Saint-Malo to Calais by bike

🚲 A seaside start in Brittany. Kick off your adventure on this Northern France cycling route with a 39 km first stage. Leave the ramparts of Saint-Malo behind to join the gentle calm of the bay, a perfect ride between land and sea to warm up your legs.

🌊 Don't miss the amazing Sculpted Rocks of Rothéneuf just after starting. Halfway through, the Pointe du Grouin offers a spectacular view before you dive down towards Cancale, the oyster capital.

🦪 Arrival in Le Vivier-sur-Mer, in the heart of the bay. Enjoy the evening tasting PDO bouchot mussels, the village's unmissable specialty, while admiring the land yachts in the distance.

© Wikimedia Commons - Selmoval

🚲 Ready to hit the road? If you haven't found your ride yet, check out our bike rental offers to find the perfect e-bike for this adventure!

🚲 Heading for the Mont! A magical 51 km stage where the Mont-Saint-Michel serves as your compass. This is one of the flattest and most visual segments of this Northern France cycling route, perfect for riding with your head in the clouds (but keep your eyes on the road!).

🏰 The highlight is obviously crossing the polders with the Mont-Saint-Michel in your sights. Take the time to stop at the Chapel Sainte-Anne, located on the dyke, for the perfect photo.

🌸 The stage ends in Ducey, a charming "Village Fleuri" (flowered village). Stroll around the Château des Montgommery and enjoy the calm of the Norman bocage for a restful night.

© saint-malo-tourisme.com

🚲 Climb into the green. A short 30 km stage that changes the scenery entirely! You leave the coast to enter the Norman bocage (hedgerow country) on an old railway line. The atmosphere is lush and peaceful, typical of the interior sections of this Northern France cycling route.

🌳 In Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët, take a break at the Prieuré lakes. The route continues towards Mortain, nestled on the hillside. It is the "green heart" of the region.

💧 End the day in style with a walk to the Grande Cascade de Mortain, the largest waterfall in the West! The site is enchanting and offers welcome coolness after your ride.

© st-hilaire-du-harcouet

🚲 Norman Immersion. Get back on the greenway for 43 km of pure cycling pleasure. Here, everything is green. You cross authentic countryside, a soothing segment of your Northern France cycling route.

🍏 The landscape is defined by hedgerows and apple trees. It's time to appreciate the quiet of nature and breathe in deeply.

🧀 Arrival in Vire, famous for its genuine Andouille de Vire sausage. Stroll through the rebuilt city and be sure to taste the generous local gastronomy in

© Choisir la Normandie

🚲 Follow the river. A 36 km stage rhythmized by the meanders of the Vire river. The route leaves the greenway for picturesque small roads offering splendid panoramas over the valley of this Northern France cycling route.

🌉 Passing under the Souleuvre Viaduct (built by Eiffel) is the star moment of the day. It's an impressive spot, now dedicated to bungee jumping for the brave!

🌿 Pont-Farcy is your haven of peace for the night. Nestled in a natural setting by the water, it is the ideal place for a riverside picnic and a quiet evening.

© viaducdelasouleuvre

🚲 A Norman postcard. Continue your journey for 32 km along the towpath. Pastures, horses, sheep... this is the Normandy we love, an easy and bucolic stage of your Northern France cycling route.

👀 The detour to the Roches de Ham is essential: it offers a spectacular view overlooking the Vire Valley. It is one of the most beautiful inland panoramas.

🐴 Arrival in Saint-Lô. Visit the medieval ramparts and the impressive National Stud Farm (Haras National). The city, though marked by history, has been reborn and offers a great cultural stop.

© creperie-lesrochesdeham

🚲 Between land and water. A 42 km stage taking you from the Vire canal to the Cotentin marshes. The landscape opens up and water becomes omnipresent on this portion of the Northern France cycling route.

🐎 Keep your eyes peeled for the many horses in the meadows; you are in a major equestrian region. The straight canals guide your wheel towards the coast.

⛵ Carentan welcomes you with its charming marina. It is a town loaded with medieval and military history. Take the chance to walk along the quays before dinner.

© sandaya

🚲 In the heart of the Nature Park. Ride 37 km on a royal greenway through the marshes. It is a birdwatcher's paradise and a very smooth section of this Northern France cycling route.

🦅 Keep your binoculars handy! The marshes shelter storks and numerous migratory species. Pass through La Haye-du-Puits and its thousand-year-old dungeon.

🏰 Arrival in Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte. Its medieval castle, besieged during the Hundred Years' War, dominates the town and is absolutely worth a visit to close out the stage.

