The Rhine Cycle Route

In a nutshell: The Rhine Cycle Route

• Length
  approx. 1,230 km
• Topography
  Elevation profile ●●○○○○
  From the Alps to the Netherlands, the Rhine has a very varied topography. Up to Chur, you have to reckon with larger gradients. Between Chur and the North Sea, the route is mostly flat, but there are a few climbs.
• Signposting
  The signposting along the entire Rhine Cycle Route is not yet standardized and varies depending on the section and the country in question. The EuroVelo 15 logo, with a yellow cyclist on a blue background with wheels made of EU stars, is mainly used. In Switzerland, for example, the cycle route is marked as cycle route no. 2.
• Quality
  Between Andermatt and Chur, the Rhine Cycle Route runs along paved forest paths, which may also have an off-road character depending on the weather. From Chur to the Dutch border, the route is paved throughout or runs on paved cycle paths and embankments or country roads. In the Netherlands, you cycle on dyke paths with little traffic. In general, watch out for increased traffic in larger towns and at town entrances and exits!

Please note!
A cycle helmet is compulsory in Austria for children under the age of 12. For safety reasons, however, we generally recommend that all cyclists wear a helmet!

On the way from the heart of Switzerland to the North Sea

The Rhine Cycle Route begins in Andermatt, at the source of the Rhine, high in the Swiss Alps. Enjoy mountain panoramas in a class of their own. Along the wild Alpine Rhine, you reach Chur, the oldest town in Switzerland. The sometimes steep climbs are rewarded with great views and fabulous nature, such as on our Rhine cycle tour in Switzerland. Once you reach Lake Constance, follow the Rhine Cycle Path to Constance, which is now almost free of inclines. Through idyllic villages and always directly along the river, the Rhine Cycle Path takes you to the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen. From here, you have the opportunity to cycle along both banks of the Rhine. Nestled between the slopes of the Black Forest and the Swiss Jura, you reach the art city of Basel. From Basel, follow the Upper Rhine north to Mainz. On the way, you will get to know the capital of Europe, Strasbourg, located in Alsace, the cathedral cities of Speyer and Worms as well as the wine region of Rheinhessen. From Mainz, you cycle through the Middle Rhine Valley, accompanied by numerous castles and palaces. Pass the Loreley Rock, cross Koblenz at the so-called Deutsches Eck, and pay a visit to the carnival stronghold of Cologne. Along the Lower Rhine, you will experience the lively Düsseldorf, follow in Barbarossa's footsteps in Kaiserswerth, discover the industrial architecture of Duisburg and the Roman town of Xanten. Just a stone's throw from Emmerich, you cross the German-Dutch border. Shortly before Arnheim, the Rhine splits into the Waal and the Nederrijn. Following the Nederrijn, you cycle past dykes and canals to the windmills of Kinderdijk. It is then not far via the seaport of Rotterdam to the mouth of the river in Hoek van Holland in the Rhine-Mass Delta.

Travel time

The travel time depends on which part of the Rhine Cycle Route you want to cycle. Between Andermatt and Chur, it is not advisable to plan a cycle tour until May due to possible snowfall. From Chur via Lake Constance to Basel, you will be accompanied by a milder climate. See for yourself, for example, on our cycle tour on the High Rhine. Ideally, you should cycle here between March and October. The same applies to the route from Basel to Emmerich, near the Dutch border. In the Netherlands, the weather is mainly determined by the proximity to the sea. You often have to reckon with headwinds and spontaneous changes in the weather. No matter where you start your journey on the Rhine Cycle Route, you will experience it in its very own facets at any time of year - whether in the fresh green spring, in the colorful summer months, or during the grape harvest in autumn.

Arrivals, departures, and return travel

Whether you want to experience the Rhine Cycle Route from the source, the High Rhine, or the Middle Rhine, your starting and finishing points are easily accessible by car and train. You can usually return to your starting point by train without any problems. If you are traveling with your own bike, find out in advance whether your chosen connections allow you to take your bike with you.

There are good connections to the airports of Zurich, Basel/Mulhouse, Friedrichshafen, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, Frankfurt am Main, Düsseldorf, The Hague and Rotterdam near or along the Rhine Cycle Route. Many places along the cycle path are served by long-distance buses. Bicycle transport is limited and must be registered.

Shortcuts

If you want to shorten a section along the Rhine cycle route due to a breakdown or an unexpected change in the weather, there are various options available:
In the Alpenrhein region all of the places in the various sections are serviced by the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) network. Bikes can be accommodated on almost all trains.
Between Konstanz and Basel, most towns also have a station. And between Konstanz and Schaffhausen there is a regular boat service.
Just before Mainz, the Rhine is an important means of transportation for trade and industry. There are many jetties and stations here.
Therefore you can shorten every section or subsection of the route.