Tour
Arrive early and look forward to the beautiful old town of Mainz with its half-timbered houses and medieval market square. Marvel at the renaissance-style market fountain with its red pillars and the Romanesque Mainz Cathedral with its deep red sandstone and the striking octagonal tower. If you have a lot of time, you can visit the Gutenberg Museum, which is dedicated to the inventor of the printing press. You will stay in the middle of the Mainz city park in the Favorite Parkhotel Mainz or in the Hyatt Regency which lies directly at the riverside.
The beautiful first cycle route takes you through gentle vineyards and well-known wine- towns. Enjoy the unique atmosphere, where the Rhine still flows slowly. The Rhine even forms small romantic islands on this section or extends its riverbed to a width of up to 800 m! Take a break in the beautiful half-timbered town of Eltville and take a detour (+ 14 km) to the Eberbach monastery. You can expect to explore the mystical legacy of the Cistercian monks, fascinating monastery tours, a large monastery shop and a vinotheque where real treasures lie dormant. Take the opportunity to join a wine tasting before cycling on to Rüdesheim. A stroll through the world-famous street `Drosselgasse’ and a relaxed cable-car ride up to the Niederwald monument beckon. Your hotel - the 4-star Breuer's Rüdesheim Castle- is located between the quiet Steingasse and the lively Drosselgasse.
In the morning, the Rhine ferry takes you from Rüdesheim to Bingen, where the well-developed Rhine cycle path awaits you again. You follow it along the banks of the Rhine to Bacharach. On this first 16 km alone you will pass the Mäuseturm, the castles Rheinstein, Reichenstein, Sooneck Castle, Hohneck Castle and the Fürstenberg ruins. A photo stop is worthwhile everywhere! Climb the city wall in Bacharach. These historical city fortifications still clearly enclose the city in a semicircle. Along with the city wall in Oberwesel, it is the best-preserved city fortification on the Middle Rhine. Now it is not far to St. Goar. You can see your hotel from afar because you spend a romantic night in the 4-star superior Hotel Schloss Rheinfels high above the Rhine.
Today the route continues along the narrow Rhine Valley to the well-known wine town of Boppard. It's a turbulent place here, but you can also take the chairlift (or the 5,5 km long loop trail) to the Vierseenblick viewpoint to escape to wooded, quiet heights and again enjoy a wonderful view of the Rhine Valley. Or visit the well-preserved Marksburg and Stolzenfels Castle on the way to the Deutsches Eck -a famous headland in Koblenz-, where you can end the day. Visit the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, to which you can comfortably glide over by cable car or take a boat trip around the Deutsches Eck with a beautiful view of the old town. In Koblenz you stay in the modern Hotel Kleiner Riesen or in the Hotel Mercure, both of which are located directly on the Rhine promenade.
Cozy spa towns, inviting wine towns, old thermal baths and lively beer gardens await your visit. You cycle from one small highlight to the next on the flat Rhine cycle path. There are many castles and palaces along the way. Sayn, Neuwied, Andernach, Namedy, Brohl or Bad Breisig greet you with their palaces and castles. Take a break at the Bridge of Remagen, because here, where the former towers of the famous Bridge of Remagen protrude on the shore, a worth seeing Peace Museum has been set up today. On the right riverside, Bad Honnef soon beckons with its inviting pedestrian zone and the market square lined with numerous cafés. Then the Siebengebirge hill range moves into your field of vision. If you want, you can use the ferry to Königswinter to take the oldest cogwheel train in Germany up to the Drachenfels, which offers a fantastic view. From up here Bad Godesberg can already be seen on the other side of the Rhine. Look forward to your overnight stay at the Dreesen Boutique Hotel.
Again, the flat Rhine Cycle Path beckons, but also the old federal capital Bonn with numerous sights and interesting museums, before the Cologne Cathedral comes into focus. Your bike route is not too long today, so you still have plenty of time for all of Cologne's attractions. In the heart of the Rhine metropolis and only a few minutes away from the historical sights, you stay at the Steigenberger Hotel Cologne.
After breakfast, your lovely cycling holiday ends at the hotel. Train departure possible. If you want to go back to Mainz, we recommend our return transfer service, which will take you directly from the hotel in Cologne back to the start.
Prices / Dates
MAP
Services / Info
- Accommodation incl. breakfast
- Room with shower/bath/WC
- Luggage transport
- Map of bike trails with marked route
- Digital route guidance via smartphone app
- Tips for tour preparation
- Touristic information
- 7 days hotline service
Below you will find specific information about the bike trip from Mainz to Cologne. If you have further questions about this trip, you simply call us: Phone: 06421 – 886890.
Arrival by train
Mainz is easily accessible from all major cities in Germany by train. Our partner hotels in Mainz are located south of the old town near the Südbahnhof station. Current schedule information and price information can be found at:
Parking at the hotel
The Favorite Parkhotel Mainz offers you free parking in front of the house or an underground car park (16,00 € per night, price of 2023).
The Hyatt Regency Hotel Mainz has its own underground car park (19,00 € per 24 hours (price per 2023), max. Vehicle height 2 m).
You will receive detailed information about the parking options with the detailed travel documents about 2 weeks before arrival.
