Everything Switzerland has to offer – Aare Route

Bike Touring Collection by Kristof

days

2-3 h

/ day

200 mi

7,300 ft

12,050 ft

Do you want to experience Switzerland in all its forms? Are you brave enough to cycle off the beaten track? Then jump on the train and ride into the heart of the Alps to Gletsch. Serpentine roads take you up close to glaciers. Unique nature and romantic little towns accompany you on your way to the region of Mittelland. You cycle along flat paths, getting to know Switzerland’s hidden gems before arriving at the River Rhine after seven stages.

Sounds complicated? It's not. You follow the Aare, the longest river that flows entirely within Switzerland’s borders. The Aare is just as varied as the bike path that leads along its banks. You cycle through deep gorges and wide valleys and ride along lakes, nestled in the mountains. Medieval castles overlooking half-timbered old towns complete the experience.

The 320-kilometre (199 mi) Aare Route is waymarked with red Veloroute 8 signs. The infrastructure is excellent. There’s usually a large choice of accommodation and train stations en route. You can easily divide the seven stages into several adventures or combine them with other routes in the area.

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Aare Route

199 mi

7,300 ft

12,025 ft

Last updated: May 5, 2023

Plan your own version of this adventure in the multi-day planner based on the stages suggested in this Collection.

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Tours

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Stage 1: Gletsch to Meiringen – Aare Route
02:17
24.3 mi
10.6 mph
1,825 ft
5,675 ft
Expert
Expert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Not far from the Gotthard Pass, at the train station in the tiny village of Gletsch, your unique journey through Switzerland begins. And right at the beginning there is one of the most difficult stretches of the entire tour: 400 vertical meters up to the Grimsel Pass. You hardly have to pedal on the…
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Stage 2: Meiringen to Spiez – Aare Route
03:27
32.5 mi
9.4 mph
1,975 ft
1,900 ft
Expert
Expert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The second day of the tour starts flat and you can enjoy the panorama of the mighty, rugged mountains that border the valley. At Lake Brienz, you make a short detour to Brienz. You can relax wonderfully on the lakeshore before a few demanding kilometers come.

The hilly route south of the lake leads you…
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Stage 3: Spiez to Bern – Aare Route
03:08
31.2 mi
10.0 mph
575 ft
850 ft
Intermediate
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
You have already done the stages with the big climbs, from today you will cycle a lot on the flat. From Spiez you first drive to Thun. The city has a very special charm with its covered wooden bridge, the charming houses and the striking castle.

The bike route always runs along paved side roads near the…
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Stage 4: Bern to Nidau near Biel/Bienne – Aare Route
03:03
29.1 mi
9.5 mph
1,175 ft
1,550 ft
Intermediate
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Today you will get to know different facets of the Aare. From the narrow stream to the dammed lake, everything is there today. Finally, the Aare flows into Lake Biel before flowing out again at Nidau.

You leave Bern through the Bremgartenwald and drive along the Wohlensee - the dammed Aare. The route…
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Stage 5: Nidau near Biel/Bienne to Solothurn – Aare Route
02:05
19.0 mi
9.1 mph
175 ft
175 ft
Intermediate
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Today's stage is completely flat for a change and also so short that you can jump into Lake Biel again before starting or comfortably eat a second croissant.

From Nidau you follow the wide Aare Canal, on which even liners drive. In theory, you can do today's stage on the water. But cycling is not really…
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Stage 6: Solothurn to Aarau – Aare Route
03:49
36.8 mi
9.7 mph
925 ft
1,125 ft
Intermediate
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The stage from Solothurn to Aarau takes you through the Swiss plateau at the foot of the Jura. Shortly after your start you drive through Attisholz. There you will find ingenious art in a former cellulose factory.

The next special highlight is waiting a few kilometers further in Wangen. A covered wooden…
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Stage 7: Aarau to Koblenz – Aare Route
02:44
27.0 mi
9.9 mph
650 ft
800 ft
Intermediate
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The seventh and last stage of the Aare route takes you from Aarau directly along the river. The area is again a bit hilly and the numerous castles and palaces on the river are particularly interesting.

The confluence of the Reuss, Limmat and Aare rivers shortly after Brugg is an extraordinary place. A…
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