2023
Ems cycle path Münster – Emden

Ems Cycling Tour

From the old diocesan town to the North Sea

 Münster – Meppen – Emden

  • The old diocesan town of Muenster
  • Wide variety of landscapes along the river Ems
  • Daily routes ●●●○○
  • Altitude profile ●○○○○

Tage
8

Ø km pro Tag
45

On the way from Münster to Emden, you cycle through varied countryside. You'll get to know Münsterland, Emsland and East Frisia and finally reach the North Sea. You'll see the Ems getting bigger and bigger and will explore lovely, historic towns on the way. The cycle paths take you through unspoiled countryside with hardly a hill! Emsauen, marshland, moor and heath shape the scenery here. And you will frequently be cycling close to the water. After Papenburg, the Ems becomes tidal and you'll experience the change in the height of the water - quite unusual for a river. You could even get the impression that the water is flowing backwards.

Itinerary

  • Booking Code
    NW-EMME7
  • Start / Destination
    Münster / Emden
  • Duration
    8 days / 7 nights
  • Length
    approx. 275 km
    Daily routes ●●●○○
    between 35 and 65 km, Ø 45 km
    Altitude profile ●○○○○
Ems Cycling Tour

Day 1: Individual arrival in Münster

Don't set off too late, as the former Westphalian capital has a lot to offer. It is considered to be Germany's friendliest town for cyclists and is also shaped by the almost 50,000 students who live here. The centre features the town's Prinzipalmarkt, lined by elegant houses with stepped gables. You should also visit the cathedral and the castle, and go for a walk around Aasee lake.

The Aasee near Münster

The Aasee near Münster

Day 2: Münster – Rheine, approx. 65 km

Enjoy a last glance back to Münster's historic quarter and its magnificent houses before you set off on your first section along the Dortmund-Ems canal. At Münster-Gelmer, you cross the Ems over a bridge. Following the sharp curves of this meandering river you will arrive in Emdsdetten, which used to be a centre for basket-makers, who used to make shallow baskets to separate the wheat from the chaff. Today's destination is the town of Rheine.

The Emstetten nature reserve

The Emstetten nature reserve

Day 3: Rheine – Lingen, approx. 40 km

In Rheine you can visit Villa Reni, also known as Falkenhof. The royal manor was built well over 1000 years ago. The monastery and brine pool spa in Bentlage are worth visiting. Just after Rheine, you enter a new Federal state. In Lower Saxony you follow the Ems to Lingen. On the way you will see a windmill still in use, in Emsbüren.

The city hall Lingen

The city hall Lingen

Day 4: Lingen – Meppen, approx. 35 km

Today's route takes you through a former swamp and moor area. Farms and villages were only able to be built sparsely on the sandy higher areas. The cycle tour takes you on to Meppen, an older fortress town at the mouth of the Hase. It also has a very interesting archaeological museum. The Ems changes its character now. Merging as it does with the Dortmund-Ems canal and Hase, you will now be cycling through magnificent waterscapes.

The city hall Meppen

The city hall Meppen

Day 5: Meppen – Papenburg, approx. 65 km

Just a few kilometres on from Meppen you get to Haren. Alongside Emslanddom, Haren is well known for its freight-carrying boats, especially adapted to the Ems and known as "pünten". We can recommend a visit to the baroque water castle at Dankern. Cycle on to Papenburg, the centre of Dutch fen culture and which has made the moors particularly habitable in a very special way. The Meyer shipyard is situated here and produces huge cruise ships, which you can explore as part of a public tour.

Papenburg museum ship and town hall

Papenburg museum ship and town hall

Day 6: Papenburg – Leer, approx. 35 km

East Frisia begins between Papenburg and Weener. East Frisia is usually associated with the North Sea and you'll find the atmosphere along the Ems getting more and more maritime. You cycle easily on to Leer via Weener. In the local tea museum, you can find out the secrets behind preparing a Frisian cuppa. And almost everything there is to know about the most popular beverage in Frisia.

The town of Leer

The town of Leer

Day 7: Leer – Emden, approx. 35 km

In Leer, everything rotates around the harbour and the North Sea. But you can also visit the many stately houses and churches in the town's historic quarter, which are a reminder of the town's century-old history. Leer used to be the former hub of this area. Your last section takes you via Petkum, home of the comedians Otto Waalkes and Karl Dall, to the harbour town of Emden.

Emden harbor gate

Emden harbor gate

Day 8: Individual departure or extended stay

After breakfast, your cycling holiday along the Ems cycle path ends. We would be happy to extend your stay in Emden if you wish.

The city port of Emden

The city port of Emden

Dates / prices / services

Season times and prices 2023

Arrival on Saturdays from 08.04.2023 to 07.10.2023

Bookable dates are shown in the booking form. The season is dictated by the arrival date.

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Season A
08.04. - 21.04.
01.10. - 07.10.
from749 €
Season B
22.04. - 05.05.
17.09. - 30.09.
from789 €
Season C
06.05. - 16.09.

from819 €

All prices per person in a double room, without Additional Services

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Services

  • 7 nights incl. breakfast, national 3*/4* level
  • Luggage transport from hotel to hotel to Emden
  • Welcome meeting
  • Cycle route description with maps (1 x per room), only available in German
  • GPS-tracks available on request
  • 7 day Service Hotline
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Not included is the city or visitor's tax (if payable).

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discount-icon discount-icon-baby

From 0 to 5 years

-100%

discount-icon discount-icon-lego

From 6 to 11 years

-50%

discount-icon discount-icon-football

From 12 to 14 years

-25%

discount-icon discount-icon-joystick

From 15 to 17 years

-10%

All prices are per person

Applies for accommodation in rooms with 2 full-paying guests.

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Additional Services

Additional bookable services

Additional fee single room

199 €

Return transfer incl. own bike (minimum 4 persons), Emden – Münster

149 €

Return transfer excl. own bike (minimum 4 persons), Emden – Münster

119 €

All prices are per person

Additional nights

Room
Breakfast
Price
Emden
 DBL

69 €

 SGL

109 €

Münster
 DBL

69 €

 SGL

99 €

All prices are per person

Rental Bikes

Rental Bikes

Rental Bike
Rental Bike
99 €
E-Bike
E-Bike
239 €

Types of rental bikes

  • 7-gear unisex bike, hub gears with back-pedal brakes
  • 21-gear unisex bike, derailleur with freewheel
  • E-bike
Fittings

Pannier, bike lock, handlebar back, breakdown kit

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7- or 21-gear Rental bike

99 €

E-bike

239 €

All prices are per person

Brief Information

  • Booking Code
    NW-EMME7
  • Start / Destination
    Münster / Emden
  • Duration
    8 days / 7 nights
  • Length
    approx. 275 km
    Daily routes ●●●○○
    between 35 and 65 km, Ø 45 km
    Altitude profile ●○○○○
  • Notes
    Travel documents available only in German!
  • Parking information
    Parking available at first hotel, approx. 17 € / day.
    No reservation possible through Radweg-Reisen.
  • Return to Münster
    Optional: travel by minibus incl. bike, min. 4 persons. Please include this option in your original booking. Self-organised by train, hourly connection, duration approx. 2 hours
  • Tour operated by
    Local cooperation partner
  • Mobility note
    This holiday is suitable to only a limited extent for people with restricted mobility.
    Please contact us if you have individual requirements.

Tage
8

Ø km pro Tag
45