Tour
Arrive at Mainz in time! Not only the Roman-Germanic Central Museum, the Gutenberg Museum, the Imperial Cathedral and the Electoral Palace are worth an extended visit (DB arrival / rental bike at hotel).
Welcome to the UNESCO Upper Middle Rhine Valley! The beautiful first stage leads through rolling vineyards and well-known wine villages. The Rhine is flowing quite unhurriedly, forming little islands and broadening its bed up to 800 m width! We recommend to include worthwhile trips to the half-timbered town of Eltville and monastery Eberbach (+ 14 km). In Rudesheim you should use the opportunity for a wine tasting, a stroll through the famous Drosselgasse or a relaxing ride on the cable car up to the Niederwald Monument.
From Rudesheim to Bingen you can take the Rhine ferry and then cycle on the well-developed bike path to Bacharach. Alone on these 16 km you will pass the Mäuseturm, the castles Rheinstein and Reichenstein and Burg Sooneck and Hohneck and the ruin Fürstenberg. Everywhere it is worth to take a break and in Bacharach, you should climb the city walls before you finally cycle to St. Goar.
Here you should also climb the Loreley. A hiking trail leads up and gives you the beautiful view to the narrowest part in the romantic Rhine valley. The worth visiting 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.
The path goes further in the narrow Rhine Valley, today the route leads first up in the well known wine village Boppard. Here it will turbulent, but you can escape by chairlift to Vierseenblick in densely wooded heights and again enjoy a beautiful view of the Rhine Valley. Or visit the well preserved Marksburg and Castle Stolzenfels further on the way to the Deutsches Eck in Koblenz, where you will end your day.
Also today, the Castles on the Rhine will be your loyal companion. Be it in Sayn and Neuwied, Andernach or Namedy and also in Brohl and Bad Breisig, the palaces and castles invite you to visit. On the flat Rhine cycle path you can drift comfortably and find even more time to relax at the end of the day at the spa "Römerthermen" in Bad Breisig.
This morning Remagen is worth a stop. See the location where the former towers of the famous bridge rise on the banks and where today an attractions peace museum is located. In Bad Honnef the pedestrian zone and the marketplace with many cafes invite to pause. Ot you visit the island Grafenwerth which is lying with lush meadows and ancient trees in the middle of the Rhine and is considered a recreational paradise. In the cause of the tour the Siebengebirge comes close to the river and in Koenigswinter you can go up with the oldest rack railway to the "fabled" Drachenfels and enjoy the view. Finally Bonn attracts with numerous monuments and museums, and you can again experience an interesting day.
Today the flat Rhine Cycle Route leads always right on the shore. This ensures that the stage to Cologne will be a real pleasure. Even from afar the Cologne Cathedral is moving into focus and increases the anticipation for this destination. Today the stage is not too long, and you can reach your hotel in downtown early. This gives you enough time to admire the manifold sights of Cologne.
Today your beautiful cycling holiday ends after breakfast in Cologne at the hotel. DB departure is possible. Those who want to return to Mainz, we recommend our practical return transfer service which will take you direct from the hotel in Cologne back to the start hotel.
MAP
Prices / Dates
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 Rhine bike trail Mainz - 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. We recommend to take a taxi from the trainstation to get to you hotel. Current schedule information and price information can be found at www.bahn.de
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. You will find further information in your travel information 2 weeks prior to your arrival.
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.
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. On the last day cycling to Cologne will see the signs of the Rheinschiene route (square plates with blue wave symbol). Due to the consistently good signage the right way is easy to find.
Transfer back to the starting point of the journey
Wednesdays and Saturdays at 11 am there is the possibility to transfer back to Mainz with a small bus (with bike trailer). Arrival at 2 pm. The driver picks you up at your hotel and has room for you, your luggage and your own bicycle. The bus takes you back to your first hotel, thus ensuring a perfect return service without the hassle of hauling luggage.
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 and the ferry boat from Rüdesheim to Bingen are not part of the travel price and therefore has to be paid locally.
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.
I provide you with advice and assistance
Steffi Groß