Cycling highlights: The best cycling routes in the republic

E-bikes and the corona pandemic have triggered a new bicycle boom: Get on the saddle, get out into nature and discover your home is the motto. After all, cycling is sporty exercise, healthy, climate-neutral, affordable, free from traffic jams and offers a feeling of unlimited freedom when the wind blows in your face.

We get on the pedals and show six fantastic bike tours through Germany – for a day, a weekend or a few weeks.

1. Elbe cycle path: 1300 kilometers to the left and right of the Elbe

From the source of the Elbe in the Giant Mountains to the estuary in the North Sea: The approximately 1,300-kilometer cycle path on the banks of the Elbe is one of the most popular long-distance cycle paths and offers many opportunities. If you don’t want to do the entire route and want to sit on your bike for at least 14 days, you can opt for distances such as the 430 kilometers from Spindlermühle to Dresden, the 260 kilometers from Spindlermühle to Prague, the 220 kilometers from Prague to Dresden or from Dresden to Hamburg ( 600 kilometers).

The western stage upstream from Cuxhaven over 480 kilometers to Magdeburg has hardly any gradients, begins and ends at train stations, leads through varied landscapes and to harbor towns. Tailwind and flat paths also dominate the 350-kilometer eastern stage from Magdeburg to Schöna, the last train station before the Czech border. World Heritage cities such as Dessau, Wörlitz and Lutherstadt Wittenberg as well as floodplain landscapes and the rocky mountains of Saxon Switzerland are on the route.

Conclusion: The Elbe cycle path is largely well developed and fascinates with a diverse landscape, always new perspectives from both sides of the river and exciting cities.

2. Bodensee-Königssee-Radweg: 450 kilometers along the Alps

In the south of Germany, cyclists need to be a bit more fit because it gets hilly but not particularly steep. The most beautiful cycle path along the Alps is the 450-kilometer route from Lindau on Lake Constance to Königssee in the Berchtesgaden Alps – from the south-west to the south-east of Upper Bavaria.

At least six days should be planned for the total of 4,000 meters of altitude difference along numerous lakes and castles. The Bodensee-Königssee-Weg leads up and down through the Allgäu, past pre-alpine lakes such as the Alpsee, Hopfensee and the Forggensee near Füssen. There it joins the Romantic Road cycle path and offers fantastic views of Neuschwanstein Castle.

The route continues in the direction of Ammergau and Bad Tölz, always with a view of the Bavarian Alps. Bathing stops can be made at Tegernsee, Schliersee and Chiemsee, as far as Bad Reichenhall, where a last challenging ascent leads to Königssee.

Conclusion: The long-distance cycle path runs mostly on quiet, low-traffic country roads and paved country lanes – always along the mountain backdrop.

3. Baltic Coast Cycle Route: 1,000 kilometers through seaside resorts and Hanseatic cities

From Flensburg to Schwerin, past old Hanseatic towns, fishing villages, seaside resorts and across large and small islands: the Baltic Coast Cycle Route is part of the EuroVelo 10 European long-distance cycle route, which circles the entire Baltic Sea. The starting point is at the German-Danish border in Flensburg, where you follow the Schleswig-Holstein border to Kiel.

The further course of the almost 1,100 kilometer long stretch of coast leads through small seaside resorts, to the island of Fehmarn and into the Bay of Lübeck. There you can easily spend a relaxing day in Scharbeutz or on Timmendorfer Strand. Or in the Unesco World Heritage city of Wismar, 50 kilometers away. If you don’t have that much time, you can also get on in Kühlungsborn, cycle directly by the sea to Warnemünde and via the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula in the old town of Stralsund. A detour over the largest cable-stayed bridge in Germany to the island of Rügen is worthwhile.

Conclusion: It is best to drive the tour in a westerly direction, as this ensures a tailwind. In combination with the flat land, cycling on the Baltic Sea Coastal Path is a pleasure with a constant view of the sea.

4th Moselle Cycle Path: 320 kilometers with vineyard terraces, castles and palaces

From the border triangle of France, Germany and Luxembourg via Trier to Koblenz: the starting point of the 320-kilometer-long Moselle cycle path is actually the city of Metz in Alsace. But it is also possible to only ride the German part of the tour, from Perl in Saarland to Koblenz it is around 250 kilometers. The route always winds along the Moselle and vineyards. Relatively flat at first, from Trier the mountains get higher and the view ever more grandiose – of castles, palaces and wine-growing villages such as Traben-Trarbach or Cochem.

In addition to a visit to the Porta Nigra in Trier, the tour offers many opportunities to taste the wine – in historic wine cellars, estate taverns or traditional ostrich inns.

Conclusion: The region between Trier and Koblenz is considered to be the most scenic section of the Moselle valley and a paradise for pleasure cyclists.

5. Wine Route: Day tour through vineyards and forests

If you want to combine wine and cycling, but don’t have time for a multi-day tour, then the German Wine Route cycle path is the right place for you. The start and end point is Neustadt an der Weinstraße in the Palatinate. The 40-kilometre route leads south past Hambach Castle and the half-timbered town of Rhodt below Rietburg – framed by vineyards, vines and the Palatinate Forest Nature Park. Then it goes back to Neustadt via the Rhein-Wein-Radweg and the Kraut-und-Rüben-Radweg.

Conclusion: The day tour is rated as medium difficulty and is suitable for the whole family. An extension option is the 140-kilometer cabbage and turnip cycle path between Bockenheim and Schweigen-Rechtenbach. The path leads from farm to farm and is considered a highlight for cyclists who want to delve deep into the Palatinate culture and embark on a culinary journey of discovery.

6. Vennbahn cycle path: 125 kilometers along historic railway lines

In six stages through three countries: the Vennbahn cycle path is one of the longest railway cycle paths in Europe and runs 125 kilometers from Aachen across East Belgium to Troisvièrges in Luxembourg. The Vennbahn used to be the connection between the coalfields around Aachen and the north of Luxembourg.

Today, the parallel path is an insider tip among bike tours. The route meanders through the low mountain range Eifel-Ardennes, over spectacular bridges, through abandoned tunnels, many forests and moors and past castles.

Conclusion: Due to its maximum gradient of only two percent, it is also easily manageable for families.