Romantic Road and Bavarian Lakes
7 nights from €1264
4.38Discover Bavaria's beer and blue lakes along the Romantic road
When it comes to the Bavarian Alps and the Upper Bavaria lake region, many cyclists dream of peaceful pastures, shimmering lakes, age-old traditions, and hearty Bavarian specialties. This journey combines all of these with the legendary Via Claudia Augusta, the ancient Roman road now part of the iconic Romantic Road cycling tour, making it one of the most memorable bike tours in Germany.
Lovely alpine landscapes with ringing cowbells, lush green meadows, romantic mountain huts, Baroque and Rococo churches, and deep-blue lakes create the perfect backdrop for your journey. Along the way, the historic Fugger city of Augsburg, the UNESCO-listed Wieskirche, and the fairytale castles of King Ludwig II in Füssen and Schwangau showcase Bavaria’s treasures.
Daily Program
Day 1: Augsburg
Arrive in Augsburg, one of Germany’s oldest cities and a jewel of the Romantic Road. This Renaissance town is famous for its association with the wealthy Fugger merchant family, whose influence can still be seen in the grand guild halls, fountains, and ornate churches. The Fuggerei, the world’s oldest social housing complex, offers a fascinating look into 16th-century life. Wandering the historic old town, you’ll encounter Gothic cathedrals, Renaissance palaces, and medieval towers, each telling a story of Augsburg’s prosperity as a trading hub.
Overnight in Augsburg
Day 2: Augsburg – Lake Wörthsee
40 mi / 65 km
After a morning tour briefing and bike fitting, your cycling holiday in Bavaria begins. The route takes you past meadows and charming villages toward Lake Ammersee. This shimmering body of water is lined with inviting inns, sunny terraces, and shaded Bavarian beer gardens, perfect for a lakeside break. From here, you continue on to Lake Wörthsee, renowned for its clean, warm waters and tranquil setting- ideal for a refreshing swim after your first day on the bike.
Overnight at Lake Worthsee
Day 3: Lake Wörthsee – Murnau
37 mi / 60 km
Today’s route takes you through the Pfaffenwinkel, a picturesque region named for its abundance of monasteries and churches. Cycling along the shores of Lake Wörthsee and Lake Pilsen, you’ll reach the famous Andechs Abbey, a Benedictine monastery perched on a hill with centuries of brewing tradition. From here, your journey continues through flower-filled villages toward Lake Riegsee and Lake Staffelsee, both popular with swimmers and nature lovers. You’ll end the day in Murnau, a colorful market town once home to artists of the Blaue Reiter movement, with stunning views of the Bavarian Alps in the distance.
Overnight in Murnau
Day 4: Murnau – Füssen/Schwangau
38 mi / 60 km
Cycling through rolling meadows and alpine landscapes, you’ll visit one of Bavaria’s greatest treasures: the Wieskirche (Pilgrimage Church of Wies). This Rococo masterpiece, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famed for its lavish interior and spiritual history. Continuing to Füssen and Schwangau, you’ll find yourself in the heart of Bavaria’s fairytale kingdom. Here stand King Ludwig II’s legendary castles: Neuschwanstein, the model for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle, and Hohenschwangau, his boyhood home. Together with the town’s Gothic churches and alpine setting, this is one of the most magical cycling destinations in Germany.
Overnight in Füssen/Schwangau
Day 5: Füssen/Schwangau – Schongau
31 mi / 50 km
Leaving Füssen behind, you’ll follow the Lech Cycle Path, cycling alongside the turquoise-blue waters of Lake Forggensee with panoramic views of the Alps fading into the distance. A rest stop at Lake Lech offers breathtaking views before continuing along the historic Via Claudia Augusta, the ancient Roman road that once connected Italy with Bavaria. Your destination is Schongau, a medieval fortress town with well-preserved walls and charming cobblestone streets that whisper of its turbulent past.
Overnight in Schongau
Day 6: Schongau – Landsberg/Lech
22 mi / 35 km
This stage begins in Schongau, once a key Bavarian border fortress. Cycling along the well-preserved city walls is highly recommended as the short climb rewards you with sweeping views over the Lech Valley. On your way toward Landsberg am Lech, history comes alive at every stop. Visit the Romanesque vaulted basilica in Altenstadt, one of the region’s oldest churches, and explore Epfach, a village built on the site of the Roman settlement Abodiacum, with its small museum showcasing archaeological finds. Just a little further along lies Vilgertshofen, home to a beautiful baroque pilgrimage church, where ornate frescoes and architecture reveal Bavaria’s deep spiritual heritage. Continue your ride through meadows and river landscapes until you arrive in Landsberg.
