Overview
A ten day, self-guided cycling holiday along the Rhine Cycle Path, from the German towns of Constance to Offenburg, but popping into Switzerland and France en route. The Rhine Cycle Path is a superb route along one of Europe’s most iconic rivers, and this section covers approximately 400km. Your journey is one through many historic and heritage-rich towns and cities, starting with the lakeside city of Constance (or Konstanz), as well as Swiss Basel and French Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace. In between you have the backdrops of the Jura Mountains and the Black Forest, with Freiburg being the gateway town to the latter. As well as a plethora of pretty villages, vineyards and valleys. This tour is also accessible by train.
- Constance
- Ettenheim’s vineyards
- Basel
- Freiburg
- Strasbourg
- Sasbach
- Riegel am Kaiserstuhl
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Constance
Arrive in Constance, known locally as Konstanz, the largest town on Lake Constance. If time allows, take a stroll around the well-preserved medieval Old Town, explore Constance Minster and the Renaissance Town Hall. The islands of Reichenau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Mainau can be easily reached by bike.
- Accommodation: Hotel Kreuzlingen am Hafen or similar in Constance
Day 2: Constance – Schaffhausen | 50km
Cycle along the side of Lake Constance, heading to Stein am Rhein, a town known for its well-preserved medieval houses. Continue switching between Germany and Switzerland on the way to Schaffhausen, the canton’s capital. Schaffhausen’s unique skyline is shaped by houses with ornate gables and the historic Munot Fortress overlooks the town.
- Cycling for the day: approximately 50km
- Accommodation: Hotel Park Villa or similar in Schaffhausen
Day 3: Schaffhausen – Waldshut-Tiengen | 60km
From Schaffhausen, take a short ride to the Rhine Falls, one of Europe’s largest waterfalls. Here, a boat trip (included) allows you to experience the thundering waters up close. After the boat ride, follow the Rhine River to Waldshut-Tiengen, passing through spots such as Rheinau Monastery and Kaiserstuhl.
- Cycling for the day: approximately 60km
- Accommodation: Waldshuter Hof or similar in Waldshut-Tiengen
Day 4: Waldshut-Tiengen – Basel | 65km
Continue cycling downstream to Laufenburg and Bad Säckingen, where Europe’s longest covered wooden bridge spans the Rhine. In Bad Säckingen, we recommend visiting the Müllmuseum (Garbage Museum) and Trompetenmuseum (Trumpet Museum). For history enthusiasts, the Roman fort Augusta Raurica is a highlight along this route section. It is possible to shorten the journey by taking a train from Rheinfelden to Basel (payable locally). Once in Basel, explore the Old Town, fabulous museum collections and a rich architectural heritage of Switzerland’s third largest metropolis.
- Cycling for the day: approximately 50km + train ride or 65km
- Accommodation: Hotel Rochat or similar in Basel
Day 5: Basel – Badenweiler/Müllheim | 50km
After leaving Basel, follow the cycling route north along the Rhine, taking in views of the Istein Klotz and the spa towns at the edge of the Black Forest. Cycle past the vineyards of Markgräflerland as far as Müllheim, where we recommend visting Markgräfler Museum and St. Martin Church, famous for its 14th-century frescoes. . Accommodation is available in either Müllheim or nearby Badenweiler, which also features a castle, the Roman bathhouse ruins and a modern thermal spa.
- Cycling for the day: approximately 50km
- Accommodation: Hotel Garni Schacherer or similar in Badenweiler / Müllheim
Day 6: Badenweiler/Müllheim – Freiburg | 45km
Cycle between the Black Forest and the Vosges Mountains towards Heitersheim, where you can visit the 2,000-year-old Villa Urbana and Schloss Heitersheim, a castle built by the Order of Malta. Continue to the spa village of Bad Krozingen before reaching Freiburg, one of the gateways to the Black Forest. Explore its historic streets, many of which are lined with small water channels, and much-loved features of Freiburg. If you have time, we also recommend walking up Schlossberg for panoramic views and a sunset over the city and Vosges Mountains.
- Cycling for the day: approximately 45km
- Accommodation: City Hotel or similar in Freiburg
Day 7: Freiburg – Breisach | 45km
Ride out to the hills of Kaiserstuhl, leaving the city behind to cycle through vineyards and small villages, stopping by the medieval town of Breisach am Rhein, to take in its castle and colourful houses. Once in Breisach we recommend that you taste the local wines and traditional dishes (such as sautéed liver with pan-fried potatoes, or Leberle mit Brägele) as a perfect way to experience the region.
