Cycling Lake Constance Area - Austria, Switzerland & Germany
Explore Lake Constance, Lake Zurich and Lake Walen; on this international route you will be able to enjoy the differences and similarities between the Lake Constance countries of Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria. This easy tour allows you to experience the Mediterranean flair of Lake Constance through to the Churfirsten Mountains.
- Munot Fortress in Schaffhausen is worth a visit
- Rheinfall waterfalls by boat
- Take a stroll in the principalty of Liechenstein
- Enjoy the Alpen meadows and visit the UNESCO library at St. Gallen
- Total distance: 330 km, 205 mi.
The indicated routes on Google Maps are approximate.
Day 1 Individual arrival in Constance
The largest town on Lake Constance is still quiet Medieval in character to this day and in 1414 hosted the only church council ever to take place north of the Alps.
Day 2 Cycling trip: Constance - Schaffhausen
Distance: 50 km, 31 mi. Today's cycling tour will take you along the romantic Lower Lake through small fishing villages and the well-known town of Stein am Rhein. The Canton capital of Schaffhausen is towered over by the Munot Fortress. There are over 170 oriels in the town which testify to the former wealth of the citizens.
Day 3 Cycling trip: Schaffhausen - Zurich
Distance: 65 km, 40 mi.The first highlight of your bike trip today is the Rheinfall waterfall, which you will approach by boat. The Glatt valley will lead you on to Zurich, the fascinating cosmopolitan Swiss city.
Day 4 Cycling trip: Zurich - Lachen
Distance: 40 km, 25 mi. Today you will cycle along the banks of Lake Zurich, which is also known locally as the Gold Coast, until you come to Rapperswil with its old castle and cross over the lake using the dam. You will come to the small little town of Lachen on the opposite shore.
Day 5 Cycling trip: Lachen - Walenstadt
Distance: 30 km, 19 mi. Today's bike tour is along the Linth Canal, the man-made canal between Lake Zurich and Lake Walen, and come to Weesen. Here you will board a boat which will take you to the other end of the lake and Walenstadt. The Lake is 150 m deep and is towered over by the 1,800 m high Churfirsten Mountains.
Day 6 Cycling trip: Walenstadt - Feldkirch
Distance: 55 km, 34 mi. After a few kilometres you will come to the valley of the Alpenrhein. From here you will quickly reach the principality of Liechtenstein, where numerous, impressive castles tower over the valley. The medieval town of Feldkirch is on Austrian ground.
Day 7 Cycling trip: Feldkirch - St. Gallen
Distance: 45 km, 28 mi. You will continue to follow along the Rhine for a little longer, then a cog-wheel railway will bring you up to Appenzell countryside, to Gais. Alpen meadows and cows, like those from children’s books will accompany you on your way to St. Gallen which is home to one of the formerly most important monasteries in the region. The library is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Day 8 Cycling trip: St. Gallen - Constance
Distance: 45 km, 28 mi. You will cycle downhill towards Lake Constance today, which you will reach at the town of Arbon. From here you will cycle along the shoreline through Swiss villages and apple orchards on towards Constance.
Day 9 Individual return home or an extension of your trip
After breakfast your bike tour through four countries comes to an end.
Included:
- 8 nights in double rooms with breakfast in family-run, medium class hotels (for an image selection, please see Flickr)
- Entrance to the Rosgartenmuseum Constance incl. 1 coffee
- Boat trip to the Rhinefall rocks
- Train journey from Altstätten - Gais incl. bicycle
- Boat trip Weesen - Walenstadt incl. bicycle
- Luggage transport from hotel to hotel, unlimited number of pieces of luggage, each piece must however weigh under 20 kg.
- Telephone assistance
- Detailed route description and map in English
Not included:
- Flights and public transportation
- Travel insurance
- Bike rental
- Any items not mentioned in the program
Optional services (to be booked in advance):
- Additional night(s) at any of the accommodations (please use booking remarks field)
- Airport or station arrival and/or departure transfers
- Single supplement
- Bike rental 7- and 21-Gear $Cdn 93.-, E-Bike $Cdn 180.-
Additional information:
The route runs mainly along its own cycle paths and separate cycle routes. The route is mainly flat but in Appenzell is a little hilly.
How to get there:
The closest commercial airports (all within about 2 hours' drive of the lake) are in Friedrichshafen, Stuttgart, Zurich, Basel and Innsbruck.
By train via Zurich is the shortest option to Constance (1 hour and 20 minutes). From Stuttgart it will take about 2.5 hours.
Tip: For online rail connections and reservations visit Rail Europe.