Overnight in Landsberg/Lech
Day 7: Landsberg/Lech – Augsburg
28 mi / 45 km
Your final cycle route takes you through the romantic Lech River valley, where Landsberg’s old town charms with pastel-colored houses, medieval gates, and the striking Gothic Bayerntor. The historic town hall is another highlight, reflecting the wealth of this former trading hub. From here, the route follows the Via Claudia Augusta’s best-preserved section, offering an authentic sense of riding in the footsteps of Roman legions. Along the way, you’ll pass through Kaufering am Lech and Königsbrunn before reaching the ducal city of Friedberg, known for its clock-making and Renaissance architecture. Soon, the towers and spires of Augsburg reappear, welcoming you back to one of Germany’s oldest and most culturally significant cities.
Overnight in Augsburg
Day 8: Augsburg
Individual departure or extra days in Augsburg.
Hotels
These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.
The accommodations on this tour are 3-star hotels.
Augsburg: Dom Hotel Augsburg
Worthsee: Jakl-Hof
Murnau: Griesbräu zu Murnau
Füssen: Hotel Hirsch
Schongau: Hotel Rossle
Landsberg: Landhotel Endhart
Local hotel taxes are not included in the tour price. These taxes typically range from €1-5 per person/night and must be paid at hotel reception upon checkout.
Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.
Bikes
Standard touring bike
These quality KTM bikes are the result of years of experience and continued development, always with the wishes and requirements of our guests in mind. The result is a solid, easy to use and travel-suitable bike with reliable brakes, an aluminium frame and top tires. This bike is well-equipped for every journey.
- Unisex (step-through) bike 21/24-speed with freewheel. Sizes: 56 / 51 / 46 / 43 cm (available for approx. heights between 58-75 in/148-190 cm)
- Men’s bike 21-speed with freewheel. Sizes: 63 / 60 / 56-51 "slopping" cm (available for approx. heights between 65-81 in/165-205 cm) Note: reservation is essential!
Specifications on standard touring bikes
- Modern, high-resistant aluminum frame
- V-brakes
- Aluminium-rims
- Reliable tires, which ensure high duration
- Shimano Alivio derailleur on 21-speed
- Selle Royal Saddles
*Posture for standard touring bikes will be upright for comfort
Bike rental plus, 27-speed, upgrade
The Bike Rental PLUS is designed by KTM and provides noticeable upgrades on many parts of the bike. From the saddle to the breaks and gears you will see even higher quality (for example even more precise components for braking and shifting). The Bike Rental PLUS allows for a slightly sportier riding posture and a high-quality Suntour suspension fork provides the best possible comfort across all surfaces.
Sizes: 63 / 60 / 55 / 51 / 50 / 46 cm (available for approx. heights between 61-81 in/155-205cm)
Upgraded components
- Hydraulic Magura HS 11 brakes
- Shimano Deore XT derailleur on 27-speed
- High-quality Suntour suspension fork
*Posture for Bike rental plus will be upright and forward
Electrically-assisted bike
Electric bikes allow you to have more mobility and be able to thoroughly enjoy every cycle tour. The "great equilizer" allows you to stay beside your friends or family on the road! These unisex bikes are comfortable to ride for both men and women.
Specifications on electrically-assisted bike
- Unisex bike 8-speed (Height approx. 148–195 cm)
- Bosch Active Line Plus motor
- Battery 550 Wh removable with mobile charger
- Hydraulic breaks
- Range up to 120 kilometres
Equipment included with the bike rentals:
- Saddle bag (water repellent), rear
- Handlebar bag (water repellent), with clear cover on top for map viewing
- Tools
- Pump
- Repair kit (with extra bicycle tube)
- Combination lock
Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and the necessary equipment to change the pedals.
Helmets:
Helmets are not included with the bike rentals. We recommend, for safety and hygiene reasons, that you bring your own helmet.
Surface and terrain
This tour cycles on cycle paths and quiet, small roads. You will cycle on asphalted streets and some longer parts on gravel. There are some minor climbs on the first three days of the tour, which will need to be managed. From Füssen to Augsburg, the route follows the Lech River on almost completely flat terrain.
How to get there
Tour Start and End
Nearest airport: Munich, Germany
Nearest train station: Augsburg, Germany
There are many trains available from Munich to Augsburg.
Tips on getting to and from your tour
Reviews
- ★★★★★ Jan M
Fun ride for experienced cyclist
What a great way to see Germany! The sights, sounds, smells... all the things you miss in a car or on a train. Have you heard a cuckoo bird in the wild? The navigation app worked great for the route - it didn't always lead you to your hotel, just FYI, you may be using your cell data plan for part of the navigation. Be sure to check for national holidays - Gasthauses may be closed. We rode in May - be ready for rain and sun. Luggage was always delivered to our next accomidation by 5pm- plan ahead for days when the ride ends early!
