Lake Constance cycle path

You start your tour in Constance, Lake Constance’s biggest town. 600 years ago this was where the Council of Constance took place, the only council to elect a pope that was held north of the Alps. The Rhine leaves Lake Constance here: 0 kilometres on its way to the North Sea. Only a few minutes by foot from the medieval town centre is the Swiss town of Kreuzlingen with its lively harbour.

The first stage of your cycle tour takes you to the vegetable island of Reichenau, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. Take the boat to Gaienhofen and cycle along the Höri peninsula, where Hermann Hesse lived, to the Swiss town of Stein am Rhein with its beautiful old town. Here you leave Lake Constance for the time being and follow the Rhine to Schaffhausen. Take the opportunity to make a detour to the Rhine Falls, one of the largest waterfalls in Central Europe.

Today you start with a boat trip on the Hochrhein and get a completely different perspective than from the land. Then you will circle the Höri peninsula and reach the spa town of Radolfzell. Passing the Bodanrück and numerous meadow orchards, you reach Bodman and Ludwigshafen on Lake Überlingen. Following the cycle path along the shore, you reach the town of the same name, Überlingen. The stately St. Nikolaus Minster can already be seen from afar.

The Lake Constance Cycle Route takes you along the upper lake to Unteruhldingen, where you should visit the pile dwellings. The next destination on the stage is Meersburg with its beautiful old town and old castle. It towers stately over Lake Constance. Take a break in the historical atmosphere before continuing to Friedrichshafen. Visit the Dornier Museum or the Zeppelin Museum. From the 22-metre-high observation tower on the harbour pier, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Alpine panorama.

Next, you cycle through extensive orchards, through Langenargen with its pretty Montfort Castle, built in the Moorish style. Shortly after you reach the Bavarian town of Lindau, whose harbour is watched over by a 6-metre high lion. The entire old town lies on an island.

Continuing on your way, you reach Bregenz, the capital of the Vorarlberg region of Austria and famous for its annual festival on the largest lake-stage in the world. You finally reach Höchst where you soon cross the border again. Then, after pedaling onwards for a few kilometres, reach Rorschach or Arbon.

The last day of your tour takes you through Romanshorn which is home to Switzerland‘s largest harbour on Lake Constance. Now you continue on along the banks of Lake Constance back to Constance. This stretch is flat and easy to cycle, unless in a stronger westerly wind. You will frequently pass places where you can go swimming and refresh yourself in the lovely cool waters of the lake. Let your tour come to a pleasant end with a wander through the old town or an ice cream down at the harbour.

After breakfast you start your individual return journey home or extend your stay.

Note: If you are travelling with your own bikes, any stage location can be the start/finish.