Eleven Cities (Elfstedentocht) Cycling Holidays
Start: Leeuwarden

Your Itinerary


Eleven Cities of Friesland Self-Guided Cycling Holiday
Self-Guided | Individual | 8 days | 7 nights | From £589 per person
Full holiday prices by date are shown on the ‘Book Now’ tab.

Book the Eleven Cities of Friesland cycling holiday here >>

Cycle Tour Highlights
• Ride the Eleven Cities tour route that is famous for its very rare ice skating race.
• Explore picturesque villages and historic towns (Leeuwarden, Sneek, Franeker…)
• See green watery countryside, dotted with canals and lakes.
• Visit typical Frisian farms, traditions and culture.
• Dutch hospitality.

Cycle Route profile
The peace, the nature and the Race of Races (the Eleven Cities Tour) have made Frisland extremely popular with iceskaters but certainly also with cyclists. The Eleven Cities Tour owes its name to two men who decided to skate past eleven towns in one day in the winter of 1808, a total of 230 kilometres. To prove they had done it, they obtained the signatures of the owners of cafés or hotels in every town.

The approximate difficulty level for this tour

Difficulty Scale

Day-by-Day Cycling Holiday Itinerary


1st day: Arrival in Leeuwarden

Leeuwarden is the main city of Frisland. In this historic town, you can admire the small canals and walk through the nice shopping malls.

There are also nice buildings, like the late gothic ‚Waag‘, and some museums. Interesting museums are the Museum of Nature and the Princessehof.

2nd day: Leeuwarden – Sneek (ca. 45 km)

The first cycling day brings us to Sneek, a small town that was once surrounded by canals and walls. You can walk through the nice centre and visit the city hall and the Martini church.

3rd day: Sneek – Harich/Balk (ca. 50 km)

Today, we cycle to Harich, situated near the IJssel lake. We will pass the nice town Sloten, with 700 inhabitants the smallest one along the Eleven-Cities tour. Enjoy the nice village Balk, the charming villages and the typical Frisian landscape with the well-known terps!

4th day: Harich/Balk – Bolsward (ca. 51 or 58 km)

Bolsward is also a very nice town with picturesque streets, but it is certainly not the only one on this cycling day. Stavoren, nowadays famous among watersporters, and Workum are worth a visit!

These were all trade cities, with beautiful houses from the era of the ‚Hanze’ cities and nice churches as witnesses of this glorious past.

5th day: Bolsward – Harlingen (ca. 30 km)

On the route to Harlingen, you will pass Makkum, which is known thanks to the pottery. Enjoy your stay in Harlingen, at the ‘Waddenzee’.

6th day: Harlingen – Dokkum (63 or 75 km)

On the way to Dokkum, we will first pass Franeker. Franeker once had a well known university. Dokkum is a quite remarkable town, as the streets haven’t changed since 1650. This city has always taken care of its architectural treasures. That is why the city has restored its fortifications and its historic walls.

7th day: Dokkum – Leeuwarden (ca. 35 km)

On the last cycling day, we go back to the place where we started: Leeuwarden. Along the cycling route, the enchanting Frisian villages Rinsumageest and Burdaard can be visited.

8th Day: Departure after breakfast

Map & Route Information

Route Profile
Easy and flat, available for all cyclists and families

Where is the starting point of the holiday?


View Larger Map

Tour Route Map

Tour Information

Holiday Information

The Eleven Cities of Friesland tour stays in 3*** and 4**** hotels carefully chosen for their location, hospitality and proximity to your tour route.

Your stay includes the daily transfer of luggage to the next hotel and permanent assistance in case of problems.

Services

- 8 days / 7 nights in 3*/4* hotels
– Room with shower / bath and toilet
– 7 x breakfast buffet
– Half board possible (7 × 3 course dinner)
– Use of sauna in Leeuwarden
– Luggage transport (1 piece / person up to 20 kilos)
– Local tourist taxes
– Map, tourist information and road description in English
– Service-Hotline (also in weekends)

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About the bikes...

This is a touring bike that is often known as a ‘City Bike’.

They are equipped with sufficient gears, a saddle bag, a fix lock and a pump.

Child trailers and seats are available too.

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Your Prices

Eleven Cities of Friesland, 8 days, 7 nights
All prices are per person and include bike hire.

Cycling Holiday Prices:
Prices are based on seasonal date bands
Season 1: April – June | September – September
Arrival daily
Season 2: June – August
Arrival daily

Category A: Prices per person including bike hire
Season 1: From £589 | Book online here >>
Season 2: From £629 | Book online here >>
Single Room Supplement: From £139
Half Board Upgrade: From £149
Electric Bike Upgrade: From £79

Calculate the cost of your cycling holiday







Hotel Category Descriptions
Accommodation in 3* and 4* hotels with double room with private facilities

Any local tourist taxes are not included in the holiday price and are payable at the hotel.

For help and queries regarding this tour…
Contact us | F.A.Qs

Holiday Price: From £589
Single Supplement: From £139

Click here to book now
Call: 01706 618155

Wheel2Wheel Holidays is part of KE Adventure Travel Ltd.

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