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 2025
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ Paula Renwick
Just stunning scenery and a great bike adventure
Just loved cycling the romantic road. Acconodation were good, the scenery was spectacular. There was only one place are stayed with air conditioning. It was very hot at night so had trouble sleeping. Ask the breakfasts were great. The APP was amazing, made it very easy to find your way. So much to see and do just a brilliant time had but us. Bikes were comfortable and the panniers were fabulous for sorting extra gear. Briefing was good, however my bike didn't have some issues even before we started and Thomas had no tool kit with him and couldn't adjust our bikes. Bags picked to and delivered waiting for when we arrived.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5 plus
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ Robyn Larkin
More challenging trip than we thought thanks to rainy, windy, cold weather
We knew this would be a challenging cycle, but we weren’t prepared for the terrain + lousy weather for the entire trip. The first few days were a good workout - and very pretty. Not many places to really stop, though, during the day (so plan to bring picnic lunches & snacks!). Definitely check on when places you hope to stop for a meal are open as we found many places closed on random days.
There is an app that you can download to get the route, details, and info for the trip that we didn’t know about until we met the guide on the first day. If you use this on your phone to help ensure you stay on course, be sure to bring extra battery packs for your phone!
Also, we didn’t know we needed to get tickets for the castle in advance and this were not able to visit. As this was the one thing we wanted to see, we were rather disappointed to have to miss it as all morning tours were sold out.
While we enjoyed it and came through the deluge of cold, rain & wind during our week in Bavaria with our marriage intact, you definitely need to be ready for a challenging ride. If you aren’t in excellent shape, consider getting the electric bike as some of the hills are extremely intense.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 7
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ Becky Cairns
Fabulous tour of Southern Germany
Delightful tour of the rural countryside outside of Munich. Roads were calm with little traffic and the bike paths were well marked. The written turn-by-turn directions were supplemented by a digital routing app, which greatly helped with navigation during the tour. The hotels were charming with friendly staff and breakfast never disappointed before heading out for our daily ride.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ Annej
Deep immersion in foothills of the Bavarian Alps
Did this tour in the fall when it was too cool to swim. Lots of beautiful scenery of Bavarian farm life. Loved the charming local inns. Needed more guidance on what to see along the routes. The Eurobike arrows made it easy to trace the route. At times the route was very rough- gravel- but bikes had front suspension which helped.
Biggest suggestion is to inform us what days local markets are scheduled and when hotel restaurants as well as those recommended, are closed. one night we had to bike 30 minutes in the dark to find food. The hotel was too isolated.
In Augsburg it was extremely inconvenient to be at a hotel so far from train station. We did appreciate having our request to meet at our hotel honored.- What was the date of your tour?
- Sept 20-28
- How many tours have you completed?
- 6
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ wilsom
Everyone should have a holiday like this
It was such a good holiday. Even though there were challenging times with the weather, it was a great trip and the smile never faded from my face. I loved it so much I'm trying to go again this year.
10 out of 10, would do again, A++
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 18th, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ ol_lo
Romantic Road - Bavarian Loop
My family and I chose this trip for our annual biking trip due to its location and timing. We were able to catch Oktoberfest at the beginning of the trip prior to starting our ride. The paths, roads, and trails were great! Absolutely beautiful countryside and scenery. In previous years we chose level two trips. These were more rolling hills with lots of flats. This particular trip was noted as a level 3. We found it to be challenging on some days and a little more of a work-out then we were hoping for. But we literally pushed and pedal through the steep parts and had an overal amazing trip! We will continue to use BikeTours for our yearly European Bike trips!
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 1, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ Mauriciom
MY FIRST BIKE TOUR IN EUROPE
Our trip was an enjoyable one due to both fantastic scenes and excellent organization. Bike network routes in south Germany are beautiful, with all the indications and directions perfectly well posted. All hotels were rather good, ones better than others especially regarding bathrooms. Hotel service was always excellent. One thing that helped us a lot was your having emailed all the rides for the app Ride with GPS. Highly recommendable. Also all recommended restaurants we tried were very good.
Your local agent was very helpful and flexible.
On the room-to-improve side I suggest that you be more specific on the definitions of Difficulty levels of the tours. We took Level 3 with normal bikes. It was some time quite challenging to us. I am 62 and in fantastic shape. Nevertheless the road specially the 3rd and 4rd days showed quite demanding.- What was the date of your tour?
- September 10-17 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
BikeTours.com staff reply from Jim Johnson, Founder and president
We love first-timers--especially when they come back with such positive reports. We'll also take into consideration your comment about the level of difficulty. Many thanks!
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