Rhine: Cologne – Arnhem Netherlands

Middle Ages, Rheinaue and industrial culture.

The Rhine Cycle Route from Switzerland to Cologne is known by almost every bike lover, but the beautiful route from Cologne to Holland is still mostly unknown - quite wrongly, in our opinion! The continuous flat route is rich in culture and nature, industrial history and historical sights and it full of great dining experiences and the lust for life. In the heart of the city of Cologne is the start of your bike tour. Here the locals are full of humor not only during the carnival. The first destinations are the small fortified town of Zons with its still completely preserved city wall and the old town of Düsseldorf with the "longest bar in the world". In Duisburg, you can take an interesting boat ride through the largest inland port in Europe, and in the "Landschaftspark Duisburg Nord' you can climb the disused blast furnace. In Wesel a visit to the museum of Prussia is worth the effort and in Xanten, the Roman excavations are a real highlight. From here you continue to cycle through the wide floodplain of the Lower Rhine to Emmerich with its beautiful Rhine promenade. The final stage leads over the border in the midst of the Dutch Rhine delta in the Dutch shopping town of Arnhem.

1. day Cologne Arrival

Arrive at Cologne in time and visit the famous Cologne Cathedral and the picturesque old town (Arrival by train (DB) is possible, parking in the underground parking garage or at public garages near the hotel, rental bikes on site).

2. day Cologne – Düsseldorf 53 km

With Cologne humor in the baggage you leave the cathedral city and cycle along the banks of the Rhine till you reach the medieval town of Zons. This fortress city with a city wall still entirely preserved is also called the Rothenburg of the Rhineland'. It features the mighty Rhine Tower from 1388, the Juddeturm with baroque dome and a windmill with a wooden mill from the 17th century. You continue cycling the Rhine cycle path and in the afternoon you reach Düsseldorf's Old Town, also known as "the longest bar in the world'. This expression leads back to the 250 pubs, restaurants and bars, lined up in the streets of the old town. Relax with a real Düsseldorf Altbier at Castle Square and enjoy a wonderful view of the Rhine. This square with the area around the castle tower was named as one of the most beautiful squares in Germany.

3. day Düsseldorf - Duisburg 49 km

Again directly on the Rhine you cycle first to Kaiserswerth with the picturesque ruins of "Kaiserpfalz". Shortly after you take the ferry to cross the river to the left side of the Rhine. Here you take a short sidetrip to see the Moated Castle Linn. The green floodplains drain away and make space for impressive industrial architecture until the cycle path leads on the right side of the Rhine to the river mouth of the Ruhr. From here it is only a short distance to downtown Duisburg. Here it is worthwhile to take a boat tour of the largest inland port in Europe before you let the evening fade away in one of the many bars and restaurants at the harbor and waterfront.

4. day Duisburg – Wesel 47 km

With a short transfer (6 minutes) you get to the district Duisburg Meiderich and from here you can cycle directly to the Landscape Park "Landschaftspark Duisburg Nord" , a 200-hectare disused steelwork. It is possible to take a guided tour about industrial history and climb the blast furnace. Visitors can walk through the former ore bunkers and get explanation about casthouse, Gasometer and Gebläsehalle. After this impressive visit, which certainly is considered a highlight of this bike trip, you follow a comfortable bike path on an old railway line to the River Rhine. After a few kilometers you cycle on the left side of the river through rural idyll and nature reserves at the Lower Rhine to the Hanseatic city of Wesel with his Prussian Museum. A day of biking can not be more varied!

5. day Wesel – Emmerich 52 km

Today the Rhine cycle path leads first to Xanten with the historic downtown, the splendidly decorated St. Victor's Cathedral and the Archaeological Park and Roman Museum, which is by itself worth a trip. From here you continue the route along inviting bathing lakes and enjoy beautiful views of the wild Rhine-current to the amusement park "Wunderland Kalkar". Finally you reach the longest suspension bridge in Germany, also called as Golden Gate on the Lower Rhine. Your destination is the old Hanseatic city of Emmerich with the beautiful Rhine promenade, which still invites to an end-of-day stroll.

6. day Emmerich – Arnhem 41 km

Also today's stage holds new impressions ready. Already in the morning you cross by ferry the Rhine to the Dutch side and cycle past the point where the river divides into Waal and Niederrijn. Here one speaks of the Rhine Delta, which extends until the North Sea. Follow the Niederrijn on raised causeways, through locks and bridges to the old city of Arnhem, where you not only enjoy a varied shopping offer. In the Information Centre „Brücke von Arnheim“ you can indulge in history and in the open air museum you can visit more than 80 historic Dutch houses and windmills.

