Tour
Arrive at Cologne in time and visit the famous Cologne Cathedral and the picturesque old town.
With Cologne humor in the baggage you leave the cathedral city and cycle along the banks of the Rhine till you reach the medieval town of Zons. This fortress city with a city wall still entirely preserved is also called the Rothenburg of the Rhineland'. It features the mighty Rhine Tower from 1388, the Juddeturm with baroque dome and a windmill with a wooden mill from the 17th century. You continue cycling the Rhine cycle path and in the afternoon you reach Düsseldorf's Old Town, also known as "the longest bar in the world'. This expression leads back to the 250 pubs, restaurants and bars, lined up in the streets of the old town. Relax with a real Düsseldorf Altbier at Castle Square and enjoy a wonderful view of the Rhine. This square with the area around the castle tower was named as one of the most beautiful squares in Germany.
Again directly on the Rhine you cycle first to Kaiserswerth with the picturesque ruins of "Kaiserpfalz". Shortly after you take the ferry to cross the river to the left side of the Rhine. Here you take a short sidetrip to see the Moated Castle Linn. The green floodplains drain away and make space for impressive industrial architecture until the cycle path leads on the right side of the Rhine to the river mouth of the Ruhr. From here it is only a short distance to downtown Duisburg. Here it is worthwhile to take a boat tour of the largest inland port in Europe before you let the evening fade away in one of the many bars and restaurants at the harbor and waterfront.
With a short transfer (6 minutes) you get to the district Duisburg Meiderich and from here you can cycle directly to the Landscape Park "Landschaftspark Duisburg Nord" , a 200-hectare disused steelwork. It is possible to take a guided tour about industrial history and climb the blast furnace. Visitors can walk through the former ore bunkers and get explanation about casthouse, Gasometer and Gebläsehalle. After this impressive visit, which certainly is considered a highlight of this bike trip, you follow a comfortable bike path on an old railway line to the River Rhine. After a few kilometers you cycle on the left side of the river through rural idyll and nature reserves at the Lower Rhine to the Hanseatic city of Wesel with his Prussian Museum. A day of biking can not be more varied!
Today the Rhine cycle path leads first to Xanten with the historic downtown, the splendidly decorated St. Victor's Cathedral and the Archaeological Park and Roman Museum, which is by itself worth a trip. From here you continue the route along inviting bathing lakes and enjoy beautiful views of the wild Rhine-current to the amusement park "Wunderland Kalkar". Finally you reach the longest suspension bridge in Germany, also called as Golden Gate on the Lower Rhine. Your destination is the old Hanseatic city of Emmerich with the beautiful Rhine promenade, which still invites to an end-of-day stroll.
Also today's stage holds new impressions ready. Already in the morning you cross by ferry the Rhine to the Dutch side and cycle past the point where the river divides into Waal and Niederrijn. Here one speaks of the Rhine Delta, which extends until the North Sea. Follow the Niederrijn on raised causeways, through locks and bridges to the old city of Arnhem, where you not only enjoy a varied shopping offer. In the Information Centre „Brücke von Arnheim“ you can indulge in history and in the open air museum you can visit more than 80 historic Dutch houses and windmills.
Time passes far too quickly and your trip ends after breakfast in Arnhem. If you would like to return to Cologne, we recommend our practical return transfer service (every Saturday), which takes you directly from your hotel in Arnhem back to your starting hotel.
Map
Prices / Dates
Services/Infos
- Accommodation incl. breakfast: Comfortable middle-class hotels, mostly in the center
- 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
- Guided Tour in the Park Landschaftspark Duisburg Nord (in German Language, Mai to September)
Worth knowing about the bike tour Rhine: from Cologne to Arnhem
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
Cologne is easy to reach by train from all major cities in Germany. Our partner hotels in Cologne are all located in the city center and are easy to reach by public transport from the main train station. Information on train connections can be found on www.bahn.de.
Parking facilities at the arrival location
Our partner hotels in Cologne always offer good parking facilities for the entire duration of your cycle tour. You will also find various paid parking garages near the hotels.
You will receive detailed information about the parking facilities at the hotel you have booked with your detailed travel documents two weeks before the start of your trip.
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
Every saturday at 8 am you have the possibility to go by transfer back to Cologne with a small bus (with bike trailer). Arrival at 2 pm. The driver comes to pick you up at your hotel and has much room for you, your luggage and where required your own bicycle. He will drive you back to your starting hotel and thus ensure a perfect return service without the hassle of changing buses and lugging suitcases around.
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 Rhine ferries and the S-Bahn in Duisburg are not included and must be paid for locally. 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