Rhine: long tour: Mainz – Arnhem/Netherlands

Rhine-Cycle track from Mainz til Arnhem Netherlands

What a wonderful combination of romantic Middle Rhine and Lower Rhine. Let yourself be enchanted by the wine idyll of the Rheingau, the numerous castles and palaces of the Middle Rhine Valley, the Loreley, the new cable car across the Rhine in Koblenz and impressive cities like Cologne, Duesseldorf and Duisburg. Look forward to the small fortress town of Zons, to the largest inland port in Europe and to industrial history in the abandoned cottage factory. Be impressed by the large Roman excavations in Xanten combined with the scenic idyll, the unique expanse and tranquility of the Niederrheins.

1. day Mainz Arrival

In Mainz you should be well on time! Not just the Roman-Germanic central museum, the Gutenberg museum, the emperors cathedral and the electors castle are worth a visit.

2. day Mainz – Oberwesel 51 km

The beautiful first cycle route leads you through the gentle vineyards and famous winegrowers of the Rheingau. Here the Rhine still flows gently, forms small romantic islands and extends its bed up to 800 m wide! On the way, you can take a break in Eltville and plan a detour to Eberbach Abbey (+ 14 km). In Rüdesheim you should take the opportunity to stroll through the world famous Drosselgasse or to take a relaxing ride with the cable car up to the Niederwald monument. From Rüdesheim to Bingen you take the Rhine ferry and then you continue to cycle along best-developed cycle path to Bacharach. On these 16 km you pass the Mäuseturm, the Castles Rheinstein and Reichenstein as well as Burg Sooneck and Hohneck and the ruins of Fürstenberg. In Bacharach you should climb the city wall before you finally cycle to Oberwesel.

3. day Oberwesel – Koblenz 45 km

In the morning you reach St. Goar and here you can climb the Loreley. A hiking trail leads up and gives you the beautiful view of the narrowest place in the romantic Rhine valley. Here is the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Upper Middle Rhine Valley. The worthwhile visitor center on the Loreley offers interesting insights into the history, nature and culture of the region as well as the myth of the Loreley. Back on the shore the cycle path continues to Boppard. Here it is turbulent, but you can also use the chairlift to the Vierseenblick to escape in woody quiet heights. Or visit the well-preserved Marksburg and Castle Stolzenfels on the way to the Deutsche Eck (German corner) in Koblenz where you will finish this day.

4. day Koblenz – Bad Honnef 55 km

Relaxed spa resorts and inviting vine villages are competing for your visit today. Also thermal baths and beer gardens want to spoil the cyclists. Or take a break from the bike and the saddle and enjoy a piece of the Rhine from a boat from the water. Between Koblenz and Bad Honnef everything is possible for you! For those interested in history, a visit to the museum "Brücke von Remagen" is worth a visit before strolling comfortably through the pedestrian zone of Bad Honnef. Enjoy nice cafes and pretty half-timbered houses.

5. day Bad Honnef – Köln 42 km

At the foot of the Siebengebirge you will pass Bad Godesberg today. You will be amazed by the Drachenfelsen, 250m over the Rhine. Here you can take an exciting trip to the summit with the Drachenfelsbahn, the oldest cogwheel railway in Germany. The old capital of Bonn is also on your way and attracts a lot of sightseeing, before the Cologne cathedral is in the field of view. The tour today is not too long, so you can reach your hotel in the city center at an early stage and still have time to admire the many sights of Cologne.

6. day Köln – 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'. Relax with a real Düsseldorf Altbier at Castle Square and enjoy a wonderful view of the Rhine. This square was named as one of the most beautiful squares in Germany.

7. 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.

8. 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!

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. day Arnhem departure

All too soon the time passed and your trip ends after breakfast in Arnhem. There are convenient train connections back to Cologne. Or you can continue your trip Rotterdam (230 km) and follow the last section of the Rhine cycle path on his way from Switzerland to the North Sea.

Worth knowing

Below you will find specific information about the Rhine bike trail Mainz - Arnheim/ NL. 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. 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

The hotels in Mainz have no parking facilities. You can park in one of the municipal parking garages near the hotel. 
Detailed information on the parking facilities near your hotel in Mainz you will receive 2 weeks prior to your arrival together with the travel information.

Condition of cycle paths

The route along the Rhine runs almost exclusively on asphalted and paved hiking and cycling trails or along quiet country roads. Driving in traffic is rare. From Mainz to Bad Godesberg, the route is marked with white and green signs, which always identify the next town. Also you will see blue signs with a yellow bike. 

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

Transfer back to the starting point of the journey

Every saturday at 8 am you have the possibility to go by transfer back to Mainz with a small bus (with  bike trailer). Arrival at 2 pm. The driver comes to pick you up at your hotel and has much room for you, your luggage and where required your own bicycle. At first you go to Cologne where you have to change the bus. You will leave Cologne by 11 am.

Bike and train

Along the route there are good rail connections, so you can always take the train for some sections.

Bike and boat

Particularly the Middle Rhine Valley a boat tour is a delightful addition to cycling. The major part of the passenger traffic on the Rhine route is done by the Cologne-Düsseldorf shipping company. Bicycles can be taken on all ships.

Timetable Cologne-Düsseldorf shipping company

Extra costs which are not included in the price

A possibly applicable city tax is not part of the travel price and therefore has to be paid at the hotel locally.
The ferry boat trips and the Train Ride in Duisburg are not included in the price.

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

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.

