Around Lake Constance - 12 Day
Austria, Germany, Switzerland Bike Tours
Bike around one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe!
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length12 days
- Prices from€1473 Rates
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Overview
Bordered by three countries, Lake Constance occupies an extremely beautiful corner of Central Europe and provides the perfect backdrop for this scenic bike tour. This bike tour around Lake Constance includes the most important areas of interest.
You will have an active and enjoyable holiday between the Pfänder mountain and the Rhine Falls, the flower island of Mainau and the Appenzeller countryside.
Boat trips and ferry rides will allow you to experience the lake and numerous towns and villages are waiting to be discovered. This extended bike tour along Lake Constance is also suitable for those not accustomed to cycling long distances.
Highlights
- Island of Reichenau, Unesco World Heritage Site
- Arenenberg Castle, former residence of Napoleon III
- Spa town of Radolfzell
- Swabian Sea
- Old town of Meersburg
- Zeppelin Museum
- Bavarian town of Lindau
- Stunning Swiss countryside
- Hiking in in Appenzell
- Lake Constance Cycle path
Looking for more? Check out our full list of bike tours in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Constance
Day 2: Constance - Isle of Reichenau - Gailingen/Stein am Rhein, 16/22 mi. (25/35 km) + boat trip
Day 3: Overnight stay in Gailingen or Stein am Rhein, day trip to Rhine Falls, 19/31 mi. (30/50 km) + boat trip
Day 4: Stein am Rhein or Gailingen - Constance, 19/25 mi. (30/40 km)
Day 5: Constance - Isle of Mainau - Radolfzell, 19 mi. (30 km)
Day 6: Radolfzell - Bodman - Ludwigshafen - Uhldingen/Meersburg, 22/25 mi. (35/40 km)
Day 7: Uhldingen/Meersburg - Friedrichshafen, 12/16 mi. (20/25 km)
Day 8: Friedrichshafen - Lindau/Bregenz, 16/22 mi. (25/35 km)
Day 9: Bregenz - Pfänder - St. Gallen, 31/37 mi. (50/60 km) + train ride
Day 10: Leisure day in St. Gallen or hiking in the Appenzell region
Day 11: St. Gallen - Constance, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 12: Individual departure or extension of stay*Due to organizational reasons, 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 way you may find temporary deviations caused by construction or road repairs that cannot be foreseen.
Day 1: Individual arrival in Constance
After arrival in Constance, the largest city around the lake, there is free time to explore! The aquariums in the Sea Life Center and the Archaeological Museum are recommended.Sample Hotels:
Hotel Halm
Alte Post Konstanz
Kreuzlingen Am Hafen
HarbrDay 2: Constance - Isle of Reichenau - Gailingen/Stein am Rhein, 16/22 mi. (25/35 km) + boat trip
The first highlight is Reichenau Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, well-known for the vegetables produced here. You cross over the Höri peninsula by boat. Along the High Rhine you cycle into the medieval town of Stein am Rhein with its many frescoed houses. Depending on where you are staying the night, you cross the border again for Gailingen either during the afternoon or the next morning.Sample Hotels:
Rheingold
Adler SteinDay 3: Day trip to Rhine Falls, 19/31 mi. (30/50 km) + boat trip
Switching several times between Germany and Switzerland you reach the canton's capital, Schaffhausen. The town, whose citizens competed with each other in building gables on their houses, is overlooked by Munot fort. After just a few kilometers, you get to the Rhine Falls, one of Europe's biggest waterfalls. Going upstream along the Rhine, you return to Gailingen or Stein am Rhein.Sample Hotels:
Rheingold
Adler SteinDay 4: Stein am Rhein or Gailingen - Constance, 19/25 mi. (30/40 km)
You will cycle up along the Rhein today back to Constance. Numerous picturesque Swiss fishing villages lie along your return path through the peaceful countryside of the Lower Lake. Napoleon‘s stepdaughter, Hortense de Beauharnais, made this area her adopted home. We recommend a visit to her former home in Arenenberg, which is now a Napoleon museum.Sample Hotels:
Hotel Halm
Alte Post Konstanz
Kreuzlingen Am Hafen
HarbrDay 5: Constance - Mainau Island – Radolfzell, 19 mi. (30 km)
