Four Countries of Lake Constance

Day 1: Individual arrival in Constance
Day 2: Constance - Stein am Rhein - Schaffhausen, 32 mi. (50 km)
Day 3: Schaffhausen - Rhine Falls - Zürich, 35 mi. (55 km) + optional train ride or 44 mi. (70 km)
Day 4: Zürich - Lachen, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 5: Lachen - Vaduz, 37 mi. (60 km) + boat trip
Day 6: Vaduz - St. Gallen, 37 mi. (60 km) + train ride
Day 7: St. Gallen - Arbon - Constance, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 8: Departure or extended stay in Constance.

All distances are approximate. Due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, along the route, you may find temporary deviations/detours necessary due to roadwork that will not be reflected on your maps or route descriptions. In this case, please follow the directions posted locally.

Day 1: Arrival in Constance
Individual arrival into Constance (Konstanz) with the afternoon free for sightseeing in this intriguing city. Take the opportunity to visit Mainau Island, stroll through the Old Town of Constance, or visit the aquariums at the Sea Life Center. The city is the largest on the lake and is still medieval in character to this day. Overnight in Konstanz.

     Sample Hotels: 
     ABC Hotel
     Apartment Hotel
     Ibis Konstanz
     Waldhaus Jakob

Day 2: Constance - Stein am Rhein - Schaffhausen, 32 mi. (50 km)
Today is the first official day of cycling, and you will cross over the Swiss border and ride through small romantic villages to Stein am Rhein, one of the most beautiful remaining medieval towns in the German-speaking countries. Riding into Schauffhausen you'll see the Munot Fortress towering over the town. It is a beautiful town with many narrow streets decorated with Renaissance houses showcasing outdoor sculptures and frescos in addition to its impressive oriel windows and Munot fortifications. Be sure to enjoy a glass of local wine in the medieval Old Town. Schaffhausen became world-famous for the nearby Rheinfall or Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in Europe that is said to be approx. 17,000 years old. You will have the opportunity to visit the falls on Day 3.

     Sample Hotels: 
     Hotel Park Villa
     Hotel Kronenhof

Day 3: Schaffhausen - Rhine Falls - Zürich, 35 mi. (55 km) + optional train ride or 44 mi. (70 km)
After breakfast, set out for a short bike ride to the Rhine Falls, a highlight of today. You'll be able to get close to the falls by boat. Further along the romantic river valleys of the Rhine and Glatt Rivers, this tour will bring you to Zürich, the largest of all the Swiss cities. Its Bahnhofstrasse is one of the world’s most elegant shopping streets. The cycle route today can be shortened by taking the S-bahn (ticket not included) from Rümlang station.

     Sample Hotels: 
     Sorell Hotel Rex
     Hotel Montana Zürich
     Hotel Seefeld

Day 4: Zürich - Lachen, 28 mi. (45 km)
Today you can bike Zürich or you have sufficient time for a leisurely stroll through this great metropolitan city. Walk along the promenade, visit the beautiful old part of town and also one of its many museums or art galleries. Subsequently, you will bike following the banks of Lake Zürich which is locally known as the Gold Coast.  You pass through to Rapperswil, a small town on the east side of Lake Zürich. It is frequently called Rosenstadt, the Town of Roses, and it won’t take you long to figure out why! Also of note are the 13th-century castle of Rapperswil, a wooden footbridge, and the Capuchin monastery from 1606, all mostly located within the medieval center.

     Sample Hotels: 
     Hotel Bären
     Hotel Marina

Day 5: Lachen - Vaduz, 37 mi. (60 km) + boat trip
Cycling out of Lachen you will pedal along the man-made Linth Canal located between Lake Zürich and Lake Walenn, finally reaching Weesen.  Here you will board a ferry which will take you to the other end of the Lake Walen to Walenstadt.  The lake is 150 m deep and is towered by the Churfirsten Mountains, the highest peak being 1800 m high.  You will then approach the valley of the Alpenrhein. From here, you will quickly reach the principality of Liechtenstein, where numerous, impressive castles decorate the valley.

     Sample Hotels: 
     Vaduzer Hof
     Landhaus Am Giessen Vaduz

Day 6: Vaduz - St. Gallen, 37 mi. (60 km) + train ride
Today's route will begin by following along the banks of the Rhine, and then a cog railway will bring you through Appenzell countryside to Gais. Alpen meadows and cows, like those found in children’s books, will accompany you on your way to St. Gallen which is home to one of the former, most important monasteries in the region. The library here is a UNESCO world heritage site.

     Sample Hotels: 
     Hotel Metropol
     Hotel Einstein
     Sorell Hotel City Weissenstein

Day 7: St. Gallen - Arbon - Constance, 28 mi. (45 km)
You will cycle downhill towards Lake Constance today, which you will reach at the town of Arbon. From here you will bike along the shoreline through Swiss villages and apple orchards on towards Constance.

     Sample Hotels: 
     ABC Hotel
     Apartment Hotel
     Ibis Konstanz
     Waldhaus Jakob

Day 8:  Individual return home or extension of your trip.
After breakfast, your cycling tour through four countries comes to an end. 

You will be accommodated in 3-star hotels during your tour. Twin rooms are generally not available but have double beds with two separate mattresses. In each day’s detailed itinerary you will find the name of the preferred hotel(s). We strongly advise that you research the hotels listed and are satisfied with the accommodations. If the preferred hotels listed are not available, you will be informed and can make a decision accordingly, to proceed with the booking or cancel your reservation. However, if the hotel(s) listed are available, the tour will be confirmed and subject to the terms and conditions of the booking.

Bicycles

Men & women’s city touring bike

City touring bike

• 27 gear unisex or men's frame custom made by Velo de Ville
• Men's bikes from a body height of 1.75 m
• Anti-puncture Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires
• Hub dynamo
• Luggage rack
• Comfortable saddle
• Weight approx. 17 kg

*Please note: Saddles and pedals on rental bikes can only be changed in Constance with prior notice at our partner's workshop. There are no guarantees that private/personal equipment will fit.

Accessories

• Pannier
• Handlebar bag
• Odometer
• Bike lock
• Repair kit (one per booking)
• Pump

Electric bike

For those who would like to have the support of a motor when they're out and about, these stable and reliable e-bikes are recommended. The electric support can be added as you need it to assist with longer stretches or hilly sections.

• Pedelec (pedal assist)
• Deep step-through frame or men's frame custom made by Velo de Ville
• Upright riding position
• Minimum body height: 150 cm
• Maximum body height: 200 cm
• Bosch drive, 400 or 500 Watt, 21 Ampere/hour.
• Integrated push assistance
• Assistance modes: Eco, Tour, Sport, Turbo
• Freewheel disc brakes/hydraulic rim brakes
• Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tires
• Weight: 25 kg

*Please note that the saddles and pedals are not interchangeable on electric bikes.

Accessories

• Pannier
• Handlebar bag
• Odometer
• Bike lock
• Repair kit (one per booking)
• Pump

Sporty bike - 30 gear

Sporty bike featuring:

• Sporty seating position
• 30-speed Shimano XT derailleur gears
• Hydraulic disc brakes
• Suspension seat post
• Trapezoidal frame: suitable for body sizes from 1.60 m to 1.80 m
• Diamond frame: suitable for body sizes from 1.75 m to 1.95

Accessories

• Pannier
• Odometer
• Bike lock
• Repair kit (one per booking)
• Pump