Large circular tour on the Lake Constance Cycle Route

Detailed tour description

Day 1: Individual arrival in Constance/Kreuzlingen
Constance, most splendidly located city in Europe, has a lot to offer to its every visitor. Apart from the two churches and four museums, one can also visit the City Wasserberg Gallery, the Castle Niederburg, the local theatre or the 14th-century House ‘zur Kunkel’. In case you don’t have enough time to see all you wish in this one day, do not worry – you will come back to Constance later.

Day 2: Constance/Kreuzlingen – Gailingen/Stein am Rhein (approx. 25/35 km + boat tour)
The first stage of your bicycle tour will begin with a visit to the Isle of Reichenau. If you wish to make a special stop, we recommend you visit the Minster of St. Maria and St. Marcus. This architectonic masterpiece is not only beautiful from the outside, but also from the inside. After you have left the Island, a boat will take you to the Höri peninsula and you will continue your today’s bicycle tour against the current of the River Rheine to Gailingen.

Day 3: Gailingen – Schaffhausen/Rheinfall – Gailingen (approx. 30 – 50 km)
Today you will take a trip to the Swiss town Schaffhausen. Crossing back and forth over the German-Swiss border, after approximately 6 miles, you will arrive at the Munot fort. This circular 16th century fortification in the center of the Swiss city of Schaffhausen is surrounded by vineyards and serves as the city's symbol. On with the tour, you will take a boat to take you to the Rheinfall rocks. This spectacular falls are the second largest waterfalls in Europe, after Dettifoss waterfall in Island. Even though the Rheinfall has half the height of Dettifoss, yet it contains twice the amount of water.

Day 4: Gailingen/Stein am Rhein – Constance (approx. 30 – 40 km)
On day four of your circular bicycle tour, you will journey back to Constance on the opposite side of the lake. This way, you won’t miss the lovely town Stein am Rhein, the old Swiss fishing villages and the astonishing countryside of the Lower Lake. A great way to diversify your trip and combine the nature with some culture is a visit to the former home of Napoleon’s stepdaughter Hortense de Beauharnais. Her house in Arenenberg is now used as Napoleon museum. Whether you will be finding out about Napoleon’s historical actions or taking a walk through Arenenberg’s Park, the city gives you the perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy the surrounding atmosphere.

Day 5: Constance – Radolfzell (approx. 30 km)
Leaving Constance, the first stop of your today’s bicycle tour on the Lake Constance Cycle Route will be the Mainau Island. Apart from the beautiful landscape – the isle is preserved as a garden island and is a model of excellent environmental practices – you can also visit the local greenhouse. As it maintains tropical climate, it is the home to thousands of butterflies. Continuing on your circular tour, you may pause in Allensbach. This town is famous for its public opinion research institute. Just 30 minutes away by bike, the former imperial town and modern health resort of Radolfzell welcomes you.

Day 6: Radolfzell – Uhldingen/Meersburg (approx. 35 - 40 km)
When you have left Radolfzell, you will be cycling along the green northern shores of Lake Constance. As you will be biking past Bodman-Ludwigshafen, don’t forget to take a break and have a look at the triptych Ludwig’s legacy. This modern piece of art was made in 2003 by Peter Lenk as a part of the ‘Toilet Drama and Feudalism’ project. You will continue along the road, past the towns Sipplingen and Überlingen to Uhldingen. Here, you can visit the unique, recently renovated Lake Dwelling Museum, enabling you to find out everything you want to know about the Stone Age.

Day 7: Uhldingen/Meersburg – Friedrichshafen (approx. 20 - 25 km)
Your next destination is the exciting city of Meersburg. With its two castles, four museums, three galleries and many more sights, this city is a perfect location for a few hours of cultural or historical enlightenment, before you continue on with your bicycle tour. Cycling along the shore of Lake Constance, accompanied by the panoramic view of the Alps, you will soon reach your today’s destination - the city Friedrichshafen. A nice way to spend the afternoon is to visit the local Zeppelin museum or take a walk along the promenade in the red light of the setting sun.

Day 8: Friedrichshafen - Bregenz (approx. 40 km)
Biking through the vast orchards of Baden-Würtemberg, you will soon reach the metropolis of Lindau. Visit Lindau’s old town, lying so extraordinarily on a small island close to the shore, with the old town’s hall and the Cavazzen house at its very heart. When you leave the city of Lindau, the Austrian border lays only a stone’s throw away. The moment you cross over the Leiblach creek, you will find yourself biking on Austrian soil. Cycle on directly along the lakeshore and the city Bregenz, hemmed by the Alps behind it, will soon appear on the horizon.

Day 9: Bregenz – St. Gallen (approx. 50 km + train ride)
Today you will start off with a laid-back bicycle tour to the Pfänder Mountains. Take your bike and the cable car ‘Pfänderbahn’ will bring you to the top of the Bregenz Mountain. Once you’re back in Bregenz, you will folloe the cycle path along the Alpine Rhine to Altstätten. The train takes you to Gais in the Appenzell region. Trough picturesque landscapes the cycle path takes you to St. Gallen.

Day 10: Leisure day in St. Gallen or hiking tour in the Appenzell region
On day ten of your circular tour you can decide whether you like to go for a hiking tour in the Appenzell region or discover the picturesque city of St. Gallen. You should not miss visiting the collegiate churches and abbey in St. Gallen which counts to UNESCO world cultural heritage since 1983.

Day 11: St. Gallen – Constance/Kreuzlingen (approx. 45 km)
On the last day of your large circular tour, you will go downhill by bike to Arbon where you will join the Lake Constace Cycle Route again. The route takes you along the banks of the Lake Constance through small villages back to Constance.

Day 12: Individual departure
Take one last walk through this magnificent city and let the magic of Constance charm you one last time before make your way home. You can of course always extend your journey with extra nights in Constance or other towns along the cycle route around Lake Constance. We will be pleased to arrange additional accommodation for you.

This cycle trip is not recommendable for travellers with mobility impairments.

Services included

• 11 x overnight stay in hotels and guesthouses with 3- and 4-star-standard
• 11 x continental breakfast
• Boat trip Reichenau – Gaienhofen incl. bicycle
• Boat trip to the Rhinefall rocks
• Entrance to the Rosgarten museum, to Mainau Island, to the lake dwelling museum, to the Zeppelin museum
• Return journey by cable car to Pfänder mountain excl. bicycle
• Train ride Altstätten-Gais incl. bicycle
• Luggage transfer from accommodation to accommodation during your cycle tours
• 1 package with maps and information material per room (in English language)
• telephone-service-hotline during your cycling holidays

Bookable value-added services for the large circular tour from/to Constance

Please feel free to add the following value-added services to the basic travel package to personalize your cycling holidays around Lake Constance: 

• Additional nights at every overnight location according to the tour description
• Rental bikes or electric bicycles for the duration of the tour (more about our rental bike service)

Prices of these value-added services are detailed under the tab "Quotes".

Further advice on the cycling tour around Lake Constance

• Please note that in certain cities along the Lake Constance Cycle Route a compulsory city, tourist or occupancy tax is required to be paid. Unless otherwise indicated, these taxes are not included in our prices and have to be paid directly to the hotel.

This cycle trip is not recommendable for travellers with mobility impairments.