Where Next in 2026? Four Fresh European Motorcycle Tours

Having been awoken from my slumber and fed copious amounts of coffee, I’m told winter is all but over, and the warmer days have sparked the inevitable debate: “Where next in 2026?” And so, with a strong sense of deja vu, it is back to the internet I go.

Where Next in 2026?

Northern Spain is brilliant—no argument there—and the Picos de Europa will always deliver. But the Picos? Again? Really? Going back can feel a bit like ordering the same curry every Friday. Comforting, yes. Adventurous, not really.

If you fancy something new without making the trip a logistical epic, here are four regions you can ride to comfortably from the UK in a day or two.

Each serves up big scenery, quiet twisties, solid road surfaces, and costs that won’t make your wallet flinch. Mountains and national parks feature, because that’s usually where the best riding hides.

Ardennes & Eifel (Belgium, Luxembourg, Western Germany)

Why go: Rolling hills, forested valleys, deliciously curvy “L” and “K” roads, and shockingly light traffic once you leave the main towns. The surfaces are generally good, the scenery is quietly stunning, and Luxembourg still tends to soften the fuel bill.

The vibe: Think soft Alpine training ground—elevation changes, gorge roads, and river loops—without the tour-bus circus. Perfect for warming up a new set of tyres or rediscovering your rhythm after a British winter.

Where to base:

• Vianden (Luxembourg): Postcard castle, river valley, quick access to the Our and Sûre valleys.
• Monschau (Germany): Cobblestone charm, right on the edge of Eifel’s best K-roads.
• La Roche-en-Ardenne (Belgium): Classic Ardennes scenery with easy loops in all directions.

Roads to put on your list:

• The Our Valley loop (Lux/DE border): stitch together hilltop views with forested sweepers.
• B258 and the smaller K-roads around the Eifel National Park: grippy, flowing riding without the stress.
• Belgian N62/N68 corridors for joining up twisty side roads; expect a mix of sweepers and wooded sections.
• Since 20 February 2025, motorcycles have been prohibited from the Nordschleife during Touristenfahrten sessions. This remains in force for the entire 2026 season.
• There is, however, the Mass Rev Up on April 26, 2026, that appears to include guided laps of the infamous Green Hell.

Costs:

• Fuel: Generally cheaper in Luxembourg.
• Accommodation: £60–£90 per night for decent B&Bs if you book ahead.
• Food: Pub/grill pricing, with better beer.

Getting there:

• Eurotunnel/Ferry to Calais or Dunkirk → Autoroute dash to Namur or Liège → you’re into the good stuff the same day. Watch out for tolls on the roads in France – See our guide here

Best for: A quick, satisfying, lower-cost tour with proper “continental” flavour and zero hassle.

Vosges & High Jura (Northeast France)

Why go: If the Picos are Cadwell Park (full attack mode), then the Vosges are Donington Park… curvaceous and flowing.

The Route des Crêtes floats along a ridgeline with views for miles, the Ballons (rounded peaks) keep the road moving up and down, and the surfaces are generally excellent.

The vibe: A French twist to alpine-lite: high meadows, forest tunnels, lake views. Fewer hairpins than the Alps, more rhythm than many UK routes, and fewer summertime traffic jams than the big passes further south.

Where to base:

• Gérardmer or La Bresse: Lakeside or mountain-town feel, central to the fun.
• Munster or Kaysersberg (Alsace side): Add a glass of Riesling to your evening while plotting the next loop. Beer in Belgium. Wine in France.

Roads to put on your list:

• Route des Crêtes (D430/D431/D61): The headline act—undulating, scenic, and grin-inducing.
• Col de la Schlucht (D417) and Col du Bonhomme (D415): Linking cols that make for smooth, long loops.
• Drop south into the High Jura for quieter, slightly wilder riding: the Saint-Claude area, the D436/D437 networks, and balcony roads with far-reaching views. Surfaces are good, and the traffic is sparse.

Costs:

• Accommodation: £50–£85 per night outside peak French holidays; plenty of biker-friendly stays.
• Food: France—so yes, you can eat well without pulverising the budget.

Getting there:

• Calais to Nancy/Epinal corridor in a day. Park up, dump the luggage, and do evening sweeps until sunset.

Best for: Those who like flow over faff, scenery without circus, and a tour that feels a touch refined without costing a fortune.

Black Forest & Swabian Jura (Southwest Germany)

Why go: The Black Forest is a classic for a reason. The famous B500 (Schwarzwaldhochstraße) is the poster-child, but the real secret lies in the web of L- and K-roads fanning out from the main ridge. [See B500 Revisited]

Then there’s the Swabian Jura, a bit further east: limestone uplands, quiet plateaus, and empty sinuous roads that reward a clean line. (Exit the south end of the B500, and you are all but there).

The vibe: Think of it as “Germany doing an Alps impression”—but quieter, tidier, and with relentless curve quality. You will find smooth surfaces, predictable signposting, and proper café and cake culture for the late afternoon sugar bump.

Where to base:

• Freudenstadt or Baiersbronn for the northern Black Forest.
• Titisee-Neustadt or Triberg if you’re looking for lakes or waterfalls between blasts.
• Münsingen/Bad Urach for the Swabian Jura if you want super-quiet, rewarding riding.

