Rivers Road to Nuremberg | cycling in Europe

The Rivers Road to Nuremberg

£1,695 per person

Tour Dates

7 August 2026 – 16 August 2026 – £1695 per person – Guaranteed but some spaces still available – £100 Spring Sale discount with code SPRING26

This departure will be led by Lucy Burnett & Jago Parfitt.

27 August 2027 – 5 Sept 2027 – £1695 per person – Spaces available

The above prices are based on a shared room. The single room supplement for this tour is £450; this option will be available during the booking process.

Double Dutch / Deutsch! Follow the route of several major European rivers through the Netherlands and Germany en route to the stunning medieval city of Nuremberg on our Rivers Road to Nuremberg Cycling Holiday.

Cycling: 529 miles and 10,700 feet ascent

The Rivers Road to Nuremberg cycling holiday is aimed at any cyclist wanting to enjoy the best of central European cycling, largely alongside river cycle paths. This cycle tour is as much about the towns and cities we visit as the riding. We will stay overnight in a range of fascinating places such as Tilburg, Cologne, Koblenz, Mainz, Wurzburg and finishing in the spectacular medieval city of Nuremberg, with time to explore at the end of every day. The journey starts in the Netherlands, rides along the Meuse, Roer and Swaime rivers, before joining the banks of the Rhine in Cologne (following a section of the Eurovelo 15) and passing through the Upper Middle Rhine Valley (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Further into Germany we follow the banks of the rivers Main and Pegnitz. This tour is characterised by picturesque cities, towns and villages, birdlife, lush forests, boats and rivers.

The Rivers Road to Nuremberg is one of our new modular tours involving doing just one ‘stage’ of an existing tour, in this case stage 1 of our Road to Vienna route. Riders continuing all the way to Vienna will continue on from Nuremberg. There are excellent train services to both Frankfurt and Munich for homeward travel.

See HERE if you are interested in doing the whole Road to Vienna tour instead.

Highlights of the Rivers Road to Nuremberg Cycle Tour

Beautiful towns and cities: the route passes through some of the most beautiful towns and cities in the Netherlands and Germany.
Rolling like a river: if you like rivers and you like bicycles then quite simply this is the trip for you!
Cycle paths: large distances on dedicated cycle paths away from the traffic, including the final stretch down the Danube itself.
Upper Middle Rhine Valley: a UNESCO world heritage site for its outstanding culture landscapes, epitomising the Romantic era.
Civilisation: some cycle tourists like to escape into the wilds, and others would really rather not! This is a good choice if you like not to be too far from civilisation and your creature comforts at any time!

Accommodation

Your accommodation, on a twin-share bed and breakfast basis, will be in a mix of chain hotels and carefully selected family-run properties across the Netherlands and Germany. While we aim to include hotels with local character where possible, we often use trusted chain hotels to ensure consistent comfort—especially during warmer months, when air-conditioned rooms are a welcome feature. In more remote areas, air conditioning may not always be available, but we always prioritise a comfortable stay and secure bike storage. Our small group sizes allow us flexibility in choosing quality accommodations without needing large room blocks. NB Single accommodation is available for a supplement of £450.

Meals

The hotels will provide breakfast whilst the support team will provide a pack-up lunch, this will depend on what is available on the day and could include a mix of fresh sandwiches, pasties or easy grab and bites sourced from local bakeries. If weather doesn’t permit outdoors we will get into cafes for quick lunch.

You will need to purchase your own evening meals, which are usually eaten communally although of course you are free to opt out if you wish.

We will carry emergency energy gels and bars in the support van but you are advised to bring along your own preferred sports nutrition to fuel your ride. There will be water refills, fruits bars etc provided to keep you hydrated.

In the Tour Plan, (B, L, D) refers to meals included in the trip cost i.e. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Bike Transfers

We will happily transport your bike to Hook of Holland from Sheffield and back again from Nuremberg to Sheffield at no extra charge. The bike would need delivered to Sheffield at least two days before the tour starts. However, because this tour is part of a longer tour to Vienna, the bikes wouldn’t be ready to collect until some time after the tour – 25th August for 2026 tour and 14th September on 2027 tour. We could also pick up and drop your bike off en route to Harwich if you live close to our route and it isn’t too big a diversion. Any significant diversions from our existing routes would incur an additional fee.

If that isn’t convenient or you don’t feel like you can be without your bike for that long after your holiday (!) then we can transport a bike bag for you. Dutch and German trains are also well set up for bike transport.

Please get in touch with us to discuss arrangements, and to explore what might be possible.

While we will take all reasonable care while handling your bikes, using padded covers and making sure they are securely stored, we are not liable for any loss or damage during transportation and storage. We recommend you have appropriate insurance.

Taking your bikes to the continent, As we are no longer part of the EU customs unions, any bike we transport to Europe requires an ATA Carnet which incurs a fee of £60 per bike. This cost will be added to your invoice.

Tour Plan

The route of this tour is flexible and should be seen as a guide only. Local conditions, weather or fitness could lead to changes in our daily plans. All times and distances are approximate.

