Paris Tourists Swap Buses for Bikes to See the City

Paris has become the world's cycling capital, and tourists are loving every pedal-powered minute of it.

Since the pandemic, guided bike tours have exploded in popularity across the City of Light. Visitors are choosing two wheels over tour buses to explore iconic landmarks like Notre-Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and the Champs-Élysées.

"Since Covid, cycling in Paris has really taken off," says Michaël Tosello, who runs guided bike tours in the capital. "It has become a hugely popular way of discovering the city."

The numbers back him up. Last June, Paris welcomed 3.8 million tourists, about 3% more than the same period in 2025. More of those visitors are hopping on bikes instead of walking or riding buses.

For the Buss family from the United States, bikes were the perfect solution for their short Paris visit. After a week in Tenerife, they chose a three-hour guided cycling tour to maximize their time in the French capital.

"In ten minutes by bike, you can see two different monuments," explains Jean-Baptiste Blondiaux, their bike guide. "On foot, that's impossible."

Mike Buss, traveling with his wife Jamie and their three children, appreciated the outdoor experience. "With the guide's explanations and the fact that we're outdoors while doing all this, it's wonderful," he says.

His wife Jamie added that the pace felt just right. "It feels good to be in the moment," she explains. "You can come back later and look at things a second time and have a bit more time to absorb the history and the culture of it all."

The Ripple Effect

Paris's cycling transformation reaches far beyond city limits. New cycle paths now connect the capital to London, Mont-Saint-Michel, and even Spain via the Scandibérique route. These long-distance connections are opening up entirely new ways for tourists to experience France and Europe.

The bike tourism boom has created jobs too. Numerous tour companies have launched to meet the growing demand, offering comprehensive excursions that cover the city's highlights in just a few hours.

Paris currently has more than 1,000 km of dedicated bike lanes. City officials plan to expand that network to around 1,500 km, making the capital even more accessible for cyclists and cementing its status as a cycling destination.