnic spot, a playground near the path or even a visit to a bakery or ice-cream shop – so there’s always something to look forward to during rides. And don’t forget to allow time for the unexpected: a detour to a pretty village, a riverside concert or a chance encounter with a local fête. It’s often these unplanned moments that everyone remembers long after the trip is over.

Every kilo counts on a bike – especially on family trips – so keep your packing streamlined. Distribute the weight of panniers evenly, consider a trailer for the youngest passengers and stick to simple, functional kit: helmets, water bottles, weather-appropriate clothing and a basic repair kit. Think also about how small extras can make the ride smoother: compact picnic blankets, lightweight waterproof capes or a few snacks that double as morale boosters on longer stretches. And if your affordable French hotel offers all-day dining or laundry facilities, you can pack even lighter. For extra inspiration, take a look at our top tips for travelling light – because smart packing means more comfort and a happier ride for everyone.

Head off on an unforgettable cross-channel cycling holiday via the Avenue Verte, a well-signposted route linking London and Paris and blending countryside calm with heritage highlights along the way. From leafy start points in south-east London, you follow peaceful, traffic-free greenways and converted railway lines into the Sussex countryside, before continuing by ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe. Depending on your arrival time, spend the night at ibis Dieppe Val Druel, a family-friendly hotel with bike facilities, just minutes from the town centre and Dieppe’s château and seafront.

From here, two family-friendly routes open up before you, combining cycling ease with cultural discovery. The shorter western route (398 km) winds past quiet villages in the Epte Valley and through the rolling hills of the Vexin Regional Natural Park, ideal for wildlife lovers.

The longer eastern route (462 km) appeals to anyone who enjoys history and culture, passing through larger towns such as Beauvais and Senlis. Here, ibis Budget Senlis is perfectly placed on the edge of the medieval town, with easy access to cobbled streets and Gothic churches, and just a short cycle to the magnificent Château de Chantilly, renowned for its gardens and art collection.

Both routes of the Avenue Verte culminate in the heart of Paris. Cycling past the Seine and towards iconic landmarks, your ride ends not just with a sense of arrival, but with the reward of having discovered northern France at a slower, more memorable pace – and if you’re staying in Paris hotels, you have a choice of 4Paris bike rides with family.

Signposted cycle paths, budget-friendly hotels with the Accueil Vélo label to make your journey easier, and scenery that changes with every kilometre – beyond routes starting in Paris, certain French regions are especially suited to family cycling holidays. Here are three destinations and three ways to enjoy a two-wheeled escape with your tribe: a one-way route through Normandy, a nature-filled loop in Burgundy and two stopovers along the Loire for day trips in every direction. Each offers its own atmosphere – from coastal cliffs and heritage towns to tranquil canals and royal châteaux – ensuring your holiday feels like several mini-adventures rolled into one.

Discover a beautiful stretch of the Vélomaritime route, perfectly suited to families. In just over 200 km and around 10 days, follow the Normandy coastline from Honfleur to Mont-Saint-Michel. Along the way: Deauville’s elegant seafront, the fishing port at Courseulles-sur-Mer, D-Day remains at Arromanches and then Saint-Lô, still wrapped by its medieval walls. The salty tang of sea air, the cry of gulls overhead and the colourful bustle of local markets make every stage feel unique. One moment you’re pedalling along a windswept beach, the next you’re winding through peaceful countryside, past quiet hedgerows and into postcard-perfect village squares. And the kids will love flying kites or enjoying ice cream on the beach, exploring wartime bunkers or catching their first glimpse of Mont-Saint-Michel’s fairytale spire as you approach via the gentle route through Pontorson.

When it’s time to rest and recharge for the night, hop off at ibis Styles Ouistreham, ibis Honfleur or ibis Pontorson Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel. With bike storage, route information for the next day and spacious family rooms, everything’s designed to welcome two-wheeled travellers. Each stage of your trip feels like a full-on holiday, combining sea views, heritage and the simple joy of cycling together.

For a family cycling holiday combining both nature and history, head to the south of Burgundy for a loop of around 230 km over 10 to 12 days, ideal for families. The route is mostly flat and well signposted, following canals, passing vineyards and heading through charming villages as you take in several sections of the Tour de Bourgogne à Vélo. Expect ever-changing backdrops – from the golden light over vine-covered hills to the cool shade of tree-lined towpaths – and plenty of opportunities to stop for photos or a taste of local produce.

Start with a night or two at the budget-friendly ibis Beaune Centre and a visit to the famous Hospices de Beaune, then ride the southern section of the wine route towards Chalon-sur-Saône. In Chalon’s historic centre, wander cobbled streets lined with cafés before resting up at ibis Chalon-sur-Saône North. From here, the pace slows as you cycle into quieter countryside to the south. Stop in Cluny for a gourmet break, then head west to Paray-le-Monial to admire its unforgettable basilica – a masterpiece of Romanesque art. The route then follows the Canal du Centre and its purpose-built cycle paths, before returning to Beaune a few kilometres later. Along the way, pause to watch the locks in action and the comings and goings of barges.

The Loire Valley is a dream setting for family cycling holidays, and Blois makes the perfect starting point. From ibis budget Blois Centre, you have easy access to the Loire à Vélo cycle path, with plenty of routes radiating from your base. 

On day one, cycle about an hour to visit the Château de Chambord, hidden deep in its forested estate some 20 km from your hotel. The next day, head to the gardens of Chaumont-sur-Loire via a pleasant riverside route that’s ideal for younger riders.

Continue towards Tours, following the Loire’s banks. Stop at Mosnes for a picnic by the water, then make a detour to Bourré – a troglodyte village offering a cool, shaded pause for all ages. Next, reach Amboise and its royal château, perched high above the town. In Tours, settle in at ibis Tours Centre Gare, a budget-friendly, family hotel that’s ideal for parking your bikes and exploring the city on foot. The old town, gourmet food halls and lively riverbank events are sure to charm the whole family. From here, cycle to Villandry and its chequerboard gardens, or set off on a nature ride along the Cher for the day. Whichever route you choose, the Loire Valley serves up a blend of history, culture and slow-travel pleasures that’s hard to beat.

On a family cycling trip, every kilometre and every stop becomes the start of a new memory. An afternoon nap beneath the trees, a treasure hunt along a country trail, a riddle posed between two bends in the road… These little rituals make the ride lighter and the days brighter. Encourage the kids to keep a travel diary, appoint a “ride leader for the day” to choose where you stop, or slip a pack of cards into your rucksack for evening downtime. It’s not about speed – it’s about enjoying the adventure together. And when everyone has a role to play, a voice to share and something to look forward to, a family cycling holiday takes on a special rhythm – one where moving forward feels effortless.

Setting off on a cycling trip with the family is also a life lesson in teamwork. Everyone learns to adapt to each other’s pace, to offer encouragement when youngsters grow weary and to find solutions together when the rain sets in or a tyre deflates. These little hiccups often become the anecdotes you’ll laugh about later. That’s the beauty of a family cycling holiday – unexpected moments that strengthen your bond, shared lessons learned along the way and simple joys you might never have experienced otherwise. Immersed in nature and more attentive to one another, you’ll return from your journey feeling more connected and far more relaxed.

We’ve also got lots of ideas and more inspiration for family breaks in France, or taking a road trip through French countryside. In the meantime, why not start planning your family cycling holiday in France today?