Island riding along the coast – Hamburg-Rügen Cycle Route
Bike Touring Collection by Hannah
11
days
2-4 h
/ day
326 mi
7,600 ft
7,625 ft
Between the Hanseatic metropolis of Hamburg and Germany's largest island lie sparkling swimming lakes, dead-straight canal paths, fairytale castles, the sweeping hills of Mecklenburg Switzerland and the UNESCO World Heritage city of Stralsund. With your journey as the destination, your ride to the island is a discovery Tour through the city-state of Hamburg and the lakeland landscapes of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The final stop, Rügen, is the crowning glory of your adventure. Here, you can relax on white sandy beaches and dip your feet in the Baltic Sea.
In this Collection, I’ve divided the Hamburg-Rügen Cycle Route into 11 stages for you. The distance of the stages ranges from a moderate 30 to a maximum of 60 kilometres (18.6 to 37 miles). This gives you enough time to discover the hidden gems en route. Of course, you can also complete the route in fewer days by covering more distance per stage instead.
Your journey takes you to destinations such as the towns of Ratzeburg, Teterow and Tribsees, which are well worth visiting. You may not have heard of these pretty towns as they lie far off the typical tourist trails – you’ll find plenty of peace and idyll. The landscapes of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are dotted with bathing lakes so you can plunge into a lake to cool off on every Tour. Nudist lakes are quite common in this area.
For the most part, the route runs along paved or gravel bike paths, concrete slabs and quiet country roads far away from car traffic. In places, you can expect rough cobblestones, for example in the small villages. A touring bike or gravel bike are good choices for these road surfaces. The bike path is mostly signposted, so you’ll only need to use your GPS in some places.
Hamburg, the starting point, is well connected by train so you can easily reach the route from across Germany. Sassnitz is also well connected to public transport. From the town, you can reach Berlin in a few hours, for example. I hope you have an unforgettable time!
On The Map
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Last updated: November 5, 2021
Plan your own version of this adventure in the multi-day planner based on the stages suggested in this Collection.
Tours
- 03:1534.2 mi10.5 mph625 ft650 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
You start your journey from the Hanseatic city to the island with an easy 55 kilometers. You will find your way out of Hamburg along numerous canals and ports. Behind the Dove Elbe, the Hamburg Marschbahndamm cycle path welcomes you, which leads you car-free through the landscape on the best surface…
by Hannah
- 03:0029.8 mi10.0 mph450 ft350 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The next 48 kilometers you cycle easily and have time for extended swimming stops at the numerous lakes that line your path. You drive out of Lauenburg and straight along the Elbe-Lübeck Canal.
After a bend in the canal you come to the Prüßsee. How about a detour to the bathing island and a dip in the…
by Hannah
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- 02:2525.0 mi10.4 mph650 ft650 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Today there are only 40 kilometers on the program. After a morning swim in Ratzeburg Lake, picturesque, spacious meadows, fields and forests await you. You can hardly pass supermarkets on the way, so it is best to equip yourself for a picnic in the countryside in Ratzeburg.
The tour takes you through…
by Hannah
- 04:1941.0 mi9.5 mph1,025 ft1,025 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
66 exciting kilometers are on the program today. At the beginning, a beautiful dangling through the Mecklenburg-Pomerania landscape awaits you. After about 30 kilometers you will reach the state capital Schwerin.
The city of seven lakes and forests with the imposing castle is really beautiful and certainly…
by Hannah
- 03:3534.9 mi9.7 mph1,075 ft1,225 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This stage takes you 56 kilometers to the idyllic small town of Bützow. Small jewels like hidden forest lakes await you on the way. You will also notice how the landscape becomes increasingly hilly.
Past the small villages Bibow and Warin, which of course have at least one lake around the corner, you…
by Hannah
- 03:3036.8 mi10.5 mph975 ft950 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The stage takes you to the geographic center of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania over a distance of almost 60 kilometers. Shortly after you start, you will come across the Bützow-Güstrow Canal, which will accompany you all the way to Güstrow. There you can treat yourself to a second breakfast with a view…
by Hannah
- 02:1423.4 mi10.5 mph575 ft500 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The stage is a little shorter at 37 kilometers, so you have the opportunity to take a longer swim stop and enjoy the Mecklenburg Switzerland Nature Park with all your senses.
You cycle through wonderful nature and along the Malchiner See on a magical and car-free cycle path. Then you cross Remplin and…
by Hannah
- 02:4829.3 mi10.4 mph475 ft575 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
From now on you take a course towards the north-east. The promising Baltic island is getting closer and closer. Today a little less than 50 kilometers are on the program.
After about 13 kilometers you will reach the small Hanseatic town of Demmin, which is one of the oldest places in Pomerania and where…
by Hannah
- 02:0321.9 mi10.6 mph325 ft325 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Before the final, you do another soft tour of only 36 kilometers. That gives you enough time to explore your stage destination: the UNESCO World Heritage city of Stralsund.
A wonderful bike path lined with meadows and fields leads you out of Tibsees. Then you cross the Trebel and a no less beautiful…
by Hannah
- 03:1628.3 mi8.7 mph675 ft525 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
You did it by crossing the Ziegelgrabenbrücke: You are on the island! From now on you will be enchanted by the bike paths through the Rügen landscape. After 25 kilometers you will reach a nice café that invites you to take a break.
Have you already spotted the sea buckthorn on the roadside? You shouldn…
by Hannah
- 02:1321.4 mi9.6 mph775 ft900 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Your last stage on the Hamburg-Rügen cycle path is on today. There are only 34 kilometers left to Sassnitz, which you can cover in a relaxed manner, because island life means slowing down.
From Putbus the cycle path leads you to Bergen, where you can treat yourself to a second breakfast in the pretty…
by Hannah
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Collection Stats
- Tours11
- Distance326 mi
- Duration32:39 h
- Elevation7,600 ft7,625 ft
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