First you explore the "flower island" of Mainau. Bikes are not allowed on the island: simply park at the entrance and access the island via the bridge. Next a short ride takes you via Allensbach to the former Imperial and now spa town of Radolfzell.Sample Hotels:
Hotel Stadtgarten
Hotel SchmiedeDay 6: Radolfzell - Bodman - Ludwigshafen - Uhldingen/Meersburg, 22/25 mi. (35/40 km)
From here, you cross the Bodanrück range of hills and encounter a very short incline. Arriving at the so-called Überlinger See, part of Lake Constance, you are rewarded for your efforts with beautiful views of the lake, known here as the Swabian Sea. Enjoy a break in Überlingen and an ice cream on the pretty promenade. In Uhldingen, you visit a reconstructed pile dwelling and learn how settlers lived on Lake Constance in the Stone and Bronze Ages.Sample Hotels:
Hotel Knaus
Hotel Löwen
Hotel Bären
Hotel Schiff
Hotel PilgerhofDay 7: Uhldingen/Meersburg - Friedrichshafen, 12/16 mi. (20/25 km)
In Meersburg, make sure you take some time to stroll through the lovely old town. A guided tour of the castle is also a fascinating experience. Today's destination, Friedrichshafen, has a great Zeppelin Museum we can recommend visiting. It tells you everything there is to know about the history of these airships.Sample Hotels:
Hotel Waldhorn
Hotel City-Krone
Hotel Maier FischbachDay 8: Friedrichshafen - Bregenz, 25 mi. (40 km)
Today, the tour takes you through extensive orchards to the Bavarian town of Lindau, where you should not miss visiting the old town - situated on an island. Now it's just a few kilometers to Bregenz, the capital town of the Vorarlberg region of Austria and famous for its annual festival on the world's largest lake-stage.Sample Hotels:
Hotel Messmer
Hotel Germania
Hotel SchwärzlerDay 9: Bregenz - Pfänder - St. Gallen, 31 mi. (50 km) + train ride
In the morning you visit the Pfänder, Bregenz' "own" mountain. After that it's time to get back on your bike and cycle along the Alpenrhein to Altstätten. A train takes you up into Appenzeller Land and then you pedal through absolutely stunning Swiss countryside to St. Gallen.Sample Hotels:
Hotel Einstein
Sorell Hotel City Weissenstein
Hotel Metropol
Hotel WalhallaDay 10: Leisure day in St. Gallen or hiking tour in the Appenzell region
Today, you leave your bike at your accommodation and explore St. Gallen. The Abbey Church library is considered one of the most important historic libraries in the world. It is home to about 160,000 books - one of which is the oldest German book. You may prefer to hike in the Appenzell region.Sample Hotels:
Hotel Einstein
Sorell Hotel City Weissenstein
Hotel Metropol
Hotel WalhallaDay 11: St. Gallen - Constance, 28 mi. (45 km)
Enjoy the downhill stretch to Lake Constance and your arrival near Arbon. Following the banks of the lake almost all the way, you cycle through apple orchards and the small towns of Arbon and Romanshorn back to Constance. This stretch is flat and easy to cycle, unless in a stronger westerly wind. You will frequently pass places where you can go swimming and refresh yourself in the lovely cool waters of the lake.Sample Hotels:
Hotel Halm
Alte Post Konstanz
Kreuzlingen Am Hafen
HarbrDay 12: Individual departure or extension of stay
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Map
Accommodation
You will stay in good quality 3 and 4-star guesthouses and hotels with upgraded accommodations possible in some cities. Please note, it is not always possible to confirm rooms with two twin beds. A sample hotel list is available in the itinerary.
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Hotel accommodations for 11 nights in 3 and 4* hotels
- Breakfast
- Luggage transfer
- 24-speed city touring bicycle (high handlebars and upright riding position). Available in men’s and deep step-through frames.
- Accessories: Luggage rack, rear pannier, handlebar bag, odometer, bike lock, and one repair kit with pump per booking
- Boat trip Reichenau-Gaienhofen incl. bike
- Boat trip to the Rhine Falls rock
- Entrances to Rosgartenmuseum, Mainau Island, the Lake Dwelling Museum, and the Zeppelin museum.
- Journey by cable car to Pfänder excluding bike (bike transport is free between 8-10 am)
- Train ride Altstätten-Gais incl. bike
- Comprehensive cycling route description with maps (1 set per room)
- GPS tracks available. Please ask!
