Bicycle the Best of Bavaria Plus! Munich

Bavaria
  • Length 11 days
  • From USD$5800
  • Style/Level Classic 2.0
  • Countries Germany
  • Begin/End Rothenburg/Munich
See related tours

Bicycle Germany’s famous Romantic Road from Rothenburg to Fussen and the edge of the Austrian Alps before pedaling to Munich along vibrant bike paths that weave through peaceful forests. This route provides a link back in time, extending from the Roman occupation of Transalpine Gaul into the Medieval and Renaissance periods. Today some of the best-preserved towns and villages from the 15th through the 18th century are strung like pearls throughout Bavaria. You’ll bicycle through a Grimm’s brothers fairy tale landscape and gain a better understanding of this historic part of central Europe. A visit to the extraordinary Neuschwanstein Castle and pedaling into the Austrian Alps are memorable highlights we’ll explore in Upper Bavaria. Our updated itinerary goes deeper into Bavaria to feature more alpine views yet the cycling stays relatively mild. The last few days now follow in the footsteps of the “Blaue Reiter,” a famous group of “Blue Rider” expressionist artists who often traveled between Murnau and Munich, the capital of the region. You’ll get a taste of the landscape and culture that forged the stereotypical image of Bavaria while enjoying its perfect combination of cycling, nature, history and the occasional spa hotel.

If this sounds great, but you prefer a shorter tour, join us on our 8-day Bicycle the Best of Bavaria tour.

Highlights

  • Rothenburg on the Tauber, Creglingen, Dinkelsbühl, Landsberg, Ausburg, Castle Neuschwantstein, Donauwörth, Murnau, Munich

Includes

  • 11 days, 10 nights accommodation

  • meals as noted in itinerary

  • wine and beer tasting

  • a guided visit of Neuschwanstein castle

  • and, the usual (see below).

  • All Classic tour inclusions

Keep in mind

We work hard to maintain consistency across all of our tours, but some trips have unique differences. Here are some things to keep in mind about this tour.

Small sections of hard-packed dirt paths. A/C or fans may not always be available as they have traditionally not been needed. Separated twin beds are rare; instead there will be two mattresses together that sit on the same base.

Small roads or excellent bike paths with very little traffic.


Date Price Private room fee Note
Jul 16-26, 2025 USD$5800 USD$650 Book by November 1st and save $200 per person
Aug 27-Sep 6, 2025 USD$5800 USD$650 Book by November 1st and save $200 per person 
DateJul 16-26, 2025
PriceUSD$5800
Private room feeUSD$650
NoteBook by November 1st and save $200 per person
DateAug 27-Sep 6, 2025
PriceUSD$5800
Private room feeUSD$650
NoteBook by November 1st and save $200 per person 

Download Itinerary

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  • Total distance 508km/316mi
  • Average daily distance 57km/35mi
  • Tour style Classic
  • Tour level 2.0

Highlights: Rothenburg’s market square, the Town Hall and the Medieval town

Welcome to the fascinating Medieval village of Rothenburg. Perched high above the meanders of the Tauber River, surrounded by its 14th and 15th century walls, Rothenburg looks perfectly preserved although the town center was rebuilt after WWII. After fitting bikes this afternoon we’ll gather for introductions and dinner together.

Meals : Dinner
Lodging : Hotel Glocke

Highlights: Loop ride to Creglingen, cellar visit, explore Rothenburg

Take your time to enjoy this fabulous medieval city and the views it offers of the Tauber valley. Today we have a relaxing ride towards Creglingen cycling our first miles on the famous Romantische Strasse along the Tauber River. Explore Creglingen with its half-timbered houses, before heading back through Bavaria’s picturesque countryside. After the ride, there is still plenty of time to enjoy the market center and the streets lined with Gothic and half-timber houses, and take a tour on the walls of the city, or explore them on your own. This afternoon we will visit a special cellar with a beautiful collection of rare varietals. Then we will continue our wine education and meet one of the last vintners in Rothenburg, who just so happens to own our hotel.

