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A wonderful, short cycling break around the shoreline of beautiful Lake Constance. Scenic cycling with an unforgettable Alpine backdrop. Stay in charming lakeside towns and villages connected by a relaxing, lakeside cycling path.
This is the shortest of our Lake Constance Cycle tours with very manageable daily sections along level terrain, mostly on idyllic cycle paths beside the lake. From Constance, the lake’s largest and most well-know settlement, you’ll ride in a clockwise direction, visiting the charming, medieval towns of Überlingen, Meersburg and Lindau along the northern shore.
Meersburg - Lake Constance
At the eastern end of the lake you will cross into Austria and visit the city of Bregenz, famous for its waterfront theatre. Then it’s on into Switzerland for the final sector through the peaceful villages of the Thurgau back to Constance.
This tour uses a mix of quiet country roads, and lakeside cycle paths. The easy daily rides cover between 18 and 30 miles a day and are well within the reach of most reasonably fit adults. E-bikes are an available option on this popular route.
On arrival make your way to your first hotel in Constance, the largest town on the lake or Kreuzlingen. After check-in you are free to relax or explore the town. The medieval heart of Constance is still very well preserved and perfect for exploring on foot. The Swiss town of Kreuzlingen with its pretty harbour is also just a few minutes walk away.
The day starts with a ride to nearby Wallhausen where you will catch a ferry across the Upper Lake to the charming town of Überlingen. The ferries run every hour so before that we highly recommend making a small detour to the famous 'flower island' of Mainau. Leave your bikes on the mainland and cross over to the traffic free island via the bridge. The island is well known for it's kaleidoscopic gardens but be sure to also visit the butterfly house, the palm garden and of course the castle itself. After disembarking from the ferry in Überlingen you enjoy a very scenic 30km ride along the lake shore, through medieval Meersburg, to the town of Friedrichshafen where you will spend the night.
If you didn't get a chance yesterday we recommend visiting the Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshafen where the history of these famous airships is depicted. Then it's onto the bikes and away, along the scenic lake-shore cycle path. Today you will pass through extensive orchards and and many bathing beaches - is it warm enough for a dip, you decide? This evening you will either spend the night in the pretty Bavarian island-town of Lindau or 10km further on in the Austrian town of Bregenz, the capital of the Voralberg region. Bregenz is famous for its lavish summer drama productions on it's unique lake-stage.
Before leaving Bregenz we recommend allowing time to take the Pfänder cable car up to 1022 metres above sea level. As you can imagine, the view of the surrounding Alps and lake below is quite something. Back at lake-level you continue your journey, crossing the Rhine Delta at the southern end of the lake. Lake Constance is actually a huge bulge in the river and you will cross the Rhine close to the point where it empties into the lake. You are now in Switzerland and will spend the night in either Rorschach, Arbon or Horn, adjacent lake-shore towns.
Today you close the circle and return to Constance where your journey began. Along the way you will pass the large harbour of Romanshorn followed by a succession of small sleepy villages. The going is flat and very easy with plenty of bathing beaches along the way. Back in Constance surely it's time to celebrate your adventure with a meal in one of the town's many restaurants?
After breakfast it is time to check-out and head for home or your next adventure
On this tour you can choose between a regular bike, a regular plus bike or an E-bike.
Regular bike: Is an alloy framed unisex model with 27 speeds and a comfortable, relaxed riding position, perfect for a leisure cycling holiday. Minimum height is 145cm. Male specific frames with a crossbar are available from a height of 175cm. Bikes come equipped with a pannier, lock and handlebar bag plus a repair kit per booking.
Regular plus bikes: Offers a sportier riding position and a step up in terms of components (hydraulic disk brakes, 30 speed Shimano XT gears). They also come with a suspension seat post. Male specific frames with a crossbar are available from a height of 180cm. Bikes come equipped with a pannier, lock and handlebar bag plus a repair kit per booking.
Electric bikes: These unisex/step through electric bikes are a popular option on this route and ensure riders can enjoy the scenery along the way, whilst not working too hard at the climbs. Bikes come equipped with a pannier, lock and handlebar bag plus a repair kit per booking.
Helmets are not supplied, so you will need to bring your own.
Below you will find examples of the accommodations typically used on this tour. Please note that the hotels we book for you may differ slightly from those described but they will certainly be of a similar standard.
Comfort: Comfortable 2 and 3 star hotels and guesthouses
Constance: Ko Ono Hotel
Friedrichshafen: Rebstock Friedrichshafen
Lindau/Bregenz: Hotel Zecher
Rorschach/Arbon: Frohsinn Arbon
Superior: Good quality 3 and 4 star hotels and guesthouses.
Constance: Hotel Halm
Friedrichshafen: Hotel City Krone
Lindau/Bregenz: Lindauer Hof
Horn/Arbon/Rorschach: Romerhof Arbon
Superior Plus: 4 star hotels
Constance: Alte Post Constance
Friedrichshafen: See Hotel
Lindau: Reutemann Lindau
Rorschach/Arbon: Bad Horn
Local taxes
Some hotels have started to charge a local/tourist tax. These taxes are not included in the sale price of the tour and must be paid directly by you at check-in or checkout at the hotels. This fee varies and is ever changing but as a guide, you may be asked to pay between €1-€4 per person per night.
Fly to Zurich airport. Innsbruck, Munich and Stuttgart airports are also viable alternatives but slightly further away.
Research flights from the UK here.
From Zurich airport there are regular trains to Constance and the journey time is around 1 and a half hours.
Research train times here.
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