5 unmissable things to do on a Belgium bike tour

1. Take on the cobbled climbs of the Tour of Flanders

Oude Kwaremont, Paterberg, Koppenberg: names that quicken the pulse of anyone who follows the Spring Classics. Ride these roads yourself and you’ll feel just how demanding Flanders’ short, steep hills, or bergs, can be.

Ken says “visit outside Classics season, when the roads are quieter. You can tackle the famous climbs without timing your whole holiday around race weekend.”

Bergs & Cobbles’ guided Flanders package combines riding with hotel accommodation, rental bikes and transfers to the routes. Routes and distances can be tailored to your fitness.

Start of the Koppenberg (Photo credit: Steven Ledoux via Visit Flanders)

2. Follow the canals from Ghent to Bruges

Give your legs a gentler day, following the canal between two of Belgium’s medieval cities.

Ken says “I love this route: Ghent’s impressive castles and waterside streets make an atmospheric starting point; Bruges promises canalside wandering once you’ve parked the bike.”

Bergs & Cobbles’ five-day Historic Ghent + Bruges tour includes mostly flat riding, hotels, GPS routes and daily luggage transfer between overnight stays. You ride at your own pace while your bags travel ahead. There are also route options to the nearby town of Damme, with restaurants and coffee stops worth lingering over.

Picturesque medieval buildings on Leie river in Ghent town, Belgium

3. Immerse yourself in cycling history in Oudenaarde

After testing yourself on the cobbles, explore the stories behind them at Oudenaarde’s Tour of Flanders Centre. Its exhibitions bring you closer to the riders, triumphs and heartbreak that have made this cycling race so compelling.

Allow time to look around as well as stopping for a drink. Knowing the history gives those names on your route a little more meaning when you head out again.

Ken says “don’t miss the downstairs of the Centre where there’s a museum to the Spring Classics.”

Display at the Tour of Flanders Museum in Oudenaarde (Photo credit: Archief CRVV via Visit Flanders)

4. Trace First World War history around Ypres

Around Ypres, a ride through quiet countryside becomes a chance to pause and reflect. Memorials and cemeteries mark a landscape profoundly shaped by the First World War.

This rural route offers a very different experience from the cobbled climbs around Oudenaarde, with the region’s wartime history taking centre stage.

Ken recommends including the “Plugstreets” (which refers to off-road sections) around Ploegsteert. His suggested ride passes the Christmas Truce memorial and continues through small, picturesque villages, with vineyards on Kemmelberg’s south-facing slope. It’s a thoughtful way to combine cycling with an understanding of the places you’re passing through.

Tyne Cot Cemetry (Photo credit: Bergs & Cobbles Cycling Travel)

5. Finish with Belgian beer and Flemish food

Leave time for an evening at the table and some delicious food. Try stoverij, a Flemish beef stew made with beer and served with frites, then settle into Ghent’s café culture.

Ken loves Waterhuis aan de Bierkant for its riverside terrace. For a cycling connection, he points to De Karper, where retro cycling jerseys hang from the ceiling. These are the sort of local details that make the hours off the bike part of the holiday too.

Market square at Oudenaarde (Photo credit: Steven Ledoux via Visit Flanders)

Plan your Belgium bike tour

Bergs & Cobbles Cycling Travel is a Ghent-based operator offering guided, self-guided and tailor-made cycling holidays. Visit their website to explore the tours and enquire about booking.

Thanks to Ken for these ideas; not to missed if you’re planning a bike trip in Belgium!

You can hear more from Ken in these in-depth articles on cycling in Belgium:

• Belgium – how (and why) to plan a cycling holiday, for tips on planning a bicycle holiday in Belgium, from exploring historic cities and Flemish towns to tackling famous cobbled climbs.
• 5 reasons to cycle Belgium (especially when it’s NOT the Classics), for quiet cycling outside the busy Classics season

Looking for more inspiration? Don’t miss:

• 3 must-try Flanders cycling routes, featuring three sign-posted routes through the Flemish countryside, with GPX files, cobbled climbs, vineyards and historic landmarks.
• Tour of Flanders Museum (and why you shouldn’t miss it), for a closer look at Oudenaarde’s cycling museum, including historic bicycles, racing memorabilia and exhibits about the Tour of Flanders.

My name is Ken Roubedou, founder of Bergs & Cobbles Cycling Travel. I was born and raised in Ghent, Belgium, which is still home today.

I have worked for over 25 years in the tourism industry. Before setting up Bergs & Cobbles Cycling Travel, I spent ten years organising cycling holidays in Southern Europe.

Now it's time to show everybody the hidden cycling gems of Belgium and Flanders!