Highlights of Lake Constance by Bike

Activity Level

Easy

Activity

Cycling

Overview

Bordered by the majestic Alpine peaks of Germany, Switzerland and Austria, the turquoise shoreline and pebbly beaches of Lake Constance are shared between three countries.

As Central Europe’s third largest lake, cycling around the lake is special in that you visit all three countries in a week. Hosting a huge 270km lakeside cycling path, it’s a beautifully flat journey from one country to the next, where you’ll take in the sights and scents of cherry orchards, wildflower fields and daisy-strewn meadows.

Cross the mighty Rhine Delta that straddles the border between Austria and Switzerland and encounter wonderful wildlife, including kingfishers hidden in the reeds. Take a refreshing dip in the turquoise waters during stop-offs, visit half-timbered frescoed towns for lunch (kretzer (perch) and zander (pike-perch) are Konstanz specialities), and then admire the myriad of Baroque churches and Gothic cathedrals.

Brimming with historical and cultural highlights, jump off your bike to visit fairytale Meersburg boasting twin castles, steep streets and vine-covered hillsides. Get a true taste of Germany when cycling through the Bavarian vineyards – local Muller-Thurgau wines come from Riesling and Silvaner grapes for which Lake Constance is famous. For chocolate-lovers, mediaeval Stein am Rhein boasts an array of lovely chocolate shops, and you can visit the 11th century monastery while you’re there.

Key Information

Trip Code: C07LC
Ways to Travel: Self-Guided Holidays
Countries: Austria, Germany, Switzerland

What's Included

All buffet breakfasts
Headwater Navigation App
Bike fitting and briefing
High Quality Bikes
Luggage transfers between hotels
Ferry ticket from Staad to Meersburg

5 days of Cycling

Terrain:

The terrain on this trip is mostly flat and gentle, following well-maintained lakeside cycle paths and quiet roads. It’s ideal for leisure cyclists, with only occasional gentle inclines and minimal traffic throughout the route.

Day 2: 41 km / 25.5 miles
Day 3: 57 km / 35.4 miles
Day 4: 45 km / 28 miles
Day 6: 28 km / 17.4 miles
Day 7: 38 km / 23.6 miles

Highlights

Flat and flexible cycling along beautiful lakeside paths, wildflower fields, vineyards and cherry orchards
Historical and cultural: Baroque churches, Gothic cathedrals, fairytale palaces, romantic castles
Postcard-pretty villages, half-timbered, frescoed towns, cafe-lined waterfronts and stunning mountain views
Wonderful flora and fauna enroute, including kingfishers, cormorants and red-crested pochards.

Itinerary

First Destination: Bregenz
Next Destination: Bregenz

Meals included:None

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Bregenz
Next Destination: Bregenz

After arriving at your hotel, a historic coaching inn, in the centre of Bregenz where you can explore the ancient cobbled streets of the old town.

Today you’ll cycle west along Lake Constance’s southern shore before crossing the mighty Rhine delta that straddles the border between Austria and Switzerland. It’s an area of great natural beauty and a refuge for wildlife – be sure to keep your eyes peeled for kingfishers in the reeds. Your final stretch takes you around the lake to historic Arbon where you’ll find pretty half-timbered houses and a 16th century castle.

Meals included:Breakfast

There are two routes today – if opting for the shorter route you can take the train to Guettingen this morning. Otherwise, you’ll pedal clockwise around the lake and pass waterfront villages affording lots of panoramic sun terraces for coffee stops and lunch. In the afternoon, you coast effortlessly between sleepy harbours before arriving in medieval Stein am Rhein.

Meals included:Breakfast

After freewheeling east this morning, you’ll soon cross the border to enter Germany. In the Hornstaad Nature Reserve you may spot cormorant and red-crested pochard. Cycling along the Gnadensee you’ll soon reach the UNESCO Heritage Site of Klosterinsel Reichenau, the first populated area on Lake Constance and home to an impressive 8th century Benedictine abbey. It’s then on to the unofficial regional capital, Konstanz.

Meals included:Breakfast

Today you can spend the day exploring the narrow streets of Konstanz: visit the Altstadt, Munster and the lively centre crammed with quirky shops and museums. Alternatively, you can hop on a boat (payable locally) to visit Mainau Island’s palace and landscaped rose gardens. If you take your bike, you can pedal back at leisure along traffic-free lakeside cycle paths.

Meals included:Breakfast

Pedal through oak forest this morning to catch the 15-minute ferry ride (included) to fairytale Meersburg – built on a steep vineyard right by the lake, it boasts twin castles and many museums. It’s a perfect place to stop for lunch! Then, pedalling south, it’s a gentle cycle into Friedrichshafen.

Meals included:Breakfast

Today you head to lovely Lindau, a stunning island village surrounded by cobalt blue waters with long-distance views of razor-edged peaks across the lake. En route you cycle past the pretty village of Langenargen and through peaceful vineyards and cherry orchards. After lunching in an idyllic setting near the lake, a final push alongside the lake takes you back down to Bregenz. Time permitting, you could take the cable car up Pfander mountain (1,064m), for a fantastic vista of your entire route, giving you a real sense of achievement!

Meals included:Breakfast

The tour ends in Bregenz after breakfast.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, dates that suit you, 24-hour support, loyalty discounts, and peace of mind for delays or disruption.

Call us on 1 844 260 1517

Book Your Flights With Us

Window or aisle? Premium seat with extra legroom? Adding a stopover en route? We’ll sort the flights that fit your plans. With access to thousands of routes - major airlines and regional gems alike, we’ll help you fly from your preferred airport, at times that suit you. Secure your flights and trip together and enjoy peace of mind knowing everything's organized with one team here to help if plans change.

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Accommodation

Hotels

During the week you’ll stay in an old coaching inn, a riverside hotel that used to be a 15th century customs warehouse, and a luxury lakeside mansion – including two nights in Konstanz and two nights in Bregenz.

Essential Information

Cycling Conditions
Classification: Self–Guided
Average daily distance: 33.8km (21.4miles)
No. of days cycling: 5
Terrain and route: The suggested cycle routes are along broad and flat cycle paths, which are car-free and well sign-posted.
Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodation, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next.

It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The routes notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the hotels are normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

If you choose a flight inclusive package with us, you will fly into Zurich airport, with onward rail included.
Flight to Zurich then rail Zurich Airport to Bregenz via St Gallen and St Margrethen then taxi to hotel (payable locally.) Return: Taxi to station (payable locally) then rail Bregenz to Zurich Airport and return flight to UK. Please contact us for further details and timings and rates.

Business/club/first class seats are available on request.

Austria

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Austria. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through. Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/austria
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/austria
United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/austria/entry-requirements
USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Austria.html

Germany

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Germany. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Switzerland

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Switzerland. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/switzerland
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/switzerland
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/switzerland/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Switzerland.html

Look out for local specialities like kretzer (perch) and zander (pike-perch) on the menu, accompanied by fine local wines.

The emphasis in this region is very much on local produce, and what appears on your plate will be whatever is in season; broccoli, asparagus, spinach and mushrooms are all grown in local market gardens, and desserts are often fruit based using locally grown apples, plums raspberries and strawberries.

Lake Constance has a big influence on the local climate due to its size, resulting in a moderate maritime climate. Summers are pleasant and winters cool, but not bitterly cold. The average summer temperature is 25 C, perfect for cycling.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.