Roads to put on your list:

• B500 segments in the north for the postcard stretches—go early or late to avoid tourist meandering. Bucket list, tick box, more than soul stirring.
• Dive off onto L92, L401, K5370-type roads (examples) across the ridge—this is where the traffic thins and the grin widens.
• In the Swabian Jura, knit balcony backroads that skirt castle-topped escarpments—less known, beautifully surfaced, satisfying in any weather.

Costs:

• Accommodation: Germany is good value—£55–£95 per night, depending on the town and season.
• Recommendation: Landgasthof Kinzigstrand – Quiet location. Amazing Food. Great People
• Food/Fuel: Mid-market pricing, with plenty of bakeries for efficient breakfasts.

Getting there:

• Calais → Reims → Strasbourg corridor in a day-and-a-bit, or stop in the Vosges en route and make a two-region tour of it. Nurburg is also a good midpoint stop.

Best for: Riders who want high-mileage days on silk-smooth tarmac with scenery and efficiency baked in.

Slovenia’s Julian Alps & the Soča Valley

Why go: If you’re craving something properly “new” without crossing continents, Slovenia is a superb step up.

The Vršič Pass brings 50-ish historic cobbled-set hairpin sections (short, well-maintained), and the Soča Valley delivers aqua-blue rivers, gorges, and a fast-slow-fast rhythm that keeps you utterly engaged. It’s Alpine, but calmer—and often cheaper—than its Italian and Austrian neighbours.

The vibe: Big-mountain beauty with a friendly, low-stress feel. Towns like Bovec and Kranjska Gora are tuned to outdoor life (hiking, rafting, paragliding)—which means plenty of places to sleep and eat without the “Dolomites in August” scrum.

Where to base:

• Kranjska Gora (north side): Great access to Vršič and fast connections to Austria/Italy.
• Bovec (south side): River-laced rides, easy loops along the Soča and out to Mangart Saddle (if open).

Roads to put on your list:

• Vršič Pass (Trenta–Kranjska Gora): Characterful, beautiful, and best done outside the peak midday window. Intense. The hairpins keep coming, and mostly are cobblestones, with lots of grip. Don’t ride it on a fully loaded Multistrada with knackered suspension – Trust me on this.
• Mangart Saddle road (seasonal): One of the most spectacular high roads in Europe when open—check local info.
• Predil Pass into Italy, then loop back via Sella Nevea and the Slovenian border roads for an unforgettable day.

Costs:

• Accommodation: £45–£90 depending on season; very reasonable if you avoid midsummer weekends.
• Food: Good value; hearty portions for riding fuel.
• Fuel Prices: The lowest in Europe, last time I was there.

Getting there:

• Two long days from Calais via Germany/Austria, or make it a three-day wander—Black Forest → Tyrol → Slovenia.
• Tip: Avoid Austrian motorways if you don’t want the vignette; the parallel roads are slower but scenic and free.

Best for: An adventurous feel without the logistics of the Balkans proper.

Practical Bits

When to go:

• May–June and September are the sweet spots for all four regions—better prices and fewer crowds.
• Alpine-ish roads (Vosges high ridges, Black Forest heights, Vršič/Mangart) can see changeable weather; pack layers and proper waterproofs.

Tolls & Vignettes:

• Germany/Belgium/Luxembourg: No vignettes for motorways
• France: Toll booths, but easily avoided if you use national roads.
• Austria requires a vignette for motorways; you can avoid them with parallel roads.
• Some high mountain roads carry local tolls (e.g., Grossglockner, Timmelsjoch) if you decide to dip into Austria—worth it if you budget for the experience.

Costs (ballpark):

• Ferry/Eurotunnel: £80–£200 return, depending on timing and flexibility.
• Accommodation: £50–£95 per night for biker-friendly stays if you book a little ahead.
• Fuel: Continental prices fluctuate; Luxembourg is usually the friendliest on your credit card.

Bike setup:

• Tyres: We have chewed through the last usable 3mm of a tyre on a tour. The bike is loaded, the riding spirited, and the end of a tyre always wears faster.
• Luggage: Keep it tight and light. You’ll enjoy the twisties more, and you won’t spend half the trip playing pannier-Tetris. Or operate from fixed locations for a few days.
• Serviceables: Fresh pads, check the chain life, and a quick suspension check before you go. We have cocked all of these things up in the past.

Navigation & pacing:

• Take a look at the Free Motorcycle Routes on the website. I’ll be adding routes for the roads discussed here. The B500 is already there. France … I need more coffee first. 

So, which one this year?

If you want maximum smiles per mile with minimum logistics, the Ardennes & Eifel is the right-now answer—cheaper fuel, empty curves, one day from the UK.

If you’d like French elegance with Alpine flavour but fewer crowds, do the Vosges & Jura.

If your heart beats for good beer, schnitzels and buttery tarmac, head off to the Black Forest, the Swabian Jura and the Sauerland.

And if the soul wants a fresh adventure with proper mountains but sensible costs, point the nose to Slovenia’s Julian Alps.

No wrong answers here – just different flavours of brilliant.

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