If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably heard the siren call of Centre Parcs: easy, active, and sort of outdoorsy. It’s the go-to holiday for active families wanting a hit of nature without the hassle.
But after a week cycling through Austria and northern Italy with my kids, I genuinely can’t imagine going back to the wristbands and eye watering prices.
This wasn’t some hardcore expedition. It was a traffic-free, utterly beautiful bike route with easy hire options, lovely local food, swimming pools en route (yes, actual clean, outdoor pools), and a feeling of freedom you just don’t get in a fenced-in resort.
And the best part? It cost less than a week at Centre Parcs! It was one of my best holiday ideas for our active family, even if I say so myself.
In this post, I’ll walk you through what these family cycling holidays in Europe are really like (yes, even with kids), how they compare to the big-name resorts, and why they’re way more doable than you might think.
What makes a great active family holiday
Outdoors, freedom, and a bit of structure
The appeal of Centre Parcs is easy to see – contained space, nature on tap, and a ready-made schedule of activities. But what families are really after is that sense of freedom: kids riding ahead on bikes, parents not constantly worrying about traffic, space to explore without it turning into a logistical nightmare.
On our Austria cycling trip, we found all of that. Wide, well-signed bike paths wound through meadows, past rivers and mountains, with plenty of chances to stop, splash, snack, and explore. It wasn’t a free-for-all, but it didn’t feel regimented either. We had a direction and a plan — but the day was ours to shape.
Shared challenges, not scheduled activities
There’s something quietly brilliant about tackling a shared goal as a family. It’s not the same as “we all went kayaking at 2pm because the schedule said so.” It’s “we cycled 20km and found the best ice cream shop in the next village.”
And I’m not pretending it was all sunshine and cooperative children. There were tired legs, snack-based negotiations, and the odd sulk.
But the sense of real adventure – of covering ground under our own steam, figuring things out as we went, and arriving somewhere new each day – was unbeatable. It wasn’t just an activity slotted into the day; the journey was the holiday.
Why we chose a family bike holiday in Europe
If you’ve ever done Centre Parcs – or considered it – you’ll know the appeal. Outdoorsy fun, everything in one place, and enough structure to keep the kids happy and the adults vaguely sane. It’s a bit sterile though, and not very real.
But if you’re looking for something similar with a twist — a bit more freedom, a little more adventure, and almost as much ease – a family cycling holiday in Europe might be the outside-the-box idea you didn’t know you needed.
I discovered this kind of trip by chance, and honestly? It ticked all the same boxes: safe, active, and kid-friendly – but added a sense of movement, discovery, and cultural immersion you just don’t get from staying at Centre Parcs.
Routes we rode: the Drau, Tauern, and Adige cycle paths
These routes are brilliant for families. The Drau Cycle Path and Tauern Cycle Path in Austria, and the Adige Cycle Path in northern Italy, are designed for leisure cyclists.
They follow rivers, are mostly downhill, and are virtually traffic-free. You’re riding through wide valleys, past castles and lakes, with proper signs and smooth tarmac under your tyres.
Unlike a resort where you cycle loops around the same grounds, here you’re moving forward – from one town to the next, from mountains to meadows, and even across borders. It adds a quiet thrill of progression that kids (and adults) absolutely love.
How it works: hire bikes, book accommodation, ride and explore
The logistics are surprisingly easy. You can hire bikes (including baby seats, tagalongs and trailers) near your starting point – and on routes like the Drau and Adige, one-way hire means you don’t even need to double back. You can carry your luggage in hired panniers or even rent a bike trailer for your kit.
Accommodation options range from simple B&Bs to full-on wellness hotels with pools and saunas. We often ended up in family-run places with massive breakfasts and grassy gardens for the kids to run around.
And because you’re in Austria or Italy, the food’s reliably brilliant. A plate of delicious pasta after a long ride? Yes please.
In short: this kind of holiday delivers everything we’d want from a Centre Parcs week – activity, ease, built-in entertainment – but adds scenery, spontaneity, and a bit of a story.
Why active family travel in Europe is better than Centre Parcs
More adventure, same ease
This wasn’t a hardcore bikepacking trip. We had comfy beds, hot showers, and someone else making dinner most nights. But unlike being in a single resort, every day had a sense of momentum – we were going somewhere new, not just cycling in circles or checking a schedule.
And the perks? Outstanding. Swimming pools dotted along the route (most of them outdoor, spotless, and with mountain views), ice cream stops, lakes for paddling, rivers to splash in. It felt like a new discovery every day – with none of the plastic wristbands or frantic booking apps.
Cultural immersion and connection
We ate local food, picked up bits of German and Italian, chatted with other cyclists, and enjoyed a rhythm that wasn’t manufactured or timed to 45-minute activity blocks.
The kids picked up on the little things – different breakfasts, special sorts of ice cream (have you ever come across German spaghetti eis?!), how people greet you with “Grüß Gott” in Austria.
It didn’t feel particularly educational. But it was eye-opening in a low-key way.
Cost comparison: better value than Centre Parcs
And here’s the kicker; this is genuinely affordable active family travel. The week we spent cycling the Drau cycle path didn’t cost more than Centre Parcs.
