Friesland's most beautiful sides — Tour de Fries in Germany

Bike Touring Collection by Sebastian Gliem

Tours

17:12 h

173 mi

1,700 ft

If you know Germany’s Friesland region, it might bring to mind the vast Wadden Sea, the taste of salty air and the sounds of seagulls. If you don’t know the region, you’re in for a treat. Because that's what you get on the Tour de Fries adventure.

Over six stages and 280 kilometres (174 mi), you’ll enjoy the coastal landscape of the Jade Bay, visit Germany's only southern beach and roam through natural moorland inland. Along the way, you’ll encounter various harbours, romantic moated castles and one or two curiosities – you can find them in the route descriptions for each of the six stages.

The entire Tour de Fries is excellently signposted, the three-coloured sign (purple-yellow-green) with Tour de Fries lettering is eye-catching. The starting point is the train station of the city of Wilhelmshaven, so you can arrive by train and leave your car at home. I recommend coming to Wilhelmshaven a day in advance, so you can take your time to look at the magnificent harbour or the Maritime Mile and start the Tour de Fries already in love with the area.

The entire loop is almost perfectly flat, so all you need is a good touring bike. On average, you’ve got less than 100 metres (330 ft) of elevation gain per day ahead of you; the highest point of the tour is about 25 metres (80 ft) above sea level. Pump up those tyres and have fun on the Tour de Fries!

On The Map

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Tour de Fries

172 mi

1,650 ft

Last updated: May 30, 2023

Tours & Highlights

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Stage 1: Wilhelmshaven to Varel – Tour de Fries
Intermediate
03:12
33.4 mi
10.4 mph
250 ft
250 ft
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Your round trip through Friesland starts in the port city of Wilhelmshaven. I chose the train station as the starting point, which you can reach from the direction of Oldenburg. There you are right in the middle of the first, almost 54-kilometer stage towards Varel.

The Wilhelmshaven train station is…
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Stage 2: Varel to Bockhorn – Tour de Fries
Expert
03:13
32.7 mi
10.2 mph
475 ft
475 ft
Expert bike ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
Day two in Friesland, this time there is no sea view. But lots of fresh air and a relaxed, almost 54-kilometer route without any notable differences in altitude. So you can sleep in and start the day comfortably. By the way, your destination for the day, Bockhorn, is only a few kilometers from Varel…
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Stage 3: Bockhorn to Friedeburg – Tour de Fries
Intermediate
02:51
29.0 mi
10.2 mph
325 ft
350 ft
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
For the third stage of the Tour de Fries I promised you a ride through the jungle and I keep it. Because the first of the almost 47 kilometers on your way to Friedeburg run through the Neuchâtel jungle. On the way you will encounter another curiosity, but first of all it's time to get on your bike and…
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Stage 4: Friedeburg to Carolinensiel – Tour de Fries
Intermediate
02:39
27.0 mi
10.2 mph
200 ft
200 ft
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
On the fourth stage you get a lot closer to the North Sea and the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park, almost 44 kilometers to be precise. In Carolinensiel it's over today. If you long for the sea, you can of course extend the stage and pay a visit to the North Sea, which is only a few minutes away…
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Stage 5: Carolinensiel to Jever – Tour de Fries
Intermediate
02:41
28.2 mi
10.5 mph
175 ft
150 ft
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
It's getting Frisian tart today, because after 45 kilometers - many of them along the North Sea - you reach Jever and its famous brewery. After the perhaps salty breeze on the sea, one or the other freshly tapped Jever in the evening is just what you need. That's why the fifth stage ends at the Friesian…
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Stage 6: Jever to Wilhelmshaven – Tour de Fries
Intermediate
02:34
22.9 mi
8.9 mph
275 ft
300 ft
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The last day in Friesland is coming up, today it's back to Wilhelmshaven. Even on the sixth stage, it remains Frisian flat, and the route is short at 37 kilometers, so you have enough time for sightseeing in the independent city on the North Sea.

But first you leave Jever to the south in the direction…
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