We provide you with all the information you need for your cycle tour and/or cycle journey along the Moselle, Saar and Ruwer. Whether it's a tour planner, route information, bike rental and repair stations or information on signposting - you'll find it on this page.
Most of the Mosel Cycle Path is accessible and signposted on both sides of the river. There is an official main route, recognisable by the route logo on the signposting. In terms of traffic infrastructure, this main route is the more attractive option.
However, taking into account scenic and tourist-related factors, there are alternative options for some sections of the route, which we would like to share with you.
Trier: Cross the Kaiser-Wilhelm Bridge onto the left bank of the Mosel
Schweich: Cross the Mosel Bridge onto the right bank of the Mosel
Reil/Zell (Mosel): Cross the Mosel Bridge onto the left bank of the Mosel
(Note: The main route runs between Reil and Zell (Mosel) on both sides of the river, so the choice is yours. On the left side, the route runs closer to nature with little traffic, whilst the route on the right side of the Mosel leads directly to the town of Zell (Mosel).)
Treis-Karden: Cross the Mosel Bridge onto the right bank of the Mosel
(Alternative route: From Reil to Cochem on the left bank of the Mosel. In Cochem, change over to the right bank of the Mosel; the path on this side of the river between Cochem and Treis-Karden leads through an idyllic nature reserve. However, this section of the route may be in poor condition following rainfall. In this case, the asphalted, but also significantly more traffic-heavy route on the left side of the Mosel is preferable.)
Löf: Cross the Mosel Bridge onto the right bank of the Mosel
Koblenz-Metternich: Cross the Kurt Schumacher Bridge onto the right bank of the Mosel
(Note: approx. 750 m after Kattenes, the main Mosel Cycle Path takes a left down across the tracks, the path then runs left of the tracks and along the foot of the vineyards)
If you don't want to transport your own bike, the numerous rental stations along the Mosel will provide you with a rental bike. Some even offer the service of returning the bike to your desired location.
If something should go wrong with your (rental) bike on the way, bicycle repair shops are available for breakdown service and repairs.
...and the bike comes along
Local public transportalong the Mosel is also fully adapted to the needs of cyclists. It’s as easy to transport your bike by train between Koblenz and Perl. You have to buy a separate ticket for your bike!
[Note: When using rail replacement services (SEV), it is not possible to take bicycles with you. Current timetable changes, train cancellations and the use of SEV can be found here.].
Ferries across the Mosel and excursion boats also usually have ample space to accommodate your bike and it can be taken along for a small surcharge.
In addition, bike-friendly buses operate along the premium cycle paths, which will safely transport your bike on a special purpose trailer – and take you too of course!
FAQ about cycling MOSEL
To give you ideas, we've put together a wealth of information on the Mosel Cycle Path and other cycle paths in our region on this website. There are also specific tour tips available for half-day and day tours. When it comes to actually planning your tour, we highly recommend using the tour planner and the tour app. These provide you with all tour routes, including elevation profiles and detailed route descriptions, as well as information on places of interest and hosts along the way.
When planning the length of your daily stages, a variety of factors need to be taken into account. This makes it difficult to provide recommendations. You should consider the following factors in your planning:
By the way: Overnight accommodation can be found almost everywhere along the cycle paths. So this aspect is less critical in regard to the duration or length of your tour.
Our cycle paths are signposted throughout. In addition to the cycle signposting there are also inserts with specific route logos, which show the main directions of specific cycle routes.
Digital aids such as route planners, GPS tracks and relevant apps can help with orientation.
Yes, most of the Moselle Cycle Trail is accessible and signposted on both sides of the river. You will have the chance to switch to the other side via a bridge or ferry at numerous places.
There is an official main route, recognisable by the route logo on the signposting. This main route is the more attractive one from a traffic perspective, and it takes you along the river bank – sometimes on the right side and sometimes on the left. Feel free to look at our tips a bit further up on this page, and you will become acquainted with the Mosel Cycle Trail "in its best light", guaranteed.
