The seven long-distance cycle routes presented
1st German North Sea coast: Sea cycling
The complete North Sea Cycle Route (EuroVelo 12) through six countries is the longest signposted cycle route in the world with a length of more than 7,000 kilometres. The German section from the Dutch to the Danish border is also more than 900 kilometres long. The cycle route, also known as D-Route 1, runs mainly on cycle paths along dykes or roads or on quiet country roads, sometimes on sand or gravel. There are no major inclines and many metres of elevation gain to be feared anywhere by the sea. The headwind provides the sporting component. With a constant breeze in your face and hair, the coastal route proves to be a great cycling experience with many scenic and cultural highlights. These include, for example, the famous, kitschy and beautiful Pilsum lighthouse, the historic old town of Stade, but above all the Wadden Sea National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site with the Wilhelmshaven Visitor Centre and the Westerhever lighthouse. Not forgetting the countless bathing beaches on the North Sea.
GPS data for long-distance cycle route D-Route 1
You can find the GPS data for the long-distance cycle route along the German North Sea coast in the MYBIKE Collection on komoot
Information on the German North Sea Coast long-distance cycle route
Arrival
The start and finish towns of Emden and Niebüll are more or less easy to reach by train. If you are not cycling the entire route, there are many railway stations along the way, e.g. in Hamburg, Cuxhaven, Wilhelmshaven and Bremerhaven.
Other long-distance cycle routes to combine
The German North Sea Coast long-distance cycle route can also be easily combined with the following cycle routes:
- Elbe cycle path >> Elbe Cycle Route Saxony
- Weser cycle path
- Ems cycle path
- International dollar route >> 300 kilometre East Frisia tour
- Kiel Canal route
- Heerweg-Ochsenweg
Highlights along the German North Sea Coast long-distance cycle route
- Emden
- Pilsum lighthouse
- Dornum moated castle
- UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea Visitor Centre Wilhelmshaven
- Climate House Bremerhaven
- Old town of Stade
- Port of Hamburg
- Castle in front of Husum
- Westerhever lighthouse in the Wadden Sea National Park
Bike hire
If you prefer to travel without a bike, you can hire one for the tour. Addresses for possible hire stations can be found at nordsee24.de and ostfriesland.travel.
Tour arrangements
Multi-day tours on the North Sea Coast Cycle Route with luggage transport are offered by Launer Reisen, Rückenwind Reisen, Radreisen.at and Mecklenburger Radtour, for example.
Bike-friendly accommodation
You can find cycle-friendly accommodation along the German North Sea Coast long-distance cycle route at bettundbike.de and radlerquartiere.de.
2nd Iron Curtain Trail: Young German history
The Iron Curtain Trail - also known as the German-German Green Belt Cycle Route - runs along the former border between the Federal Republic of Germany and the GDR. It is a section of the Iron Curtain Trail (EuroVelo 13), which stretches over almost 10,000 kilometres through 20 countries from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea. In Germany, the section along the Baltic Sea coast between Ahlbeck and Travemünde is officially part of the Iron Curtain Trail, but many travellers only start the cycle route in Lübeck or on the Trave at the former GDR border. But even from here to Vogtland on the Czech border, the tour still measures more than 1000 kilometres. Of course, German-German history takes centre stage, but cyclists can also experience fascinating surroundings and an exciting cross-section of German landscape and culture along the Green Belt. Today, the Green Belt, the converted "death strip", is the largest biotope network in Germany, covering an area of around 800 square kilometresalmost a third are nature reserves. With the exception of the high mountains, all German landscapes can be found, from the low mountain ranges to the lowlands of northern Germany.
GPS data for the Iron Curtain Trail
You can find the GPS data for the Iron Curtain Trail in the MYBIKE Collection on komoot
Information about the Iron Curtain Trail
Arrival
The starting points of Ahlbeck and Travemünde can be reached by train via Berlin and Hamburg. Trains usually travel to the destination of Hof in Vogtland via Bamberg or Nuremberg.
