Cycling tour in Schleswig-Holstein for sporty people

Your bike tour in Schleswig-Holstein starts in Hamburg. An early arrival is advisable, as the Hanseatic city has a lot to offer in terms of sightseeing. Whether it's a boat trip through Hamburg harbour, a walk through the Speicherstadt warehouse district or along the Inner and Outer Alster – Hamburg's maritime charm will delight you.

The first stage of your bike tour in Schleswig-Holstein takes you along the Elbe towards the North Sea. A first stop is worthwhile at the ship welcoming facility in Wedel. Ocean liners and cruise ships are greeted and seen off here. In Glückstadt you can enjoy the national delicacy Matjes – soused hering. The Kiel Canal begins at your destination for the day, Brunsbüttel. At the impressive canal locks you will see large and small ships making their way to the Elbe or the Baltic Sea. Learn more about how the locks work in the lock museum.

The Kiel Canal is one of the busiest waterways in the world. You follow it mostly close to the shore and without any notable inclines through the hinterland of Schleswig-Holstein. In addition to forest and meadow landscapes, you will experience an exciting mix of different types of ships that leisurely glide along the canal. In Rendsburg, the high bridge and the historic old town are particularly worth seeing. Away from the canal, you pass the Lake Wittensee and reach Eckernförde. The well-kept Baltic Sea beaches of the harbour town invite you to spend relaxing and refreshing moments.

Today, your bike tour in Schleswig-Holstein will first take you to Schleswig. The town's landmark, St. Peter's Cathedral, is already visible from afar. From the viewing platform of the cathedral you have a beautiful view of the town and the river Schlei. Just outside Schleswig is the Haithabu Viking Museum. It is not far from the original historical settlement site and takes you back to the time of the Vikings and their way of life. Continue along the Schlei to Arnis, the smallest town in Germany. Only a stone's throw away is your destination for the day, Kappeln, which surprises with a museum harbour worth seeing.

With the Baltic Sea mostly in view, you will first cycle to Glücksburg on your bike tour in Schleswig-Holstein. Situated on the Flensburg Fjord, the town is not only the northernmost in Germany, but also boasts one of the most beautiful castles in Northern Europe. Built in the 16th century, it is considered the cradle of European royalty. Your overnight stay in Flensburg looks back on more than 750 years of history. It is reflected in historic buildings and squares.

You leave Flensburg in a westerly direction and will reach Niebüll through flat marshland and geest landscapes. The name of the town is derived from the Frisian word for new settlement. Niebüll has a history that goes back to the beginning of the 15th century. Once a village, the town developed into a lively and flourishing small town thanks to the connection to the Marschbahn railway. Visit the Frisian Museum, which gives you an insight into the living and economic culture of the North Frisians.

You board the train in Niebüll and reach the Island of Sylt via the Hindenburgdamm. The largest of the North Frisian islands impresses with kilometre-long dream beaches, cliffs and thatched houses. A network of cycle paths over 200 kilometres long offers you plenty of opportunities to get to know the island on a longer or shorter exploration tour. Treat yourself to a hearty fish sandwich in List, visit the impressive Red Cliff and enjoy the view of the Wadden Sea from the Hörnum lighthouse. In the evening, return to Niebüll by train.

From Niebüll you head to the North Sea coast. With a view of the Wadden Sea, you pass the harbour town of Dagebüll and the Schlüttsiel ferry port. It is worth making a detour to the Hamburger Hallig, which can be reached via a causeway. The peninsula, just under one square kilometre in size, invites you to take a longer break. Enjoy the undisturbed view of the North Sea before you hop on your bike towards Nordstrand. Legend has it that the North Frisian national drink, the Pharisee, originated on the peninsula. Your destination for the day, Husum, awaits you with a lively old town and a colourful harbour that lets you experience high and low tide up close.

With a view of the mudflats, your bike tour in Schleswig-Holstein takes you along the coast of the Eiderstedt peninsula to the Westerheversand lighthouse. The 40-metre-high red and white striped tower is considered one of the landmarks of North Frisia and will catch your eye from afar. A longer break is worthwhile in St. Peter-Ording. The seaside resort is known for its 12-kilometre-long sandy beach and impresses with its striking pile dwellings. The idyllic harbour town of Tönning is your destination for the day. The Multimar Wattforum serves as a breeding station for endangered creatures and takes you into the world of the Wadden Sea.

From Tönning, it's straight back to the open sea. You will first cycle to Büsum via the Eider Barrage, Germany's largest coastal protection structure. Enjoy the Büsum crabs, which are famous for the town, and treat yourself to a dip in the water of Meldorf Bay at one of the many beaches. Speaking of Meldorf, the cathedral of the inland town once served as a navigation mark. Hundreds of years ago, the town was still by the sea. Continue through the Dithmarschen landscape to Brunsbüttel or St. Michaelisdonn.

Final spurt! The longest stage of your bike tour in Schleswig-Holstein leads you through the Dithmarschen region back to the Elbe. Don't worry, you will cover the many kilometres on flat cycle paths. You will reach Hamburg quickly, but in a relaxed manner. You have finally made it and you can be truly proud of yourself after about 800 kilometres. At the end of your bike tour in Schleswig-Holstein, treat yourself to some Hamburg fish specialities such as Hamburg eel soup, Finkenwerder Scholle or sweet Franzbrötchen.

After breakfast, your bike tour in Schleswig-Holstein already ends. We are happy to extend your stay in Hamburg with an extra night.