Lake Constance: round trip with Rheinfall Schaffhausen

Giant, powerful and unique

On this exciting trip you will get to know the complete Lake Constance. Look forward for Constance with its historic old town and beautiful promenade, discover Überlingen, Meersburg and Friedrichshafen. Lindau and Bregenz are located right on your route. Along the Hochrhein, you cycle via Stein am Rhein to Schaffhausen, whose medieval town is dominated by the fortress Munot. Enjoy the highlight, the most powerful waterfall in Central Europe by boat (boat trip included). 

1. day Constance arrival

Start early, it's worth it! Take the opportunity to stroll through the old town of Constance. Take your time and visit the aquariums of the Sea Life Center and the National Archaeological Museum.

2. day Constance - Ludwigshafen / Überlingen, ca. 35-50 km

After breakfast your first cycling tour starts. The Lake Constance cycle path takes you quickly to the old imperial town of Radolfzell. Bishop Radolf of Verona founded Radolfzell in 826 as a spiritual destination. Afterwards a fishing village had been established and finally the today's flourishing town of Radolfzell developed. Visit the famous city museum in the "Alte Stadtapotheke", stroll through the streets and visit the Cathedral of Our Lady. Look forward to the north bank, as it will show you numerous historical testimonies: monasteries, imperial cities, baroque churches and old castles. Visit the cathedral of St. Nicholas, the biggest Gothic church on Lake Constance and the town hall with one of the most beautiful late Gothic council rooms in Southern Germany or the city garden built in 1875. Let yourself be enchanted by the patrician houses and the historic old town of Überlingen.

3. day Überlingen – Kressbronn/Nonnenhorn/Lindau, approx. 45-60 km

This morning you can visit the reconstructed pile dwelling in Unteruhldingen. A guide will lead you through selected houses from the Neolithic and Bronze Age period. You will be amazed. Afterwards you continue cycling to Meersburg. This small town awaits you with numerous attractions. Visit the Old Castle, the oldest inhabited castle in Germany and the last residence of the poetess Annette von Droste-Hülshoff. Admire the New Palace with its magnificent staircase of Balthasar Neumann and stroll over the square, which is lined with picturesque half-timbered houses. Accompanied by the most beautiful alpine panorama you cycle further to Friedrichshafen. Visit the famous Zeppelin Museum, before you reach Langenargen. Look forward to the suspension bridge, which is considered to be the small example of the famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

4. day Kressbronn - Höchst/Arbon, approx. 30-55 km

Accompanied by a great view of the Alps you cycle along the "Bregenzer Bucht" to the famous city Bregenz with its unique lake stage. If you want to get up high in the air, get into the cable car and climb the 1064 m high Pfänder. Enjoy an overwhelming view of the Alps and Lake Constance. Continue your trip  and cross the young Rhine, which flows into Lake Constance.  

5. day Höchst - Constance, 30-50 km

Today you cycle through Switzerland. Look forward to the town of Arbon with its castle and the half-timbered houses. On your way you should make a stop to try the "Schümli" (= Swiss espresso-based coffee) on one of the many lakeside terraces. With such a fantastic view the cafe tastes even better!

6. day Constance - Schaffhausen, ca. 50 km

Through picturesque swiss villages you cycle along the south bank of the Untersees to Stein am Rhein. What a wonderful city! You will be amazed by the frescoed houses, the old city gates and the medieval streets. After a nice visit, you will cycle to Schaffhausen. Its medieval cityscape is characterized by the fortress of Munot, built in the 16th century. Visit this remarkable fortress with its characteristic circular form, stroll through the old town with its numerous historical fountains and magnificent houses. Enjoy a relaxing evening in one of the restaurants in the city and experience the flair of the Fronwagplatz.

7. day Schaffhausen – Rhine falls - Constance, ca. 45 km + boat trip

Look forward to today's spectacle: You visit the Rhine falls, the most powerful waterfall in Central Europe! A boat takes you to the falls, so you can experience the force of the thundering waters. Along a beautiful river landscape you cycle back to Stein am Rhein. Via the Lake Constance peninsula Höri, which attracted numerous artists and writers in search of inspiration, you cycle to Gaienhofen, where you board the ship to the island Reichenau. Look forward to the monastery island Reichenau, which is a UNESCO World Heritage since 2000. The well-preserved churches of the island show monastic architecture from the 9th to 11th century. You will be impressed by the restored wall paintings. Dont miss Strabo's herb garden, which was rebuilt according to the historical model within the ancient monastery walls of the Cathedral of St. Maria and St. Mark in 1991. 

