What is the shortest distance one would need to travel on mainland Europe...

[GrumpyGregry]

... in order to pass through ten countries?

another thread has set me thinking.

 

[Dayvo]

At a guess, and without consulting a map, probably/possibly around the former Yugoslavia and its neighbours.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Dunno, but I'm sure it'd be an Adventure

 

[mjr]

For completeness, the other thread was https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/i...ist-what-would-you-like-me-to-ask-him.220900/

Consulting a route planner, FYR Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Austria is about 1150km and I think the Benelux, Germany, France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Italy, Slovenia combination which I think is more popular is about 1300.

 

[Shadow]

Do they have to be different countries?!!!

 

[srw]

Start in Helsingborg SE and go via DK, DE, NL, BE, LU, FR, CH, LIE to AT is about 900 miles.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Start in Helsingborg SE and go via DK, DE, NL, BE, LU, FR, CH, LIE to AT is about 900 miles.

....and Helsingborg is a perfectly lovely place to start :-)
But...lot's of flat and windy terrain to cross.

 

[srw]

....and Helsingborg is a perfectly lovely place to start :-)
But...lot's of flat and windy terrain to cross.

Admittedly you have to start with a ferry, which might be considered cheating.

Add another 100 miles and you're in IT, for 11 countries inside 1000 miles.

 

[srw]

...and Professor Google tells me that you can now shave off tens of miles by starting in Malmo.

https://www.curbed.com/2017/3/6/14815766/bike-ferry-copenhagen-malmo

 

[srw]

...and since my conference call isn't hugely interesting I've experimented starting from CZ and going via various bits of ex-YU to Greece. 12 countries in less than 1000 miles.

Whether any of these routes are worth riding, of course, is another question.

 

[mjr]

...and since my conference call isn't hugely interesting I've experimented starting from CZ and going via various bits of ex-YU to Greece. 12 countries in less than 1000 miles.

Whether any of these routes are worth riding, of course, is another question.

So still not getting near my 1150km then?

 

[srw]

So still not getting near my 1150km then?

More countries! And Kosovo isn't universally recognised as an independent country.

 

[slowmotion]

Somebody told me that just going to an en suite lavatory in Maastricht involved visits to at least four countries.

 

[mjr]

More countries! And Kosovo isn't universally recognised as an independent country.

More countries? So off-topic then?

And it's recognised by the UK, most of the EU, more than half of the UN... but I think starting from Greece into Albania instead would only add 200km to make 1350km, less than the 900 miles.

 

[psmiffy]

What the shortest distance to do 12 - 9705km is the shortest I've managed it in so far

Edit - 13 - I miscounted