Other long-distance cycle routes to combine
The Iron Curtain Trail can be combined with the following cycle routes:
- Baltic Sea Coast Cycle Route
- Old salt road >> Read more about the Old Salt Road cycle path
- German Unity Cycle Route
- Elbe cycle path
- Werratal cycle path
- Saale cycle path
- Four-country border cycle path
Highlights on Iron Curtain Trail
- Old Town Lübeck
- Schnackenburg Borderland Museum
- Zone Border Museum Helmstedt
- German division memorial Marienborn
- Border Museum Sorge
- Point Alpha Memorial
- "Little Berlin" Mödlareuth
Bike-friendly accommodation
Addresses for cycle-friendly accommodation can be found at mein-grünes-band.de and at Bett und Bike.
3rd Moselle Cycle Route complete: From the Vosges to the German Corner
The Moselle cycle route from Perl to Koblenz is one of the classics in Germany. However, the 248 kilometres on the German side are not even half of the cycle route. This is because the Moselle has its source in the southern Vosges Mountains in France, which is basically where the Moselle Cycle Route begins. However, the official signposting as "Le Chemin de la Moselle" only begins in Thionville. If you start in the Vosges, you can still decide in Epinal whether to turn off onto the Moselle-Saone cycle path heading south towards Lyon or north towards Nancy and Metz. In the Vosges and before Epinal, you often cycle on roads in the Moselle valley. After that, it becomes much more cycle-friendly. As the Moselle cycle route in France is not yet so well developed for tourism, you should plan your stages and refreshment stops a little more carefully in advance. Before turning onto the German Moselle cycle path in Perl, it is definitely worth making longer stops in the historic centres of Nancy and Metz. The picturesque wine villages along the Moselle meanders and steep vineyards then take centre stage.
GPS data
You can find the GPS data for the Moselle cycle route in the MYBIKE Collection on komoot
Information about the Moselle cycle path
Journey
Koblenz is well integrated into the German railway network. The nearest railway station to the starting point at the source of the Moselle (approx. 10 km) is Fellering (Kruth), which can only be reached by changing trains several times via Basel and Mulhouse. In France and Germany, a railway line runs alongside the cycle path for long stretches.
Other long-distance cycle routes to combine
- Saar cycle path
- Moselle-Saone cycle path
- VeloRoute SarLorLux
- Nahe-Hunsrück-Moselle cycle route
- Rhine cycle path >> 200 kilometres from Mainz to Cologne
- Lahn Valley cycle path
Highlights along the Moselle cycle path
- Moselle spring at the Petit Drumont
- Nancy old town
- Old Town Metz
- City of Luxembourg
- Porta Nigra in Trier
- Traben-Trarbach
- Bernkastel-Kues
- Cochem Imperial Castle
- Eltz Castle
Bike hire & bike service
Rental and service stations can be found on the websites of the tourist offices Visit Moselle and Tourism Lorraine.
Tour arrangements
Tours on the Moselle cycle path can be booked with Radweg-Reisen, Velociped, Rückenwind and Wikinger Reisen.
Bike-friendly accommodation
Accommodation tips along the Moselle cycle route can be found on the websites of Visit Moselle, Tourism Lorraine, Bett+Bike, see also Bikeline cycle tour books
4th Baden and Württemberg Wine Cycle Route: Wine Cycling XXL
Twice along Germany's south-west, from Grenzach near Basel to Laudenbach on the Badische Bergstrasse and from Niederstetten in the Tauber Valley to Rottenburg am Neckar - this hilly and scenically impressive route leads almost 900 kilometres through the wine-growing regions of Baden and Württemberg. It is the result of a recent merger. From this year, the new 20 kilometre section from Schwaigern to Sulzfeld will connect the Baden (460 km) with the Württemberg Wine Cycle Route (396 km; ADFC quality cycle route). This creates one of the longest wine cycle routes in Europe. But this tour is by no means just about Lemberger, Trollinger and Blauer Spätburgunder. Of course, the wine cycle routes lead to countless wine villages, wineries and vineyards, but between the Black Forest and the Rhine Valley as well as in the Neckar Valley there are also many places steeped in history such as Basel, Freiburg, Karlsruhe and Heidelberg as well as Tübingen, Stuttgart and Marbach. And from a culinary point of view, you are always on the safe side on these wine routes.
