Rhineland cycling

You begin your journey with a bike ride through the inner green belt in Cologne, past the Aachener Weiher and the Lindenthal canals, to the outer green belt. Enjoy the varied urban landscape of the cathedral city from a green perspective! Cycle past the Cologne forest laboratory and through the wide farmland to the Ville forests. You pass the Marienfeld, a local recreation area that was created from the recultivated Frechen brown coal open-cast mine. Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the closing mass on the Pope's Hill in the Marienfeld at the Catholic World Youth Day in 2005. You quickly reach the Erft, a tributary of the Rhine, with its unique floodplain landscape in the immediate vicinity of Mödrath Castle near Kerpen. The Michael Schumacher Kart & Event Center is a household name, especially for motorsport fans. 

After a short drive you will reach Bergheim. Here you will find the RWE information center with an exhibition on the Rhenish lignite mining area and Paffendorf Castle. The complex, built in the 16th century, is surrounded by moats and invites you to take a stroll in the castle park with its extensive water areas, old sequoias and giant cedars.

Overnight place: Bergheim

Today's cycle route follows the Erft - past Frimmersdorf - into the local recreation area of ​​Grevenbroich. With the Museum Insel Hombroich and the Clemens-Sels-Museum, culture is the order of the day on this stage. The extremely scenic route along the Erft offers a 7 km long branch via Langwaden Monastery and Hülchrath Castle. You will soon reach Neuss - here the Erft flows into the Rhine. You first follow the Rhine cycle path on the left bank of the Rhine before crossing the Rhine to Düsseldorf's Rhine promenade and old town. In the evening, enjoy a Düsseldorf Altbier and the fantastic view of the Rhine!

Overnight place: Düsseldorf

After breakfast, you start with a short cycle route back through busy Neuss and then follow the Rhine cycle path on the left bank of the Rhine to Cologne. 

The Zonser Grind, a nature reserve on a peninsula on the Rhine, and the Dormagen Tannenbusch let you take a deep breath. From Knechtsteden Monastery, the route leads through medieval Zons towards Cologne. The spires of Cologne Cathedral show you the way! In the evening, a visit to the city's numerous breweries is tempting, offering typical Cologne specialties such as Himmel und Äd mit Flönz, Halve Hahn, Döppekooche, Rheinischer Sauerbraten, Kölsche Kaviar and Nonnenfüzje. 

On this stage, discover the Rhineland with all its facets: rural idyll and urban diversity!

Overnight place: Cologne

Today's cycling day is also all about the Rhine! You follow the Rhine cycle path and cycle to the old federal capital Bonn in the morning. Bonn stands for German politics and democracy like no other place. Authentic sites of German politics, such as the Palais Schaumburg, the Chancellor's Bungalow or the former Federal Council Chamber, can still be visited and illustrate the historical and political context of events from the post-war period to reunification in 1990. But Bonn is not just the former federal capital! Its reputation as a city of art extends far. As the city of Beethoven, Bonn commemorates its world-famous son with the Beethoven Festival, a series of concerts that spread the splendor of great classical music every September and October. Two of Germany's most important museums, the Bonn Art Museum and the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany, are also located here.

Review your impressions on a boat trip from Bonn to Cologne in the afternoon (including cycling) and enjoy the beauty of the Rhine from the water!

Overnight place: Cologne

Look forward to today's bike ride along the "Erlebnisroute Süd" to Brühl. Here, the UNESCO World Heritage Brühl Castles, Augustusburg Castle and Falkenlust Castle, welcome you: the castle park is one of the most important examples of French garden art in Europe. 

A visit to the Max Ernst Museum is highly recommended for anyone interested in art. It provides a comprehensive overview of the work of the Dadaist and Surrealist Max Ernst. For families, a trip to Phantasialand, which boasts the best roller coaster and water ride in Europe, is perfect! 

The return journey from Brühl to Cologne is possible by bike or by train (without changing trains), so you can plan enough time to explore Brühl.

Overnight place: Cologne

After breakfast your beautiful cycling tour along Erft & Rhine ends. 

We recommend booking an additional overnight stay in Cologne to ensure you have enough time to visit Cologne (Cathedral, Old Town, Rhine promenade, Chocolate Museum, Museum Ludwig, Flora and Botanical Garden, 4711 House, etc.) and visit the approximately 25 breweries.