3 Best Bike Routes in Germany (2025 UPDATE)

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Since I bought my very first bike, I have been literally obsessed with it. On average, I cycled 25km a day. Germany isn't so well-known as a tourist destination, but it does have magnificent scenary and great bike roads making it perfect for bikers. In this post, I would like to share the bike routes I liked!

1. Elbe Radweg

Rad means "round" or something round-ish, often refer to a bike. Weg means "way". So basically Radweg is a bike way. Parts of Elbe Radweg falls into the EV7 of the EuroVelo network. It passes a lot of different small cities and towns in Germany including Dresden, Meissen, etc. 

Since this section runs along the riverside, it’s flat and equipped with well-maintained bike paths, allowing you to ride for long stretches without any interference from cars. In sections that pass through urban areas, you may need to reduce your speed due to pedestrians, but the upside is easy access to facilities like supermarkets and beer gardens (Biergarten in German), so you don’t have to pack too much in your bag. After an exhilarating ride on your bike, the taste of German beer enjoyed at a beer garden with a view of the river is simply unbeatable!


2. Rhine Cycle Route (Rheinradweg)

Apparently this is one of the most popular cycling routes in Europe. The German section offers a rich blend of culture and nature as you pass medieval castles, vineyards, and picturesque villages. I cycled from Cologne to Koblenz, and honestly, the weather wasn’t great that day, so I don’t have the best memories of the ride. Still, I recall that the overall difficulty was pretty manageable. Compared to the Elbe River route, there are more industrialized areas along this path, which somewhat detracts from the views. However, I do remember the parks near Bonn being particularly beautiful.

The Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is said to be stunning with its castles and river scenery, but I haven’t had the chance to visit it myself yet.


3. Lausitz Lake District Cycle Path (Lausitzer Seenland Radweg)

One of my favorite spots along the route is Senftenberger See (Lake Senftenberg), which is not that far from berlin. The area itself is very chilled and calm, if you want a quick get-away from busy city, this is the place to go. It’s packed with great places to stop for a swim or to simply relax along the lakeshore. You’ll find people enjoying water sports, cozy campgrounds, and lakeside restaurants, making it easy to take breaks and enjoy the surroundings.

A route I particularly recommend is the one connecting Geierswalder See (Lake Geierswalde) and Partwitzer See (Lake Partwitz). The natural scenery here is stunning, and during the summer, nothing beats cooling off with a swim in the lake after cycling.

This area also offers a chance to experience FKK (Freikörperkultur), a uniquely German tradition of embracing nature, also known as nude beach. It is especially popular in East Germany. As a foreigner, it's a quite unique experience. I highly recommend trying once, it's free! But make sure to be mindful to the people enjoying such a culture there by joining them. You cannot take pictures on the FKK beach, and also not allowed to wear swimsuits either. You can only join it as a participant, not as a observer! 

Additionally, the nearby campgrounds are excellent, allowing you to cap off your day by camping and enjoying the breathtaking sunset over the lake.

If you’re looking for a summer get-away that combines cycling, swimming, and camping, I can’t recommend the Lausitz Lake District enough—it’s truly a one-of-a-kind experience.

Location: Germany

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