TOUR: 880 km, 7,300 metres in altitude
GPS data
You can find the GPS data for the Baden and Württemberg Wine Cycle Route in the MYBIKE Collection on komoot
Information on the Baden and Württemberg Wine Cycle Route
Arrival
Baden Wine Cycle Route: Grenzach-Wyhlen can be reached by IC and regional train via Basel, the destination Laudenbach via Frankfurt/Main. Württemberger Weinradweg: The starting point can be reached via Aschaffenburg, for example, and the destination Rottenburg am Neckar can be reached via Stuttgart.
Other long-distance cycle routes to combine
- Rhine Cycle Route
- Neckar cycle path
- Nature Park Cycle Route Black Forest Centre/North
- Southern Black Forest Cycle Route, Remstal Cycle Route, Kocher-Jagst Cycle Route, Tour de Murg
Highlights along the wine cycle path
Käthchenhaus in Heilbronn, Schiller's birthplace in Marbach, Stuttgart Wine Museum, Tübingen Old Town, Basel Old Town, Freiburg Old Town, Karlsruhe Castle, Rauenberg Castle with Wine Museum, Heidelberg
Bike hire & bike service
Addresses for overnight accommodation can be found on the websites of Radfahren Baden-Württemberg and Schwarzwald Tourismus.
Tour arrangements
Individual weekly tours on the Baden Wine Cycle Route organised by Original Landreisen, for example.
Bike-friendly accommodation
Accommodation tips can be found on the website of the Baden Württemberg Tourism Association and at Bett and bike.
5th Trans-Bavarian Forest: Forest Cycling
First things first: this long tour in the Bavarian Forest, which is divided into a northern and a southern route, is primarily aimed at gravel bikers and sporty low mountain bikers. The roads in the largest forest landscape in Central Europe are mostly field and forest paths, which can sometimes be a little steeper and rougher. The southern route (344 km, 8300 metres in altitude) runs from Furth im Wald to Passau and follows the Danube ridge. The northern route (365 km, 8300 metres in altitude) runs from Passau to Furth im Wald and is oriented towards the border and Arber ridge. A tip: Ride the tour in the specified direction, this is the best way to enjoy the Trans-Bavarian Forest. The southern and northern routes can also be combined between Bischofsmais (stage south 5 or 6) and Rabenstein (stage north 6). The transverse route leads past the town of Regen and Bodenmais, among other places. The entire Trans-Bayerwald is recommended for 14 to 15 stages. The Trans-Bayerwald is a dream tour for anyone who appreciates endless, tranquil forests and sporty ups and downs in the low mountain range.
TOUR: 709 km, 16,600 metres in altitude
GPS data
You can find the GPS data for the Trans-Bayerwald long-distance cycle route in the MYBIKE Collection on komoot:
Info about the Trans-Bayerwald
Arrival
The start and finish locations of Passau and Furth im Wald can be reached by train directly or via Regensburg. Return and luggage transport by taxi. Taxi Riedl has bike trailers for transporting bikes. Some local bus and train lines also take bicycles. Familiarise yourself in advance with the conditions of the Bayerwald Ticket for taking bikes on buses and trains.
Other long-distance cycle routes to combine
- Danube cycle path >> On the Danube cycle path from the source to Ulm
- German Limes Cycle Route
- Munich-Regensburg-Prague
- Iron Curtain Cycle Route
Highlights along the Trans-Bavarian Forest
- Granite rocks on the Dreisessel massif
- Old Town Passau
- Bavarian Forest National Park
- Grafenau
- Border town Furth im Wald
- Frauenau Dam
- Great Arber
Tour arrangements
MTB Reisen Bayern offers various individual week-long tours on the Trans-Bayerwald routes with luggage transport. E-bike tours with guide organised by Travel -S.
Bike-friendly accommodation
A detailed list of hosts as well as tips on campsites, places to stop for refreshments and shopping can be found on the Trans-Bayerwald website.
6th long-distance cycle route Alpine Panorama Route: The most beautiful sides of Switzerland
This tour takes you right across Switzerland - from St. Margrethen on Lake Constance to Aigle in the Rhône Valley near Lake Geneva. The name Alpine Panorama Route already gives it away: You can expect plenty of attractive mountain views, but also quite a few metres in altitude. The first stage to Appenzell, which is just under 50 kilometres long, has 1,100 metres of elevation gain. For this reason, many Swiss cyclists start off on an e-bike. The route leads through the Alps and Alpine foothills with their traditional cultures, villages and Alpine farms on paths with many passes and gorges. Highlights on the sporty journey through picture-book Switzerland include historic towns such as Thun and Fribourg, the two cornerstones of a particularly attractive stage. The long descent over 1,000 metres in altitude to the finish in Aigle in the Rhône Valley provides a spectacular finale. A safety tip: along Lake Lucerne between Brunnen and Flüelen, the route leads along the narrow, busy Axenstrasse. For this reason, insiders recommend bridging this section by train or - very attractively - by boat.
