Neustadt an der Weinstrasse. Photo via Flickr:rolohauck Neustadt an der Weinstrasse. Photo via Flickr:rolohauck Neustadt an der Weinstrasse. Photo via Flickr:rolohauck

Rhine Romance

Germany Bike Tour

The Rhine Romance tour will take you through part of the long German Wine Route or Weinstrasse, the 2nd largest wine-growing region in Germany. Bad Dürkheim especially pays homage to the wine with a huge Wurstmarkt (Wine and Sausage Festival) every September that is said to be the largest wine festival in the world!! Of course, the wine flows freely all summer long. In and around Bad Dürkheim alone, there are a reported 144 wineries, many of which offer wine tastings.

In addition to the many vineyards, which alone make for stunning landscapes, the Neckar and Rhine River valleys also make this a gorgeous tour to see from atop a bicycle. Some of the great cities you’ll cycle through include the very quaint Neustadt an der Weinstrasse (with a beautiful town center), Germersheim, Heidelberg, and Worms. Located nicely on the Neckar River, Heidelberg is well-known for its University, which was the leading one of its kind in 19th century Germany and is also the oldest in the country (having been founded in 1386)! Also of fame is the 16th-17th century Schloß, which is now mostly in ruins, but offers a spectacular view of the valley below nonetheless. In its cellar is a gargantuan wine cask. The town also has a scenic path overlooking it called the Philosophenweg as well as an impressive Old bridge gate.

Worms is famous for being the ancient centre of the old German Empire. It also contains an impressive imperial Cathedral (Wormser Dom) that is one of Germany’s finest examples of Romanesque architecture! Worms also plays a prominent role in the ancient German Nibelungenlied (an epic poem that tells the tragic story of a dragon slayer and the royal Burgundians family). A festival is held every year to retell the tale. The Nibelungensaga is said to be factually based on individuals and events of the 5th and 6th centuries. While in Worms, be sure to indulge in some of their well-known Liebfraumilch wine!

Where You’ll Stay

Option A: 3 star to 4 star hotels
Option B: hotels and B&Bs (sometimes of local vineyards) of 3 star level

What’s Included

  • 6 (or 5) nights accommodations
  • Breakfasts
  • 21-speed hybrid bicycle
  • Luggage transportation
  • Tour information
  • Route descriptions & maps, including places of interest - 1 set per booked room
  • Sign posted route

What’s Not Included

  • Individual arrival to your first hotel in Neustadt
  • Lunches & dinners

Rhine Romance Map

Book This Trip

TourBike
TypeSelf Guided
SkillEasy
Length6–7 days
From€553
Print Tour

Tour Dates

  • Daily from May 12 to September 29, 2012.

Skill Level

Easy self-guided tour

Easy self-guided hotel tour with daily distances ranging from 15 to 34 miles. Routes make use of good, hard asphalt roads (bike paths/side streets). Route is almost always flat, only a few smaller ascents to be expected at the entrance of the vineyards between Worms and Bad Dürkheim.

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Rhine Romance Map
  1. Arrival in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse.
  2. Neustadt - Germersheim, 34 mi.
  3. Germersheim - Heidelberg, 31 mi.
  4. Heidelberg - Worms, 28 mi.
  5. Worms - Bad Dürkheim, 28 mi.
  6. Bad Dürkheim - Neustadt, 15 mi.
  7. Departure from Neustadt an der Weinstrasse.

Tour can also be taken as 6 days / 5 nights.  For the 6 day tour you will bike to Heidelberg on day 2 and the remaining itinerary is the same.

    DAY 1: Arrival into Neustadt an der Weinstrasse.
    Tour information will be given and the bicycles will be handed out. There remains enough time for an evening stroll through the idyllic old town.

    DAY 2: Neustadt – Germersheim, ± 55 km/34 miles
    Leaving the wine-growing area, the route follows comfortable roads through the Rhine plains until you reach the Cathedral-city of Speyer with its medieval old town. On you cycle along the Rhine to Germersheim with a fortification dating back to the 19th century.

    DAY 3: Germersheim – Heidelberg, ± 50 km/31 miles
    Enjoy the natural beauty that follows the river Rhine as you cycle into Schwetzingen, with a Renaissance castle and beautiful park. Now the tour proceeds through the Rhine plains to Heidelberg, seat of the oldest University in Germany. Visit the famous castle and the beautiful old town situated directly on the Neckar.

    DAY 4: Heidelberg – Worms, ± 45 km/28 miles
    You follow the river Neckar until you reach Ladenburg. The many half-timbered houses create a singular ambience. You cycle through the large forests in the Rhine plains to reach the old emperors town Worms (legendary cathedral).

    DAY 5: Worms – Bad Dürkheim, ± 45 km/28 miles
    Today you leave the Rhine plains and visit the second largest German wine-growing area situated on the German Wine-Street. Experience the wine culture in smaller and bigger wine-growing communities. Find a lot of stories and history dating back to the time of the Roman Empire. Taste the very good Pfalz wine.

    DAY 6: Bad Dürkheim – Neustadt, ± 25 km/15 miles
    Take your time to enjoy the beautiful wine-growing villages with their special ambience. You visit Deidesheim and proceed on the “balcony of the Pfalz” to Neustadt.

    DAY 7: Departure from Neustadt an der Weinstrasse.
    Departure following breakfast at your hotel.

    Book This Trip

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

    Facebook