Mountain biking is an incredibly popular sport, with plenty to offer for those looking for excitement. This exhilarating sport can be done all over the world, luckily some of the best mountain bike destinations are in Europe, with a vast selection of MTB parks and MTB trails to choose from. Having so many options is great, and there is no reason you shouldn’t try to visit all of the European MTB destinations; however, this can also be daunting, and you want to make sure that wherever you go offers high-quality tracks.
Taking part in mountain biking requires some skill but it brings with it so many benefits, especially for those who enjoy an adrenaline rush and a challenge. Mastering mountain biking and particularly the most difficult trails is rewarding, once you get into it it’ll be hard to stop. Not only can you keep up the sport at your nearest spot, there are plenty of opportunities to take a mountain biking holiday with likeminded sportspeople. Here we aim to outline the best bike parks in Europe, looking at what they have to offer, the difficulty levels of their MTB trails, and the potential prices.
Hafjell Bike Park – Norway
Hafjell Bike Park is renowned for its fantastic options when it comes to trails of different difficulty. When it comes to mountain biking in Europe, its safe to say that Hafjell is sought after, perfect for a MTB trip with family or friends; making it one of the best mountain biking destinations in Europe, especially Scandinavia. The park has varying lift ticket prices depending on the age of the rider, with children riding for cheaper.
Essential Facts
- Trails: 18
- Difficulty Grading: Green / Blue / Red / Black
Les Gets Bike Park – France
The Alps are an ideal location for mountain biking and many other sports. France has a perfect stretch of The Alps ready to be ridden by riders of all skill levels. Among the bike parks in France, Les Gets is one of the highest-rated and has plenty to offer; alongside the main downhill tracks, there is a coaching track, a jump park, a kids zone and much more. The Alps really were destined to be used for their full potential when it comes to mountain biking.
Essential Facts
- Trails: 14 downhill / 6 cross country.
- Difficulty: Green / Blue / Red / Black
- MTB Ticket Prices: 1 day 28 € / 7 days 126 € / Season 280 €
- Lift Costs: 1 way €7 / 12 ways €34
- Open: 22nd June to 8th September. (Chair life times: 09:00 – 17:30)
- Accommodation: Available
- Bike Rental: Available
- Lessons: Available
- Tours/Guides: Unavailable
Bike Republic Sölden – Austria
For a unique mountain biking experience in Europe, you should definitely go to Bike Republic Sölden. Acting as a nation for mountain bikers, it has an environmentally friendly outlook and is welcoming to all, when you enter this bike park you get your own passport and have the opportunity to earn rewards and have a say in the future of the MTB park. Set in the Ötztal Alps, you are sure to find this a fantastic choice of European MTB destination due to the amount of infrastructure and support put in place for the MTB community.
Essential Facts
- Trails: 9 man made / 15 natural
- Difficulty: Blue / Red / Black
- MTB Ticket Prices (Lifts): 1 day €39 / 5 days €159
- Open: 7th June to 29th September. 09:00 – 18:00
- Accommodation: Available
- Bike Rental: Available
- Lessons: Available
- Tours/Guides: Available
Åre Bike Park – Sweden
Sweden is a scenic country with a lot of countryside to explore, and what better way to truly experience it than at one of the best bike parks in Europe, and the biggest in Scandinavia! Åre is most famous for being a ski resort but, since 2005, it boasts an impressive selection of mountain bike trails and infrastructure for those looking to get on their bikes. For mountain bike tours in Europe, Åre can fit the bill with guides available for hire, ideal for anyone who is new to the sport.
Essential Facts
- Trails: 34
- Difficulty: Green / Blue / Red / Black
- Lift Costs: 1 day 335 SEK / 14 days 2215 SEK / Season pass 2995 SEK
- Open: 20th June to 6th October. 10:00 – 16:00
- Accommodation: Available
- Bike Rental: Available
- Lessons: Unavailable
- Tours/Guides: Available
Bike Park Champéry – Switzerland
You can find a lot of mountain biking available in Switzerland, Bike Park Champéry is our pick for where to go out of all of the Swiss parks there are. Set in the Swiss Alps, you know that the scenery alone will be worth the trip. But it has more to offer than just looks, as you will find a nice selection of downhill and cross-country trails.