8. day Constance departure

Your bike trip ends after breakfast. We would be happy to book extra nights for you, as Lake Constance still provides many discoveries.

Worth knowing about the bike tour Lake Constance and Rheinfall

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

Arrival by train

Constance is easily accessible from all major cities in Germany by train. We recommend to take a taxi from the station to get to our partner hotels in Konstanz. Current schedule information and price information can be found at: www.bahn.de.

Train schedule information

Parking facilities at the hotel

At the first hotel paid parking is possible, partialy. Furthermore, it is possible to park in a fenced parking lot for the duration of the bike tour (cost: 2023: EUR 45.00 per trip / per car, 2024: EUR 49.00 per trip / per car). Reservation required. It is also possible to use free parking spaces on public roads or public parking spaces / car parks. Parking garages (fish market, Dammgasse, old town, Benedictine square), costs approx. 25 EUR per day / car.

Condition of cycle paths

You cycle on flat, paved bike trails near the shore around the lake mostly. Occasionally there are short sections of unpaved roads. The first sections takes place around the peninsula Höri through hilly terrain. In the area of Friedrichshafen, the bike path goes along the main road. The lakeshore is largely open to the public.

Available rental bikes

You can choose between woman’s and men's bicycles either with 8-speed gear shift and coaster brake or 27-speed gear shift and freewheel or electric bikes (by Flyer). All ladies' bikes have a low opening that makes mounting and dismounting much easier. The bikes are suitable for all ladies from 150 cm in height. Men's bikes are suitable for all gentlemen from 175 cm in height. You simply specify your wishes at time of booking. Each bike is equipped with a tachometer.

Currencies in Switzerland

For Switzerland, we recommend to exchange Swiss franc. Although you can pay in euros. Franken can easily be lifted by debit or credit card at an ATM.

Extra costs which are not inculded in the 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

In case of chain breakdown, 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

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

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

With over 82,000 inhabitants, Constance is the largest city on Lake Constance and has maintained its long tradition as a city of trade and culture up to the present day. The cultural city is characterized by many historic buildings, such as the "Cathedral of Our Lady of Our Lady", which for twelve centuries was the cathedral of the Bishops of Constance and served as the meeting room of the Council of Constance (1414-1418). The Stadttheater, which is the oldest permanent stage in Germany, 400 years old, is another highlight.

Constance

Sea-Life Center Constance

In the SEA LIFE Constance, you will discover a variety of marine life: from curious and protective to rare and enigmatic animals. Many of these animals are on the red list of endangered animals. They have been saved and can not be returned to the natural habitat or have been born and raised as part of the SEA LIFE protection projects in the aquariums.

Sea-Life Center

Rhinefall Schaffhausen

The Rhinefall is the second largest waterfall in Europe, with a height of 23 meters and a width of 150 meters.

Rhinefall Schaffhausen

Island of Reichenau

The Reichenau is the largest island in Lake Constance. Since 2000, it has been listed on the UNESCO List of the World Heritage with the Reichenau Monastery. According to UNESCO, the island is an outstanding testimony to the religious and cultural role of a great Benedictine monastery in the Middle Ages.

Island Reichenau

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

Pfahlbaumuseum Unteruhldingen

The Pfahlbaumuseum Unteruhldingen is an archaeological open-air museum, which is located on the shore of Lake Constance, with a museum building. It is the oldest open-air museum in Germany. The Freilichtmuseum contains several reconstruction sections and has been rebuilt several times since the opening of the museum in 1922. Since 1922 over 10 million visitors have visited the pile houses.

Pfahlbaumuseum 

Meersburg Castle

The Meersburg Castle, also the Old Castle or the Old Castle in Meersburg on the Lake Constance, is the oldest inhabited castle in Germany in the 7th century. A tour of the Burgmuseum gives an insight into more than 30 rooms. Also the living rooms and the dying room of the poetess Annette von Droste-Hülshoff are included in this tour. In the tower is a 19th century prison room as well as the Renaissancesaal with treasure chamber. In the deepest part of the tower, the torture chamber gives insight into the jurisdiction of the Middle Ages.

Meersburg Castle

Bregenz

The state capital of Lake Constance has many sights to see, so you can get inspired by historical buildings, traditional landmarks and modern architecture. A special highlight is the Festspielhaus and the world-famous Festspiele on the largest lake stage in the world.

Bregenz

Stage at the lake in Bregenz

Especially the world's largest stage on Lake Constance is a magnet for a large number of visitors. It is known for the beauty of the natural setting.

Lake stage Bregenz