If you want to get a feel for a country’s landscape, cycling is a great option that brings true travel freedom. When you cycle from Calais to Paris, you can pedal quickly and speed through to the next rest stop, or take it slow and soak up the sights at your own pace.
As a cyclist-friendly nation, France is a great place to explore on two wheels. With plenty of well-maintained cycle routes through the countryside and along waterways, keen cyclists are spoiled for adventurous trails and long distance routes.
Our suggested route from Calais to Paris comes in at around 190 miles (306km), with plenty of places to stop along the way.
Want to try taking a scenic cycle in France for yourself?
How to Travel with a Bike
When travelling with a bike, think carefully about the time of year. Spring and early summer is the best time to cycle in Northern France, as cold and wet weather means you’ll have to carry more with you. Plan your daytime pit stops and overnight breaks well in advance, so you know how far you have to cycle before the next pause. It’s also a good idea to identify towns and villages along the way where you could stop if you feel tired unexpectedly.
Look at the local cycling laws for each upcoming region before you head off for the day as they can differ from the UK. Lastly, make sure you’re well prepared with puncture repair kits, a raincoat, reflective strips, a portable phone charger, and refillable water bottles. Before you travel, discover more tips for bike holidays in Europe.
Getting to Calais
Make your way to Dover, where a P&O ferry will carry you and your bike across the Channel for the first leg of your journey. There’s no extra cost for travelling with a bicycle. Bikes are counted as vehicles and will travel in the same part of the ferry as cars, so they need to be booked on in advance. Your ferry check-in will close one hour before its departure time and you’ll need to place your bicycle below deck yourself.
Calais to Montreuil-sur-Mer: 40 miles
The first stage of your bike ride takes you into the beautiful countryside and rolling hills of the Opal Capes and Marshes Regional Natural Park.
- Head south out of Calais and down the D127, which veers slightly south-west through the natural park and via the towns of Guînes, Fiennes and Belle-et-Houllefort.
- Go directly south from Belle-et-Houllefort, aiming for the D901 road. Most routes, including the Rue de Cremarest, are tarmac roads surrounded by rolling green hills and farmed fields; glorious on a sunny day.
- Follow the D901 road down to Montreuil. This charming town was famous for its cloth industry in the early medieval period and has plenty to explore, including its grand perimeter walls.
Montreuil-sur-Mer to Amiens: 56 miles
The next stage of your cycle from Calais to Paris takes you deeper into the Somme region, with historic towns and two UNESCO World Heritage sites.
- Start the day with a two-hour cycle down the D901, continuing on the D1001 from Nampont. At less than 10km from the coast, your ride south will be accompanied by a fresh sea breeze.
- Stop off at the historic town of Abbeville, where you’ll find a beautiful 13th century belfry and the Boucher de Perthes museum, home to medieval treasures and fine works of art.
- Continue southeast from Abbeville on the D901. At Pont Remy, switch to the waterside cycling route along the River Somme to Amiens (running parallel to the D112 road). Stopping the night here offers the chance to explore this town’s own Notre-Dame cathedral – also a UNESCO World Heritage site, built in the same Gothic style as its Parisian sister
Amiens to Beauvais: 40 miles
On the third day of your cycle from Calais to Paris, it should take around three and a half hours to reach the Oise region.
- Leave Amiens by going south on the Route d’Amiens and onto the D210, coming off to the right at Plachy-Buyon.
- Take the D8 road from here as far as the crossing with the D124, and take a left turning down to Lavacquerie.
- Follow quieter paths south through the little towns of Catheux, Le Gallet and Viefvillers. Make your way down to Francastel and pick up the D11, then the D149, down to Beauvais. If you prefer to stay away from the roads, there are other smaller paths crossing the countryside between Francastel and Beauvais.
- Arrive at Beauvais and take in the stunning Gothic architecture of its soaring cathedral before turning in for the night.
Beauvais to Paris: 54 miles
On the last leg of your journey, you’ll cross the official London to Paris cycle route, known as the Avenue Verte at Beauvais. Stay on the Avenue Verte for a longer cycle, but the below route is shorter and can be done in a day from Beauvais.
- Take the D93 out of Beauvais, then at Frocourt cycle cross-country briefly to pick up the D927. This road takes you through the southern corner of the Oise region and into the natural park on its border, the Vexin Franç The rolling fields of wheat and grass make for beautiful scenery as you cycle through.
- Follow the D927 all the way through to Herouville, then the D928 to Auvers-sur-Oise, where you can stop to admire the classic château here (one of the finest in the region). Eight hectares of gardens and parkland surround the 17th century house, all designed to make the most of the breath-taking views across the Oise valley.
- From Auvers-sur-Oise take the D922 west to Pontoise, and then follow the signs for Paris. The most direct route from Pontoise is via the D392 (about a two-hour cycle), but you may choose to follow the curves of the Seine as it winds its way through the outer arrondissements.
- The final stretch along the north bank of the Seine takes in the Eiffel Tower and round to the Louvre Museum via its Tuileries garden. You are now in the heart of Paris with your trusty bicycle, perfectly positioned to discover the rest of the city – if you still have the energy!
Ready to cycle from Calais to Paris? Book your ferry crossing to Calais today.
