Aare: Interlaken - Bad Zurzach

Nestled between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, Interlaken welcomes you with an incredible panorama of the Swiss mountains. Stroll through the old town, enjoy the views, and arrive relaxed for your cycling vacation.

Your day begins with a boat trip on Lake Thun from Interlaken to Thun. You then cycle along the Aare River. The route takes you past spacious villages, lively industrial areas, and extensive fields. The landscape appears both unspoiled and well-ordered - a typical Swiss cultural landscape characterized by fertile meadows and sweeping views. Gradually, you will approach the federal capital of Bern. Entering the capital is a special experience: the historic old town - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - welcomes you with its long arcades, winding alleys, and charming little shops. Here, history, urban life, and a cozy atmosphere come together in a unique way.

After just a few pedal strokes, you will leave the UNESCO-protected old town of Bern behind you and immerse yourself in a quieter world. The route takes you gently down to the idyllic Lake Wohlen, whose tranquil waters offer a charming contrast to the lively center of the federal capital. You then relax as you follow the course of the Aare River into the fertile Seeland region - a wide plain formed by the Hagneck Canal, which is now considered one of Switzerland's largest vegetable gardens. Lake Biel comes into view between reed beds, floodplain forests, and open fields. Soon you will reach the bilingual city of Biel with its cheerful, Mediterranean-style lakeside atmosphere. Here, urban vibrancy meets serene tranquility.

Today's stage takes you to some special “children” of the Jura water correction: the straight Nidau-Büren Canal and the enchanted oxbow lake in Häftli, a small natural paradise full of birdsong and rare plants. Afterwards, the landscape opens up - dry Witi fields, typical of the region, give way to habitats where storks feel particularly at home. Not far away is the so-called Hasenkammer, another gem of this unique cultural landscape. Soon you will once again be accompanied by the leisurely meandering Aare, which flows calmly and broadly through the Swiss Plateau. In the distance, the striking St. Ursen Tower finally announces your destination for the day: the magnificent baroque city of Solothurn, whose towers and facades glisten in the sun and welcome you from afar.

Along the Jura, it almost seems as if everything is crowded into the long ribbon of settlements at the foot of the mountains: the Aare with its steady flow, roads and rail lines, small towns, busy people, businesses, and warehouses. It is an everyday panorama, unspectacular and familiar - a piece of Switzerland as it really is. And yet the rural, peaceful Mittelland is always within reach: fields, forests, and quiet paths where nature speaks for itself again.

You continue cycling along the Aare through a fascinating mix of natural and man-made landscapes: traditional gabled houses stand next to bright irises on the riverbank, while the silhouette of a cement factory rises in the distance. In between, a real paradise for ducks and birds unfolds, impressively demonstrating the diversity of this river area. As smooth as the water itself, you roll through floodplain landscapes, narrow gorges, and past sparkling reservoirs. Along the way, you are accompanied by other important Swiss rivers - the Reuss, the Limmat, and finally the Rhine, whose confluence shapes the region. Once you arrive in Koblenz, it is only a short distance to Bad Zurzach, your relaxing destination with thermal culture and a feel-good atmosphere.

Today, unfortunately, it's time to say goodbye to the Aare, Switzerland, and your cycling tour. Would you like to spend a few more days on the Aare? Then we will be happy to book additional nights for you.