- 7-day service-hotline
What’s Not Included
- Individual arrive to hotel in Constance (train from Zurich airport, approx €21)
- Remaining meals
- City tax, if applicable (to be paid at each hotel) approximately €2 per night
- Bicycle protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates & Pricing
2023
Daily arrivals from April 9 through October 1, 2023
Season A: April 9 to April 30, 2023 $ 2301 £ 1319 $ 2,181 € 1473 ₪ 5577 NZ$ 2522 NOK 16154 kr 16812 $ 1,632
Season B: May 1 to May 10 | September 15 to October 1, 2023 $ 2535 £ 1453 $ 2,403 € 1623 ₪ 6145 NZ$ 2779 NOK 17799 kr 18524 $ 1,799
Season C: May 11 to May 25 | June 11 to June 30 | September 1 to September 14, 2023 $ 2769 £ 1588 $ 2,625 € 1773 ₪ 6713 NZ$ 3036 NOK 19444 kr 20236 $ 1,965
Season D: May 26 to June 10 | July 1 to August 31, 2023 $ 3004 £ 1722 $ 2,847 € 1923 ₪ 7281 NZ$ 3293 NOK 21089 kr 21948 $ 2,131
Single supplement: $ 701 £ 402 $ 665 € 449 ₪ 1700 NZ$ 769 NOK 4924 kr 5125 $ 498
Extra Options
Bikes
Electric bike $ 219 £ 125 $ 207 € 140 ₪ 530 NZ$ 240 NOK 1535 kr 1598 $ 155 Child/teen bike $ 77 £ 44 $ 73 € 49 ₪ 186 NZ$ 84 NOK 537 kr 559 $ 54 Child seat Free Extra nights
Twin/double Single Bregenz $ 155 £ 89 $ 147 € 99 ₪ 375 NZ$ 170 NOK 1086 kr 1130 $ 110 $ 217 £ 124 $ 206 € 139 ₪ 526 NZ$ 238 NOK 1524 kr 1586 $ 154 Constance $ 123 £ 71 $ 117 € 79 ₪ 299 NZ$ 135 NOK 866 kr 902 $ 88 $ 186 £ 107 $ 176 € 119 ₪ 451 NZ$ 204 NOK 1305 kr 1358 $ 132 Friedrichshafen $ 123 £ 71 $ 117 € 79 ₪ 299 NZ$ 135 NOK 866 kr 902 $ 88 $ 186 £ 107 $ 176 € 119 ₪ 451 NZ$ 204 NOK 1305 kr 1358 $ 132 Radolfzell $ 108 £ 62 $ 102 € 69 ₪ 261 NZ$ 118 NOK 757 kr 788 $ 76 $ 170 £ 98 $ 161 € 109 ₪ 413 NZ$ 187 NOK 1195 kr 1244 $ 121 St. Gallen $ 155 £ 89 $ 147 € 99 ₪ 375 NZ$ 170 NOK 1086 kr 1130 $ 110 $ 217 £ 124 $ 206 € 139 ₪ 526 NZ$ 238 NOK 1524 kr 1586 $ 154 Stein / Gailingen / Wangen $ 108 £ 62 $ 102 € 69 ₪ 261 NZ$ 118 NOK 757 kr 788 $ 76 $ 170 £ 98 $ 161 € 109 ₪ 413 NZ$ 187 NOK 1195 kr 1244 $ 121 Uhldingen / Meersburg $ 108 £ 62 $ 102 € 69 ₪ 261 NZ$ 118 NOK 757 kr 788 $ 76 $ 170 £ 98 $ 161 € 109 ₪ 413 NZ$ 187 NOK 1195 kr 1244 $ 121 Children Discount*
0 - 5 years 100%
6 - 11 years 50%
12 - 17 years 25%*Children‘s discount is valid for accommodation in a room with two full-paying guests, no discount from 18 years and onwards. A shared room is usually a double room with an extra bed or folding sofa. No five-bed rooms possible.
Please Note
- Rates are based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy–Moderate
This is an easy to moderate self-guided bike tour on mainly flat, paved cycle paths along the shore of the lake or on paved rural roads. The total distance covered is approximately 181 miles with the opportunity for a 5-mile hike. The average daily distance is approximately 22 miles.
Airport Info
Fly to Zurich International Airport (ZRH) located approximately 8 mi. (13 km) north of Zurich City center.
Local Travel
Zurich Airport railway station (German: Bahnhof Zürich Flughafen) is a railway station serving Zurich Airport in Switzerland. The station is located underneath the Airport Center, the main ground-side passenger terminal of the airport. Train from Zurich airport to Constance (Konstanz), 1-2 hr. with zero to one transfers. Cost is approximately €25 per person
Climate
Please check local conditions before your arrival. The warm season in Constance is from the end of May until mid-September with an average daily high temperature above 69°F. The hottest day of the year generally occurs in August with an average high of 77° F and low of 59°F.