© lavelomaritime

🚲 To the edge of the world. A 48 km stage leading you from one castle to another, then towards the sea. You pedal quietly from Bricquebec towards the tip of this Northern France cycling route.

🍏 Admire the banks and orchards typical of the Clos du Cotentin. In Brix, you can feel the sea air getting closer before diving down towards the great roadstead.

🚢 Cherbourg-en-Cotentin awaits with its gigantic artificial harbor. The must-do activity is the Cité de la Mer to visit the submarine Le Redoutable and discover the adventure of the oceans.

© lavelomaritime

🚲 Bucolic Normandy. Leave the city for 48 km of lush landscapes along the Saire river. This is a varied stage of the Northern France cycling route that alternates between steep hills, woods, and a return to the coast.

🌺 Stop at Le Vast to taste its famous brioche. The route then leads you to the Gatteville lighthouse and Barfleur, ranked among the most beautiful villages in France.

UNESCO Arrival in Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue. Its Vauban Towers are UNESCO listed. If the tide allows, walk to Tatihou Island for a unique island finish to the d

© actu.fr

🚲 Memories of D-Day. A powerful 58 km stage along the East coast of the Cotentin. You enter directly into the history of the Landings on this poignant section of the Northern France cycling route.

🎖️ You ride along Utah Beach. Stop at the commemorative monuments and observe the remains of the Atlantic Wall (Crisbecq batteries).

🌿 Return to Carentan via the marshes (you are closing the Cotentin loop!). Enjoy the Beauguillot nature reserve to spot seals if you are lucky.

© attitude-manche

🚲 Estuary and Butter. A short 30 km stage to take your time. You bypass the Baie des Veys, a refuge for birds and harbor seals, before joining the Calvados region on your Northern France cycling route.

🧀 Make a gourmet stop in Isigny-sur-Mer. It is the world capital of butter and cream! Impossible to leave without tasting the caramels.

🐚 Arrival in Grandcamp-Maisy, an authentic small fishing port. Stroll on the jetty to breathe the sea air and prepare for tomorrow's cliffs.

© grandcampmaisy.fr

🌍 Looking for different scenery? If you enjoy this coastal adventure but want to explore other horizons, discover all our other cycling itineraries in France to find your next inspiration.

🚲 In the footsteps of the Allies. A major 55 km stage. You take the Voie Verte de la Liberté and ride along the Bessin cliffs, a true open-air museum on this Northern France cycling route.

🇺🇸 The stops are mandatory: Pointe du Hoc (impressive for its craters), the American Cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer overlooking Omaha Beach, and Port-en-Bessin.

⚓ Arromanches-les-Bains is your destination. The view of the remains of the Mulberry Artificial Harbor is striking at sunset. It is a place charged with emotion.

© grandcampmaisy.fr

🚲 Villas and beach. Cover 58 km along the coast. After the landing beaches, the atmosphere becomes more seaside-resort style with the beautiful villas of the Côte de Nacre, an elegant transition on your Northern France cycling route.

🇬🇧 Stop in Courseulles-sur-Mer for its fish market and cross the famous Pegasus Bridge in Bénouville, the first bridge liberated in 1944.

📖 Arrival in Cabourg, the city of Marcel Proust. Walk on the promenade, admire the Grand Hôtel, and enjoy the romantic atmosphere of this Côte Fleurie resort.

© normandie-tourisme

🚲 Cycling elegance. A short 32 km stage, but intense in elevation and beauty. You are in the heart of the Côte Fleurie, the chic section of the Northern France cycling route famous for its Belle Époque architecture.

🐮 Climb Mont Canisy for a 360° panorama of the sea and the bocage. Explore Houlgate and Villers-sur-Mer while admiring the Vaches Noires cliffs (a paleontological site).

✨ Deauville is the highlight of the show. Walk on the mythical Boardwalks (Les Planches), window shop, and enjoy this "chic" city for a lively evening.

© decathlon-outdoor

🚲 Apple trees and Old Port. Leave the glamour for 49 km of local terroir. You cross the Pays d'Auge towards Pont-l'Évêque before joining the Seine estuary, a gourmet stage of the Northern France cycling route.

🍏 The road is lined with orchards and Norman cows. It is the picture-perfect image of Normandy.

🎨 Arrival in Honfleur, one of the most beautiful ports in France. Stroll around the Old Basin (Vieux Bassin) which inspired so many Impressionist painters. The atmosphere here is unique.

© normandie-tourisme

🚲 Crossing the Seine. A stage of about 54 km (including transfer). After Le Havre, head towards the Alabaster Coast. This marks the beginning of the spectacular cliffs on this Northern France cycling route.

