Around Lake Constance

Austria, Germany, Switzerland Bike Tour

A three country Lake Constance bicycle tour around the beautiful Bodensee…

To cycle Lake Constance, you must travel through the countries of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, the unique location of this Lake Constance bike tour has made it one of Europe's most desirable cycling destinations. Around 100 AD, the Romans established a fort at the spot where the Rhine River joins the lake, and this fort later became the medieval town of Constance (Konstanz), which is now a university town. The city's palatial mansions and colorful gables will immediately impress you. Constance also has interesting neighbors including the island Mainau, Europe's most beautiful tropical garden park filled with flowers and butterflies and also a nice Baroque castle and also the island of Reichenau, made a World Heritage Site in 2001 by its great monastery, the Abbey of Reichenau. Other highlights found cycling Lake Constance include the Romanesque church of Saints Peter and Paul, South Germany’s oldest half-timbered buildings, and a large nature reserve for birds.

The  route takes you over the German border into  Swiss towns of Stein am Rhein and Ludwigshafen to Überlingen (frequently referred to as the Nice of Germany) and on into Meersburg, where you'll find half-timbered houses with cascading terraces.

Via Friedrichshafen, with its castle church and the famous Zeppelin Museum, the journey continues to the imperial island-town of Lindau, which is known for its lavish gardens, historic medieval town center, and its great location nestled under Pfänder Mountain. From Bavaria into the Austrian town of Bregenz, we highly recommend taking the cable car to the top of Pfänder Mountain, especially on a clear day. Bregenz is world famous for its annual summer music festival, Bregenzer Festspiele that is held on and around Lake Constance. The old Swiss harbor town of Rorschach has perhaps the prettiest Kornhaus in Switzerland. There is also a lovely lake promenade as well as the abbey Mariaberg, and Sulzberg and Wartegg castles. Then via Arbon, the oldest settlement on Lake Constance, and Romanshorn, the route will take you back to the start.  Cycling around Lake Constance is a must for the true cycling enthusiast.

The possibilities of Lake Constance bicyle tours are endless!  Although we feature the 7 day / 6 night tour in detail, we can also offer a "sportier" 5 day tour, a longer distance 7, 8 or   Too many Lake Constance bike tours to shake a stick at!  Upon request, we can also send you details about the hotel based tour!  Futher, you may also want to look at our other Swiss bike tours.

Tour Dates

• 7 Day Family tour: Daily departures beginning April 25 to October 11, 2013.
• 7 Day tour: Daily departures beginning March 28 to October 15, 2013
• 8 Day tour: Daily departures beginning March 28 to October 15, 2013
• 5 day Sporty tour: Daily departures beginning March 2 to October 27, 2013

Where You’ll Stay

Charming 3 and 4-star hotels and guesthouses.

What’s Included

• 6 nights’ accommodations
• Breakfasts
• Detailed route descriptions and maps
• 7 or 21-speed hybrid bicycle
• Luggage transportation
• 7 day service hotline
• Entrance to Rosgarten museum, 1 coffee incl.
• Boat trip Wallhausen - Uberlingen incl. bicycle
• Boat trip Immenstaad - Friedrichshafen incl. bicycle

What’s Not Included

• Individual arrival to hotel in Constance
• Lunches and dinners
• Optional bicycle protection, €16 per bike

Skill Level

Easy, self-guided hotel tour with average daily distances of 13 to 35 miles (20 to 55 km). Route runs predominantly flat, with an occasional rolling hill, and along good asphalt roads and bike paths.

Day-To-Day Itinerary

7 Day Family tour:

Day 1: Individual arrival in Constance.
Day 2: Constance - Mainau Island - Unteruhldingen, 13 mi. (20 km)
Day 3: Unteruhldingen – Friedrichshafen - Kressbronn, 19 mi. (30 km)
Day 4: Kressbronn - Lindau - Bregenz, 16 mi. (25 km)
Day 5: Bregenz - Arbon, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 6: Arbon - Constance, 19 mi. (30 km)
Day 7: Departure or extended stay in Constance.

