Launch of a cross-border one-way bike rental along EuroVelo 10 from Copenhagen to Gdańsk: international experts put it to a test!

Cross-border one-way bike rental: a challenging yet much-needed service

in the South Baltic area, with a particular focus on cycling-friendly services developed in close collaboration with SMEs. As the project approaches its conclusion in October 2026, its first tangible results are emerging, including the successful development of a cross-border one-way bike rental service between Denmark and Poland.

This innovative offer was developed by two SMEs – OneWayBikeTours and Poland by Locals. Their representatives first met during a Baltic Biking UPGRADE study visit in Sweden in 2025. Inspired by the growing demand for cycling tourism, they decided to develop a new tourism product allowing cyclists to start their journey in Copenhagen and finish in Gdańsk without having to return their bicycles to the original rental location.

but also one that can be challenging to implement, especially at the international level. Indeed, it requires close collaboration between partners and complex logistics. It addresses one of the main needs of long-distance cyclists, who may find it difficult to travel with their own bicycles by train or plane and who may want to do a section of EuroVelo 10 without having to cycle back to the original bike rental location. The BBU project provided the necessary support to turn this idea into reality, with project partners facilitating the coordination with the SMEs and project funding contributing to the purchase of a fleet of brand new e-bikes. To support the launch, a website dedicated to this EuroVelo 10 section was also created: Visit the website

The service hence removes one of the key barriers to long-distance cycling holidays and opens up new opportunities to discover the Baltic coast by bike.

A memorable FAM trip to accelerate the promotion of the route

This five-day trip marked the launch of the product while pursuing a broader objective: promoting this section of EuroVelo 10 by inviting influencers to create high-quality content and inspiring tour operators to develop new cycling holiday products. Participants represented a diverse range of organisations and businesses active in cycling tourism and destination promotion, including Cycle Travel Club, OneWayBikeTours, Poland by Locals, Loverowi, Cyclingworld, S-cape Partners, Kampio, Danish Cycling Tourism, Mecklenburger Radtour, Tourismverband Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Tourismus Barth, Pomorskie Tourist Board and Zachodniopomorska Regionalna Organizacja Turystyczna.

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Starting in Copenhagen on 27 May 2026, participants cycled through Zealand and Falster before reaching Gedser, Denmark's southernmost point. After a ferry crossing to Rostock, the journey continued along the Baltic coast through Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, including Barth and Stralsund, before entering Poland in Świnoujście. The route then followed the coast through Kołobrzeg, Mielno and Ustka before reaching the Pomorskie Region and concluding at the historic Gdańsk Shipyard.

The journey was about much more than cycling. Participants exchanged experiences, met local stakeholders and tourism businesses, assessed cycling infrastructure and services, and explored opportunities for future cooperation.

The FAM trip officially began with a welcome by Christopher Røhl, Mayor of Culture, Leisure and Citizen Services of the City of Copenhagen, and H.E. Ewa Dębska, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Denmark. As a symbolic gesture highlighting the importance of tourism cooperation across the Baltic Sea Region and the growing recognition of cycling tourism, the Mayor presented participants with a gift to deliver to the Mayor of Gdańsk.

The FAM trip generated immediate visibility through social media, blogs, and specialised cycling channels. Participants actively shared their experiences throughout the journey, creating authentic content that will continue promoting the route in the coming months.

The Copenhagen–Gdańsk FAM Trip illustrated how international cooperation can translate into practical tourism solutions. By connecting destinations, SMEs, and cycling communities across borders, Baltic Biking UPGRADE is helping position the South Baltic area as one of Europe’s top cycling tourism regions.

Authors: Magda Leszczyna-Rzucidło (Director of International Cooperation, Pomorskie Regional Tourism Organisation) and Alexandra Fournier (EuroVelo and Projects Officer)