The Mosel Cycle Trail mostly runs directly near the shore, and it is separate from road traffic on asphalted cycle paths over long distances. Sections of separate routes alternate with cycle lanes alongside the road as well as roads through towns with or without cycle lanes.
The Moselle valley is an impressive wine and river landscape that is heavily characterised by its steep slopes. It is also an important transport axis and as a result, it is unfortunately not possible to entirely avoid being close to traffic. On some sections of the path, the Mosel Cycle Trail runs parallel to the federal roads or to the rail tracks, but it is almost always fully separated from normal traffic via its own cycle trails or cycle lanes.
If you are planning to arrive at Mosel in your own passenger car, you have the option of parking your car at the starting point for the duration of your cycle tour. To do so, feel free to contact your host in advance or use the public car parks on site. Afterwards, the fastest way to return is by train.
If you use a rental bicycle during your tour, you can even return it at your destination so that you can conveniently embark on your return trip without the bicycle. We are glad to give you tips on bicycle rental stations that offer this service.
Many guests also contemplate returning by ship. The passenger ship is a convenient means of transportation for shorter segments. However, if you wish to cover a longer distance, you must give yourself a lot of time. There is no continuous connection from Trier to Koblenz, and you need to overcome numerous barrages along the way.
In Rhineland-Palatinate, you may take your bicycle with you on DB Regio trains that have the available space from Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. and later, and on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays for as long as you wish, free of charge – if you take your bicycle with you outside of these hours, you will be charged a fee. Click here for more information.
The RadBusse (bicycle buses) are also ideal assistants for your trip and save you the trouble of some ascents in the Eifel and in Hunsrück. And they also ensure that you won't get "left behind" along the Mosel. The bicycle buses circulate throughout the season, and we recommend making a reservation. More information and detailed schedules are available for you here.
The Mosel cycle path runs along its own route and you can start anywhere, allowing you to put together tours of any length. It is easy to master without any major inclines, even for the youngest cyclists. As individual sections of the cycle path are designed as cycle lanes alongside the road, children with their own bikes should be safe on the road.
Our tip: Stage 1 from Perl to Nittel and Stage 4 from Mehring to Piesport are especially child-friendly sections with a low volume of traffic.
The mild climate means that cycling tours are great from March through to October, although every season has its own special charm. While early summer offers really pleasant temperatures for cycling and a landscape that is just awakening, late summer enchants with its vibrant display of colours, the grape harvest and many wine festivals. On holiday weekends and during peak season (August to mid-October) we recommend reserving a room in plenty of time or choosing accommodation to use as a fixed base for Star tours.
Ideally by train. It's environmentally friendly and you don't need to collect your car at the end of your tour. Please be aware that, if you travel by train, bike tickets must be booked separately and also that there aren't yet many ICE trains with bicycle compartments available. If you’re arriving by car, it's best to find a parking space at either the beginning or end of the cycle route. Please don't hesitate to give us a call. We are happy to give relevant tips.
The overnight accommodation offered by certified Bed+Bike hosts comes highly recommended. There are also plenty of other hosts located along our cycling routes. Whether it’s an overnight stay at a winery or luxury hotel accommodation you're looking for, there’s something to suite every taste along the Mosel. And there are plenty of beautiful spots for camping and mobile home enthusiasts too, most of which are located directly on the banks of the river. When planning, you should take long weekends and holiday periods into account and make sure the accommodation isn’t too far off the cycle route. Ideally, you should also look for a locked storage optionfor your bike.
Naturally, you can also begin a discovery tour with your bicycle from your district and return there on the evening. Most of the Moselle Cycle Trail is accessible and signposted on both sides of the river. You will have the chance to switch to the other side via a bridge or ferry at numerous places, allowing you to fully personalise your tour.
Feel free to also take a look at the "Sternradtouren" (star-path bicycle tours) and draw some inspiration.
River cycle routes are particularly characterised by their low gradients and their proximity to the river, which ensures beautiful views out across the water. River cycle paths are routed as close to the river as possible. If, in some places, a cycle path doesn’t run directly along the river this is mostly due to overriding reasons e.g. the topographical location, nature conservation, safety aspects or land ownership.
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