We spent a bit less overall, even with travel, and got so much more out of it. No £5 coffees, no extra charges for every activity. Just bikes, bags, B&Bs, and brilliant views.
Plus, our memories weren’t “remember when we did archery for 20 minutes?” They were “remember that hail storm we rode through and how we all ended up in a tiny bakery eating cake?”
What this kind of holiday for active families doesn’t offer
Centre Parcs is brilliant at curated fun — craft sessions, scheduled climbing walls, daily kids’ clubs. You won’t get that level of structured entertainment on a cycling holiday in Austria or Italy.
If your kids thrive on constant activity menus or big groups of other children to play with, this might feel a little quieter.
Meeting other kids is more hit-and-miss too. You might cross paths with other families, especially in the summer months. But it’s not the social free-for-all of a UK holiday park and they are unlikely to be English speakers (which is possibly a bonus?!).
That said, it’s by no means lacking in fun. Along the routes we rode, we found outdoor swimming pools, lakes to jump into, high ropes courses, cable cars to mountain peaks, castles to explore, and even a mountain luge or two.
You can detour to a waterfall, hike up to a viewing platform, or spend an afternoon in a medieval town square with a tasty ice cream. It’s not a holiday built around set activities — it’s one where you stumble across great stuff while you’re out having an adventure.
FAQs and common concerns about cycling holidays with kids
What age is it suitable for?
If your child can confidently ride a bike on a cycle path or towpath at home, they can probably manage one of these easy cycling routes for families.
My youngest was 7 on our first trip, and we just adjusted distances to suit. For younger kids or less confident riders, you can rent bike seats, tag-alongs, trailers, or e-bikes, depending on the route.
Is it safe?
Yes – genuinely. These routes are designed for leisure cyclists and are mostly traffic-free. You’re riding on tarmac or gravel paths along rivers, through farmland, or on quiet back roads. Helmets are standard, the signage is excellent, and we felt completely comfortable letting the kids ride ahead a bit.
What do you do if it rains or someone is too tired?
You get creative! Most routes pass through towns every few kilometres, so it’s easy to duck into a café, shorten the day, or take a train. On really low-energy days, there are often train options that follow the route and allow bikes onboard, so you’re never stranded.
What if we’re not “a cycling family”?
You really don’t need to be Lycra-clad or kitted out like a Tour de France team. These trips are designed for normal families – the kind who might cycle to the park, not across a continent. The routes are mostly flat or gently downhill, with plenty of places to stop, refuel, and reset.
You set the pace. You decide how far to go. And if you want a day off to explore a castle or spend an afternoon by a lake, that’s completely fine. It’s about enjoying the ride, not racing to the finish.
Is this really doable without speaking German or Italian?
Absolutely. Most accommodation providers speak some English, especially in touristy regions. Bike hire shops are used to international visitors, and Google Translate covers the rest.
You’ll pick up a few words along the way – and it’s part of the fun.
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Start planning your own active summer holiday in Europe
What to pack and how to book
You don’t need loads of gear, but a few things help:
- Comfortable clothes you can move in (padded shorts are a bonus but not essential)
- Waterproof layers just in case
- Small backpacks for daily essentials
- Chargers, snacks, a map app, and some local cash
Accommodation is easy to book in advance via sites like Booking.com or directly with hotels and guesthouses. Look for “Radfahrer willkommen” signs in Austria – it means “cyclists welcome” and usually includes extras like drying space and secure bike storage.
For bikes, there are hire shops along the routes. Most offer e-bikes, trailers, kids’ bikes, and one-way hire. Some companies will even arrange your accommodation and luggage transfers for you — worth it if you want a stress-free start.
Ditch the wristbands and get on your bike
If you’re looking for a summer holiday that’s active, outdoorsy, and family-friendly – but with a real sense of adventure – this kind of trip might just be the perfect alternative to Centre Parcs.
You still get the safety, structure, and fun. But you also get movement, variety, and the buzz of doing something that feels a bit more off the beaten path.
Our cycling holidays through Austria and Italy have been some of the most rewarding trips we’ve done as a family. We didn’t need special gear, we didn’t have to plan every second, and we didn’t spend a fortune. Each day had a purpose – get from A to B – but how we did it was up to us. There was a rhythm to it that really worked for all of us: ride, stop, swim, eat, sleep, repeat.
If you’re even half considering it, I’d say give it a go. It’s doable, affordable, and just the right mix of relaxing and adventurous. And honestly? You might find your kids don’t miss the wristbands at all.
Best beginner-friendly Europe bike holidays with kids
If this sounds like your kind of adventure, check out my family cycling Itineraries:
- The Drau Cycle Path (Austria and a tiny bit of Italy): Flat, scenic, and brilliantly set up for families. You can ride from Toblach in Italy to Villach in Austria over a few days, with one-way bike hire and plenty of family-friendly hotels along the way.
- The Adige Cycle Path (Italy): Gentle gradients, vineyard views, and the option to start in the mountains and finish in Verona. Perfect if your kids like the idea of pizza at the end of a ride.
- The Tauern Cycle Path (Austria): A little less easy on the bike hire front, but stunning. Think castles, waterfalls, and alpine villages – with the option to shorten or skip tougher sections by train.