Meals : Breakfast
Lodging : Hotel Glocke

Highlights: Medieval towns of Feuchtwangen and Dinkelsbühl

We ride over undulating farmlands from one fairy tale village to another today. In contrast to Rothenburg on the Tauber, Dinkelsbühl is indeed nearly perfectly preserved from the middle ages. As early as the 11th century, the town was a major center at the intersection of two medieval trade routes. Tonight is another opportunity to enjoy the rewards of a good handcrafted German kitchen at our top rated hotel restaurant.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging : Hotel Deutsches Haus

Highlights: Ries Basin meteor impact crater, medieval town of Donauwörth, Danube River

The landscape changes today as we pedal across the 12-17 mile wide, nearly circular Ries Basin. Unlike most of the areas we bike, which are a mixture of forests and farmlands, the geology of this area doesn’t allow rich forest lands. We are back in the “typical” landscape of Bavaria as we approach historic Donauwörth on the banks of the Danube, western Europe’s longest river.

Meals : Breakfast
Lodging : Hotel zur Promenade

Highlights: Lech River, the Cassian Way, Augsburg, brewery visit

Our ride today takes us up the Lech River valley to Augsburg, which was founded by the Roman emperor Augustus in 15 BC. As you might expect, there is plenty to see here this afternoon. We will visit the award-winning Riegele Brauerei brewery and taste some of their modern beers before a traditional Bavarian dinner.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging : Hotel Dom

Highlights: Landsberg, the “Bavarian Gate”

As we bicycle from Augsburg to Landsberg we are back in the forests and farmlands, which are densely settled with small villages and hamlets all along the way. Under the Holy Roman Empire in the medieval period, Landsberg was a fortified border town separating the duchy of Swabia from that of Bavaria. Historic walls, towers and gates define the architecture of the community, including one of the best town gates in Germany, the “Bavarian Gate.”

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging : Hotel Goggl

Highlights: The ancient Claudia Augusta Way, Rosshaupten

Today we continue to parallel the Lech River and the ancient Claudia Augusta Way, which eventually became the medieval trade route that gave its name to the “Romantic Way.” Our destination is Füssen. The town sits near King Ludwig’s most famous castle, Neuschwanstein, at the foot of the Austrian Alps. We’ll enjoy a special farewell dinner for those who end their bicycle journey of Bavaria here.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging : Hotel Sonne

Highlights: Füssen, Neuschwanstein Castle, Alps and lakes views

The “faux” medieval Neuschwanstein Castle was built by “Fairy Tale” King Ludwig in the late 19th century and is one of the most famous attractions in southern Germany. A predecessor and inspiration for the Disney-style castles that have captured the imagination of children for a century and a half. We’ll pedal to the castle for a 35-minute guided visit. Afterwards, those who wish can continue along the loop for more spectacular views of the Alps while others can return to Füssen on a shorter ride.

Meals : Breakfast
Lodging : Hotel Sonne

Highlights: Authentic Bavarian countryside; bike paths; many lakes

We dive deep into authentic Bavaria today, pedaling through rural farmland and traditional Bavarian farm houses. We’ll be passing along lots of small lakes which dot the landscape, as we pedal on a mix of rural roads as well as bike paths. Our destination today was a retreat for the Munich-based “Blaue Reiter,” a short-lived (1911-1914) artistic movement founded by Expressionist painters Vassilli Kandinsky and Franz Marc. Their gathering location, the Russenhaus, hid many of the artists paintings during the Nazi era. Today their works are visible at the Enbachhaus Museum in Munich.

Meals : Breakfast
Lodging : Hotel Angerbräu

Highlights: Cycling along Starnberger Lake; entering Munich, capital of Bayern.

Following in the footsteps of the German Expressionists, our ride contours the Starnberger Lake and then the Isar River before entering the capital of Bavaria: Munich. The landscape will transition from rural countryside to increasingly residential areas before we take a bike path to enter the center of the city! This part of Upper Bavaria was also of inspiration to Nobel Prize winner Heisenberg, one of the founders of quantum mechanics. He said that reading Plato in the Bavarian Alps was one of his fonts of inspiration!

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging : Hotel Concorde

Highlights: Guided city walk of Munich

We’ll enjoy a guided city walk this morning before saying “auf Wiederschaun.”

Meals : Breakfast

Visit our Tour Level page to learn more about terrain levels and how we determine day and tour levels.



Pre-trip planning checklist

Germany travel planning page



  • Beautiful scenery and mostly quiet bike paths.

    Regina J., Nashville, TN – August 2024
  • A lovely, easy-to-moderate tour of Bavaria. Beautiful scenery, great guides, interesting culture, great food and drink, lovely lodgings.

    Geoffrey L., Santa Cruz, CA – August 2024
  • A comfortable ride. Plenty of time to see the sights.

    Scott B., Nashville, TN – August 2024