7. day Arnhem Departure

All too soon the time passed and your trip ends after breakfast in Arnhem. If you with to go back to Cologne there is a back transfer available (every Saturday at 9 am).

Worth knowing

Below you will find specific information about the Rhine bike trail Cologne to Arnheim/ NL. If you have further questions about this trip, you simply call us: Phone: 06421 – 886890.

Arrival by train

Cologne is easily accessible from all major cities in Germany by train. All our partner hotels are located within easy access to the station. Current schedule information and price information can be found at: www.bahn.de.

Train schedule information

Parking facilities at the hotel

Our partner hotels in Cologne always offer good parking for the entire duration of your bike trip. In addition, you will find several car parks close to the hotel. Please count with costs of approx. 12, - Euro per day. You will receive detailed information about the parking facilities at the hotel booked for you two weeks before the start of the journey with the detailed travel documents.

Condition of cycle paths

The route along the Rhine runs almost exclusively on asphalted and fortified cycle and dam roads or on quiet country roads. Direct driving is rare.

The route is marked with white-green signs, which always indicate the next village. Due to the good signposting, the right way is easy to find.

Available rental bikes

If you choose to rent a velocipede-rental bike for the tour, we take it to your first hotel and bring pick it up at your destination. You can choose between woman’s and men's bicycles either with 7-speed gear shift and coaster brake or 27-speed gear shift and freewheel or electric bikes. 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 and for all gentlemen from 165 cm in height.
On our Velociped tours we use high-quality e-bikes of the Velo de Ville brand. They are technically mature and very robust.
You simply specify your wishes at time of booking.

Velociped rental bikes

Return to starting point of the journey

On Saturdays at 8:00 am there is the possibility to transfer back to Cologne with a small bus (with bike trailer). Arrival at 11 am. The driver comes to pick you up at your hotel and has much room for you, your luggage and where required your own bicycle. The bus takes you back to your first hotel, thus ensuring a perfect return service without transfer and the hassle of hauling luggage.

Extrakosten, die nicht im Reisepreis enthalten sind

Eine möglicherweise anfallende Tourismusabgabe ist nicht Bestandteil des Reisepreises und daher im Hotel vor Ort zu zahlen. Auch die Fährfahrten und die Nutzung der S-Bahn in Duisburg ist keine inkludierte Leistung und vor Ort zu zahlen.

7 day hotline service

Just in case the bike chain breaks, 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.

Cologne guided bike tour

Explore the city by guided bike tour! - the best way to give you the chance to see Germany's oldest Metropolis within just a few hours and in an active and environmental-friendly way. Discover Cologne's history and multifaceted districts from the saddle. During the bike tour you will see the touristic highlights, but also hidden hotspots, mixed with scenic rides over bridges, along the Rhine river, and through leafy green parks.

Cologne guided bike tour

Cologne Cathedral

It can be seen from nearly every point in the city centre and from many places elsewhere: The magnificent Cologne Cathedral hovers above the roofs and chimneys of the city. It is not only used as a point of orientation but is the pride of the people in Cologne. The panorama of the city has been dominated by the Cathedral's gigantic pair of towers (the North Tower (157.38 m) is 7 cm higher than the South Tower) since their completion in 1880. The Cathedral is still the second highest building in Cologne after the telecommunications tower. Its footprint is no less impressive, with the full length of the Cathedral measuring 145 m and the cross nave 86 m. In comparison, a football pitch is "only" around 100 by 70 m. The total area of the Cathedral measures almost 8000 square metres and has room for more than 20,000 people.

Cologne Cathedral

Cologne Cathedral

Cologne Museum Ludwig

Roy Lichtenstein's M-Maybe, Andy Warhol's Brillo Boxes and George Segal's Restaurant Window, all icons of American Pop Art, had all just been completed when in 1969 they arrived as a loan at Wallraf-Richartz-Museum. The works come from Peter and Irene Ludwig, who had put together the largest Pop Art collection outside of the USA. The Museum Ludwig is devoted to modern art from the beginning of the 20th century. There usually are two or more temporary exhibitions.  

Cologne Museum Ludwig 

Fortress town Zons

Do you want to experience the Middle Ages live? Take a trip to the medieval town on the Rhine (formerly called Zollfeste Zons). Zons is located on the Niederrhein near Dormagen in the Rhine-Kreis Neuss, almost exactly in the middle between Düsseldorf and Cologne.

Zons on the Rhine is one of the few medieval towns with a very well-preserved fortification dating back to the 14th century, and is often called the Rothenburg of the Rhine. Zons offers many opportunities for young and old alike.