Day 1: Individual arrival in Constance.
Use the opportunity to visit the island of Mainau, stroll through the Old Town of Constance, visit the aquaria of the Sea Life Center or the Ros- garten Museum.

Day 2: Constance - Mainau Island – Unteruhldingen, 13 mi. (20 km)
From Constance, you will cycle to the nearby garden island of Mainau where you will have the opportunity to experience the famous butterfly house. From there you will be transported by boat from Wallhausen to Über- lingen before cycling on towards Unteruhldingen. In the lake dwelling museum, Pfahlbaumuseum, you will have the opportunity to learn more about Lake Constance during the Stone Age.

Day 3: Unteruhldingen - Friedrichshafen - Kressbronn, 19 mi. (30 km)
Today you will cycle through medieval Meersburg and then on towards Immenstaad. From here, you will travel by boat to Friedrichshafen, where you will be able to learn more about the famous air-ships or blimps in the Zeppelin Museum. After spending time at the museum, you will then cycle through orchards on your way towards Kressbronn.

Day 4: Kressbronn - Lindau - Bregenz, 16 mi. (25 km)
The first stop today is the Bavarian town of Lindau, whose protected and listed Old Town, is located on an island. You will then follow along the lake shore and reach the festival town of Bregenz with its unique lakeside theatre stage. The Pfänder mountain towers over the town and is easily reached by cable car.

Day 5: Bregenz - Arbon, 22 mi. (35 km)
Near Hard you will cross over the Rhine which flows from the Swiss Alps. The delta where the river enters the lake is an important nature reserve. You are now on Swiss soil and in Altenrhein you will be able to view the Hundertwasser Hall, the last building designed by the famous Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Cycling along the lakeshore, you will pass through the towns of Staad and the former harbor town of St. Gallen, Rorschach before arriving in Arbon.

Day 6: Arbon - Constance, 19 mi. (30 km)
The last day of this cycling vacation belongs to the Canton of Thurgau which is famous for its apple growing industry and its isolated location. You will cycle through small, well-kept villages along the lakeshore on your way back towards Constance.

Day 7: Departure or extended stay in Constance.
End of tour after breakfast

7 Day tour:

Day 1: Individual arrival in Constance.
Day 2: Constance - Stein am Rhein region, 13/19 mi. (20/30 km)
Day 3: Stein am Rhein region - Überlingen, 29/35 mi. (45/55 km)
Day 4: Überlingen - Kressbronn region, 32/35 mi. (50/55 km)
Day 5: Kressbronn - Höchst region/Rorschach, 25/35 mi. (40/55 km)
Day 6: Höchst region/Rorschach - Constance, 35/22 mi. (55/35 km) 
Day 7: Departure or extended stay in Constance.

8 Day tour:

Day 1: Individual arrival in Constance.
Day 2: Constance - Stein am Rhein region, 13/19 mi. (20/30 km)
Day 3: Day trip to Schaffhausen and the Rheinfalls, 19/32 mi. (30/50 km)
Day 4: Stein am Rhein region - Überlingen, 29/35 mi. (45/55 km)
Day 5: Überlingen - Kressbronn region, 32/35 mi. (50/55 km)
Day 6: Kressbronn - Höchst region/Rorschach, 25/35 mi. (40/55 km)
Day 7: Höchst region/Rorschach - Constance, 28/19 mi. (45/30 km) 
Day 8: Departure or extended stay in Constance.

5 Day Sporty tour:

Day 1: Individual arrival in Constance.
Day 2: Constance - Radolfzell - Stein am Rhein - Constance, 50 mi. (79 km)
Day 3: Constance - Friedrichshafen - Bregenz, 42 mi. (65km)
Day 4: Bregenz - Constance, 43 mi. (69 km)
Day 5: Departure or extended stay in Constance.

*All distances are approximate.

Book This Trip

Questions? Call us! 877-965-2064 or e-mail us

• Portugues: Ao Redor do Lago Constança
• Deutsch: Rund um den Bodensee
• Español: Alrededor del lago de Constanza