Germany Bike + Boat Tour Reviews — 1 to 30 of 1249

Cycling through small villages was great as was the scenery along the Danube. The free walking tour through Bratislava was very informative. We really enjoyed our 2 day stay in Passau.

Cycling through the countryside, villages, and taking the bike ferries.

The tour was exceptional and gave us an opportunity to experience a taste of each country. We cycled through the countryside and stopped at all of the major points of interests in the cities. The guides shared both historical and current perspectives. Overall the trip was well organized and the food and service were amazing.

Absolutely loved this trip. Excellent crew, food, cabin quarters. Scenery was among the prettiest I’ve ever seen and optional excursions helped immerse me into new cultures. Thank you!!

The scenery along the Danube was gorgeous, as well as all of the cities and towns.

The trip was exactly as promised and more. The chosen bike routes were very scenic, appropriate distances and gave us a great flavour of Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. The bikes were good quality and in excellent shape - top marks. The food was outstanding! Lots of food choices, special menus to highlight local foods and top quality ingredients. The Primadonna is a gorgeous boat, and our room was just as lovely as the advertising showed. One special highlight was using the boat to do a night tour of Budapest - the most beautiful city I have ever seen.

Most people on the trip were German, with a mixture of Dutch, French. There were only a few Americans and Canadians. The boat staff were mostly Serbian. That meant that there were inevitable language issues. For example, we paid 100 Euros to do a night bus tour of Vienna in English. But some German, Duthc and French travellers ended up on the bus too, so our tour guide ended up having to repeat all tour instructions in 4 languages, which was frustrating and inefficient. In the same vein, every evening we had briefings on the following days cycling trip. Our Serbian hotel manager did his best, but the information was often confusing, and the maps provided by Danau Tours were pretty average. This led to a number of wrong turns and navigation mix ups over the week.

In North America, we are used to having water provided free of charge when dining. So it felt cheap that we were asked to pay 7 Euros for a bottle of water at meals. Considering the cost of the trip, that didn't sit right. To be fair, we traveled around Europe after the trip, and we never encountered free water in restaurants, so it appears that is a European norm.

Lastly, although it is called a 4-country tour, you only cycle in 3 countries: Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. The only time you set foot in Germany is in Passau at the start and end of the week. So if you want to tour Germany, plan in time before or after the trip.

Budapest was the best city we visited during this tour. The room and food were great. The staff on the boat were very helpful and nice. The only thing I would recommend would be better bike route maps. The ones they give during the nightly presentation are not very accurate or detailed.

We had such a great time on our trip & thank Leslie for his leadership & organization to make it fantastic! We had a junior suite as we booked early & it was perfect! The food was very good, the ship very clean and all the staff were friendly & helpful.

The only 2 suggestions would be:
1 - the bike app needs to be upgraded or tweeked as people were having trouble downloading & our phones were dying to quick using the app. Also, everyone should get one for free.

2- please put water bottle holders on the bikes! I drink a lot of water & find it hard to put in blue holder & the water kept leaking (on my phone!)
Also, a nice touch would be souvenir water bottles from the boat owners :)

All in all, a super trip! Thank you

The biking! Be prepared for a quick visit to Budapest and Vienna. More time is needed at these stunning world class cities!

Replace tour director “Leslie” he talked to everyone as if they’re children

Experiencing the sights while riding a bike is magical. Forest, farms, charming small towns, stunning cities, and castles galore. Loved meeting new people. Loved being on the water and enjoying the scenery gliding by. And the food, wow!

The night cruise around the city of Budapest with everything lit up was glorious.

Our tours in Budapest on the bus was with an exceptional tour leader. She brought the city alive with all the history and beautiful locations we visited. Very passionate about her city. The walking tour in Bratislava was Wonderful. Daca gave a well thought out tour of the city center-absolutely the best.
Our biggest issue was the language, even when bike tours were explained in English we did not always understand certain words.

Our waiter Uros, gave us exemplary service. Very professional, friendly, helpful. Always looking out for us
All crew members were top notch

This was a good tour, however slightly misleading in description. It was rated easy but for some reason, most people rented ebikes, so the tour guides ran it at a fast pace as if ebikes were expected on the first couple of days. Thankfully after a couple of days they divided the bikers into a fast/slower group for those of us on regular bikes. After that, we had a great time. The boat staff was very friendly and went above and beyond to serve us at the bar, meals, cleaning rooms, etc. Sadly we ran into a few issues with the boat itself (A/C did not work 2 days, plumbing issues one day). The staff worked to correct these issues as soon as they could but it was very difficult to sleep in the hot cabins 2 nights. The beds were fairly comfortable and the dining room was very nice, although sweltering during dinner with no A/C in that area every night. The chef Chris, tried hard, but had a few, not so successful meals. He should probably simplify his meals so that service could speed up between courses - sometimes as long as 30 minutes between courses. I watched as many guest did not like the "fancy" meals including the crawfish or the raw meat appetizers. A salad might have been a better choice to appeal to more guests.