Mainz Gutenbergmuseum

Experience the history of printing, writing, and books in the Gutenberg-Museum. The Gutenberg-Museum, which lies opposite the cathedral in the heart of the old part of Mainz, is one of the oldest museums of the book and printing in the world. The Museum was founded by a group of Mainz citizens in 1900 and dedicated to Johannes Gutenberg, today’s “Man of the millennium”, and his inventions.

Mainz Gutenbergmuseum

Mainz St. Stephen’s church

200,000 visitors a year show: St. Stephen’s is an attraction! Tourists from the whole world pilgrim up St. Stephen’s Mount, to the glowing blue stained glass windows by the artist Marc Chagall. The reconstruction and restoration of the Gothic church, which was almost completely destroyed in the Second World War, also brought its revival. St. Stephen’s is the only German church for which the Jewish artist Marc Chagall (1887 - 1985) created windows. Born in Russia, the artists spent the longest period of his life in France. Blue light shines through the stained glass into the interior of St. Stephen’s, and not only angels but other Biblical figures move apparently ethereally in this light.

Mainz St. Stephen’s church

Eberbach Monastery

The Door stands open, but the Heart even more so! The Eberbach Monastery invites you to take part in this journey. The monastery offers you the opportunity to experience such a journey with all of your senses. Let your eyes be impressed by the simple beauty of our monumental, Romanesque monastery church.

Eberbach Monastery

Drosselgasse Rüdesheim

The Drosselgasse is a three-meter-wide, roughly 144-meter-long, paved road in Rüdesheim on the Rhine, visited annually by about three million people. The half-timbered houses built in half-timbered houses characterize not only gift items and souvenir shops but also the image of the world-famous Drosselgasse. It is one of six connecting lanes between the Rüdesheimer Oberstrasse and the Rheinuferpromenade.

Drosselgasse Rüdesheim

Loreley

The Loreley is a 433 feet high slate cliff in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley World Heritage near the town of St. Goarshausen. The view of St. Goarshausen, from the Loreley outlook point, with Castle Katz and the view of the town St. Goar and its Fortress Rheinfels, leaves a wonderful impression on all Loreley  tourists.

Loreley

Deutsches Eck Koblenz

Situated in the picturesque landscape of the Rhine and Moselle and surrounded by four low mountain ranges is the 2000-year-old town of Koblenz. Its abundance of cultural monuments and historic buildings, its cosy lanes and narrow alleyways, the relaxed and happy atmosphere of its squares and  river promenades make Koblenz a friendly town where its guests feel right at home.

Deutsches Eck Koblenz

Andernach Geyser

A spectacular natural phenomenon is waiting to be discovered by you in the Rhine valley.Every two hours, the Geyser erupts with an impressive water fountain rising up to 60 metres / 200 ft. into the sky, driven by carbon dioxide from deep volcanic sources. You set off on your journey at the Geyser Visitor Centre in Andernach by taking a trip deep below the surface to the origin of the Andernach Geyser. This is followed by a relaxed cruise on the river Rhine, down to the nature reserve “Namedyer Werth” where this rare natural phenomenon awaits you: The Andernach Geyser.

Andernach, Geyser

Bridge at Remagen

The bridge at Remagen was built during the First World War at the urging of the German generals, so that more troops and war materials could be brought to the Western Front. The railway bridge was designed by Karl Wiener, an architect from Mannheim.  It was 325 meters long, had a clearance of 14.80 m above the normal water level of the Rhine, and its highest point measured 29.25 m.  The bridge carried two rail lines and a pedestrian walkway. It was considered one of the finest steel bridges over the Rhine.On 7 March 1945 an advance unit of the 9th US Armored Division, led by LT Karl H. Timmermann, an American of German descent, reached the last intact bridge, just after the German defenders twice failed in their demolition attempts. The capture of the bridge is known in the annals of the war as the "Miracle of Remagen".  General Eisenhower stated that "the bridge is worth its weight in gold".  In the days immediately following, the German High Command made desperate attempts to destroy the bridge by bombing and even employing frogmen.

Bridge at Remagen

Oberwinter ARP Museum

The Rolandseck train station, the classic jewel from the mid-19th century at Remagen, has been a place for famous artists from all over the world - for musicians, literati, painters and sculptors. Originally the station was the terminus of a private railway, which operated from Cologne. Today, there is an hourly train service to Koblenz and Cologne.

Oberwinter ARP Museum

Drachenfels

The legend still lives in the minds of the people, that Siegfried had been contending with the dragon, who guarded the king's daughter, and had brought him back to Worms.

Since July 1883, the Drachenfelsrailway transports passengers from the Königswinter base station to the excursion area at the Drachenfelsruine, making it the oldest cogwheel railway in Germany. The route is about 1.5 kilometers long, has about 220 meters of difference in altitude with a maximum gradient of 20% and has an intermediate station at Schloss Drachenburg.

Drachenfels/Drachenfelsrailway

Drachenburg Castle

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 

Cologne Römisch-germanisches Museum

The Roman mosaic with scenes from the world of Dionysos (c.AD 220/230) and the reconstructed funerary monument to the legionary Poblicius (c.AD 40) are probably the best-known exhibits in Cologne's Romano-Germanic Museum. Its collections are drawn from the archaeological heritage of the city and its environs, from prehistory to the early Middle Ages. Highlights are the largest collection of Roman glass in the world as well as outstanding collections of Roman and early medieval jewellery.

Romano-Germanic Museum

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

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