Zons

Düsseldorf "Die längste Theke der Welt"

The selection of pubs in the old town of Düsseldorf is huge. Not for nothing is the Old Town in the well-known "Altbierlied" as the "longest bar in the world". Whether music pubs, artists' clubs, cultural pubs, Fortuna pubs, Irish pubs, jazz venues or the traditional corner pubs - Düsseldorf has everything to offer. Here you will find an overview of pubs, breweries, restaurants, bistros & cafes, bars, clubs and snacks.

Längste Theke der Welt

Düsseldorf MedienHafen

In contrast to other cities, when modernising its harbour, Düsseldorf didn't just attempt to wipe the slate clean, but decided to treat each lot individually and adapt it to its future users. Which meant that its docklands weren't forced into a uniform corset. Instead such internationally famous architects as Frank O. Gehry, David Chipperfield, Joe Coenen, Steven Holl and Claude Vasconi were given an empty canvas to make their creative contribution to the skyline. Düsseldorf Marketing & Tourismus offers exciting tours through the MedienHafen.

Düsseldorf MedienHafen

Duisburg

Duisburg – the city by the water One of the cities in Germany richest in water. With numerous lakes and canals. Directly next to the Rhine and Ruhr rivers. With a proud total of 650 bridges in the city – more bridges than in Venice or St. Petersburg. And with Europe's largest inland port.

Duisburg

Landscape Park Duisburg Nord

In the Landscape Park Duisburg Nord extending over an area of about 180 hectares, nature, industrial heritage and a fascinating light installation combine to create a park landscape unlike any other in the world. At the centre stands a disused ironworks whose old industrial facilities have today been put to a wide variety of uses. The huge buildings of the former ironworks have been equipped to cater for cultural and corporate functions; in an old gasometer Europe’s biggest man-made diving centre has been created; alpine climbing gardens have been created in ore storage bunkers; in a former casting house a high ropes course has been set up; and an extinguished blast furnace has been modified to provide a viewing tower.

The Landscape Park is open throughout the year and with no time limitations. Entry to the park site is free.

Landscape Park Duisburg Nord

Harbour district Duisburg

The transformation of the inner harbour site into a new "harbour district" providing residential, working, cultural and leisure facilities is one of Duisburg´s most innovative projects featuring both functional and artistic aspects. The Garten der Erinnerung (Garden of Remembrance) in the Altstadtpark (Old Town Park) near the Jewish Community Centre is the work of the Israeli artist Dani Karavan. In his work he has deliberately left the outer walls of demolished houses and stairways untouched in order to recall the architectural past of the harbour area.

Harbour district Duisburg

Xanten

Xanten is known for the Archaeological Park, one of the largest archaeological open air museum in the world, its medieval picturesque city centre with Xanten Cathedral and many museums, its large man-made lake for various watersport activities as well as high standard of living. It is visited by approximately one million tourists a year. Big events include the Xantener Sommerfestspiele (a prestigious classical music festival lasting 2 weeks every summer), the annual Xantener Montmartre where artists from all over the world show their latest works as well as the annual German sandcastle-building championship.

Xanten

Xanten archaeological open-air museum

An archaeological open-air museum is a non-profit permanent institution with outdoor true-to-scale architectural reconstructions primarily based on archaeological sources. It holds collections of intangible hertige resources and provides an interpretation of how people lived and acted in the past; this is accomplished according to sound scientific methods for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment of its visitors.

Xanten archaeological open-air museum

Emmerich

Emmerich the beautiful city on the Rhine has many attractions to offer. For example, the beautiful St. Martin's Church with the treasury or the 1000 year old St. Vitus Church. Also worth seeing is the Rhine promenade. The Drususbrunnen on Eltenberg attracts also numerous tourists.Not to forget the museums. The Rhine Museum with more than 130 ship models, or the poster museum with over 90,000 posters are always worth a visit. Who likes to relax can walk on H. Borghees in the beautiful park and at the same time look at the little castle.

Emmerich

Emmerich Rhine Bridge

The Emmerich Rhine Bridge is a suspension bridge completed in 1965, it has a main span of 500 metres (1,600 ft), crossing the Rhine, carrying the Bundesstrasse B 220, the federal highway between Emmerich am Rhein and Kleve. It is the longest suspension bridge in Germany.

Emmerich Rhine Bridge

Netherlands Arnheim Open Air Museum

The Netherlands Open Air Museum is full of stories. They are hidden in the historic houses, mills and farmhouses you will find in the museum park, as well as in our work, lives, customs and traditions. We bring these stories - yours and ours - to life during a visit to the museum. Here you can immerse yourself in the past and get to know our history - as well as your own.

Netherlands Arnheim Open Air Museum