Elbe River Cycle Route

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Handbook Elbe Cycle Route

The Elberadweg (Elbe Cycle Route) is one of the most charming and varied cycling routes in Europe.

The area between the North Sea and the Czech border is famous for its varied landscape forms, exciting history and unique cultural heritage. The route leads through seven German states. It is mostly flat, mostly asphalted and mostly car-free. The route is particularly suitable for beginners, people who cycle for fun, and families with children over 12 years of age. We recommended that you cycle the Elbe Cycle Route upstream because of the way the wind blows most of the time. A variety of bike-friendly accommodation along the route means that you can plan your tour depending on your needs.

The northern section – wide open spaces that are natural and unspoiled

The landscape in the northern part of the Elbe Cycle Route is typical for the north of Germany – open and with endless horizons. Starting at the sea at the mouth of the River Elbe, the state has a maritime character; the route goes through the busy and exciting city of Hamburg and then it finally becomes gentle and rural. The farms along the Elbe are picturesque and old. Their gardens are full of flowers and are as pretty as a picture. Small cafés in the garden make you want to stop and enjoy a piece of cake and some great coffee. Then comes the Biosphere Reserve Flusslandschaft Elbe MV. The route is sometimes on the dike, sometimes behind it along the former border between the two Germanys. The peacefulness of the countryside does not give you much idea of how eventful the history of the place was.

Special places and sights at river Elbe in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Inland dune of Klein Schmölen In the Middle Ages, the people living in the area cleared their forests. The wind formed the largest sand dune in the region – far away from the desert or the sea, towns sank into the sand. Today, visitors can explore the secrets of the natural spectacle

Dömitzer Hafenhotel + Panoramacafé The rebuilt warehouse in Dömitz harbour offers a fantastic view of the Elbe. In the "Panoramacafé" or the hotel restaurant, you can relax and enjoy the maritime atmosphere.

Gut Schwechow Visitors to Gut Schwechow can learn the secrets of the place that makes spirits out of fruit. What they make here are the finest fruit brandies, spirits and liqueurs you can imagine. A visit to the distillery and the shop is worthwhile. And at the same time, you can enjoy the uniquely beautiful location in the Mecklenburg Elbe Valley.

Dömitz Fortress Museum From 1569, the defensive wall of bricks secured the border of Mecklenburg and the customs revenue on the Elbe. Since then, the fortress has seen stormy and quiet times. There is a museum, the information centre of the Biosphere Reserve Flusslandschaft Elbe, the exhibition "Im Grunde" and a café.

Clay pit of Rüterberg Nature is slowly taking over the clay mining area that was abandoned in 1968. You can walk through this beautiful piece of countryside on a circular route and nature trail.

The Tile Museum in Boizenburg The first museum of this kind in Germany shows a lot more than "just" tiles. From the turn of the century to Art Deco, the exhibition explores the combination of German tile production and social change in these times.

Storkenkate On the trail of the stork – The Sudeniederung in Amt Neuhaus is one of the most important breeding grounds of the white stork in Germany. The "Storkenkate" (Low German for "stork hut") is the information centre of the "Stork Foundation"

All vital information in one handbook

The guide for this route contains all the sections from the mouth of the River Elbe to the source of the Elbe: service information such as accommodation, places of interest, restaurants and hotels, ships on the Elbe, bicycle repair shops etc. for all parts of the cycle route. The "Elbe Cycle Route Info Pack" for Westmecklenburg and Amt Neuhaus also includes information about the tourist sights and towns of Dömitz and Boizenburg an der Elbe.