Day of Rest
Day 10 is a designated day of rest.
Recommended
You should bring your personal helmet as helmets are not available to rent or borrow on this tour.
Remarks
Tandem, child bike, Intermediate bike (for teenagers), child’s trailer, E-cargo-bike with seats for 2 children are available. Children’s discounts available (apply for accommodation in rooms with two full-paying guests.) Ask us for pricing.
Important to know
Documents
Before you travel, please check your country's passport and visa requirements and the passport and visa requirements of the country/countries you plan to visit. For US citizens, the US Department of State website is a good source of information. The Country Information tab in the International Travel section provides details about passport validity, blank passport pages required, etc. For our other international clients, please be sure that you research your own country's travel requirements. It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure proper documentation.
*Important note: Please check on the status of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) as once implemented will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.
Covid-19 Info
Country Entry Requirements
Due to the changing requirements for entry, it is imperative that you stay up to date on requirements set by the country/countries that you are visiting. Please visit our Travel Restrictions Tool page and the country/countries government webpage for this information.
Extra Stay
This tour is very flexible. The cycling days can be shortened or lengthened, and you can usually book an extra night in any of the towns. You can also begin in any of the towns listed in the itinerary.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Radweg - Reisen GmbH.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
Photos
![Bike rest in beautiful marktplatz of Meersburg, Germany. Flickr:Stefan Jurca]()
![Around Lake Constance, Germany. @TripSiteGea]()
![Stein am Rhein, Lake Constance, Switzerland. Flickr:Luca Casartelli]()
![Bregenz on Lake Constance, Germany. Flickr:Stefan Jurca]()
![Island of Lindau on the Bodensee, Germany. Flickr:Kiefer]()
![Stein am Rhein, Switzerland. @TripSiteGea]()
![Cable car in Bregenz, Lake Constance, Austria. Flickr:Kiefer]()
![Meersburg, Lake Constance, aka Bodensee. Flickr:Patrick Nouhailler]()
![Schnitzel is a favorite in Austria & Germany. Flickr:travel junction]()
![Entrance into the harbor of Lindau Island, Bodensee, Germany. Flickr:Keith Roper]()
![Island of Mainau on Lake Constance. Flickr:Judy Dean]()
![Rosti, a traditional Swiss dish. Flickr:t-mizo]()
![Statue in Stein-am-Rhein, Switzerland. Flickr:stephanie kroos]()
![Meersburg is a medieval town on Lake Constance, Germany. Flickr:F Delventhal]()
![Birthplace of the Zeppelin, Friedrichshafen, Germany. Flickr:Waithamai]()
![Colorful Meersburg along Lake Constance! Flickr:Markus Tacker]()
![Lindau Island, Lake Constance, Germany. Flickr:Jura]()
![Shopping in Stein-am-Rhein in canton Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Flickr:Luca Casartelli]()
![Great local beers to try in Germany & Austria. Flickr:Leon Brocard]()
![Riesling wine is a favorite throughout this region. Flickr:M Hagemann]()
![Bridge in Stein-am-Rhein, Switzerland. Flickr:Luca Casartelli]()
![Meersburg, Germany. @TripSiteGea]()
![Friedrichshafen, Germany. Flickr:Kiefer]()
![Boat ride Rheinfall near Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Flickr:Stephanie Kroos]()
![The town of Constance on Lake Constance in Germany, south of Switzerland. Flickr:Kiefer]()
![Unterstadt in Meersburg, with 2 castles, Germany. Flickr:Stefan Jurca]()
![Reichenau on Lake Constance, Germany. Flickr:Annie Pilote]()
![Diessenhofen, Switzerland. @TripSiteGea]()
![Rheinfall near Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Flickr:Mondo79]()
![Meersburg is a medieval town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Flickr:F Delventhal]()
![Meersburg, Lake Constance. Flickr:Michael Coghlan]()
![Meersburg is the "Castle on the Sea" in Germany. Flickr:Stefan Jurca]()
![Rheinfall near Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Flickr:michel simeonidis]()
![Austria & Germany are known for great chocolate! Flickr:slgckgc]()
![Lindau Island on Lake Constance, Germany. Flickr:Blendeauf]()
![Graf Wilhelm Strasse in Bregenz, Vorarlberg, Austria. Flickr:Stefan Jurca]()
![Konstanz on Lake Constance, Germany. Flickr:Bernd Thaller]()
![Mainau Island, Konstanz, Germany. @TripSiteGea]()
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