D-Route 8: Rhine Route
Bike Touring Collection by Radnetz Deutschland
14
days
3-5 h
/ day
641 mi
10,850 ft
9,600 ft
Mile after mile of quiet dike paths, lush green floodplain landscapes, historic towns, exquisite wine regions and Alpine panoramas – D-Route 8 takes you right across Germany and promises you pure variety and classic Rhine landscapes.
The German section of the Rhine long-distance cycle route begins at the Dutch border and follows the river to where it flows into Lake Constance. You cycle through the natural beauty of the Rhine valley plain and the fairytale-like Middle Rhine valley, which is lined with romantic castles. Along the border of France and Switzerland, you reach the picturesque island of Lindau, your final destination.
This Collection summarises D-Route 8 in 14 stages of between 50 and 86 kilometres (31 – 53 mi). The stages are suitable for all reasonably fit cyclists. There’s culture aplenty along the way, as the stages end in interesting cities, like Cologne, Strasbourg, Basel and Ludwigshafen. There’s plenty of accommodation along the way, making it easy to split the route up as you please.
Overall, the route is very flat, but towards the end, along the Swiss border, you gain elevation as it becomes increasingly hilly. However, the elevation gain remains moderate, with a maximum of 500 metres (1,600 ft) per stage. The cycle paths are mainly wide and wonderfully asphalted, with little contact with traffic.
Numerous restaurants, beer gardens and cafés line your path and offer you a culinary journey of discovery. You won't miss out on idyllic picnic spots with a view of the river – so there's nothing to stop you from enjoying your trip along the Rhine.
The route is part of the German Cycling Network and an integral part of the Federal Government's National Cycling Plan. The 12 long-distance cycle routes and the German Unity Cycle Route connect all regions of Germany with north-south and west-east connections. For this purpose, existing long-distance cycle routes, river routes or themed routes are interconnected, linked at attractive and exciting locations and integrated into the existing Eurovelo network.
A Collection of the entire German Cycling Network, with all D-Routes, can be found here: komoot.com/collection/1928660.
On The Map
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Last updated: May 17, 2023
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Tours & Highlights
- Intermediate04:3042.4 mi9.4 mph350 ft300 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Your journey starts along the Rhine at the German-Dutch border at Millingen am Rhein. For 68 kilometers you follow the course of the river on idyllic dike paths.
Maritime flair comes up on the Xanten North Sea, which you pass about halfway along the route. It's worth taking a break here and jumping into…
- Intermediate03:5138.4 mi10.0 mph550 ft500 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Today we continue to Düsseldorf, the state capital of North Rhine-Westphalia. The 62 kilometers fly by because the route remains flat throughout.
The path takes you on quiet dyke paths through the meadow landscape of the Orsoyer Rheinbogen - beware of the sheep - and once across the city of Duisburg…
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- Intermediate03:1633.4 mi10.2 mph525 ft500 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The rivalry between Düsseldorf and Cologne is based on historical facts - today you can get an idea of the two cities and their differences, because you cycle almost 54 kilometers to neighboring Cologne.
The route is relatively short, but you have enough time to visit the two Rhine metropolises and their…
- Intermediate04:2144.1 mi10.1 mph625 ft550 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
After two evenings of city life, more rest and deceleration awaits you today. You turn your back on Cologne and cycle relaxed on the shore out of the city, past the pretty town of Zündorf, which is ideal for a second breakfast.
Then you cross the Rhine, drive through the former capital Bonn and continue…
- Expert05:1853.2 mi10.0 mph1,325 ft1,275 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The upcoming 85 kilometers will take you past Koblenz and end in the wine town of Bacharach, the "secret center of Rhine romance". You will definitely find out for yourself how the city got its name suffix.
After about 34 kilometers you will reach Koblenz, cross the Moselle, which flows into the Rhine…
- Intermediate04:1244.1 mi10.5 mph575 ft550 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
On the next stage you cycle 70 kilometers on a beautiful section of the Rhine. The Upper Middle Rhine Valley ends at Bingen, which you will reach after about 14 kilometers. Here you can take a little break and learn more about the famous person Hildegard von Bingen.
After a few more kilometers along the…
- Expert05:0353.8 mi10.6 mph675 ft625 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Your journey along the Rhine takes you through Worms and in a detour past Ludwigshafen and Mannheim, leaving the banks of the Rhine for a while. The last 20 kilometers to your stage destination Speyer you cycle along the water again. Once there, the famous Imperial and Mariendom awaits you, the world…
- Intermediate03:1735.3 mi10.7 mph525 ft500 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Today's stage is only 56 kilometers long. It takes you on wonderfully quiet dyke paths following the course of the Rhine in the middle of nature. The cycle paths run entirely without motorized traffic and you can let your soul dangle while cycling. The stage ends at the Rheinhafen near Karlsruhe, from…
- Expert05:0751.2 mi10.0 mph625 ft525 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
It continues through lush green meadow landscapes. With the Rhine always on your right, you cycle in a relaxed manner on the Rheindamm, through wide meadow orchards and repeatedly come across idyllic places to take a break with a view of the water.
Finally you reach your stage destination in the border…
- Expert05:2953.8 mi9.8 mph725 ft575 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
Even today you have a dreamlike 86 kilometers ahead of you on the banks of the Rhine. Behind Kehl, numerous sparkling turquoise bathing lakes lure you in for a morning dip. With the view of green meadows and blue water, you quickly forget all your worries.
The stage ends in the European city of Breisach…
- Intermediate04:2942.3 mi9.5 mph675 ft450 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The Rhine is also a border river - the French border has already accompanied you on the last two stages. Today you reach the Swiss border and end your stage at the border triangle in Basel.
The path takes you almost the entire route through quiet forests and wide meadows. You can enjoy a wonderful view…
- Expert05:1053.8 mi10.4 mph1,225 ft875 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Today you cycle along the Swiss border and you will soon notice that this also involves one or the other hill. However, the altitude meters remain within a moderate range. The tour takes you through several cities such as Rheinfelden, Säckingen or Bad Zurzach. In between, however, very beautiful, natural…
- Expert05:1052.9 mi10.2 mph1,825 ft1,750 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This stage takes you on a particularly beautiful route to Ludwigshafen on Lake Constance. It will also be hilly today, so your legs have to work a little harder than on the flat stages. After about 20 kilometers you can enjoy a fantastic view of the Rhine Falls.
Another 20 kilometers and you reach the…
- Intermediate03:5942.3 mi10.6 mph650 ft650 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
It's hard to believe that your last stage is already beginning. The Rhine route draws on the full again today and presents you with 68 kilometers of glittering blue Lake Constance panorama that is second to none. Your journey ends on the beautiful island of Lindau, which you can reach via a bridge. Surrounded…
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Collection Stats
- Tours14
- Distance641 mi
- Duration63:14 h
- Elevation10,850 ft9,600 ft
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