From North Cape to Athens: over 6,000 km and 11 countries.
Eurovelo 11 touches Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Macedonia and Greece.
Tallin
It is one of the Eurovelo routes that cross North Europe from north to south and, like Eurovelo 1 and 7, starts from the northern tip of the continent. The track flows in Norway for about 270 km in a region of particularly fascinating landscapes. The beautiful Nordic panorama accompanies cyclists also in the crossing of Lapland and in Rovaniemi, the capital of the region.
The Finnish stretch ends in Helsinki, the lively capital of the country, from which you need to take a ferry to Tallin.
Once in the first of the three Baltic republics, the route flows smoothly along secondary roads and bicycle paths, well developed in all three countries. Once you disembark, you have the opportunity to visit the historic medieval town of Tallin, recognized as UNESCO World Heritage since 2007, before resuming the route to the south. After about 450 km you will cross the border with Latvia. Here the trail crosses numerous natural reserves and protected parks: it is a particularly pleasant stretch from the landscape point of view.
Arrived in Lithuania, you quickly proceed to Vilnius, the capital city, crossing small rural villages and cultivated fields. You return to pedal to the countryside after leaving behind the periphery of the city.
Poland is right in the heart of the great European central plain, so, for the first 450 km you pedal on flat ground, immersed in a countryside where the fields alternate with small villages, forests and lakes. Eurovelo 11 then leads you to Warsaw, a city completely rebuilt after the bombing of the war and today culturally rich. Left the capital, you proceed south, crossing also to Krakow and then to the Carpathian region.
The Slovak section is rather short: just over 130 km. The most important city to come across is Kosice, a landmark for the entire surrounding area.
In Hungary, you follow the Tibisco River, keeping almost always on flat ground. Of particular interest is the Tokaj region famous for its large and varied wine production, which is then exported all over the world.
You leave the course of the river only when it flows into the Danube, at Belgrade Serbia. After passing the city, the route continues in the mountainous area of the country, on the Balkans, the climbs which you face, anyway, remain below of a demanding slope.
Macedonia is the next state for cyclists traveling on Eurovelo 11. The country was born with the dissolution of Yugoslavia in the 1990s and is still referred to as the FYROM or “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”. The ideal is to stop in Skopje to admire the historic center of this ancient city inhabited since very long time, well before the Roman conquest.
Atene – l’Acropoli
After the Balkans, you enter in Greece and proceed to Thessaloniki, one of the most important cities for the country after the capital. Here you will find the sea, the warm Mediterranean, and you can drive back along the coast, also having the opportunity to see the famous Mount Olympus, the residence of the gods for the ancient Greeks. The route continues in the Thessaly region and ends in Athens.
After many miles on bicycle, you can enjoy a relaxing tour of the Acropolis.
Please note: Not all route sections have been completed yet, we recommend to you to check the Eurovelo official website for more information.