8 days of cycling

Approx 529 miles+ Age

Grade 3

Tours in Europe

Destination
Austria
Starts in
Harwich International Port, Essex
Ends in
Nuremberg, Germany
Road surfaces
Mostly flat with occasional hill. Mostly on cycle paths (expect gravel), roads near cities.
Bike Type
Hybrid / Tourer / Road bike with tyres 26mm or above
Included
The Rivers Road to Nuremberg
Accommodation
Lunch
Cycling guide
GPX files
Vehicle support
Baggage transfer
Not Included
Domestic flights
Evening meals (unless specified)
Bike hire
Travel to start & from finish
International flights
Airport transfers
Travel insurance
Cookie Policy (US)
Cookie Policy (US)
Visas

FROM OUR GALLERY

See more images here

Arrival Day - Meet at Harwich International Port

In the early evening (5.30pm) we will meet at the ferry port ready for our departure to the Continent.

Cycle from The Hook of Holland to Tilburg

70 miles (113km)

We take one of the numerous cycle paths that lead from the town and travel to the west of Rotterdam through Barendrecht into the countryside . The first full day of our tour is a long one. We will be in the saddle for around 7 to 8 hours. Clients can rest assured that although the distance is lengthy the terrain in the Netherlands is flat and cycling easy. On the first night of the tour we will be staying in the landlocked Dutch city of Tilburg, famous as the wool capital of the Netherlands. (B,L)

Cycle from Tilburg to Roermond

78 miles (126km)

Today we will be pedalling for 78miles from Tilburg to Roermond, traversing the city of Eindhoven and onwards to the southeast. We will again be spoilt by immaculate cycle paths, an intrinsic part of the amazing Dutch travel infrastructure. We will pass through beautiful areas of heath, moorland and meadows, which surround Roermond, an old atmospheric town situated on the banks of the Meuse, Roer and Swaim and will pass a very short distance from the Maasplassen Lake District. (B,L)

Cycle from Roermond to Cologne

77 miles (124km)

Once again the cycling is flat and easy and after a few miles from Roermond we cross the border into Germany and continue to the south east. Further into the day we will get our first sight of the River Rhine and the towering spires of Cologne Cathedral. Cycling into Cologne is really enjoyable with the River Rhine to the left, the massive and impressive Ford Factory to the right and the historic city ahead. We traverse Cologne, hugging the river bank on the traffic free cycle path before stopping for the evening in the city centre. (B,L)

Cycle from Cologne to Koblenz

61 miles (98km)

Today features some brilliant cycling along the banks of the River Rhine, which provides a spectacular backdrop. The route we are taking is laced with history, including cycling through Bonn the former capital of West Germany. The Rhine will be a constant feature of the journey south east to our destination at Koblenz, a city which straddles both banks of the Rhine and the river Moselle. (B,L)

Cycle from Koblenz to Mainz

63 miles (101km)

After a pleasant evening in Koblenz we depart the city along the banks of the Rhine for our journey to Mainz. Today's route is memorable, as we will be cycling along the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, which has been given Unesco World Heritage Site status in recognition of its role as one of the most historically important trading routes in Europe. We will cycle against a backdrop of castles, historic towns and vineyards. For two millennia the Upper Middle Rhine Valley has been at the fulcrum of cultural exchanges between the Mediterranean region and northern Europe and there have been settlements along this part of the Rhine since the last Ice Age. The Romans ruled for a period in the 1 st century BCE leaving a military road used to link their fortresses and at one time it was at the very heart of the Holy Roman Empire. In later years it was an area rich in folklore and legend and favoured by poets, writers and composers. As the decades have passed trading has declined and in the 21 st Century the main economic activity is tourism. (B,L)

Cycle from Mainz to Aschaffenburg

62 miles (100km)

We leave Mainz, crossing the Rhine and following the cycle path alongside the River Main towards Frankfurt. In similar fashion to our course through Cologne, riding through Frankfurt is easy, simply following the River Main cycle path which is traffic free. After traversing Frankfurt we continue to our overnight accommodation in Aschaffenburg, Bavaria which straddles the banks of the River Main.(B,L)

Cycle from Aschaffenburg to Wurzburg

54 miles (87km)

We contiunue south east from Aschaffenburg to Wurzburg. After a week of flat terrain we now encounter some hills, the most notable of which begins in the quaint village of Waldaschaff which lies on the threshold of the High Spessart. A mile long climb out of the village is made easier by views of the pristine woodlands of the Spessart Nature Park. For every ascent there is a descent and this one down to the town of Marktheidenfeld is exceptional, notable for the smooth surfaces of the quiet lanes and the fresh scent of the forest. Our evening in Wurzburg will be packed with things to see, such as the Marienberg Fortress, the Wurzburg Residenz, the Hofkirche and the Old Main Bridge. When the sightseeing is over we will be seeking out a traditional Bavarian hostelry to sample the local fare. (B,L)

Cycle from Wurzburg to Nuremberg

77 miles (124km)

Arriving into Nuremberg is a brilliant finale to the trip. The journey from Wurzburg to Nuremberg features some superb cycling as we negotiate quiet lanes and cycle paths en route to this historical Bavarian city. We cycle through numerous small, quaint villages packed with character as we wend our way across country. At Furth we join the River Pegnitz that leads us into Nuremberg for your final night.(B,L)

DEparture day

This morning the riders continuing to Vienna will set off in the morning, and you are free to depart at your leisure. If you are willing to depart early in the morning then our support van can assist you to the train station with your luggage.