Rhine: Alpine Rhine to Constance

Chocolate, Rhine and wine

Discover the three Alpine countries of Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria on this tour through the mountains. Cycle through the wine villages nestled in the beautiful Bündner Herrschaft countryside, famous for their excellent red wines and because of the Heidi books. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere here, where the Rhine River is on holiday. Mostly dedicated cycle paths and quiet side roads, sometimes hilly, sometimes level ground. Especially on the first section often unpaved. A basic level of fitness is recommended.

1. day Arrival in Constance

Arrive early so that you can still visit the historic old town of Konstanz, it's worth it! Admire all the sights on a leisurely stroll through town. The council that fundamentally reorganized the Catholic Church met here from 1414-1418 in the cathedral and the council building. The living Middle Ages and a lot of background information about Lake Constance can be found in the famous Rosgarten Museum, whose pretty cafeteria in the inner courtyard invites you to take a break.

2. day Constance - Splügen - Bonaduz, approx. 45 km + transfer

After breakfast you and your bike will be taken to Splügen in the mountains by minibus. From here you cycle comfortably along the Hinterrhein through the Graubünden region. On the way you can look forward to impressive gorges such as the Roflaschlucht and the Viamala until you finally cycle into Bonaduz.

3. day Excursion to Disentis, 55 km + train journey

Well strengthened, today you have to climb 700 meters in altitude on the bike. The train first goes to Disentis. The first half of the bike stage will be a bit bumpy, on unpaved roads. So you cycle along the Vorderrhein through the alpine valley. After a longer ascent behind Ilanz, you can look forward to the canyon-like gorge landscape of the Ruinaulta, which will inspire you. Overnight in Bonaduz.

4. day Bonaduz - Vaduz, approx. 55 km

Continue cycling in a good mood along the Alpine Rhine between majestic mountain peaks to the Principality of Liechtenstein. In the middle of the heart of Europe lies the small state with its capital Vaduz, which is only about 25 km long and has 36,000 inhabitants. Here you are immediately greeted by Vaduz Castle, which towers over the city. Visit the world-famous stamp collection, write postcards and let the evening end comfortably.

5. day Vaduz - Feldkirch - Arbon, approx. 65 km

1 day - 3 countries. After a short time you have already left Liechtenstein behind and are already cycling over the border to the Austrian town of Feldkirch. Let yourself be enchanted by the beautiful old town, the cobblestones, narrow streets, romantic arbors and breathtakingly beautiful house facades. It continues back to Switzerland and comfortably downhill to Arbon on Lake Constance.

6. day Arbon - Constance, approx. 30 km

Today you cycle on the Lake Constance cycle path along the orchards and through idyllic small half-timbered villages back to Constance. A trip to the flower island Mainau with the palm house, jungle sequoia trees and thousands of flowers, whose splendor delights all visitors, is worthwhile.

7. day Departure from Constance

After breakfast today it's time to say goodbye. If you want, you can extend your bike tour on the Rhine or at the Bodensee.

Worth knowing about the bike tour Alpine Rhine to Constance

Please find more information about the  the bike tour Alpine Rhine to Constance below. If you have any further questions feel free to contact us by phone: 0049 - (0)6421 - 886890.

Arrival by train

Constance can be reached by train from all major cities in Germany. The best way to get to our partner hotels in Constance (in German: Konstanz) is a short taxi ride from the train station.
Current schedule information and price information can be found at:

Train schedule information

Parking facilities

A few parking spaces are available at the start hotel (for a fee and not guaranteed). It is also possible to use free parking spaces on public roads or public parking spaces / parking garages. Parking garages (Fischmarkt, Dammgasse, Altstadt, Benediktinerplatz), costs approx. 10-20 EUR per day/car. You can rent a fenced parking lot for the duration of the bike tour (costs: EUR 45 per trip / per car). Reservation and advance payment via Velociped is required. The capacities in the parking lot are limited, so please notify us directly when booking.

