Germany’s cycling infrastructure boasts a range of bike-friendly accommodations that support … More cyclists, like Bed+Bike establishments and a public transport system where travelers can take their bikes for low cost or even free of charge.

German National Tourist Office

For cycling enthusiasts dreaming of their next big adventure, Germany is rich with options. The country has developed a robust cycling network of more than 320 routes, covering some 62,000 miles through country landscapes and storied cities, taking in everything from culinary hot spots to cultural landmarks.

And Germany’s extensive cycling infrastructure boasts a range of bike-friendly accommodations that support cyclists, like Bed+Bike establishments and a public transport system where travelers can take their bikes for low cost or even free of charge

“For good reason, Germany is one of the most popular destinations for cycling tourists,” Jill Warren, the chief executive of the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), told Forbes, “with a network of well-developed routes and options that cater to all ages and abilities.”

The German National Tourist Office offers a series of links, like one with a comprehensive list of cycle paths for adventure seekers, for travel locations “from the picturesque Baltic Sea coastline to the majestic Alps.”

Everyone from nature lovers and foodies to history buffs can get their fix. For example, cyclists can imagine “the glorious heyday of knights, barons and princes” while biking through parks, meadows and pastures on the 100 Castles and Palaces Route, or ride the Berlin Wall Trail for a tour of old West Berlin that runs along the border patrol paths in the west and the paths used by East German border guards for surveillance trips in the east. Along the way, bicyclists can encounter the last remaining watchtowers, museums and memorials, and the modern-day city center.

The Baden Wine Cycle Route, in southwest Germany, is recommended for wine and food lovers as well as families. Sites along the way include some 300 vineyards and a stop at the Roman Museum in Heitersheim to learn about the history of wine growing in the region.

Two travelers cycling through vineyards in Sasbachwalden. Sites along the Baden Wine Cycle Route in … More southwest Germany include some 300 vineyards and a stop at the Roman Museum in Heitersheim to learn about the history of wine growing in the region.

German National Tourist Office

A link to popular routes, like those along the Weser, Danube, Ruhr, and Moselle rivers, are cited for their beautiful scenery, but also for their well-maintained paths, clear signage, and amenities along the way, making them attractive options for cyclists of all levels.

A pick your favorite region link helps cyclists locate routes in seven different geographic areas, and a link to the Bed+Bike network directs them to bike-friendly accommodations. Nearly 6,000 hosts in Germany specialize in catering to cycling guests, according to the German National Tourist Office, including traditional accommodations like hotels and guesthouses, but also holiday homes, apartments, and campsites.

Another great source for inspiration and information is the EuroVelo cycle route, a network that stretches across 38 countries, coordinated by the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), a Brussels-based non governmental association with more than 70 member organizations in over 40 countries. The federation advocates cycling as a sustainable and healthy form of transport and leisure.

The German national routes and EuroVelo routes overlap.

European Cyclists’ Federation (E.C.F.)

Ten EuroVelo routes in Germany are integrated in the German Cycle Network (Radnetz Deutschland ), a system of 14 long-distance cycle routes that connects all regions of Germany. The German Unity Cycle Route, for example, runs nearly 684 miles from the former federal capital Bonn to the current seat of government in Berlin.

Other highlights include the EuroVelo 15 – Rhine Cycle Route, the EuroVelo 6 – Atlantic-Black Sea Route, which goes along the Danube River, and the EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail, from the Baltic Sea coast along the former inner-German border to Czechia.

The full, more than 6500-mile Iron Curtain Trail is one of the longest EuroVelo routes, featuring 14 UNESCO sites and passing through 20 countries, and “is the only EuroVelo route with the designation of Certified Cultural Route,” said Warren, of the ECF.

To learn more about cycling in Germany, click here, here, and here. For more information about EuroVelo routes in Germany, click here.