4 Countries Cycling Holiday

Explore Lake Constance, Lake Zurich and Lake Walen as well as the impressive Rhein Falls on this cosmopolitan cycling holiday that visits four different countries; Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria.

The trip is packed with lots of wonderful places to visit and things to see. Starting and finishing in Constance itself, a charming university city with winding cobbled streets and a small harbour lined with half-timbered buildings, the route leads you first alongside the romantic Untersee (lower lake) to the enchanting town of Stein am Rhein with its fairytale market square.

Rapperswil

Cycle to the canton (state) capital of Schaffhausen, dominated by a majestic sixteenth century fort; take a boat trip to the spectacular Rhine Falls – the largest plain waterfall in Europe; spend the night in vibrant, cosmopolitan Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city, where you’ll be spoilt for choice with its upmarket shops and restaurants, theatres, museums and galleries. Cycle through scenic towns and alpine villages such as Rapperswill on Lake Zurich, stopping to explore at your leisure.

This self-guided tour follows cycle paths, quiet lanes and minor roads. The route is mostly flat but you will encounter some slightly more hilly sections in the Appenzell region on route to St. Gallen.

4 Countries Cycling Holiday

Explore Lake Constance, Lake Zurich and Lake Walen as well as the impressive Rhein Falls on this cosmopolitan cycling holiday that visits four different countries; Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria.

The trip is packed with lots of wonderful places to visit and things to see. Starting and finishing in Constance itself, a charming university city with winding cobbled streets and a small harbour lined with half-timbered buildings, the route leads you first alongside the romantic Untersee (lower lake) to the enchanting town of Stein am Rhein with its fairytale market square.

Rapperswil

Cycle to the canton (state) capital of Schaffhausen, dominated by a majestic sixteenth century fort; take a boat trip to the spectacular Rhine Falls – the largest plain waterfall in Europe; spend the night in vibrant, cosmopolitan Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city, where you’ll be spoilt for choice with its upmarket shops and restaurants, theatres, museums and galleries. Cycle through scenic towns and alpine villages such as Rapperswill on Lake Zurich, stopping to explore at your leisure.

This self-guided tour follows cycle paths, quiet lanes and minor roads. The route is mostly flat but you will encounter some slightly more hilly sections in the Appenzell region on route to St. Gallen.

Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrive Constance

Check into your first night’s hotel, then get out to explore – there’s lots to see! This charming university city on the shores of Lake Constance still has a medieval feel. Stroll around the pedestrianised Old Town with its winding cobbled streets, historic buildings – many with beautifully painted murals – and lively shops, cafes and bars. Don’t miss the famous Minster (cathedral), which dates from the seventh century and dominates the city’s skyline – climb to the top of the tower for some incredible views. Or perhaps take the opportunity to visit the island of Mainau.

Day 2 : Constance – Schaffhausen
31 miles/50 kms

Your first day’s cycling starts with a ride along the romantic Untersee (lower lake). You’ll cycle through tiny fishing villages and the enchanting town of Stein am Rhein – take a break to explore its well-preserved medieval centre, with half-timbered buildings and fairytale market square. From here you’ll cycle to your overnight stop in Schaffhausen. The city is the canton (state) capital and is dominated by the Munot, an imposing sixteenth century fort. After settling into your hotel we recommend a stroll through the picturesque Old Town, where many of the houses are richly decorated with oriel (bay) windows and lavish facades.

Day 3 : Schaffhausen – Rhine Falls – Zurich
43 miles/70 kms

After breakfast, it’s a short cycle ride to the Rhine Falls where you can board a boat for a close-up view of the incredible Rhine Falls, the largest plain waterfall in Europe (150m wide and 23m high!). Afterwards, cycle through the Glatt Valley to cosmopolitan Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city, where you’ll spend the night. Check out ritzy Bahnhofstrasse for upmarket shopping or head to the Niederdorf area in the Old Town for characterful, cobbled streets crammed with shops, cafes and restaurants. Top tip: don’t miss artist Marc Chagall’s extraordinary stained glass windows, created for the thirteenth century Fraumunster church in 1967.

