Tour
Arrive early and look forward to the beautiful old town of Mainz with its half-timbered houses and medieval market square. Marvel at the renaissance-style market fountain with its red pillars and the Romanesque Mainz Cathedral with its deep red sandstone and the striking octagonal tower. If you have a lot of time, you can visit the Gutenberg Museum, which is dedicated to the inventor of the printing press. You will stay in the middle of the Mainz city park in the Favorite Parkhotel Mainz.
The beautiful first cycle route takes you through gentle vineyards and well-known wine- towns. Enjoy the unique atmosphere, where the Rhine still flows slowly. The Rhine even forms small romantic islands on this section or extends its riverbed to a width of up to 800 m! Take a break in the beautiful half-timbered town of Eltville and take a detour (+ 14 km) to the Eberbach monastery. You can expect to explore the mystical legacy of the Cistercian monks, fascinating monastery tours, a large monastery shop and a vinotheque where real treasures lie dormant. Take the opportunity to join a wine tasting before cycling on to Rüdesheim. A stroll through the world-famous street `Drosselgasse’ and a relaxed cable-car ride up to the Niederwald monument beckon. Your hotel - the 4-star Breuer's Rüdesheim Castle- is located between the quiet Steingasse and the lively Drosselgasse.
In the morning, the Rhine ferry takes you from Rüdesheim to Bingen, where the well-developed Rhine cycle path awaits you again. You follow it along the banks of the Rhine to Bacharach. On this first 16 km alone you will pass the Mäuseturm, the castles Rheinstein, Reichenstein, Sooneck Castle, Hohneck Castle and the Fürstenberg ruins. A photo stop is worthwhile everywhere! Climb the city wall in Bacharach. These historical city fortifications still clearly enclose the city in a semicircle. Along with the city wall in Oberwesel, it is the best-preserved city fortification on the Middle Rhine. Now it is not far to St. Goar. You can see your hotel from afar because you spend a romantic night in the 4-star superior Hotel Schloss Rheinfels high above the Rhine.
Today the route continues along the narrow Rhine Valley to the well-known wine town of Boppard. It's a turbulent place here, but you can also take the chairlift (or the 5,5 km long loop trail) to the Vierseenblick viewpoint to escape to wooded, quiet heights and again enjoy a wonderful view of the Rhine Valley. Or visit the well-preserved Marksburg and Stolzenfels Castle on the way to the Deutsches Eck -a famous headland in Koblenz-, where you can end the day. Visit the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, to which you can comfortably glide over by cable car or take a boat trip around the Deutsches Eck with a beautiful view of the old town. In Koblenz you stay in the modern Hotel Kleiner Riesen or in the Hotel Mercure, both of which are located directly on the Rhine promenade.
Cozy spa towns, inviting wine towns, old thermal baths and lively beer gardens await your visit. You cycle from one small highlight to the next on the flat Rhine cycle path. There are many castles and palaces along the way. Sayn, Neuwied, Andernach, Namedy, Brohl or Bad Breisig greet you with their palaces and castles. Take a break at the Bridge of Remagen, because here, where the former towers of the famous Bridge of Remagen protrude on the shore, a worth seeing Peace Museum has been set up today. On the right riverside, Bad Honnef soon beckons with its inviting pedestrian zone and the market square lined with numerous cafés. Then the Siebengebirge hill range moves into your field of vision. If you want, you can use the ferry to Königswinter to take the oldest cogwheel train in Germany up to the Drachenfels, which offers a fantastic view. From up here Bad Godesberg can already be seen on the other side of the Rhine. Look forward to your overnight stay at the Dreesen Boutique Hotel.
Again, the flat Rhine Cycle Path beckons, but also the old federal capital Bonn with numerous sights and interesting museums, before the Cologne Cathedral comes into focus. Your bike route is not too long today, so you still have plenty of time for all of Cologne's attractions. In the heart of the Rhine metropolis and only a few minutes away from the historical sights, you stay at the Steigenberger Hotel Cologne.
After breakfast, your lovely cycling holiday ends at the hotel. If you want to go back to Mainz, we recommend our return transfer service, which will take you directly from the hotel in Cologne back to the start.
MAP
Prices / Dates
Services / Info
- Accommodation incl. breakfast in hotels with a special ambience and city hotels
- Room with shower/bath/WC
- Luggage transport
- Map of bike trails with marked route
- Digital route guidance via smartphone app
- Tips for tour preparation
- Touristic information
- 7 days hotline service
Worth knowing about the bike tour Rhine: classic Mainz - Cologne with charming hotels
Below you will find specific and helpful information. If you have further questions about this trip, you simply call us: Phone: +49 (0)6421 – 886890.
Arrival by train
Mainz is easily accessible from all major cities in Germany by train. We recommend to take a taxi from the trainstation to get to you hotel. Current schedule information and price information can be found at www.bahn.de.
Parking facilities at the arrival location
The Favorite Parkhotel Mainz offers you free parking in front of the hotel or an underground car park (costs approx. 16,00 € per night) The Hyatt Regency Hotel Mainz has its own underground car park (approx. 19,00 € per 24 hours, max. vehicle height 2 m), (prices as of 2023). You will receive detailed information on parking facilities with your detailed travel documents approximately 2 weeks before arrival.
