The best cycling routes in Germany
Germans are among the biggest cycling fans in the world. If you are cycling on holiday, the chances of meeting a German are pretty high.
This is partly because it is the most populous country in Europe (not counting Russia), but also because of its tradition of travelling by bicycle.
For example, Heinz Stücke, one of the world's most notorious cycle travellers, is of German origin and Germany boasts around 70 thousand kilometres of cycle paths.
And a country with such a cycling tradition must inevitably have well-developed cycle tourism routes. So, let's take a look at where and how to cycle in Germany:
- Explore the Elbe by bike
With its 1,300 km, the Elbe Cycle Route is one of the most spectacular in Europe. The path runs from the northern border of the Czech Republic, more precisely from the Krkonoše National Park, to the mouth of the Elbe in Cuxhaven. Many sections of this route are reserved exclusively for cyclists. They are mostly asphalted, well signposted, sufficiently large and appropriately developed.
The route passes through predominantly agricultural and forestry areas as well as numerous nature parks and protected areas, including the Unesco biosphere reserve Flusslandschaft Elbe. Along the way there is no shortage of places of historical and cultural interest, such as Dresden, with its baroque buildings and famous Blue Bridge; Torgau, where you can enjoy a good German beer; Wittenberg, the city of Martin Luther; Magdeburg, the city of the first German emperor and finally Hamburg, the cultural Hanseatic city.
- The Danube Route
Undoubtedly one of the most famous cycling routes in Europe. The longest river in Europe crosses 10 countries, but Germany is in the fortunate position that the Danube originates here.
Specifically, the German section covers about 580km, from the source in Donaueschingen to the Austrian border in Passau, the city of the three rivers.
The Danube route is a fantastic option for exploring southern Germany as a family as it is an easy and safe route.
- Main cycle path
This 600 km route crosses central Germany from east to west and follows the winding riverbed of the Main.
The cycle path leads from the source of the Main in Bischofsgrün ("White Main") or Creußen ("Red Main") to the height of Mainz, where the Main flows into the Rhine.
- The Rhine Route
The Rhine, a river full of history and culture.
The 970km German section of the route runs from the city of Constance, at the foot of the Alps, to the city of Emmerich on the Rhine, on the border with the Netherlands. Thus, it crosses the eastern part of the German country.
- The Baltic Coast Route
In addition to rivers, the German coast also offers winding routes, such as the Baltic Sea Route. This route runs from Flensburg, very close to Denmark, to Usedom, on the border with Poland.
Just over a thousand kilometres along the coast with the sea as a constant companion,
- The Romantic Road
This tour is based on a tourist route developed in the 1950s with the aim of exploring picturesque villages and castles in southern Germany.
We will use the long-distance hiking trail on a north-south axis for this. The route is 440km long and is quite flat, although it does not follow a river bed.
- Bikepacking Trans-Germany (BTG Route)
The Bikepacking Trans Germany route is something for the hardy.
A journey of around 1,600km of pure off-road. It cuts diagonally across the country, from the far southwest to the northeast.
- The Black Forest Tour
The Black Forest Cycle Route crosses some of the most impressive landscapes in this German area, one of the regions with the largest forest mass in Europe.
This Black Forest cycle route starts in the German city of Freiburg, considered the warmest city in Germany. This city is full of charm for its old town and for the "Bächle", small canals that run through the streets and alleys and give this city a special atmosphere.
From there and the following stages, the journey continues through the Black Forest and the beautiful rural landscape, to Bonndorf.
One of the most striking points of the route is in the town of Bad Säckingen, where the bridge with the longest wooden roof in Europe is located. A beautiful construction that is more than 400 years old.
- Munich route
We propose you a round trip through the region near Munich, starting and ending in Amsang on the beautiful Lake Starnberg. You will get to know the Osterseen region, which consists of 19 small lakes, each with its own personality and different activities to enjoy the nature around it. Each lake has a different colour in green and blue, and are embedded in a landscape that resembles a postcard idyll.
There are also waterfalls to admire, such as the one in Kunflucht, which flows through an impressive forest like something out of a fairy tale. During the 7 days that this route lasts, you can contemplate some of the most impressive landscapes in Germany, such as the Zugspitze, which at 2,962 m holds the title of the highest mountain in the country.