Condition of cycle paths

The route mostly runs on paved paths, but sometimes also on gravel paths. On the first stages of the bike ride you have to cope with some steeper climbs, towards Lake Constance you cycle on mostly flat and well-developed bike paths.

Available rental bikes

There are 27-speed bikes (unisex) with derailleur and freewheel or 30-gear bikes with trapezoidal frame, derailleur and freewheel available. Men's bikes can be booked from 1.75 m tall. Simply indicate your requirements when booking.

All bikes are equipped with speedometers and handlebar bags. Electric bikes with freewheel can also be booked.

Currencies in Switzerland

For Switzerland, it is advisable to exchange it in francs, although you can pay in euros. Francs can be conveniently withdrawn from the ATM using an EC or credit card.

Extra costs that are not included in the tour price

A possibly applicable city tax is not part of the price and has to be paid at the hotel locally

7 days hotline service

Just in case the bike chain is broken, flooding makes it impossible to continue your tour or any other nasty surprise: you can reach us seven days a week and we will do anything to help you as fast as possible.

Passport and visa requirements, health regulations

For EU citizens, there are no special passport or visa requirements and no health formalities to be considered for this trip.

Corona travel information:
Before booking your trip, please inform yourself about the measures in place to contain the Corona pandemic.

Information on current decisions of the German Federal Government can be found here:
https://www.bundesregierung.de/corona-these-rules-and-restrictions-apply

Current information on entry requirements to Germany can be found here:
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/coronavirus

An up-to-date overview of applicable measures and travel and safety advice regarding Covid-19 for all countries in the EU and Switzerland can be found here:
https://reopen.europa.eu/en/

You can also find more information on our website at:
Corona virus and holiday planning

Travel insurance

The tour price already includes the statutory insolvency insurance. In addition, we recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance upon receipt of your travel confirmation in order to protect yourself against financial disadvantages in the event of travel cancellation, interruption of travel, illness or accident.

Constance Cathedral

The Constance Cathedral or Cathedral of Our Lady is a former bishop's church in Constance on Lake Constance.

Architecturally, the existing building is one of the largest Romanesque churches in South-West Germany, a three-aisled column basilica with a cross-shaped floor plan, consecrated in 1089.

As the tallest building in the historic old town, the townscape still dominates today with its striking outline.

Constance Cathedral

Ruinaulta

The Ruinaulta or Rhine Gorge is a gorge up to 400 meters deep and around 13 kilometers long in the Vorderrhein between Ilanz and the mouth of the Hinterrhein near Reichenau in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.

Ruinaulta

Viamala Gorge

The impressive gorge in the Swiss canton of Graubünden lies between Thusis and Andeer and was carved into the massive rocks by the glacier ice and the water of the Hinterrhein many years ago. Despite its narrowness, threatening rockfalls and dangerous water, the gorge offered haymakers and travelers the best access to the Alpine passes of Splügen and San Bernardino. The gorge has been accessible via a visitor center and stairs since 1903. A few years later, an adventurous tunnel, blasted into the rock face, followed, which still leads to the visitor platform.

Viamala Groge

Vaduz Castle

Vaduz Castle, formerly also called Hohenliechtenstein, is the town's landmark and seat of the Princely House of Liechtenstein. It is located on a rock terrace around 120 meters above the municipality of Vaduz. The time when the castle was built has not been proven with certainty; it is assumed that the first parts of the building were built in the 12th century.

Vaduz Castle

Old bridge in Vaduz

The Alte Rheinbrücke Vaduz-Sevelen is a wooden bridge across the Rhine, connecting the capital of Liechtenstein to Vaduz with the municipality of Sevelen in the canton of St. Gallen. The bridge is 135 meters long and represents the last surviving wooden bridge crossing the Alps.

Old bridge in Vaduz

Mainau Island

With an area of about 45 hectares, the Mainau is the third largest island in Lake Constance. Because of its extremely rich subtropical, partly also tropical vegetation, the Mainau is also known as the flower island in Lake Constance.

Mainau Island