My Top 5 Favorite Countries to Cycle In 🚴‍♂️ | 5,000 km Across Europe

After cycling over 5,000 km across Europe, these are my Top 5 Favorite Countries to Cycle In — based on food, roads, people, and pure happiness on two wheels.

From the quiet valleys of Slovenia, to the mountain climbs of Spain, the vineyards of France, the cozy shelters of Denmark, and the rivers of the Czech Republic — each country gave me something different.

This video is more than a list.
It’s a story about what each place taught me — about cycling, life, and slowing down.

🇸🇮 Slovenia – the small country with the biggest heart
🇪🇸 Spain – where I ride every winter and find the best roads
🇫🇷 France – food, wine, and cycling history everywhere
🇩🇰 Denmark – where it all began in 2012
🇨🇿 Czech Republic – simple, quiet, and home to the best beer in Europe

After years of chasing roads across Europe, I’m still planning the next adventure.
Where should I go next? 🌍
Comment your favorite country or dream cycling route below — I’d love your ideas.

And if you enjoy this video, please subscribe so you don’t miss the next journey:

[Music] I’ve made it my tradition to go on at least one big cycling trip every year because when you live in Iceland with short summers, long winter and wild weather, you learn to truly appreciate these moment of good roads, good weather, and that feeling of just riding without limits. And after more than 5,000 kilometers across Europe through mountains, coastlines, and small forgotten villages, these are my top five favorite countries to cycle in. Czech Republic. Quiet back roads, forest glimpse, and the best beer in Europe. The Czech Republic is a country that surprised me in all the right ways. How do you call me the Czechlands? It’s my favorite country for beer. Simple, honest, and full of character. Every village has its own brew, its own flavor, and its own story. What I loved most was the simplicity, beautiful countryside, friendly people, and and a rhythm of life that feels slower, more grounded. And it also cost lot less than many other countries I’ve cycled through, which makes it even easier to enjoy good beer, interesting food, and peaceful rides through the unique landscape. That’s why I want to come back to spend more time exploring, tasting, and riding through one of the most underrated cycling countries in Europe. This trip changed everything. My first long bike trip was in Denmark in 2012. It was my first big goal. Back then, I just wanted to lose weight and find a healthier lifestyle. But that trip became so much more than that. I’m still grateful for what Denmark gave me. The freedom, the peace, the love for cycling, and to keep that spark alive. Denmark was the first country I ever cycled in, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s also one of the easiest countries for me to travel to from Iceland. The cycling infrastructure is among the best in the world, safe, organized, and built for riders. That alone earns Denmark a place on this list. The beautiful coastline more than makes up for the lack of mountains. Roots like Herwayan, Ira, and Skyen are some of my alltime highlights. Denmark is probably the country I’ve cycled the most, and I know I’ll come back to visit friends, ride old routes, and relive the feeling of my very first tour that started it all. France has one of the richest cycling history in the world. Home to the tour to France and one of the most legendary races ever. It’s a country that lives and breathes cycling. You feel it in every village, every climb, and every cafe filled with riders. And then there’s the food and wine. France has some of the best lives on earth with every region known for its specialties. Cognac, Champagne, Alsas, and Porto. Even after writing through many of those regions, I know I could come back again and still experience something completely new. France is a big country full of contrast and culture. From the Lori Valley with its peaceful rivers and castles down to Porto with its endless vineyards and to me the most romantic region of all, Alsas. It’s a place that feels like a fairy tale. But there’s one more dream I still have to ride the Ron Valley and the France Alps. I sure will come back to France because here there’s always one more taste, more to write and more to fall in love with. Spain is the country I spent the most time in. From a camino ride crossing from France to Santi with the compastella to countless trips to Carpe Mayora and the Canary Islands, this country has become like a second home on two wheels. Spain has some of the best drivers in Europe. Amazing roads that twist through mountains, coastlines, and olive groves. And it’s the perfect winter escape from Iceland. It’s the country I visit almost every year to train, to write, and to recharge. And if you had to choose one place to the truly defined cycling paradise, it’s Mayora. My all-time favorite place to train, smooth roads, perfect climbs, and the feeling that you could just keep riding forever. Spain keeps calling me back for the sun, the roads, the people, and the food. [Music] When I was planning my 2024 trip, Slovenia was the smallest country on my route, just a narrow stretch between Italy and Austria. At first, I thought I would only take 2 days to cross. But then I start researching, and I’m so glad I did. I entered Slovenia through a quiet valley, riding along an old railway line through tunnels and into the Julian Alps. The moment I crossed the border, I felt it. Something different. Peace, beauty, a calm energy that instantly pulled me in. I stopped at Lake Yasna, surrounded by the mountains. And I thought, “This might be one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.” Then I continued to Ljubljana, and even though I usually don’t enjoy big cities, this one was different. It had a charm, a warm, a rhythm that made it feel small, friendly, and alive. It instantly became one of my favorite cities in Europe. I made a detour north, following another old railway path, this Dragna Trail, through forest and small villages all the way to Traat. Every turn felt new. Every campsite, big or small, felt welcoming. And of course, there’s Lake Bled, a place that looks almost unreal. Slovenia may be small, but it left the biggest mark on me. New country, new experience, and a reminder that sometimes the places you expect the least can become the ones you’ll never forget. [Music] When I look back at those five countries, each one gave me something different. The Czech Republic taught me simplicity. Denmark gave me beginnings. France showed me romance. Spain became my training ground. Sloan surprised me. A small country with a huge heart where I slowed down and remembered why I fell in love with cycling in the first place. Every trip has been more than distance. It’s been a story about growth, friendship, food, and freedom. And even though every journey has an ending, each one also plants the seed for the next because this isn’t the end. This is just one more chapter. So if you enjoyed this journey, please subscribe so you don’t miss out what comes next. [Music]