The Road to Berlin

£2,195 per person

Tour Dates

17 September 2027 – 26 September 2027 – £2195 per person – Spaces available

The above prices are based on a shared room. The single room supplement for this tour is £495; this option will be available during the booking process.

Celebrate your arrival in this most wonderful of European cities by cycling through the iconic Brandenberg gate! Gently scenic landscapes, historic towns and lots of traffic free paths make for a stress-free holiday with many opportunities to explore history and culture and the good life en route.

Cycling

Our Road to Berlin tour sets off from the Hook of Holland, crosses the Netherlands and Germany, and finishes in Berlin. The trip follows part of the EuroVelo Route 2, known as the Capitals Route, which begins in Dublin and stretches all the way to Moscow. Along the way, it passes through seven European countries and iconic cities including Berlin, Warsaw, and Minsk via a network of scenic cycle paths which span the continent. Our own ambitions are slightly more modest on this tour, which nonetheless provides a wonderful taste of what the entire route is like. The route incorporates some of the finest traffic-free cycle paths, passes through beautiful landscapes, historic towns, and modern cities and concludes in Berlin – one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in contemporary Europe. This tour might be quite short, but it packs in a huge amount along the way.

Accommodation

Your accommodation is on a twin-share, bed and breakfast basis in a mix of comfortable chain hotels and selected family-run properties across the Netherlands and Germany. We prioritise rider comfort, with air-conditioned rooms where possible and secure bike storage throughout. While chain hotels offer consistent quality, we also include locally-run options with character when available.

NB Single accommodation is available for a supplement of £495.

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 Harwich and back from Berlin at no extra charge. If you drop your bike off at our Sheffield office up to a day before departure we will carefully pack it in the support van, drive it to the start and then return it to Sheffield ready for you to collect.

If that isn’t convenient then depending where you live we may be able to collect your bike on our journey from Sheffield to Harwich. Please get in touch with us to discuss arrangements, any other arrangements will be for an agreed fee.

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 510 miles+ Age

Grade 2

Tours in Europe

Destination

Germany
Starts in

Harwich International Port, Essex
Ends in

Berlin, 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 Road to Berlin

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

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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.

Hook of Holland to Utrecht (Approx 55 miles)

57 miles / 92km & 375 feet / 114m ascent

Our ferry arrives early in the morning and, after setting up our bikes, we head briefly along the harbour front before turning inland. We follow cycle paths and canals through South Holland, where flat, open polders, green fields and waterways make for classic Dutch cycling, all the way to Delft. Famous for its distinctive blue-and-white pottery and its association with painter Johannes Vermeer, Delft is a beautiful historic city well worth a detour for our cafe stop in the market square.

From there we continue along cycle paths almost all the way to Utrecht. The route includes a stretch parallel to the A12 main road but screened from view – testament to how seriously the Dutch take the cycling experience. We follow the canals in a loop south of Gouda, where the van meets us for a cheese-themed lunch, with alternatives for vegans and others. Gouda is also the birthplace of stroopwafels, ideal for anyone needing a sugar boost; the cycle guide will lead an optional quick detour into the historic heart of Gouda after lunch for those who are keen (not on route files)! From here, we follow the River IJssel for much of the way to Utrecht, riding quiet country roads and paths. Our destination is a wonderful place to spend the night: a medieval city with a rich religious heritage, distinctive canals and a lively café culture that brings its historic centre to life.

Highlights

Maeslantkering: one of the world’s largest movable storm surge barriers, an impressive feat of Dutch water engineering
Delft: explore the old canal, Old Church and market square, or visit the Vermeer Centrum for an introduction to the painter’s life and work (no original paintings on display)
Gouda: take a short optional detour to see the magnificent 15th-century Gothic town hall
Utrecht: discover the medieval Dom Tower, the remarkable Dom Church and the unique wharf cellars lining the canals, now home to cafés, bars and restaurants

Utrecht to Deventer (Approx 52 miles)

Utrecht is a medieval city and the headquarters of central Netherlands, a vibrant university town famous for its Dom tower and De Haar castle and a strong contender for the most cycling friendly city in Europe.

We leave the city cycling just south of Amersfoort, a quaint town with small canals and many historic buildings. Pedalling now through The De Hoge Veluwe national park and the town of Apeldoorn we cross the Ijssel river to reach our hotel in Deventer.

Deventer to Rheine (Approx 66 miles)

66 miles (106km)

We cross the border into Germany today. Leaving Deventer we enter the less populated countryside cycling through the towns of Holten, De Haar and Borne. At Losser we leave the Dutch cycle paths and enter the state of Lower Saxony and then North-Rhine Westphalia. These are the most populous states in the country home to the prominent cities of Cologne, Dusseldorf, Dortmund and Essen. We settle in the smaller town of Rheine on the banks of the River Ems. It houses a beautiful basilica of St Antonio.

Rheine to Minden (Approx 80 miles)

Today is the longest day on the tour and with a few ups and downs as we pass through the Wiehen hills before entering Osnabrück. It’s a small city with plenty of history and with a charming Cathedral dominating the skyline. We continue our hilly ride criss-crossing the Mitteland canal to reach the spa town of Bad Essen. From here it’s flatter terrain as we cross back into North-Rhine Westphalia passing the city of Lubbecke and the Bastauwiesen nature reserve. Minden is a major town tucked between the Weser and Wiehen hills overlooked by the Emperor William Monument on top of a hill.

Minden to Peine (Approx 70 miles)

Leaving Minden, we cross the Weser river and enter into the woodlands of Lower Saxony gradually making our way to the capital of Lower Saxony, Hanover. One of the famous landmarks here is the Herrenhauser Garden. We pass through the city and continue our journey south east along the serene lake of Machsee. It is hillier in the first half but after lunch becomes flatter as we continue our ride to Peine, a 12^th century market town with a cobbled square, windmill and water tower.

Peine to Magdeburg (Approx 79 miles)

Another long day and few hills as we leave Peine and head for Brunswick, a city from the Middle Ages. Continuing our journey we reach the banks of Elbe and the historic city of Magdeburg. Famous for its twin tower gothic cathedral and the more modern architecture of Hundertwasser’ Green citadel.

Magdeburg to Brandenburg an der Havel (Approx 52 miles)

An easier day today as we follow the course of the Elbe river heading north east to Burg and then passing the Feiner Bruch bird sanctuary before entering the city of Brandenburg an der Havel. An important industrial town in the 19^th century there is also a less welcome connection with Nazi Germany in the 1930’s.

Brandenburg an der Havel to Berlin (Approx 55 miles)

Our epic ride ends today as we head to the Capital city of Berlin: a multi-cultural city today with a very rich past. We end the ride near Brandenburger Tor (Gate) symbol of German re-unification. Time this evening for a celebratory meal.