2026
Der Ems-Radweg

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 ●○○○○

Days
8

Ø km per day
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
  • Accommodation level
    national 3* / 4* level
  • Duration
    8 days / 7 nights
  • Arrival days
    Saturdays
  • Travel documents Languages
    German, English, Dutch, French
  • Print version PDF
    incl. hotel examples
  • Parking information
    Parking at the start hotel, costs approx. 15 – 20 € / day. No reservation possible through Radweg-Reisen.
  • Return to Münster
    Optionally by minibus, from 4 people, must be specified when booking.
    Alternatively on your own by train, connections every hourly, duration approx. 2 hours, without changing trains.

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Ems Cycling Tour

Day 1: Individual arrival in Münster

Do not 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 lake near Münster

The Aasee lake 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.

Lingen town hall

Lingen town hall

Day 4: Lingen – Meppen, approx. 40 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.

Meppen Town Hall

Meppen Town Hall

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.

Museum ship and Papenburg town hall

Museum ship and Papenburg 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 city of Leer

The city 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.

Harbor gate in Emden

Harbor gate in Emden

Day 8: Individual departure

After breakfast you start your individual return journey home or extend your stay.

The Emden city harbor

The Emden city harbor

Dates / Prices / Services

Season times and prices 2026

Arrival on Saturdays from 18.04.2026 to 03.10.2026Early booking discount: -20 €

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

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Season A
18.04. - 25.04.
03.10.
from849 €
Season B
02.05. - 09.05.
19.09. - 26.09.
from899 €
Season C
16.05. - 12.09.

from949 €

All prices per person in a double room

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Services

  • 7 nights with breakfast, national 3* / 4* level
  • Luggage transport from hotel to hotel to Emden, no limit on the number of pieces, max. 20 kg / piece
  • Digital travel documents and route navigation via app
  • Service hotline (7 days, 08.00 a.m. – 08.00 p.m.)
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Not included is the city or visitor's tax (if payable).

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Children discounts

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%

Applies when sharing a room with two full-paying guests.

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Additional services

Additional bookable services

Additional fee single room

289 €

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

235 €

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

189 €

Travel document package (1 x per room)

20 €

All prices are per person

Additional nights

Room
Breakfast
Price
Emden
 DBL

85 €

 SGL

125 €

Münster
 DBL

89 €

 SGL

159 €

All prices are per person

Rental bikes

Rental Bikes

Rental Bike
Rental Bike
99 €
30-Gear Rental Bike
30-Gear Rental Bike
179 €
E-Bike
E-Bike
289 €

Types of rental bikes

  • 7-gear unisex bike, hub gears with coaster brake (men's bike from 1.80 m)
  • 24-gear unisex bike, derailleur gears with freewheel (men's bike from 1,80 m)
  • 30-gear trapezoidal frame, derailleur gear, sporty with freewheel
  • E-bike / pedelec
Fittings

Pannier, handlebar bag, milometer, bike lock, pump, repair kit (1 x per room)

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Route profile

  • Start / Destination
    Münster / Emden
  • Length
    approx. 280 km
    Daily  routes ●●●○○
    between 35 and 65 km, Ø 45 km
    Altitude profile ●○○○○
    between 40 and 210 hm, Ø 110 hm
  • Tour operated by
    Local cooperation partner
  • Mobility note
    The trip is only conditionally suitable for people with limited mobility. Please do not hesitate to contact us regarding your individual needs.

Days
8

Ø km per day
45