• Travel experts from Travel circus introduce: look forward to 10 exciting bike tours
• Iron Curtain bike tour: Cycling from the Baltic Sea to Franconia
• Total length, altitude, duration and Difficulty level at a glance

If you are looking for a bit of action and adventure after all the relaxing summer days, you should definitely get your bike out of the basement. Hardly any active holiday seems to be more popular with Germans than cycling through their own country. According to the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, in 2023 Over 80 percent of Germans use a bicycle, and more than half consider it an “indispensable means of transport”. The ministry estimates that there are around 78 million bicycles in Germany alone. In Germany, too, you can enjoy many different well-developed long-distance cycle paths. Here we present 10 of Germany’s exciting cycle tours.

Bicycle tour from the Baltic Sea to Upper Franconia – The “Iron Curtain” cycle path

According to the travel experts at Travelcircus, there is also a cycling tour through Upper Franconia that made it into the top 10. With the “Iron Curtain” tour, you can look forward to an exciting and adventurous cycling tour that takes you through a total of 7 federal states.

With 1,528 kilometers long The Iron Curtain Cycle Route runs along the former border between West and East Germany. However, 9,890 metres altitude, which is why the Iron Curtain Cycle Route is one of the more difficult tours that require a good level of fitness. Of course, individual stages can also be completed by beginners.

The route starts in Lübeck and leads to to the Saxon-Bavarian-Czech border triangle near Hof. From north to south, cyclists experience unique memories and moving history: sites, memorial stones, old border facilities and museums. But the cycle route has a lot to offer in more than just cultural terms. Cyclists can’t get enough of the scenery either.

The North Sea Coast Route – Cycling through the green dikes

The North Sea Coast Route runs from the Dutch border to the Danish border, past cities such as Hamburg and through a total of four federal states within Germany.

Amazon book tip: Long-distance cycling routes in Germany – The standard work

At a glance:

• Length: 907 kilometres
• Altitude: 1,360 metres above sea level
• Difficulty level: rather light
• Duration: about 12 days

The European Cycle Route R1 – Cycling across Germany

Anyone travelling on the European cycle route R1 within Germany can look forward to impressive landscapes and plenty of variety. From west to east, cycling enthusiasts can cycle right across Germany from the Dutch border to the Polish border.

At a glance:

• Length: 960 kilometres
• Altitude: 5,490 metres altitude
• Difficulty level: rather difficult
• Duration: about 12 days

The 100 Castles Route – Tour through North Rhine-Westphalia

Culture enthusiasts, history lovers and romantics can be particularly excited about this route: As the name of the route suggests, countless fairytale castles, magnificent parks, baroque architecture and historical ruins await you here. The long-distance cycle route leads exclusively through the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

At a glance:

• Length: 960 kilometres
• Altitude: 4,400 metres altitude
• Difficulty level: rather moderate
• Duration: about 12 days

Impressive mountain landscapes: The Rhineland-Palatinate cycle route

In terms of scenery, cyclists will be taken on this tour through the Eifel, the Westerwald, Rheinhessen and the Palatinate. From the saddle, you can discover and explore dense, dark green forests, impressive mountain landscapes, cosy villages and hidden rivers.

At a glance:

• Length: 1,000 kilometers
• Altitude: about 9,000 meters in altitude
• Difficulty level: rather difficult
• Duration: about 16 days

The Baltic Sea Cycle Route: Seagull calls and miles of sand dunes

For anyone who enjoys being by the sea, the cycle path along the German Baltic Sea is an endless holiday dream. The tour takes you past the most impressive stretches of coast in the country, fine sandy beaches, rugged cliffs and enchanted forest areas. In addition to all the nature, famous Hanseatic cities and historic fishing villages are also not neglected.

View now: The long-distance cycle route map from Kompass

At a glance:

• Length: 1,082 kilometres
• Altitude: approximately 7,680 metres in altitude
• Difficulty level: rather moderate
• Duration: about 14 days

The “German Unity” cycle path: A symbol of the reunification of Germany

The German Unity Cycle Route runs through seven different German federal states. The long-distance route crosses North Rhine-Westphalia, starting in Bonn, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg and finally the capital Berlin. The route was created to mark the 25th anniversary of reunification in 2015.

At a glance:

• Length: 1,100 kilometres
• Altitude: approximately 8,260 metres in altitude
• Difficulty level: rather difficult
• Duration: about 16 days

The tour through Brandenburg: Out of the city – into the countryside

Berlin, with its more than 3.5 million inhabitants, can often be very stressful and hectic. What could be better than simply escaping into nature? Just a few train stations away from the green metropolis, a paradise of dense forests, expansive lake landscapes and inconspicuous nature reserves unfolds.

At a glance:

• Length: 1,111 kilometres
• Altitude: approximately 4,170 metres in altitude
• Difficulty level: rather moderate
• Duration: about 14 days

The Lower Rhine Route: Germany’s longest long-distance cycle route

The longest long-distance cycle route in Germany is located directly on the Rhine. The long-distance cycle route runs exclusively through the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, from north to south and repeatedly along the water. Whether typical local mills, fairytale castles, quiet forests or historic old towns – the landscape in North Rhine-Westphalia offers something for every taste.

Book tip: Lonely Planet illustrated book – Legendary bike tours in Germany

At a glance:

• Length: over 2,000 kilometers
• Altitude: approximately 1,560 metres in altitude
• Difficulty level: rather light
• Duration: about 20 days

The Lake Constance-Königssee cycle path: cycling along a picturesque backdrop

The Lake Constance-Königssee cycle path leads from the beautiful Lake Constance region to the depths of Bavaria and allows daydreamers and nature lovers to immerse themselves in the impressive world of the Alps. The starting point is in beautiful Lindau on Lake Constance. The final stop is the turquoise Königssee, which is known for its surreal backdrop from German travel guides.

At a glance:

• Length: 460 kilometres
• Altitude: approximately 3,860 metres above sea level
• Difficulty level: rather moderate
• Duration: about 7 days

More on the topic:

• Cycling around Lichtenfels and Bad Staffelstein: The 7 most beautiful tours in the Upper Main Jura
• Cycling tours in the Haßbergen: The 10 most beautiful tours through the “green crown of Bavaria”
• Cycling tour through the Nuremberg region: The 10 most beautiful day tours
• Bicycle tours in Franconian Switzerland: These are 5 popular cycling routes
• From the Ahornberger Forest to the Schönburgwarte: The most beautiful bike tours in the Fichtelgebirge