While Paris is crisscrossed with bike lanes, the most relaxing and scenic Parisian joy ride on two wheels is along its riverside promenades. A three-mile stretch from near the Eiffel Tower to a bit past Ile St. Louis makes a wonderful hour-long experience. (It could be much longer if you succumb to the temptations of the lounge chairs, hammocks, outdoor cafés, and simple delights of riverside Parisian life.) Start at the Pont de l’Alma near the Eiffel Tower on the Left Bank, then head east, crossing to the Right Bank at the Orsay Museum on Pont Royal. Continue east, passing the Louvre, until you pass the two islands. Your major hazard: avoiding pedestrians and not biking into the river, since you’ll be distracted by so many iconic buildings and sights as you pedal.
(By the way, the bike I’m using is one of the 20,000 Vélib’ bikes Paris scatters all across town to alleviate traffic congestion.)
This is Day 60 of my “100 Days in Europe” series. As I travel with Rick Steves’ Europe Tours, research my guidebooks, and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences across Europe. Still to come: Ireland, England, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, and more. Thanks for joining me here on my blog and via Facebook.