Cultural Walking & Biking Hubs IN EUROPEAN CAPITALS BEST OF
By Amy Kapp
Across “The Continent,” many cities are designed with people—and not just automobiles—in mind, making it easy to navigate by foot or bike, and allowing for the perfect blend of cultural immersion and active transportation. Here are five of these standout destinations, chosen from my travels in recent (and not so recent) times. Happy exploring and bon voyage !
PHOTOS: This page, from left: Joan Brebo, creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en; Amy Kapp. Opposite page, from top: Orlando Contreras López, by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en; Chris Bernhardt; Amy Kapp.
About a decade ago, my husband and I visited San Sebastián, the capital of the small Basque province of Guipúzcoa. Famous for its beautiful beaches and tasty pintxos—the Basque version of tapas—San Sebastián also boasts more than 18 miles of designated bike lanes, called bidegorris , or “red roads,” and some 48 miles total of “separate and safe bike lanes,” making it convenient to get around without a car (rtc.li/san-sebastian-bike). Located in the city’s center is the internationally renowned La Concha Bay Beach, which stretches for about 1.5 miles between Mount Urgull in the northeast and Mount Igeldo in the west. Named for its shell-like shape when viewed from above, the beach is bordered by a paved promenade as well as a section of the city’s bike network, creating, as I’d find out, an ideal spot to get in some exercise while taking in expansive waterside views. The route begins at the City Hall building, a stunning structure built in 1887 in the French Second Empire ar- chitectural style. Upon reaching Ondaretta Beach, a short, paved pedestrian walkway leads to a payoff: El Peine del Viento, or “The Comb of the Wind,” a 1977 collaborative work by artist Eduardo Chillida and architect Luis Peña Ganchegui. A set of three massive comb-like sculptures, the installation is incorporated into the mountain land- scape, paying homage to the past, the present and the future … the wind, the sea and the horizon. SAN SEBASTIÁN, SPAIN Bidegorris + The Concha Promenade
Reykjavík is a popular destination for people who love the outdoors, with its proximity to the lagoons, waterfalls, glaciers and volcanic activity Iceland is famous for, as well as its bustling, pedestrian-friendly downtown. Weaving through the capital is an intricate set of walking paths and bike lanes (cyclingiceland.is/en); in particular, Reykjavík’s northwestern boundary is encased by ocean and skirted by a trail that travels the coastline and connects into the city’s inland neighborhoods. As part of this coastal trail, you’ll find the 3-mile-ish Sculpture and Shore Walk (rtc.li/sculpture-shore-walk) highlighting various cultural institutions and works of art. During my last visit in 2024, I started this route at the Harpa Concert Hall to get on the separated trail heading southeast. The route quickly passes the stainless steel “Sun Voyager,” a Reykjavík art monument by Jón Gunnar Árnason commemorating the city’s 200th anniversary in 1990. It then makes its way by a series of additional highlights, including “The Cairn,” a bronze lava rock piece by artist Jóhann Eyfells; “Shore Piece,” a waterside stone arrangement by Sigurður Guðmundsson; and “Partnership” by Pétur Bjarnason, celebrating 50 years of diplomacy between Iceland and the United States. The route also passes Höfði Lighthouse, the Recycled House (made from recycled materials, as the name implies) and the Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum. REYKJAVÍK, ICELAND Coastal Trail + Sculpture and Shore Walk
Rails to Trails MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2025
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