A cycling holiday in Germany amongst lakes, rivers and the foothills of the Alps

A cycling holiday in Germany with Velontour takes you right into the heart of Upper Bavaria: to Lake Chiemsee, along the Isar, Inn and Salzach rivers, and through the rolling foothills of the Alps. Here, lakes, river meadows, historic towns and Bavarian cuisine come together to create a relaxing cycling holiday.

Germany

Upper Bavaria reveals its true diversity when explored from the saddle of a bicycle. Around Lake Chiemsee, you’ll be accompanied by water and Alpine panoramas, whilst in the Tölzer Land region, the River Isar, moors and crystal-clear lakes take turns to captivate you. Further east, the Inn and Salzach rivers shape a landscape of river floodplains, forests and historic towns.

Bavaria / Upper Bavaria

Upper Bavaria delights with the Alps, lakes, and idyllic cultural landscapes. Tradition, customs, and modern cities like Munich shape the region, uniquely combining nature, culture, and relaxation.

Velontour - Heiko Mandl

Destinations for your cycling holiday in Germany

The Chiemsee-Alpenland region links Lake Chiemsee with moors, orchard meadows, Herrenchiemsee and the wider Alpine backdrop. In the Tölzer Land, your holiday will take you through the Isar, lakes, moorland and traditional towns such as Bad Tölz. The Inn-Salzach region brings together river floodplains, castles and cultural centres such as Altötting, Wasserburg, Mühldorf and Burghausen.

Accommodation as a base for your cycling holiday in Germany

First, choose the destination that suits you best, then select your accommodation as a base for your holiday. On Velontour, you’ll find hotels and guesthouses in various locations across Upper Bavaria.

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Cycling holidays in Germany: Which destination is right for you?

A cycling holiday in Germany in Upper Bavaria can be different every day. Sometimes you’ll be cycling alongside the water, sometimes the view opens up to the Alps, and in between you’ll come across a historic town or a shady beer garden.

In the Chiemsee-Alpenland, you’ll cycle between the ‘Bavarian Sea’, moors and the foothills of the Alps. Around 2,000 kilometres of signposted cycle paths offer plenty of scope for varied days out.

The Tölzer Land is characterised by the River Isar, clear lakes, moors and rolling hills. Around 500 kilometres of cycle paths combine the experience of nature with towns such as Bad Tölz and the region’s herbal heritage.

In Inn-Salzach, the Inn, Salzach and Alz rivers define the landscape. Paths between the rivers lead to Burghausen, Altötting, Wasserburg and other cultural destinations. The regional cycle path network covers more than 1,500 kilometres.

Two women sitting outside at a wooden table in front of a stone house eating cake

Tourismus Oberbayern München - Tobias Köhler

How to turn a cycle tour into your cycling holiday in Germany

A cycling holiday in Germany begins with a simple decision: do you want to set off from the same accommodation every day, or move on along a longer route?

With a fixed starting point, you’ll get to know Upper Bavaria bit by bit. Today you might head to a lake, tomorrow along the Isar, and the day after to a historic town, a farm shop or a beer garden. This leaves plenty of time for culture, swimming and regional cuisine alongside the cycling.

On a cycling tour lasting several days, the landscape changes with every stage. The Upper Bavarian Water Cycle Routes, for example, link lakes, rivers, cultural sites and diverse landscapes.

First choose your destination, then your accommodation, cycle tour or cycling holiday. This way, your cycling holiday remains flexible enough for spontaneous breaks and special discoveries along the way.

Two cyclists on a path next to a tree and water, aerial view

Tourismus Oberbayern München - Tobias Köhler

FAQs on cycling holidays in Germany

Where in Germany can you cycle along a lake and see the Alps?

The Chiemsee-Alpenland and the Tölzer Land are particularly well-suited for cycling holidays by the lake with views of the Alps. Around Lake Chiemsee, lakeside landscapes, moors and the pre-Alpine panorama come together; in the Tölzer Land, the Isar, Lake Kochel and Lake Walchen form the backdrop. The Chiemsee-Alpenland boasts around 2,000 kilometres of signposted cycle paths.

Which region is best suited for a cycling holiday with children?

The Tölzer Land and selected areas of the Chiemsee-Alpenland are particularly well suited to families. In the Tölzer Land, lakes, moors and the Isar landscape can be combined with shorter excursions; at Lake Chiemsee, there are opportunities for swimming and cultural stops. The Tölzer Land boasts around 500 kilometres of cycle paths. The difficulty level and length of the day’s ride should always be suited to the children’s ages.

Where can I go cycling, visit charming old towns and enjoy some good Bavarian food?

The Inn-Salzach region is particularly well suited to cycling holidays featuring historic town centres, culture and Bavarian cuisine. Wasserburg, Mühldorf, Altötting and Burghausen combine historic sites, castles and riverside landscapes with inns and beer gardens. The region connects all 55 towns via a cycle path network of around 1,500 kilometres and 24 themed tours.

Chiemsee-Alpenland, Tölzer Land or Inn-Salzach: Which region is right for me?

The Chiemsee-Alpenland region is synonymous with lakes, Alpine views and Herrenchiemsee; the Tölzer Land region with the River Isar, moors, herbal traditions and towns in the foothills of the Alps. Inn-Salzach is the ideal choice for river floodplains, historic towns, castles and beer gardens. On Velontour, these three German destinations are currently categorised under cycling holidays in Upper Bavaria.

Which region is best suited to a relaxing e-bike holiday?

The Chiemsee-Alpenland region is particularly well-suited to a relaxing e-bike holiday. The electric assistance makes it easier to enjoy longer rides between the lake, the moors and the foothills of the Alps, without having to focus on strenuous mountain tours. There are several battery charging and replacement stations along the Chiemsee Cycle Route. You should still check your range and the elevation profile before every ride.