My wife and I have taken bicycle city tours in small towns in US and Belguim (i.e. Bruge, Ghent, Antwerp) and loved them. I see Frankfurt has a 3 hour bike tour, we are planning on doing that one. Has anyone experienced a bicycle tour of local small towns in Germany? We would be interested in any thoughts or advice. Thanks in advance.
Posted by
Germany
476 posts
What is your definition of small town? What are you wanting to see? What's your strength or endurance level (hilly cities? Long tours through city and countryside?)
Posted by
OP
25 posts
Towns like Mainz, Heidelburg, etc. Not Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt
Posted by
Washington
919 posts
These are town to town rather than within a city; however, you may find it helpful fori ideas. I’ve mentioned Tripsite several times on the forum. They are a reputable U.S. agency based in PA that specializes in reservations for European Tours.
Posted by
Medford, OR, USA
5836 posts
We did two weeks of luggage supported inn to inn bike touring in northeastern Germany. The first week was a tour of the Mecklenburg Lake District (starting and ending at Waren (Müritz) pop 20k). The second week started at Stralsund, the biggist town (pop about 60k) along the Baltic coast. We biked through small villages/hamlets with adjacent villages prefixed by "klein" and "groß". The groß villages were one street towns with a score or two of dwellings in town and farms scattered beyond.
https://www.wikinger-reisen.de/radreisen/deutschland/mecklenburg-vorpommern/7668R.php
Google translate:
The Mecklenburg Lake District
More than 1,000 lakes are scattered in the Mecklenburg inland between
Schwerin and the Uckermark. This area with its beautiful natural
landscape of reed-covered shore zones, light deciduous and pine
forests and extensive meadows has long been one of the best
recreational areas in Germany. Lovingly restored charming mansions are
nestled between rolling hills and tranquil lakes. Quiet side roads and
cycle paths make the region a real cyclist's paradise.
https://www.wikinger-reisen.de/wanderreisen/deutschland/mecklenburg-vorpommern.php
Fischland-Darß-Zingst
You will encounter deer walking on the beach and resting cranes on the
Baltic Sea coast of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Mostly located in
the Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft National Park, you will find a
unique natural landscape on the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula, which
is constantly influenced by wind and waves. Learn interesting facts
about the ubiquitous maritime tradition and watch the historic Zees
boats on the Baltic Sea.
Posted by
Germany
1117 posts
There are organized bike tours where you go on your own but have your luggage transported from hotel to hotel, for instance along major riverways like the Moselle. Which means downhill most of the way...
Northern Germany also has some great small town biking: all flat, no hills... but wind! Google "Rad up Pad" or, if you want to combine it with some boating, "Paddel und Pedal".
Posted by
Medford, OR, USA
5836 posts
We found that residents of the small towns/villages in the former East Germany (Democratic Republic) were less fluent in English than the former West Germans. The younger Germans were more likely to have some English speaking skills than older Germans. And our Rick Steves Germany phrase book was marginal at best. Our Germany speaking friend had to work overtime translating for us. The phrase I learned was: "Ich spreche kein Deutsch".