I especially liked the ability to bike through farmlands, quaint country villages, vineyards, apple orchards and see old castles, church spires, rolling hills in the background and of course, the beautiful Danube river was always on our side. Most of all though, was the chance to visit Bratislava, Budapest, Vienna and Munich on foot and enjoy the different food offerings and beers!
We did do the excursion into Budapest at night and that was fabulous. Seeing the three bridges all lit up and riding around Pest after having goulash and watching the dinner show of dancers and musicians was lovely, I'd do it all over again!

Being able to see the country side at a leisurely pace with our friends. Stopped to visit the goats and trail side coffee shops. One of the most memorable of any of our trips was the boat leaving Budapest at night. A sight we will never forget. Food on board was very good and service was great. The only issue we had was we were a large group of 18 that sat at 3 tables and we were asked to not change places but we missed out visiting with our other friends. We liked it so much we came home and booked another trip with Tripsite

Traveling by e-bike and boat along the Rhine felt like a luxury adventure with a touch of home. The wine regions reminded me of the rolling vineyards of Limburg, but the diversity here—Alsace, Breisgau, and Basel—was extraordinary. The cycling was easy and enjoyable.

My partner and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to explore three countries in one trip! Cycling along the Rhine was magical, with its lush vineyards and the majestic passage of Loreley being standout moments. The food was incredible—whether it was the Swiss chocolate, German sausages, or Alsatian pastries, every bite felt like a discovery. Basel’s Three Countries Corner was fascinating, and the medieval charm of Mainz was equally captivating. The guides made everything seamless. A perfect mix of culture, food, and nature!

This e-bike and boat tour along the Rhine was a dream come true! The landscapes were absolutely breathtaking, from the picturesque wine villages to the historic castles perched along the riverbanks. Each stop was rich in culture—Strasbourg Cathedral and Colmar’s Gothic art were personal highlights. And the food! Sampling local wines and regional dishes like tarte flambée in Alsace was an unforgettable experience. The stress-free e-biking made it accessible and enjoyable, even for someone like me who’s not an avid cyclist. Highly recommend this tour for its perfect balance of relaxation and adventure!

We have so many great memories of our trip that it is hard to pin down an "absolute favorite". Here are some of our best and most favorites memories, in no particular order of importance! The staff was so welcoming and helpful, we felt connected to all of them right from the start! The bike riding was fantastic--the ease of the e bikes, to the scenery, and then the visits at the historical sites such as the Roman mosaic, the Puerta Nigra, and the bunker from WWI in the farmer's field, we thought we had the best guides and were very well informed about the details of our day. Our accommodations aboard the Iris were comfortable, clean and well maintained. The other passengers were a lot of fun, and we felt comfortable spending time with each group. I cannot say enough about the food! We all looked forward to our excellent dinner after a long day of cycling, and the breakfasts were filling and tasty, every time! One day, after a 35-mile ride, some of the other passengers decided to continue for another 12 miles, but many of us chose to stay on the barge. The captain welcomed us into the wheelhouse and we were educated on how to operate the barge while going through a lock and dam!

The little towns like the v one pictured above. Use deutsch bank ATM to exchange for euros

I loved riding through the vineyards at harvest. The ride was mostly along the river and not on roads! The guides and hostess personnel were the best! So helpful and friendly, They were cheerful and fun every day. I must admit this trip was a bit of a disappointment: 1. Bikes were not very good--It is a bike trip (the bikes must work!). 2. Our room had recently flooded and it smelled of mold and mildew. 3. I had requested a vegan diet and they did not let me know they could not accommodate this request until I was already in Europe. The cook tried, but he didn't understand the difference between vegan and gluten free. I took another tour in Italy and it had none of these issues, so I would like to give Tripsite another chance. Spend money on bikes, it is important. I am a plant-based dietitian and published author--I would be happy to consult with your cooks to assist them in making quick and easy delicious vegan meals.

Every part of our trip was Enjoyable! The bikes were comfortable and easy to use, the rides were not too strenuous but rather “ a good day on a bike”. The routes gave us an Immersive look at the country side. Our guides were Fun and helpful. The staff of the ship went above and beyond and even provided a cake and a celebration for my husband’s Birthday!! Truly , a Bike and Barge trip is the Best way to see the Country! I could have turned around on the last day and started Another Trip! Thank you to our Wonderful Crew on the Magnifique I!!!!

