Lake Constance Cycling

Itinerary

Exploring by bike is by far the best way to travel here: a 300kms pancake-flat cycling path leads from country to country taking in daisy-strewn meadows, billowing wheat fi elds, Bavarian vineyards and picturesque marinas. The routes have been specifically designed by our local partner, Donau Touristik, and checked by our managers too. This is a region brimming with history and, en route, cultural highlights include fairytale castles in Meersburg, fl ower decked palaces in Konstanz and books dating over 1,000 years in St Gallen's UNESCO library! If you just feel like relaxing, there are sand and pebble beaches dotted all round the lake - and, with a backdrop of snow-capped Alpine peaks refl ected in the crystal clear waters, the views are pretty special too!

But it is the flexibility that makes this holiday like no other in our programme. We give you fully detailed cycling notes to take you from each hotel to the next. If, however, you wish to shorten, or lengthen your route at any point, you simply hop on the local train or boat, taking your bike with you and tailor your journey to suit.

Throughout your trip, you'll stay in a mix of old coaching inns, grand riverside mansions and
beautiful park hotels offering spectacular views of the Swiss Alps.

• Day 1: Arrive in Bregenz 

  You arrive at your hotel a historic coaching inn  in the centre of Bregenz. Explore the ancient cobbled streets of the old town before dinner on the courtyard terrace.

• Day 2: Bregenz to Rorschach 35 km / 22 mi

  Stunning views of the snow-capped Alpine peaks this morning as you 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 - keep your eyes peeled for kingfishers in the reeds. Your fi nal stretch takes you onto the sleepy village of Rorschach where you'll spend the next two nights in our *** hotel.

• Day 3: In Rorschach

  Hop on the train (option to take your bike too), for the 20 minute ride (10km) to historic St Gallen - a bustling market town packed with C18th merchants' houses and open air restaurants. Explore the C8th Benedictine Abbey's fabulous UNESCO library, then blow the cobwebs away by freewheeling back down to the lakeside. There are lots of swimming possibilities, and it's easy waterfront cycling back to the hotel.

• Day 4: Rorschach to Stein am Rhein 34 km/21 mi OR 41km/27 mi OR 67 km/42mi

  Option to take the train this morning and shorten your route. Otherwise, pedalling clockwise around the lake, you'll soon come to Arbon's half-timbered houses and C16th castle. Continuing on you'll pass numerous postcard-pretty, waterfront villages affording lots of panoramic sun terraces for lunch. In the afternoon, you coast effortlessly between sleepy harbours, the white sails from the boats refl ecting brightly on the clear blue waters.

• Day 5: In Stein am Rhein

  It's easy to spend the day in mediaeval Stein am Rhein with its C11th monastery, beautiful frescoed  square and lovely chocolate shops! Alternatively, Schaffhausen, a lively German town full of street theatre in the summer, is ideal for a day trip. It is great for shopping, and has riverside cycle paths to Schloss Laufen - a tiny castle perched precariously above the tumbling Rheinfalls waterfall - the biggest in Europe!

• Day 6: Stein am Rhein to Konstanz 45 km/28 mi

  Freewheeling east this morning, you'll soon cross the border to enter Germany - look out for cormorant and red crested pochard in the Hornstaad Nature Reserve. It's then onto Konstanz, unoffi cial regional capital.

• Day 7: In Konstanz

  You could easily spend the day exploring the narrow streets of Konstanz: visit the Altstadt, Munster and lively centre crammed with quirky shops and museums. Alternatively hop on a boat to visit Mainau Island's palace and landscaped rose gardens. If you take your bike, you can pedal back at leisure along traffi c-free lakeside cycle paths.

• Day 8: Konstanz to Friedrichshafen 25 km/16mi

  It is a short ride through oak forest to catch the 20 minute ferry ride (included) to fairytale Meersburg with its twin castles, steep streets and hillsides of vines. Then, pedalling south, it's like stepping back in time as you pass farmers in trilby hats and waistcoats threshing hay in the poppy-dusted wheat fi elds! A gentle coast through the Eriskirche reed marshes takes you through pretty Langenargen and on to Friedrichshafen.

• Day 9: In Friedrichshafen

  You have some superb wine tasting opportunities on your doorstep today - local Müller-Thurgau wines come from Riesling and Silvaner grapes for which Lake Constance is famous. Or visit Friedrichschafen's amazing Zeppelin Museum - full of fascinating knick-knacks, including an original menu and wine list from the Hindenburg!

• Day 10: Friedrichshafen to Bregenz 34km/21 mi

  Through peaceful vineyards and cherry orchards en route to lovely Lindau, a gorgeous island village surrounded by cobalt blue waters with long distance views of razor-edged peaks across the lake. Lots of idyllic choices for lunch then, keeping the lake at your side, a fi nal swoosh takes you back down to Bregenz. If time, perhaps, take the cable car up Pfander mountain, (1,050m), for a fantastic vista of your entire route - a real achievement!

• Day 11: Leave Bregenz

* All prices shown are for low season, per person, twin share. Click here to see full Terms & Conditions.