Condition of cycle paths
The route along the Rhine runs almost exclusively on paved and secured cycle paths and dam paths or on quiet country roads. Driving directly in traffic is rare.
As part of an EU project, uniform signage with the EuroVelo 15 logo was implemented for the entire Rhine Cycle Route from Andermatt to Hoek van Holland. In Hesse, the signs are exclusively with the EuroVelo 15 logo, in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia a combination of the EV15 logo and "Rheinradler" has been chosen.
Available rental bikes
If you would like a Velociped rental bike for the tour, we will bring it to your starting hotel and pick it up at your destination ourselves. You can choose from unisex and men's bikes with either a 7-speed gear hub and coaster brake or 27-speed derailleur gears and free-wheeling. All unisex bikes have a deep step-through and men's bikes are available in different frame sizes. Our unisex bikes are suitable for all cycling enthusiasts from 150 cm height and the men's bikes from 165 cm. Simply state your bike requirements when booking.
8-speed unisex e-bikes are also available on request. This is where the high-quality, robust and well-engineered e-bikes from the Velo de Ville brand are used.
Transfer back to the starting point
Every Wednesday and Saturday at 11:00 a.m. there is the possibility of getting back to Mainz with a minibus (arrival there around 2:00 p.m.). The driver comes to your hotel and has space for you, your luggage and, if necessary, your private bike. He drives you back to your starting hotel and thus ensures a perfect return service without the hassle of changing trains or lugging your suitcase.
Your hotels
Favorite Parkhotel Mainz: Enjoy this unique location near the Mainz rose garden. After a first tour of the city, you will find peace and relaxation in the extensive grounds of the city park. In the evening you can enjoy an aperitif on the outside terrace and dinner in the restaurant. The rooftop spa and the in-house wine bar offer you the opportunity to end the evening very relaxed.
Favorite Parkhotel Mainz
Breuer's Rüdesheim Castle: The hotel is located between the quiet Steingasse and the lively Drosselgasse. The 4-star wine hotel in the former Zehnthof is characterized by wine, art and design. The 26 individual hotel rooms are modern and lovingly furnished. And the next morning you can have breakfast in the winter garden or in the castle garden, depending on the weather.
Breuer's Rüdesheim Castle
Hotel Schloss Rheinfels, St. Goar: You spend a romantic night in the 4-star superior Hotel Schloss Rheinfels high above the Rhine. What was once the mightiest fortress on the Rhine offers a unique panoramic view of the Loreley valley. Poets and thinkers of German Romanticism were once inspired by the splendor of nature and culture. Today you can enjoy traditional hospitality in a historical ambience. Look forward to a comfortable room with exquisite antiques and the spacious wellness area with swimming pool, saunas and fitness room.
Hotel Rheinfels Castle
Hotel Kleiner Riesen Koblenz: The family-run 3-star hotel with lovingly furnished rooms is located on the Rhine promenade near the Deutsches Eck. Relax in the bistro and enjoy excellent Italian ice cream, cakes or homemade delicacies with a wonderful view of the Rhine.
Hotel Kleiner RIesen
Mercure Hotel Koblenz: This hotel is located directly on the Rhine near the Electoral Palace. The old town, the Deutsches Eck and the cable car to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress are just a short walk away. Relax in the sauna area after the bike tour and a short sightseeing tour. The Finesse restaurant has regional specialties ready for you. End the day in style on the Rhine terrace or in the piano bar.
Mercure Hotel Koblenz
Boutique Hotel Dreesen Bad Godesberg: You can stay in an elegantly and modern styled, charming Art Nouveau villa in the middle of the Bad Godesberg villa district. There are two Art Nouveau villas that are connected by a glass bridge. If you want to pamper yourself with culinary delights in the evening, visit the "Halbedels Gasthaus", which is 5 minutes' walk away. The star chef Rainer Maria Halbedel cooks here. However you spend the evening, you can have breakfast in the light-flooded winter garden with plenty of space and direct access to the garden.
Boutique Hotel Dreesen
Steigenberger Hotel Köln: The modern rooms offer more than just accommodation. Comfortable furnishings include air conditioning, satellite TV, a desk, safe, minibar as well as a Nespresso coffee machine and a kettle for making tea. The unique summer terrace in the garden invites you to relax during the summer months. A cozy lounge atmosphere and delicious cocktails in the 19NullZwo bar offer the perfect place for a cool drink and a cozy end to your bike tour.
Steigenberger Hotel Cologne
Cycle & Ride
Along the entire route between Mainz and Cologne there are good train connections parallel to the cycle path, so that you can bridge sections by train at any time.
Cycle & Cruise
A trip by ship is a delightful addition to a bike tour, especially in the Middle Rhine Valley. Most of the passenger traffic on the Rhine route is carried out by the Köln-Düsseldorfer Schifffahrtsgesellschaft (KD-Line). Bicycles are accepted on all ships.
Timetable KD-Line
Extra costs which are not included
A possibly applicable city tax is not included 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
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.
For all those who want to combine comfort with sustainability and only require digital travel documents, we grant a discount of € 20.00 per room.
Please let us know at the time of booking whether you would like to use printed or digital travel documents.
I provide you with advice and assistance
Steffi Groß