You can plan the Lake Constance Cycle Route as a complete loop from Constance in seven cycling days: through Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, including Lake Obersee and Lake Untersee. This itinerary deliberately allows time for places of interest and breaks. The official overall distance is around 260 kilometers. It is not a Germany-only tour, nor is it a route where you always ride directly beside the water.
Who are seven days suitable for?
This schedule is suitable if you are looking for a cycling trip with short sightseeing days and can also manage a day of around 50 kilometers. An e-bike can help on climbs, but it does not replace safe braking or experience riding with luggage. If possible, arrive the day before: the longest stage is right at the start. When looking for accommodation, secure bicycle storage and an explicitly confirmed charging option are more helpful than a vague promise that a place is “cyclist-friendly.”
The itinerary clockwise
The official stage overview from Lake Constance Tourism forms the basis. For this seven-day itinerary, its final two sections have been combined. The rounded individual figures shown there add up to 252 kilometers, while the overall route is given as around 260 kilometers. Therefore, use the figures for daily planning, not as kilometer-precise navigation. Routes to your hotel, the train station, and excursion destinations are additional.
| Day | Route | Approximate distance | Planning focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Constance – Mainau – Bodanrück – Bodman – Überlingen | approx. 51 km | Start early; allow time for the climb and breaks |
| 2 | Überlingen – Unteruhldingen – Meersburg – Friedrichshafen | approx. 29 km | Choose one longer sightseeing stop |
| 3 | Friedrichshafen – Wasserburg – Lindau | approx. 23 km | Short cycling day with time in Lindau |
| 4 | Lindau – Bregenz – Rhine Delta – Rorschach | approx. 38 km | Three countries in one day |
| 5 | Rorschach – Arbon – Romanshorn – Constance | approx. 38 km | Swiss shores and return to Constance |
| 6 | Constance – Stein am Rhein | approx. 31 km | Lake Untersee instead of ending the tour early |
| 7 | Stein am Rhein – Radolfzell – Allensbach – Constance | approx. 42 km | Close the loop; allow a buffer before your return journey |
How to make use of the different daily distances
On the first day, the route passes Mainau and crosses the Bodanrück. Fitting an extended island visit and the longest cycling stage into the same day would make the schedule unnecessarily tight. If necessary, visit Mainau before starting the tour. Day two offers more flexibility: choose either Unteruhldingen or Meersburg, for example, instead of trying to see every attraction. Check opening hours and admission fees separately.
The short third day is a useful buffer if the first days were more strenuous than expected. From Lindau, the route continues to Bregenz and the Rhine Delta, followed by the Swiss lakeside towns. Arriving in Constance on day five is intentional: the following two days complete the loop around Lake Untersee. On day seven, leave sufficient time between your planned arrival and any train journey booked with a fixed departure time.
Surface, climbs, and traffic
The ADFC describes the cycle paths as predominantly paved, but also points out that motor vehicle traffic is heavier during the peak season. “Largely flat” does not mean “without climbs” here: the Bodanrück in particular requires strength and controlled downhill riding. Do not plan based on a constant average speed. Town sections, intersections, and shared paths slow you down.
If you are riding with luggage, take a comparable day trip before your journey. Check your bike’s brakes, tire pressure, and permitted total load. For a Cyseekin model, the specific manufacturer’s specifications apply; neither the route name nor the route itself indicates a range or authorization for carrying luggage. Bring the appropriate charger and do not count on finding an available power outlet at lunchtime.
Getting there, exit options, and the map
Constance is a practical starting and finishing point. The ADFC also lists rail access points in Friedrichshafen, Lindau, Bregenz, and Romanshorn, among others. On the same route page, you will find a GPX download; the tourist stage overview links to the official cycling map. Before saving it, compare the starting point, direction of travel, and Lake Untersee loop. A map with an older publication date is no substitute for current detour information.
Check the train and bicycle carriage options together. The bicycle rules for the Lake Constance Ticket highlight important differences: bicycle spaces depend on capacity, buses generally do not carry bicycles, with exceptions only on request. A bicycle-space reservation is required for the ECE between St. Gallen and Lindau. The ticket rules are not a blanket guarantee for every bicycle format.
Before starting: check the weather and boat services
As of 03/09/2026. Lake Constance Tourism currently refers to possible restrictions caused by low water levels. If you want to shorten a stage by boat, check the specific pier, timetable, and bicycle transport options with the operator. This seven-day itinerary does not require a ferry. Taking a boat shortcut changes the distance ridden on the loop.
Frequently asked planning questions
Can I start the tour somewhere else?
Yes. As a loop, it can be shifted to another starting point. Rearrange your overnight stays accordingly, and make sure the Bodanrück does not inadvertently end up on an already long day.
Is this a suitable first cycling trip?
If you can ride safely with luggage and manage the longest stage, this schedule is a practical introduction. If you are unsure, split the first day further; seven cycling days then become eight.
Can I leave out Lake Untersee?
Yes, but then you will ride a shorter Lake Obersee loop. Describe it accordingly and do not use the distance given for the complete tour.
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