From the Norwegian fjords to Santiago de Compostela: Exploring Europe’s longest bicycle trail

EuroVelo 3 connects the fjords of Norway to Santiago de Compostela: more than 5,400 km across 7 countries, with the Scandibérique route crossing France from Paris to Bordeaux.

There is a bike route that starts at the fjords of Norway and winds its way down to Spain, following the ancient pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. It’s called EuroVelo 3, also known as the Pilgrims’ Cycle Route, and spans over 5,000 kilometers of quiet roads, canal banks, and pilgrimage trails.

Seven countries, one journey

The route begins in Trondheim and crosses seven countries and 20 UNESCO sites over more than 5,600 kilometers, before ending at Cape Finisterre on Spain’s Atlantic coast. The journey starts in Scandinavia—specifically Norway, Sweden, and then Denmark. To cross the Skagerrak strait, you’ll need to take a ferry between Gothenburg and Frederikshavn, and the sea air provides the boost you need to tackle Germany, passing through Hamburg, Bremen, Cologne, and Aachen. Next comes a tour of Belgium, with a stop in Liège, before entering France.

The Scandibérique: The heart of France

The French section has its own name, the “Scandibérique”: more than 1,700 kilometers that cut diagonally across the country, passing through twenty departments from the northern border to the Pyrenean mountain pass. The route passes right through the heart of Paris, follows the course of the Loire River amid the châteaux of the Loire Valley—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and continues southward through the Cognac region, the vineyards of Saint-Émilion, and the city of Bordeaux, Stage 37.

A thousand landscapes on two wheels

From there, the route enters the vast Landes de Gascogne forest, then the first Basque hills, all the way to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. The final French stage is also the most challenging: the famous crossing of the Pyrenees toward Roncesvalles, where France hands the baton to Spain. From there, the route continues toward Pamplona, Burgos, and León, all the way to Santiago de Compostela and Finisterre.

Without ever taking a plane

The entire journey can be completed without ever boarding a plane, moving solely at the pace of your pedaling. All practical information about the European route can be found on the official EuroVelo website, while the French section has its own portal at scandiberique.fr.