D-Route 1: North Sea Coast Route
Bike Touring Collection by Radnetz Deutschland
11
days
3-6 h
/ day
583 mi
4,450 ft
4,450 ft
Colourful lighthouses overlook the vast Wadden Sea from the long dikes. Sublime windmills turn like clockwork in the fresh North Sea breeze. On the beaches, you find striped beach chairs, flags dancing in the wind and colourful kites that decorate the afternoon sky. Thousands of sheep frolick joyfully and munch on the lush grass. This idyll awaits you on D-Route 1.
For about 940 kilometres (580 mi), this part of the, more than 6,000-kilometre-long (3,700 mi), North Sea Coast Route winds its way through northern Germany. From the Danish border, it runs along the coast, makes a detour down the Elbe into bustling Hamburg, from where it winds its way via Bremerhaven and through East Frisia to the small town of Bad Nieuweschans on the Dutch border.
In this Collection, the route is divided into 11 stages. Of course, you can lengthen or shorten the stages to suit your needs. In addition, you can also join the route in towns such as Bremerhaven or Hamburg and cycle only part of the route. You’ve the freedom to do whatever you like.
D-Route 1 is part of the German Cycling Network and an integral part of the German government's National Cycling Plan. The German North Sea Coast Cycle Route and 11 other long-distance cycle routes as well as the German Unity Cycle Route connect all regions of Germany with north-south and west-east connections. To this end, existing long-distance cycle routes, river routes or themed routes are interlinked with each other, joined at attractive and exciting locations and integrated into the existing Eurovelo network. The Collection with all 12 D-routes and the German Unity Cycle Route can be found at komoot.com/collection/1928660.
On The Map
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Last updated: May 17, 2023
Plan your own version of this adventure in the multi-day planner based on the stages suggested in this Collection.
Tours & Highlights
- Expert05:5664.1 mi10.8 mph275 ft275 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
In the far north on the Danish border, D-Route 1 begins in the small village of Rosenkranz. Since there isn't a great deal of public transport to choose from, the best way to plan your arrival is via Denmark's Tønder or Germany's Niebüll.
From Rosencrantz, the North Sea Coast Cycle Path then takes you…
- Expert05:1556.5 mi10.7 mph300 ft300 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
On the next stage of the D-Route 1 from Husum to Büsum, you can expect a lot of nature and an impressive landscape that stretches perfectly flat to the horizon. When cycling, you can let your gaze wander for miles over the green meadows of the alluvial plain. The fantastic all-round view from the slightly…
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- Expert05:1156.3 mi10.9 mph525 ft550 ftFerryExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The Tour includes a crossing by ferry.
The next stage of the North Sea Coast Cycle Path (D-Route 1), a good 90 kilometers long, stretches out in front of you on somewhat hilly paths. From Büsum we go to Glückstadt today. After about ten kilometers along the Wadden Sea, you first say goodbye to this wonderful natural area and cycle a bit inland…
- Intermediate05:0052.3 mi10.5 mph450 ft450 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The next stage takes you to the big city of Hamburg. After you have soaked up the great atmosphere of Glückstadt, you are now ready to leave the place and set off for the trendy metropolis of Hamburg. But before it becomes urban, it remains rural and idyllic.
On the Elbe you cycle comfortably along the…
- Intermediate04:4752.4 mi10.9 mph550 ft525 ftFerryIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The Tour includes a crossing by ferry.
The next stage from Hamburg to Hemmoor begins with a very special ferry ride. On the Elbe it goes from the Landungsbrücken to Finkenwerder, where you can experience the Port of Hamburg up close. Line 62 of the Hamburger Verkehrsverbund is the insider tip when it comes to harbor tours.
As soon as you get…
- Expert06:0964.0 mi10.4 mph750 ft800 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The next stage of D-Route 1: North Sea Coast Cycle Route takes you back to the sea, which means lots of sheep, green dykes and picturesque lighthouses. And on the way there, there are even some small climbs waiting for you.
On the way from Hemmoor to the stage destination Bremerhaven, you will pass the…
- Intermediate04:3049.3 mi11.0 mph325 ft275 ftFerryIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The Tour includes a crossing by ferry.
From Bremerhaven your path meanders on the next stage of D-Route 1 along the North Sea coast in a westerly direction to Varel. After you have crossed the Outer Weser with the ferry, it always goes along the coast.
From Blexen you have another nice view of Bremerhaven on the opposite side with its industrial…
- Intermediate04:3649.0 mi10.7 mph375 ft400 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Right at the beginning of the next stage from Varel to Jever, it goes back to the coast, which you only pay a short visit to. Because today the sea is not the protagonist of the tour, but the beautiful area away from the coast. In the you can admire charming towns and villages with great buildings such…
- Intermediate04:5150.3 mi10.4 mph250 ft275 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The way from Jever to the next stage destination north takes you mainly along the North Sea coast. So you can expect the full portion of North Sea wind in your face, a fantastic view of the Wadden Sea and lots of nature.
After you have been able to enjoy Jever, you cycle north to the coast at the beginning…
- Expert05:0955.5 mi10.8 mph400 ft400 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
From the north you are on the next stage of the North Sea Coast Cycle Path to Emden. On the way you get your money's worth again, as far as the necessary dose of windmills and lighthouses is concerned.
The cycle path winds its way through the hinterland in beautifully winding loops, past fields and meadows…
- Intermediate03:1032.9 mi10.4 mph225 ft250 ftFerryIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The Tour includes a crossing by ferry.
The next stage of the D-Route 1 is the shortest of the entire long-distance cycle route, so you can take it easy on the journey from Emden to Bad Nieuweschans in the Netherlands.
On this route, you swap the North Sea coast for the Ems, along which the cycle path mostly takes you. Through the wide Emsauen…
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Collection Stats
- Tours11
- Distance583 mi
- Duration54:34 h
- Elevation4,450 ft4,450 ft
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