- Cycling for the day: approximately 45km
- Accommodation: Le Caballin or similar in Breisach
Day 8: Breisach – Ettenheim/Mahlberg | 50km
Today’s journey leads to Sasbach and Riegel am Kaiserstuhl, known for their scenic vineyards and medieval architecture. Continue on to Ettenheim, a baroque town with half-timbered houses and quiet alleyways. We recommend taking in a relaxing evening with a glass of wine from the surrounding vineyards.
- Cycling for the day: approximately 50km
- Accommodation: Hotel Landgasthof Sonne or similar in Ettenheim/Mahlberg
Day 9: Ettenheim – Strasbourg | 60km
From Ettenheim, cycle to Strasbourg, France, the capital of Alsace. End the day by visiting Notre Dame Cathedral, the 18th-century Palais Rohan or stroll around the La Petite France neighbourhood.
- Cycling for the day: approximately 60km
- Accommodation: Boma or similar in Strasbourg
Day 10: Departure
Departure after breakfast, or extend your stay.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria, including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to natural adventures. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms. Please note that, in Germany, it is common practice for hotels and other accommodations to join twin beds together to make a double, with separate linen for each person. If you prefer to opt for twin beds, we will happily request this at time of booking, however they can’t always be guaranteed.
Click to view standard hotels
- Hotel Kreuzlingen am Hafen (Constance)
- Hotel Park Villa (Schaffhausen)
- Waldshuter Hof (waldshut-Tiengen)
- Hotel Rochat (Basel)
- Hotel Garni Schacherer (Badenweiler/Müllheim)
- City Hotel (Freiburg)
- Le Caballin (Breisach)
- Hotel Landgasthof Sonne (Ettenheim/Mahlberg)
- Boma (Strasbourg)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Accommodation is on a B&B basis. When no restaurant location is available on route lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops or you can pre-order a packed lunch at your hotel. Dinner is available either from the restaurant in your accommodation or the ones in the town.
Difficulty and terrain
You ride on dedicated lanes along the Rhine cycle path, which is mostly flat and easy to cycle for everybody. Through the Rhine flood plains, there are some long sections on gravel paths. Average cycling distance per day is approximately 50-60km (read more about difficulty grades). If you are having doubts about the difficulty, it is possible to rent an e-bike as well. The cycle path is easy to navigate. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from April until October, departing every day. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
Although it’s well known for city breaks, Oktoberfest and Christmas markets, Germany’s multi-seasonal treats stretch far beyond these clichés. Germany’s climate is typically northern European, and you can read more about temperatures, rainfall and events in our blog, Best time to go to Germany.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival airports for this trip are Bodensee-Airport (FDH) and Zurich Airport (ZRH) and departure airports – Strasbourg Airport (SXB) and Baden-Airpark (FKB).
By train or bus
Arrival in Constance
- If you are able to travel to Germany without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail with railway stations in Constance and Strasbourg. For more details, see the national rail operator DB or use the Omio planner above.
- Take the direct train from Zurich airport to reach Strasbourg in 1h.
- There are bus services from Berlin, Munich, Nuremberg and other major German cities to Strasbourg. For more details visit Flixbus or use the Omio planner above.
Departure from Offenburg
- Direct buses are available from Strasbourg to Strasbourg Airport.
- From Strasbourg, there are regular train services to many destinations in Germany and in Europe. For more information and tickets, visit DB or use the Omio planner above.
- Alternatively, there are also regular bus services to many destinations in Germany. For more information and tickets, visit Flixbus or use the Omio planner above.
Inclusions
Included
- 9 overnights with breakfast as detailed in the itinerary
- Luggage transport from hotel to hotel to Strasbourg (no limit on the number of pieces per person, max 20kg per piece of luggage)
- Bike fitting (if renting a bike from us)
- Boat trip to the Rhine Falls
- For 2026, detailed pre-departure holiday information pack (including cycle descriptions and maps 1x per room)
- From 2027, digital travel documents including navigation app, GPS tracks and a digital route book.
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Train ride Rheinfelden – Basel, approximately €8 per person incl. bike
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses such as phone calls, extra transfers, tips, etc.
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Extra nights
Bike rental
E-bikes, hybrid and sporty bikes are available to rent on this tour. All rental bikes are equipped with waterproof pannier, luggage rack, odometer, bike lock, air pump, hub dynamo, one breakdown kit per booking and a waterproof handlebar bag with map holder.
Sample pictures attached below, note that the exact models may differ depending on the availability, but the standard will be the same.
Sporty rental bike 30-gears
27-gears bike
Men’s bike 27-gears
Teenager’s bike (26 inch)
E-bike