Essential Facts
- Trails: 9 downhill / 7 cross country
- Difficulty: Green / Blue / Red / Black
- Lift Costs: 1 day 33 CHF / 13 days 215 CHF / Season 330 CHF
- Open: 28th June to 1st September
- Accommodation: Available
- Bike Rental: Available
- Lessons: Unavailable
- Tours/Guides: Available
Bike Park Kasina – Poland
Possibly lesser-known but still one of the best mountain bike destinations in Europe is Bike Park Kasina. Kasina Wielka is a cosy village in the south of Poland, the park is quite new as it was opened in 2014; this location is a good choice if you’re looking for a quieter bike park, it is also very reasonably priced for anyone new to mountain biking that doesn’t want to overspend on the more extreme trails.
Essential Facts
- Trails: 9
- Difficulty: Green / Blue / Red / Black
- MTB Ticket Cost: Day pass 99 PLN / Whole year 939 PLN
- Open: 20th June to 2nd September
- Accommodation: Available
- Bike Rental: Available
- Lessons: Available
- Tours/Guides: Unavailable
Bikepark Winterberg
A top pick for a mountain biking holiday is Bikepark Winterberg, Winterberg itself is a frequented destination for winter sports and other adrenaline-filled activities. Mountain biking in Europe has many events and competitions throughout the year, and Winterberg is the host for DirtMasters festival so you know there must be something about the place which works well.
Essential Facts
- Trails: 11
- Difficulty: Blue/Red/Black
- Lift Costs: Day ticket €33.50 / 10 rides €28 / 2 day ticket €62 / Season ticket €390
- Open: 15th April to 3rd November
- Accommodation: Available
- Bike Rental: Available
- Lessons: Available
- Tours/Guides: Unavailable
Zona Zero – Spain
Zona Zero is a vast area of open land with a variety of trails for many different mountain biking purposes, alongside hiking trails as well. There is a lot to explore for the more advanced level riders, plus opportunities for families and more casual riders to appreciate the scenery and experience the joys of the sport.
Essential Facts
- Trails: 20 main trails / Plus plenty more for families etc
- Difficulty: Green / Blue / Red / Black
- Lift Costs: Varying shuttle services available
- Open: To anyone year round
- Accommodation: Available
- Bike Rental: Available
- Lessons: Unavailable
- Tours/Guides: Available
Špičák – Czech Republic
The last bike park in our list is Špičák which is in the Czech Republic. This bike park is another that goes unnoticed by many but is underappreciated and a great affordable option. If you are looking for a short stay holiday to take on a few different mountain bike trails, then Špičák is certainly a smart choice.
Essential Facts
- Trails: 5
- Difficulty: Green / Blue / Red / Black
- Lift Costs: Single run up €7 / Down €5 / Both €9 / 1 day €27 / 6 days €98 / Season ticket €305
- Open: 1st May to “7th October. 09:00 – 17:00
- Accommodation: Available
- Bike Rental: Available
- Lessons: Unavailable
- Tours/Guides: Unavailable
So, those are our best mountain biking destinations in Europe, of course there are many more locations that you can visit for a spot of downhill and cross-country biking, but these are surely the top choices. Whether you are just beginning your journey into the world of mountain bikes, or you are a seasoned cyclist with a love for the adrenaline rush, there is a destination in Europe suited to you.
With all the buzz around mountain biking, it is important to remember that it is a somewhat risky sport. The thrill of going downhill and taking on more challenges as you progress does come with the potential for accidents, so it is necessary to make sure you are covered for any trouble that may arise. Here at Snowcard we offer plenty of insurance policies for adventure sports, we have been specialists in adventure travel and sports insurance for over 30 years; our mountain bike insurance can be tailored to your needs and gives you sound mind so that you can enjoy your mountain bike trip to its fullest.
If you would like to find out more information about our mountain bike travel insurance then please get in touch with us today. You can get in touch with us by using our contact form or by calling us on: 01702 427273.
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