Popular Sporting Events & Festivals in Europe
The Tour De France is one of the world’s most-watched sporting events, with hundreds of thousands gathering along the raceway and millions watching at home.
Although it's called the Tour De France, the race changes location each year. The Tour De France 2024 will begin in Italy, a first for the race, and end with a time trial from Monaco to Nice.
The Tour De France is considered the world’s most prestigious cycling event and sees the very best cyclists compete against each other on a route that changes each year. This year, the Tour De France route will begin in Florence, Italy for the first time in history.
The race begins on the 29th of June and is made up of 21 sections that see riders pass through Turin, Piacenza, and Monaco, before ending in Nice. Following the Tour De France 2024 is a brilliant excuse to tick off some bucket-list European destinations while also seeing the best cycling possible.
Whether you’re an avid cycling fan or want to soak up the atmosphere, the Tour De France is the perfect excuse for short breaks to France by ferry.
The Tour De France Femme begins just after the Tour De France on August 12th and runs from Rotterdam to Alpe D’Huez. It is made up of eight stages, stretching through three countries, and a beautiful span of French countryside. Its August start date also means it's at the peak of summer – the best weather for watching the cycling race.
Travel to the Netherlands this year for the Tour de France Femme with our overnight Hull to Rotterdam ferry crossings, and you’ll not only get to experience the beginning of the 2024 Tour de France Femme race from the start line, but you’ll also arrive refreshed and ready to go with our comfortable cabins and delicious meals onboard.
If you find yourself inspired by the Tour De France, why not try a cycling weekend break in France yourself? Cycling breaks are a great way to immerse yourself in a place’s scenery and take in as much of it as possible.
There are countless destinations you could head to for an ideal cycling trip including Bordeaux, Provence, or even a section of the Alps. With P&O Ferries, it's easier than ever to travel with your bike, and with no fuss, you can focus on planning your perfect route, and make your own mini Tour De France.
If you don’t have time for a whole weekend, you could even do a cycling day trip and take in the roads and quick hits of a city like Paris. With up to 14 crossings a day, getting to France for a cycling day trip is easier than ever before. Take a P&O Ferry to France and pack in a day of adventure, like a mini–Tour De France Paris, before heading home the very same evening.
If you want to travel to the Tour De France, or your continental cycling trip, then P&O Ferries makes it easy to travel to Europe from the UK.
You can travel to France by ferry in style in our luxurious club lounge. Enjoy complimentary food and drinks and a beautiful view from the private deck for a serene trip across the Channel.
There’s plenty to keep you occupied on the ferry to France from Dover, with our duty-free store to explore, plus the food market and kids’ entertainment. When you travel to the Tour De France with P&O Ferries, your trip begins as soon as you step onboard. It takes just 1.5 hours to reach Calais, so you’ll be driving or cycling in France in no time.
See what’s onboard a ferry to France
The Tour De France 2024 starts on Saturday, 29 June. The final stage of the Tour De France will finish on Sunday, 21 July in Nice.
The Tour De France route varies from year to year, and it spans countries other than France. This summer, the Tour De France 2024 will begin in Florence, Italy on Saturday, 29 June.
