Germany’s most beautiful riverside cycle paths

The Rhine Cycle Route is a standout long-distance cycle path, starting in the Swiss Alps and following the whole length of the Rhine river, to its mouth in the North Sea. The route goes through a total of four countries – Switzerland, Germany, France, and the Netherlands – and takes you through a fascinating series of landscapes, each with their own special, unique cultural attractions and experiences just waiting to be discovered.

In several areas you can mix it up by switching which bank of the river you want to ride on. The route – mainly car-free – runs almost completely on smooth asphalt from St. Goar in the Middle Rhine Valley. Northwards of St. Goar, the entire cycle path is perfectly suited for families. In the upper alpine sections, the route has some challenging climbs.

This tour starts at the source of the Fulda River in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve. It takes riders through impressive landscapes, the historic baroque architecture of Fulda, the Romanesque abbey ruins in Bad Hersfeld, fairy-tale half-timbered facades, and the not-to-be-missed city of Kassel, with its Brothers Grimm-themed exhibition, the Grimmhaus, and Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, a UNESCO world heritage landscape park.

The idyllic town of Hannoversch Münden, with its beautiful half-timbered buildings, is the confluence point of the Fulda and Werra rivers which join to form the river Weser. The Weser Cycle Path runs partially on both sides of the Weser and ends in Bremerhaven on the North Sea.

The easternmost route on our list starts in the Czech Republic, around 700 metres above sea level, and takes you all the way down to its terminus at the Baltic Sea coast. After 58 kilometres, you’ll start cycling in Germany at Zittau. For the vast majority of the route, the Oder-Neisse Cycle Path runs close by the river – creating a relaxed, tranquil vibe. Numerous historical sights adorn the path, scattered amongst a breathtaking range of natural vistas: vast forests, green meadows, the Lower Oder Valley National Park, the Szczecin Lagoon, and the Usedom Peninsula to name just a few.

It's best to take the wind direction into account when planning your ride. The wind, especially up north, often blows inland. However, there are no significant gradients to consider. Things are different in the area around the source of the Neisse in the Czech Republic – as you travel north there’s a noticeable downhill gradient, and there’s less wind, blowing in more random directions. In Poland, too, there is an Oder-Neisse cycle path beginning up in the heights of Zittau, with multiple access points via local ferries and bridges.

4 stars, 8 countries, 2,859 kilometres, 600 km of cycling in Germany: the Danube Cycle Path is part of EuroVelo route EV6, which runs from the Atlantic Ocean to the Black Sea. The Danube Cycle Path itself runs from the source of the Danube at Donaueschingen all the way to the river’s delta. The route leaves Germany at Passau, continuing to Linz and Vienna (in Austria), before making its way through Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, then then along the border of Romania and Bulgaria.

The route, the majority of the which runs alongside the river, boasts an abundance of cultural and culinary opportunities for people of all interests. There’s a host of impressive landscapes, including the magnificence of the Swabian Jura, alpine mountains rearing up in the distance, the Inn/Ilz/Donau three-river confluence at Passau, the Danube gorge at Weltenburg, the Iron Gate in the Southern Carpathians and finally the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve all make for an unforgettable experience.

This route earnt a huge 5-star rating from the ADAC German cycling association – and it’s easy to see why. The Tauber Altmühl Cycle Route runs from the mouth of the Tauber where it flows into the Main, all the way up to the headwaters of the Altmühl. Through the Altmühltal Nature Park, you can also reach the mouth of the Altmühl at Kelheim an der Donau.

Old palaces, castles and monasteries, historic old towns and picturesque villages, the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes, imposing rock formations, the Franconian Lake District and numerous other attractions are all central parts of this two-river cycle path.

The Kocher and Jagst rivers empty into the Neckar only two kilometres apart - this is a landscape tailor-made for a two-river bike trip. Our extra tip: take a detour through the side valleys of Kessach and Hergstbach for more impressive views.

Between the Emsland and Osnabrücker Land regions you’ll find the scenic Hase Valley with its inland delta, floodplains, meadows, forests and idyllic farmlands. The Hase rises near Melle, shortly thereafter splitting into two rivers – the Hase, flowing towards the Ems, and the Else, which goes towards the Weser. We recommend you plan in some time for visiting the old towns of Osnabrück and Meppen. After Meppen, you’ll be following the quiet, relaxed course of the Ems river.

The long-distance cycle route – the Hase-Ems Tour – is well signposted and idyllic, lined with apple, pear, plum and cherry trees. So why not take a tasty free snack along the way?

The Rothaar Mountains, countless forests and hills, the university town of Marburg, Weilburg, Braunfels, and towns of Bad Ems and Lahnstein am Rhein: the Lahn truly does have it all. And that’s not even all, with a variety of extra highlights and diversions await you along your journey. The route includes short climbs and descents, which can sometimes be steep. But with a Canyon bike, you’ll be able to get it all done. Most of the time, however, the route is flat.

This route starts 500 m above sea level, then follows a diverse course taking you through the Waldecker Land region, the the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park, through the cathedral city of Fritzlar, to the mouth of the Eder at the Fulda.

This little-known bike path leads along the Niers River from Mönchengladbach to the mouth at the Maas river. Strong riders can easily complete the route in one day. Less experienced riders and families can take their time and just enjoy picturesque meadows and fields away from motorised traffic and buildings. A highlight of the route: a ferry bridge over the Niers.