A Breathtaking Canal City In Europe Is One Of The World's Most Bicycle-Friendly Destinations

In the city of Utrecht, it's perfectly normal for a middle class professional to ride a bicycle to work. A surgeon or attorney could pedal from home to office — alongside electricians and cashiers — and no one would raise an eyebrow. At least 50% of Utrecht residents use bicycles for everyday transport, no matter what the weather or season, and nearly every household in the city has at least one bike. More than 125,000 commuters ride into the city every day, navigating a smooth network of car-free paths and lanes, and they continue to ride for groceries, school pickups, and nightlife. Utrecht is packed with bike-friendly infrastructure, including the sweeping Dafne Schippers Bridge, which is designed solely for bikes and pedestrians and blends into a riverside urban park. Among countless sights, the age-old canal system is one of Utrecht's finest features.

People all over the world admire the Netherlands for its bold cycling culture, where the Dutch-style bike — with its comfortable handlebars and upright position — dominates roads and paths. Entire books have been written about Holland's cycling revolution, and its profound effect on health, happiness, and air quality. Not surprisingly, Rick Steves recommends the Netherlands as a first stop on a cross-European journey. But even here, Utrecht stands out: In 2022, the Global Bicycle Cities Index named this metro of 1.3 million people the "most bicycle-friendly city in the world." There are lots of bike-centric cities out there, such as nearby Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Berlin. For at least one year, Utrecht outpaced them all.

If you're the kind of traveler who likes to explore cities on two wheels, Utrecht is a veritable promised land. The downtown area is packed with bike shops, making rentals easy to come by. Incredibly, Utrecht doesn't have a unified bike-share app at the moment, but if you have any trouble visiting one of these shops, many local hotels rent rides as well. Utrecht is famous for its brick-paved streets, canal bridges, and ample parks and paths, and you could spend days exploring its historic center. You'll share the pavement with thousands of other riders, who generally take their time and obey traffic laws. These routes extend into the suburbs and countryside, connecting every major city in Holland; you could ride from Utrecht to the heart of Amsterdam in only two hours and barely cross paths with a car or truck.

This didn't happen by magic. Cycling advocates have pushed for safety and infrastructure in the Netherlands since the 1970s. Utrecht is an old city with a wealth of medieval streets and churches, and residents objected to an automotive invasion. Today, the Netherlands is rated as one of the happiest nations in the world. For travelers, Utrecht retains its architectural heritage and remains easy to navigate on foot or pneumatic tire. Spring is the best time to visit the Netherlands, but a hardy cyclist could comfortably ride here in any season, just like the locals.

Cycling comes with a lot of positives — exercise, fresh air, saved money, lower carbon emissions — but it does have the occasional downside, such as parking. When tens of thousands of people converge on a millennium-old city center at the same time, the streets are bound to get a little cluttered. That's why the city built a voluminous, state-of-the-art parking garage beneath its main train station, where as many as 12,500 bicycles can be safely stored. Parking in this facility is free for the first 24 hours, with a nominal fee after that.

If you're feeling ambitious, you could feasibly cycle across the entire country in a few good riding days, an effort made easier by the famously level landscape and numerous established cycling routes. Many trains also allow bikes aboard, especially on off-peak hours, so you can zip from one hot spot to another. No wonder biking across the Netherlands is considered one of the best outdoor activities in Europe.