TOUR: 475 km, 9,200 metres in altitude
GPS data
You can find the GPS data for the Alpine Panorama Route through Switzerland in the MYBIKE Collection on komoot
Information about the Alpine Panorama Route
Arrival
The starting point in St. Margrethen is easy to reach by train via Munich or Ulm. The return journey from Aigle is via Lausanne and Zurich. Information is available from the Swiss Federal Railway.
Other long-distance cycle routes to combine
- Rhône Route (National Cycle Route No. 1)
- Rhine Route (No. 2)
- North-South Route (No. 3)
- Lakes Route (No. 9) >> More about the lake route
- Aare Route (No. 8)
Highlights of the Alpine Panorama Route
- Old town of Appenzell
- Tell monument in Altdorf
- Castle and Wocher-Panorama
- the oldest preserved circular painting in the world (7.5 x 38 metres) in Thun
- Castle and show dairy in Gruyères
Bike hire & bike service
Addresses can be found on the website Schweiz mobil.
Tour arrangements
Individual six-day tour "Cycling holidays Alpine Panorama Route" with luggage transport from Rorschach to Aigle bookable via Eurotrek.
Bike-friendly accommodation
A large selection of accommodation of different levels can be found on the Switzerland mobil portal.
7th Mur Cycle Route complete: From the Hohe Tauern to Croatia
The route from the Hohe Tauern through Styria to Slovenia and Croatia is one of the most attractive long-distance cycle routes in Europe, although the infrastructure becomes noticeably more down-to-earth after the Austrian border in Bad Radkersburg. Those who, like most cyclists, start their Tour de Mur in the village of Muhr or in St. Michael are missing out on an alpine experience. This is because the original Mur Cycle Path starts at 1,752 metres above sea level at the Sticklerhütte in the midst of the magnificent mountain world of the Hohe Tauern National Park. While the ascent is quite strenuous for non-motorised touring cyclists, e-bikers can enjoy waterfalls, alpine pastures and whistling marmots. And there is even an e-bike charging station at the Alpine Club hut. If you also want to see the source of the Mur, you have to hike another hour into the mountains from the hut. But the Mur route is not only recommended for landscape fans. There is just as much on offer in terms of culture and cuisine. These include attractive towns such as Judenburg, Murau and Graz, as well as excellent cuisine and fine wines, especially in Styria and Slovenia. In Austria, you cycle on asphalted, well-surfaced cycle paths, while in the neighbouring countries to the south you can also take small country roads. The entire route is recommended for six to nine day stages.
TOUR: 453 km, 1970 metres altitude
GPS data
You can find the GPS data for the Murradweg in the MYBIKE Collection on komoot:
Info about the Mur Cycle Path
Arrival
If you want to start in Lungau (St. Michael or Mur-Quelle), it is best to take the train to Salzburg. From there, there are shuttle bus services (which also run along the Mur Cycle Path), for example from Bacher Radreisen in St. Michael.
Other long-distance cycle routes to combine
- Drava cycle path
- EuroVelo 9
Highlights along the Murradweg
- Tamsweg
- Murau old town and castle
- Star tower in Judenburg
- Mur tower in Gosdorf
- Leoben
- UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Graz
- Old town of Leibnitz
- Bad Radkersburg
- Ship mills near Mureck
- Ljutomer Old Town
Bike hire & bike service
Addresses for bike hire, return transport etc. can be found on the official website for the Mur Cycle Path and on the Styria tourism website.
Tour arrangements
Multi-day customised packages on the Mur Cycle Path are offered by Styrian Tourism and Location Marketing GmbH, Radreisen, Eurobike and Pedalo, among others.
Bike-friendly accommodation
More than 70 bike-friendly addresses can be found on the Bett und Bike website.
GPS data for the seven long-distance cycle routes
You can download the GPS data for all 7 long-distance cycle routes download here for free
