Around the Lake: Cycling Europe’s Premier Waterside Route
Embark on a breathtaking self-guided cycling journey around Europe’s famous Lake Constance. Starting and ending in the historic council city of Constance, this classic circuit effortlessly guides you through three distinct countries: Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Riding along paved lakeside paths, you will glide past fairytale fortresses like Meersburg Castle, sun-drenched vineyards, the floating festival stage in Bregenz, and the island city of Lindau. Designed with gentle terrain and rich cultural stops, this tour offers the perfect blend of relaxed pedaling, alpine backdrops, and charming medieval old towns.
Easy Lakeside Cycling for All Levels
This self-guided trip features flat, well-paved cycle paths that follow the natural shoreline of Lake Constance. We take care of hotel accommodations, daily luggage transfers, detailed maps, and hotline support—making it an ideal choice for families, beginners, and pleasure cyclists alike.
ROUTE
Classic Lake Constance Cycle Path Tour: The Ultimate Lakeside Cycling Holiday
Embark on the classic loop around Lake Constance—Germany’s largest and most scenic lake. Designed for leisure cyclists and first-time bicycle tourers, this iconic itinerary follows gentle, well-paved, and mostly flat paths just steps from the shoreline. Cycle effortlessly from one cultural highlight to the next while soaking in breathtaking alpine views and charming historic towns.
Tailor the journey to your preferred riding style with flexible stage lengths. Choose between Category A and Category B accommodation and routing options, with comfortable daily cycling distances ranging from 30 km to 60 km. Whether you prefer a relaxed pace or a slightly longer daily ride, this self-guided cycle tour offers the perfect balance of activity, comfort, and exploration.
Itinerary
Day 1: Individual Arrival in Constance
Kick off your Lake Constance cycling adventure by exploring vibrant Constance. Take time to wander the romantic cobblestone streets of the Old Town, visit the lush flower landscapes of Mainau Island, or dive into regional history at the Archaeological Museum and the Sea Life Center aquariums.
Day 2: From Constance Along the Lower Lake
Cat. A: Constance – Gailingen / Wangen
35–40 km / 22–25 miles
Cat. B: Constance – Gailingen / Stein am Rhein
30–50 km / 19–31 miles
Your first cycling route leads along the picturesque Swiss shore of the Untersee toward medieval Stein am Rhein, famous for its brilliantly painted historic façades and half-timbered architecture. After soaking in the town’s fairytale charm, follow the Rhine just a few kilometers downstream to finish your stage in peaceful Gailingen.
Day 3: From the Lower Lake to Lake Überlingen
Cat. A: Gailingen – Überlingen
45–60 km / 28–37 miles
Cat. B: Gailingen – Ludwigshafen / Überlingen
40–60 km / 25–37 miles
Cycle around the Höri Peninsula before reaching Radolfzell and its cathedral, which has the tallest church tower on Lake Constance. The route then crosses the Bodanrück, including a hilly section, before continuing through Bodman, Ludwigshafen and Sipplingen. Follow the lakeshore to Überlingen, with its impressive St. Nicholas Cathedral and long lakeside promenade.
Day 4: From Lake Überlingen to the Upper Lake
Cat. A: Überlingen – Lindau / Kressbronn
60 km / 37 miles
Cat. B: Ludwigshafen – Kressbronn / Lindau
50–60 km / 31–37 miles
Continue along the Upper Lake and discover some of the region’s key cultural highlights. Stop at the Baroque Birnau Pilgrimage Church and the Pile-Dwelling Museum in Unteruhldingen before continuing through Meersburg and Friedrichshafen. The route then leads towards Lindau, whose historic old town is situated on an island and offers views of the Alps from the harbour. The overnight location varies between Lindau and Kressbronn depending on the category.
Day 5: Around the Bay of Bregenz
Cat. A: Lindau – Arbon
50 km / 31 miles
Cat. B: Kressbronn – Höchst / Rorschach
55–65 km / 34–40 miles
Not far from Lindau, cross the border into Austria and continue to Bregenz, where you can take a break and enjoy views across Lake Constance and the Alps. Continue around the bay towards Hard, passing the Bregenzer Ach and the Alpine Rhine before entering Switzerland. Category A continues from Lindau to Arbon, while Category B follows a slightly longer route from Kressbronn towards Höchst or Rorschach. In Arbon, the castle and its museum offer an insight into the town’s long history.
Day 6: Return to Constance
Cat. A: Arbon – Constance
30 km / 19 miles
Cat. B: Höchst – Constance
40–65 km / 25–40 miles
The final cycling stage returns to Constance along a largely flat and easy-to-cycle route. Category A follows the shorter route from Arbon, while Category B starts in Höchst and offers a longer final stage. Back in Constance, visit the Rosgarten Museum, included in the tour, or extend your ride with a detour to Mainau or Reichenau.
Day 7: Constance – End of self-guided tour
After breakfast, you start your individual return journey or extend your stay. Additional nights can be organized on request.
Getting to Constance(Departure Point)
By Train: Excellent direct rail connections to Constance Central Station (Konstanz Hbf) from Zurich (approx. 1h) or Stuttgart (approx. 2h 15m).
By Plane: Fly into Zurich Airport (ZRH) (nearest, ~1 hour by direct train), Stuttgart (STR), or Memmingen (FMM).
How to book this tour
We require a deposit of 25% of the tour price per person upon reservation, final payment 6 weeks before tour departure.
Included
- 6 nights with breakfast in accommodation.
- Personal Welcome in Constance
- Digital travel documents, languages
- Navigation app and GPS data
- Personal welcome in Constance
- Luggage transport
- Service-Hotline
NOT Included
- Travel to and from the tour start/finish.
- Bicycle or E-bike rental
- Tourist taxes at the hotels if required
- Travel insurance
- Anything not specifically mentioned under “Included”
Choose the option that best fits your schedule and start planning your cycling journey.
Check available options
Departures & Prices
Prices are per person in a double room for 2027
Daily arrivals from 20 March to 17 October
Season 1
20 Mar – 01 Apr
10 Oct – 17 Oct
Cat. B
699€
Cat. A
949€
Options & Supplements
✓Cat. B
+389 Single supplement
✓Cat. A
+439 Single supplement
Season 2
02 Apr – 08 Apr
03 Oct – 09 Oct
Cat. B
859€
Cat. A
1069€
Options & Supplements
✓Cat. B
+389 Single supplement
✓Cat. A
+439 Single supplement
Season 3
09 Apr – 05 May
12 Sept – 02 Oct
Cat. B
1069€
Cat. A
1289€
Options & Supplements
✓Cat. B
+389 Single supplement
✓Cat. A
+439 Single supplement
Season 4
06 May – 11 Sept
Cat. B
1159€
Cat. A
1399€
Options & Supplements
✓Cat. B
+389 Single supplement
✓Cat. A
+439 Single supplement
Accommodation
Carefully selected to ensure comfort, quality, and a relaxing and unforgettable journey.
Category B (2★/3★ hotels), Category A (3★/4★ hotels), including breakfast.
Additional nights Constance
Prices per person, including breakfast
Category B
Double Room 85€
Single room 135€
Category A
Double Room 119€
Single room 199€
BIKES
You can choose to rent a bicycle. Below you’ll find the essential information for rent options.
27-gear Bike
109 €
30-Gear Bike
189 €
E-Bike
299 €
Teenager’s bike
49 €