This was our 8th bike & boat tour with Tripsite and once again it was an outstanding trip. It's difficult to pick a favorite since each one has it's own highlights and we always love to embrace the differences but this one really excelled in every category.

The route - A perfect mix of paved dedicated trails along the 3 rivers, winding streets through classic little medieval towns and a few stretches though bustling cities like Frankfurt. We probably went through a few more small towns and villages than on some of our other trips which was a real plus. We generally had time to stop and look around and sample some local goodies. A highlight was riding through the woods surrounding the Frankfurt airport and stopping to visit the Zeppelin Museum, fascinating history and a lot of exhibits focusing on the Hindenburg. We averaged 26 miles a day on generally level paths. We opted for the e-bikes - we could have done OK without them but when we hit a bit of a climb at the end of the day it was pretty nice to be able to get a little boost. Every night we were docked close enough to the center of town that we were able to take a walk after dinner and get some local flavor - this is one of the things that we like the best about these trips.

The boat - The Iris may not look too fancy from the outside but once inside we were blown away with the way she has been updated and renovated from her days as a cargo ship. The decor and appointments are first class, the cabins are roomy with comfortable beds and well equipped bathrooms, dining area is well laid out, and the front lounge is a cozy place to enjoy a beverage from the self service bar.

The people - The crew and guests are always key to a successful trip and we had a superb group. Our captains, mate and host (Dick & Adrienne, Mark & Anna) did a fantastic job with the day to day operations and made sure that all of our needs were met. Our chef Berber served up amazing meals every day with creative combinations of fresh ingredients that were quite welcome after a long day on the trail. Our guides Ferry and Treasa did a great job of planning the days journey and managing our fairly large group of 23 bikers. The pace and route needed to be adjusted a few times due to weather and construction but at the end of the day everything went smoothly and a good time was had by all. As we have experienced on all of our trips the guests were a fun group from varied backgrounds with the right attitude for an active vacation. Most had been on at least one bike and boat trip previously, some on the Iris as well.

A 5 star experience - we would highly recommend this trip on the Iris for both novice and experienced bikers. Excellent on every measure.

Our time on the Merlijn was fabulous! Coen and Cristina, the ship's owners, are the absolute best as was the crew. Everything from the accommodations, the food, the tours and the biking was top notch. We especially enjoyed the bike helmets that allowed us to listen to our guide provide guidance as well as historical information on our rides. We are already looking forward to choosing another tour aboard the Merlijn.

The whole trip was excellent. To many thing to choose just one.

The trip on the Merlijn was wonderful. The captain, crew, and guide were all 5 star. Accommodations on the barge were very nice, with modern baths, excellent lighting, and adequate storage. The guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the areas we biked through. The wine tour we had one evening was the best I have ever taken. One evening we all had a meal out at a German restaurant that was delightful. I like the bike helmet they provided. It networked with the guides helmet and she was able to give us information as we road on excellent bike paths.

The scenery along the Mosel River was spectacular and the heritage buildings and the history associated with them was both interesting and educational. The friendships that developed along the course of the trip added to our enjoyment and memories. The food was excellent although possible less in the way of trying to produce high end dishes and providing more in the way of comfort foods especially during the cold and rainy weather soups and stews would have been appreciated.

Biking and boating into Germany, Luxembourg and France was spectacular. Seeing the incredible vineyards and tasting the wines from this area. Our stay and the crew on the Magnafique 1 was excellent and we hope to book another tour.

Although the weather wasn't always the most cooperative, the biking along the Moselle offered beautiful scenery of steep hillside vineyards with stops in small towns along the way. Our tour guides were fantastic and easily (or so it seemed) adapted to the route changes that needed to be made due to the flooding of the Moselle and the fact that the bike paths weren't always accessible. Our guides were knowledgable about the areas we visited and offered interesting information about castles, churches and other areas of interest in the cities.
As far as tips for others, if you are planning a bike/barge trip, be prepared for varied weather and biking conditions. Being flexible will allow you to enjoy things that aren't necessarily what you had expected.

The Merlijn is the best sailing ship in all of Europe if you want to bike. The captains Coen and Cristina (also the ship owners) are just wonderful people. I feel like family every time I travel with them and this was my 8th trip with them (7 trips in the last year alone). So if you want 5 star accommodations, service and meals, this is the ship to sail on. Their bikes are the best out there and I feel confident in saying that as I have done 15 bike and barge trips! Give the Merlijn a try and you will be hooked like I am. The Merlijn also gets the best bike guides out there along with extremely friendly and caring crew. Love the Merlijn and Coen and Cristina.