Day 4 : Zurich – Lachen
28 miles/45 kms

Today you’ll cycle along the northern shore of Lake Zurich – known locally as the golden coast, due either to its sunny aspect or high property prices! Take a break in Rapperswil – dubbed ‘Rosenstadt’ or the town of roses – to admire its famous rose gardens. Then stroll through medieval alleys to the impressive, thirteenth century Rapperswil Castle, perched on a rocky hill overlooking the Old Town. Cross over Lake Zurich using the dam, then cycle along the shoreline to the little town of Lachen where you will spend the night.

Day 5 : Lachen – Vaduz
37 miles/60 kms

Leaving Lachen you’ll cycle along the Linth Canal, the man-made waterway between Lake Zurich and Lake Walen. At the village of Weesen, you’ll board a boat for an enjoyable cruise to the other end of the lake. You disembark in the town of Walenstadt overlooked by the stunning peaks of the Churfirsten mountain range. The stunning scenery continues as you cycle along the wide valley. The Rhine river then leads you into the time principality of Liechtenstein to the alpine town of Vaduz where you will overnight.

Day 6 : Vaduz – Altstätten – Gais – St. Gallen
27 miles/45 kms

Today you’ll continue to cycle alongside the Rhine for a little longer. Then you’re in for a treat: a cog-wheel mountain train ride from Altstätten up to the village of Gais. From here you’ll cycle across the alpine meadows to St.Gallen, one of the highest cities in Switzerland. The ride is a little hilly, but the superb views make it all worthwhile. Don’t miss the main attraction of St. Gallen, the Abbey of St. Gall and the Abbey Library, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Day 7 : St. Gallen – Arbon – Constance
27 miles/45 kms

After breakfast you’ll freewheel downhill from St. Gallen to the town of Arbon, on the shores of Lake Constance. Take a break to wander through the narrow medieval streets of the Old Town and visit Castle Arbon, which houses the town museum and features a great stone tower to climb. From Arbon you’ll enjoy an easy ride along the lake-shore past apple orchards and through charming waterfront villages before a triumphant return to Constance for the final night of your holiday.

Day 8 : Constance - end of trip

After breakfast it’s time to check out and return home, or head off on your next adventure.

Bikes

On this tour you can choose between a regular bike, a regular Plus bike or an electric bike.

Regular bikes are modern alloy framed models with 27 speeds. Male specific frames with a crossbar are available from a height of 175cm

The regular Plus bikes offer a more sporty riding position and a step up in terms of components (hydraulic diskbrakes, 30 speed Shimano XT gears). They also come with a suspension seat post. Male specific frames with a crossbar are available from a height of 175cm

Electric bikes are also available

All bikes come equipped with waterproof pannier, lock and pump. Per booking a repair kit is also included.

Helmets are not provided and we therefore recommend bringing your own.

Accommodation

Below you will find examples of the accommodations typically used on this tour. Please note that the hotels we book for you may differ slightly from those described but they will certainly be of a similar standard.

Comfort: Comfortable 3 star hotels and guesthouses.

Constance: Apartment Hotel

Schaffhausen: Hotel Park Villa

Zurich: Sorell Hotel Rex

Lachen: Hotel Bären

Vaduz: Vaduzer Hof

St. Gallen: Einstein

Constance: Apartment Hotel

Local taxes

Some hotels in some countries have started to charge a local/tourist tax. These taxes are not included in the sale price of the tour and must be paid directly by you at check-in or checkout at the hotels. This fee varies and is ever changing but as a guide, you may be asked to pay between €1-€4 per person per night.

Getting there

Fly to Zurich airport – Innsbruck, Munich and Stuttgart airports are also viable alternatives but slightly further away.

Research flights from the UK here.

From Zurich airport there are regular trains to Constance and the journey time is just over an hour.

Research train times here.

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