Condition of cycle paths
The route along the Rhine runs almost exclusively on asphalted and paved hiking and cycling trails or along quiet country roads. Driving in traffic is rare. From Mainz to Bad Godesberg, the route is marked with white and green signs, which always identify the next town. Also you will see blue signs with a yellow bike. On the last day cycling to Cologne will see the signs of the Rheinschiene route (square plates with blue wave symbol). Due to the consistently good signage the right way is easy to find.
Transfer back to the starting point of the journey
Thursdays and Saturdays at 11 am there is the possibility to transfer back to Mainz with a small bus (with bike trailer). Arrival at 2 pm. The driver picks you up at your hotel and has room for you, your luggage and your own bicycle. The bus takes you back to your first hotel, thus ensuring a perfect return service without the hassle of hauling luggage.
Your accommodation
Mainz
Favorite Parkhotel: Enjoy this unique location near the Mainz rose garden. After a first tour of the city, you will find peace and relaxation in the extensive grounds of the city park. In the evening you can enjoy an aperitif on the outside terrace and dinner in the restaurant. The rooftop spa and the in-house wine bar offer you the opportunity to end the evening very relaxed.
Rüdesheim
Breuer's Rüdesheim Castle: The hotel is located between the quiet Steingasse and the lively Drosselgasse. The 4-star wine hotel in the former Zehnthof is characterized by wine, art and design. The 26 individual hotel rooms are modern and lovingly furnished. And the next morning you can have breakfast in the winter garden or in the castle garden, depending on the weather.
St. Goar
Hotel Rheinfels Castle: You spend a romantic night in the 4-star superior Hotel Schloss Rheinfels high above the Rhine. What was once the mightiest fortress on the Rhine offers a unique panoramic view of the Loreley valley. Poets and thinkers of German Romanticism were once inspired by the splendor of nature and culture. Today you can enjoy traditional hospitality in a historical ambience. Look forward to a comfortable room with exquisite antiques and the spacious wellness area with swimming pool, saunas and fitness room.
Koblenz
Hotel Kleiner RIesen: The family-run 3-star hotel with lovingly furnished rooms is located on the Rhine promenade near the Deutsches Eck. Relax in the bistro and enjoy excellent Italian ice cream, cakes or homemade delicacies with a wonderful view of the Rhine.
Mercure Hotel: This hotel is located directly on the Rhine near the Electoral Palace. The old town, the Deutsches Eck and the cable car to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress are just a short walk away. Relax in the sauna area after the bike tour and a short sightseeing tour. The Finesse restaurant has regional specialties ready for you. End the day in style on the Rhine terrace or in the piano bar.
Bad Godesberg
Boutique Hotel Dreesen: You can stay in an elegantly and modern styled, charming Art Nouveau villa in the middle of the Bad Godesberg villa district. There are two Art Nouveau villas that are connected by a glass bridge. If you want to pamper yourself with culinary delights in the evening, visit the "Halbedels Gasthaus", which is 5 minutes' walk away. The star chef Rainer Maria Halbedel cooks here. However you spend the evening, you can have breakfast in the light-flooded winter garden with plenty of space and direct access to the garden.
Cologne
Steigenberger Hotel: The modern rooms offer more than just accommodation. Comfortable furnishings include air conditioning, satellite TV, a desk, safe, minibar as well as a Nespresso coffee machine and a kettle for making tea. The unique summer terrace in the garden invites you to relax during the summer months. A cozy lounge atmosphere and delicious cocktails in the 19NullZwo bar offer the perfect place for a cool drink and a cozy end to your bike tour.
Train and bike along the Rhine
Along the route there are good rail connections, so you can always take the train for some sections.
Boat and bike along the Rhine
Particularly the Middle Rhine Valley a boat tour is a delightful addition to cycling. The major part of the passenger traffic on the Rhine route is done by the Cologne-Düsseldorf shipping company. Bicycles can be taken on all ships.
Extra costs which are not included in the tour price
The ferry crossing from Rüdesheim to Bingen is not included in the tour price and must be paid on site. Likewise, any tourism tax and charging fees for bicycle batteries are not included in the tour price and must therefore be paid at the hotel.
7 day hotline service
Just in case the bike chain breaks, flooding makes it impossible to continue your tour or any other nasty surprise: You can reach us seven days a week and we will do anything to help you as fast as possible.
Passport and visa requirements
For EU citizens, there are no special passport or visa requirements and no health formalities to be considered for this trip.
Travel insurance
The tour price already includes the statutory insolvency insurance. In addition, we recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance upon receipt of your travel confirmation in order to protect yourself against financial disadvantages in the event of travel cancellation, interruption of travel, illness or accident.
For all those who want to combine comfort with sustainability and only require digital travel documents, we grant a discount of € 20.00 per room.
Please let us know at the time of booking whether you would like to use printed or digital travel documents.
Available rental bikes
We would recommend the 7-speed tourer for all those that are looking for a back-pedal brake and wide gel seat for maximum comfort in an upright sitting position. It is equipped with a simple hub gear shift and is perfectly suited to tours on flat to slightly hilly terrain.
The 27-speed tourer is the best choice for cyclists that value the advantages of the dérailleur gear shift for flexibility whilst going up and down hills. This bike allows you to be a little more active without compromising on saddle comfort and practical everyday suitability.
E-bikes combine a lot of advantages. The electric drive ensures a completely relaxed cycling, even during long tours or on hilly routes. Other features, such as a suspension seat post and front fork plus well-tuned gears, ensure additional riding comfort.
I provide you with advice and assistance
Steffi Groß