🌊 Stop at the Antifer Lighthouse or the Valleuse de Saint-Jouin for a first contact with the dizzying chalk cliffs.

📸 The arrival in Étretat is the holy grail. The view of the Hollow Needle (Aiguille Creuse) and the Arch is unforgettable. Climb to the chapel for the sunset.

© blog.mappy

🚲 Short but intense. Only 22 km today, but the relief of the valleuses (dry valleys) requires energy! It is one of the most beautiful parts of the Northern France cycling route.

⛪ Enjoy the green hinterland and the plunging views over the sea. Take your time, this is a stage for contemplation.

🥃 Arrival in Fécamp, city of the Dukes of Normandy. Absolutely visit the Benedictine Palace, an architectural masterpiece where the famous liqueur is distilled.

© normandie-tourisme

🚲 Imperial History. A 42 km stage loaded with history and sea air. You ride along the Caux littoral on this Northern France cycling route, offering unbeatable views from the cliffs.

🏰 Stop at the Château de Sassetot-le-Mauconduit where Empress Sissi loved to recharge. The small beaches of Petites and Grandes Dalles are perfect for a break.

⛵ Saint-Valery-en-Caux is your stop for the evening. This small port nestled between two white cliffs offers an intimate setting typical of the region.

© normandie-tourisme

🚲 Charming villages. Ride 40 km to discover the gems of the coast. It is a succession of postcard villages on your Northern France cycling route.

🌹 Absolute favorite for Veules-les-Roses, one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France," crossed by the country's smallest river. In Varengeville, visit the church on the cliff edge with its stained glass by Braque.

🪁 Dieppe, the city with four ports, welcomes you. Taste a marmite dieppoise (fish stew) at the port and climb to the castle to see the city from above.

© normandie-tourisme

🚲 Goodbye Normandy, Hello Picardy. A 56 km stage marking the change of region. You finish the Alabaster Coast with the highest cliffs in Europe on this Northern France cycling route.

🚠 Take a break in Le Tréport and take the funicular. Then cross Mers-les-Bains and its incredible colorful Belle Époque villas. Next, make way for the pebbles of Cayeux!

🐦 Cayeux-sur-Mer possesses the longest boardwalk in Europe. It is a seaside resort with a quaint and soothing charm.

© normandie-tourisme

🚲 Wild Nature. A short 29 km stage (or more if you wander) to explore one of the most beautiful bays in the world. It is flat, beautiful, and magical—a must on the Northern France cycling route.

🦭 Mandatory stop at the Pointe du Hourdel to observe the seal colony. Cross Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, a medieval city, and go around the bay.

🔭 Arrival in Le Crotoy, the only beach in the North facing South. Enjoy the panoramic view of the bay and a seafood dinner facing the sunset.

© wikipedia

🚲 Dunes and Pine Forests. A very varied 59 km stage. You leave the Baie de Somme for the Marquenterre Park then ride along the great dune massif on this Northern France cycling route.

🌲 After Berck and its kites, you ride through pine forests. It is a very pleasant and totally exotic section.

🥂 Le Touquet-Paris-Plage is the chic reward. Admire the villas in the forest, go shopping on Rue Saint-Jean, and enjoy the lively atmosphere of this prestigious resort.

© radio6

🚲 The return of the hills. A 34 km stage where the flat gives way to the hills of the Boulonnais. You bypass the Canche bay via the fishing town of Étaples, a dynamic section of your Northern France cycling route.

🏰 Stop at the Château d'Hardelot, an amazing neo-Gothic manor dedicated to the Franco-British Entente Cordiale, surrounded by nature.

🦈 Boulogne-sur-Mer, France's leading fishing port, awaits you. The star attraction is Nausicaá, the largest aquarium in Europe. Don't miss the fortified old town up on the hill either.

© wikipedia

🚲 The Epic Finale. End in style with this 51 km stage. It is the bravura piece of the Northern France cycling route: it climbs, the wind blows, but the views are the most beautiful.

👀 Passing by Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez offers breathtaking panoramas of the white cliffs of England on a clear day. It is magnificent.

🐉 Here you are in Calais! Celebrate the end of your 1,075 km by greeting the monumental Dragon of Calais on the seafront. You have conquered the North coast!

© Calais XXL

⚓ Did you enjoy starting from the Corsair City? If this route inspired you, here are 3 other must-do itineraries starting from Saint-Malo to discover:

• Saint-Malo to Vannes (Voie 3 Brittany): Crossing Brittany from North to South.

• Saint-Malo - Lorient: A land and sea adventure via Route 8.

• Saint-Malo - Arzal: The great river crossing down to the estuary.