Lake Constance Cycling Break

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.

Lake Constance Cycling BreakMeersburg - 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.

Lake Constance Cycling Break

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.

Lake Constance Cycling BreakMeersburg - 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.

Itinerary

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Day 1 : Constance

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.

Day 2 : Constanz - Friedrichshafen
38 miles/45 kms plus ferry

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.

Day 3 : Friedrichshafen – Lindau/Bregenz
19 - 25 miles/30 - 40 kms

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.

Day 4 : Lindau/Bregenz - Rorschach/Arbon
19 - 31 miles/30 - 50 kms

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.

Day 5 : Rorschach/Arbon - Constance
19 - 25 miles/30 - 40 kms

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?

Day 6 : Constance - end of trip

After breakfast it is time to check-out and head for home or your next adventure

Bikes

Regular bikes provided are modern alloy framed models with 27 speeds. The bikes come equipped with waterproof pannier, waterproof handlebar bag, lock and pump. Per booking a repair kit is also included. Male specific bikes are available from a height of 175cm.

Electric bikes (minimum age 16 years) and bikes for teenagers are available. Child seats for adult rental bikes are also available at no extra charge.

Helmets are not provided and we therefore recommend bringing your own.

Accommodation

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: Hotel Waldhorn

Lindau/Bregenz: Hotel Zecher

Rorschach/Arbon: Hotel Mozart

Constance: Ko Ono Hotel

Superior: Good quality 3 and 4 star hotels and guesthouses.

Constance: Harbr Hotel

Friedrichshafen: Hotel City Krone

Lindau/Bregenz: Lindauer Hof

Arbon: Frohsinn Hotel

Constance: Harbr Hotel

Deluxe: 4 star hotels

Constance: Hotel Halm

Friedrichshafen: See Hotel

Lindau/Bregenz: Bayerischer Hof

Rorschach/Arbon: Bad Horn

Constance: Hotel Halm

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.

Getting there

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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