Lake Constance Bike Tour with a Trip to the Rhine Falls

You’ll start your Lake Constance bike tour in Constance, the largest city in the region. Six hundred years ago, it was the site of a church council and the only papal election north of the Alps. In Konstanz, the Rhine flows out of Lake Constance, marking kilometer 0 on its long journey to the North Sea. Just a few minutes’ walk from the medieval old town lies the Swiss city of Kreuzlingen, with its lively harbor.

The first leg of your Lake Constance bike tour takes you to Reichenau, known as the “Vegetable Island,” whose monastery wielded far-reaching influence in the 10th century and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. Take a boat across to Gaienhofen and cycle along the Höri Peninsula—where Hermann Hesse once lived—to the small Swiss town of Stein am Rhein with its beautiful old town. Here, you’ll leave Lake Constance for the time being and follow the Rhine for about 20 kilometers to Schaffhausen. Be sure to visit the Rhine Falls here in the afternoon—they’re truly impressive. In the summer, 600,000 liters of water per second plunge over the rocks.

Today begins at a leisurely pace with a boat ride on the beautiful Upper Rhine to Stein am Rhein. Here, you can enjoy the scenery from a different perspective. The journey continues across the Höri Peninsula to the spa town of Radolfzell. On the way across the Bodanrück, countless orchard meadows line the route to today’s destination: Ludwigshafen or Überlingen, with its numerous parks, gardens, and green spaces.

Today, your Lake Constance bike tour takes you past the Birnau Pilgrimage Church and the Pile-Dwelling Museum. Meersburg, the medieval town, is beautifully situated on a steep vineyard slope. Don’t miss a tour of the castle! Afterward, you’ll cycle past more vineyards toward Friedrichshafen.

Today’s stage takes you first through Langenargen. Here, the charming Montfort Castle, built in the Moorish style, stands right on the shore of Lake Constance. Along Lake Constance, you’ll ride through orchards to the Bavarian city of Lindau, whose old town is situated on an island in the lake and whose harbor is guarded by a lion. After a few kilometers, you’ll enter Austria and cycle right along the lake to the festival city of Bregenz.

Stroll through the superbly preserved Upper Town of Bregenz. Near Hard, you’ll cross the Rhine as it flows from the Swiss Alps; its estuary is an important nature reserve. On Swiss soil, in Altenrhein, stands the Hundertwasser Hall, the famous artist’s last colorful building. You’ll cycle along the lakeshore to the southernmost tip of Lake Constance, to Rorschach.

The last day of the Lake Constance bike tour takes you through the canton of Thurgau, which is best known for its delicious apples. You’ll cycle back to Konstanz along the lakeshore, passing through small, picturesque villages. Along the way, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to cool off in the water. Be sure to glance back over your shoulder every now and then—the majestic panorama of the Alps seems close enough to touch! And what’s a visit to Switzerland without the obligatory Swiss chocolate!

Your Lake Constance bike tour ends after breakfast. However, we'd be happy to help you extend your vacation in  Constance.