Lake Constance Circular – a bike tour in Germany, Switzerland and Austria

Day 1Arrival Day Überlingen

Arrival in Überlingen (Germany) and your hotel for the night. Your room will be ready for check-in from 15:00.

In the afternoon, we recommend a stroll through the old imperial city of Überlingen. The contours of the medieval town, which flourished in the 15th and 16th centuries, can be clearly seen even today. Mighty gates and walls, carved out of the surrounding rock, have been well preserved.
The heart of the old town lies around the “Hofstatt” square, with the town hall and the Gothic Cathedral of St. Nicholas close by. The cathedral is not only beautiful on the outside; inside, you will find several exquisite works of art created by woodcarver Jörg Zürn.

Lunch and dinner on your own (not included).

Day 2Überlingen - Salem

Suitcases must be delivered to reception every morning before 09:00. Inform the hotel staff that your luggage will be collected by the Bodensee Cycle Route Service. If you have pre-ordered rental bikes, these will be delivered before 09:30 this morning.

The first cycling stage starts in Überlingen along slightly hilly paths. Fantastic views of the lake await as you cycle towards the magnificent Birnau church. This rococo church has almost become a symbol of the entire Lake Constance landscape and is one of the most visited sites around the lake.
The stage then continues to the town of Meersburg. Surrounded by steep vineyards, this is one of the most romantic medieval towns along the entire lake. Charming alleys and beautiful, historic houses lead the way up to Meersburg Castle (Germany), the castle that still dominates the town today.

From Meersburg, you continue towards Salem (Germany). There, you will find the former Cistercian monastery, which is still the residence of the Margrave of Baden and the seat of the world-famous boarding school.
The stage to Salem runs along field, forest, and meadow paths, through a virtually untouched landscape. You will also see the hills, also known as “drumlins,” which bear witness to the ice age. This section of the cycle path is part of the “Prelate’s Trail,” which was used by monks and priests when traveling from Salem Abbey to Birnau to hold mass there.

Overnight stay at Gasthof Schwanen *** / Salem Castle (or equivalent). Gasthof Schwanen (Gasthaus zum Schwanen) was built in 1665 as a monastery building. Throughout history, Salem Abbey has become Salem Castle, and more recently, a restaurant, monastery tavern, wine bar, hotel, and museum café have also opened there. So much history!
(Good but relatively simple accommodation).

Lunch and dinner on your own (not included).

Day 3Salem - Lindau

It is approx. 10 km from Salem to the beautiful town of Markdorf (alternatively, if you feel this stage is too long, you can take a train from Salem to Markdorf (not included) and start today's bike ride from there).

To Lindau (Germany), you cycle on a minor road, through small villages and into forests and agricultural landscapes. Gradually, the terrain slopes down to Lake Constance and Wasserburg, which literally translates to 'castle in the water'.
Wasserburg is a historic peninsula, with the onion dome of the Baroque church of St. George as an iconic landmark in the region.

As you cycle further from Wasserburg to Lindau, you can enjoy a traffic-free route all the way to your new accommodation in Lindau harbor. The harbor entrance with its lighthouse and Bavarian lion is one of the most popular postcard motifs of Lake Constance.

Overnight stay at Lindauer Hof **** / Lindau (or equivalent).
An evening walk along the waterfront is a must. The beautiful conservatory restaurant with views over the lake is a perfect spot to enjoy an excellent dinner (not included).

Lunch and dinner on your own (not included).

Day 4Lindau - St. Gallen

Note: Your suitcase must be left unlocked today, as it will be forwarded to your next stop in Switzerland. Customs officials must be able to open and inspect the luggage.

Today you will experience three countries in one day—remember to bring your passport!
Take an extra look at the medieval town of Lindau before setting off on your bike ride today. The cycle path from Lindau to Bregenz (Austria) leads you across the German-Austrian border. Along winding paths close to the shore, you cycle all the way to the Bregenzer Ache, and further to the nature reserve near Rohrspitz.

New customs post at the Austria–Switzerland border. After passing the customs post (ensure you have your passport with you), you arrive in the town of Rheineck (Switzerland). From here, there is a signed cycle path all the way to St. Gallen (Switzerland). A steady but gentle uphill climb for approx. 22 km. If you find this too strenuous, you can alternatively take the train from Rheineck to St. Gallen (not included).
Please note! In Switzerland, you must also purchase a train ticket for your bicycle (not included)!
It is approx. a 5-minute bike ride from the railway station in St. Gallen to today's accommodation.

Lunch and dinner on your own (not included).

Day 5St. Gallen - Gottlieben

St. Gallen has been a prosperous city ever since the Middle Ages. The large, centuries-old abbey with its cathedral and the world-famous Abbey Library forms the heart of the old town. Don't miss the beautiful Abbey Cathedral—a visit is highly recommended!

Today's stage starts with a bit of an uphill climb. The cycle path then leads you all the way down to the lake, where you will cycle more downhill than uphill.
Today's destination is Gottlieben (Switzerland), a small town situated on the Untersee, featuring picturesque half-timbered houses.
Overnight stay at Hotel Die Krone *** / Gottlieben (or equivalent).

Lunch and dinner on your own (not included).

Day 6Gottlieben - Überlingen

The last day of the tour!

Note: Your suitcase must be left unlocked today, as it will once again be transported across the border between the EU and Switzerland.

Option 1:
The journey around the lake concludes with today's cycling stage.
From the hotel, hop on your bike to return to Germany and the city of Constance. A beautiful cycle path crosses the city. After a stroll through the city and/or a coffee break by the lake, you cycle through lovely residential areas from Constance to Überlingen on the south shore of the lake.
You follow a picturesque cycle path leading to the town of Wallhausen, and from the small harbor, you take a ferry to Überlingen. If you stick to the suggested schedule, you will arrive in Überlingen around 13:35.

Option 2:
This stage goes via the vegetable and monastic island of Reichenau. The boat to the island departs just a few meters from the hotel. The boat trip to Reichenau takes approx. 34 minutes (not included). A tour around the enchanting island with its 3 Romanesque abbey churches (World Heritage Site) is highly recommended. In total, you should expect to add at least 2 hours to this stage due to the ferry and the island tour.
After a lunch break in Constance, you take the ferry to Überlingen at 16:12, arriving in Überlingen at 16:42.
From the harbor to the hotel, where your luggage will be delivered and where your car is parked / transfer is booked (not included), there is still a 2.3 km ride through Überlingen (approx. 90 meters of elevation gain).
Luggage will be delivered by 18:00, so you may want to book an extra night here.

Lunch and dinner on your own (not included).

The itinerary is preliminary; changes may occur. Expa Travel reserves the right to make adjustments in the event of currency fluctuations or typographical errors.