Romantic Switzerland Bike Tour

A Beautiful Riding Journey in the Green Heart of Europe.

Unlike neighboring France and Italy which are iconic destinations thanks to the Tour and the Giro, Switzerland is an underrated cycling paradise. But in every Swiss region, options are endless. Flat rides around one of the many lakes between Geneva and Zurich. Rolling hills in the northern part of the country, through beautiful countryside. And then there are the Alps, with 16 passes over 2,000m. There is a network of 9 national and 123 regional bike routes using mostly small, perfectly surfaced roads with little traffic. This makes riding in Switzerland a much better experience than in many other popular European cycling locations. The country is not just special for its endless riding possibilities. It’s also a land of contrast. The country is small (41,285 km2, 186 times smaller than the US). But there are 4 national languages: German (spoken by 63.5% of the population), French (22.5%), Italian (8.1%) and Romansh (0.5%). And German is actually not the language used at home. Instead people speak one of the many Swiss German dialects. Which means that a Zurich resident may not fully understand somebody from Basel. Therefore, Swiss culture is characterized by diversity, which is reflected in a wide range of traditional customs. The 26 cantons (provinces) also account for the large cultural diversity.

The tour will take us through northern Switzerland, from east to west. We’ll ride along the three biggest Swiss lakes: Lake Konstanz, lake Neuchâtel and Lake Geneva. In between, rolling hills will take us across countryside, woods and vineyards. Switzerland is full of history and we’ll go past many medieval castles. Bern, the capital city where we will spend a full day, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

NOTE: Tour available for private groups only. For info and group pricing follow this link.

[fa icon="plus"] Highlights

The riding experience
Perfectly paved secondary roads
Charming villages, lakes, and castles
Bern, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Charming hotel stays and two Swiss Historic Hotels
Scenic cycling along rolling hills covered with vineyards and quaint medieval villages
Views that stretch as far as the Alps
Bad Zurzach thermal waters
Lake Geneva the so-called "small sea"
A thrilling hike on the Alps

[fa icon="plus"] Day by Day

Day 1

Where: Rorschach (Lake Konstanz)
Terrain: Flat
Ride: 12 mi or 19 km
Meals: L, D

Welcome to Switzerland! We will meet you at the Zurich airport and transfer you to Rorschach on Lake Konstanz. It is a very scenic beginning and a stroll around the lake promenade will put everyone into vacation mode as we admire the beautiful and historical architecture.

Hotel: Schloss Wartegg

Day 2

Where: Schaffhausen
Terrain: Rolling
Ride:54/61 mi or 86/97 km
Meals: B, D

We head to the medieval town of Schaffhausen. The town is nestled between the Black Forest and Lake Konstanz. We are in the northernmost corner of Switzerland, surrounded by a landscape of gentle hills and vineyards. Landscape of gentle hills and vineyards. The town center is one of the prettiest in all Switzerland. Rheinfall cascades are a possible visit (largest falls in Europe).

Hotel: Sorell Hotel Rüden

Day 3

Where: Bad Zurzach
Terrain: Hilly
Ride:34/62 mi or 54/99 km
Meals: B, D

Today is an easy day of riding but there will be options for those who want more miles. We’ll ride west along the Rhine River, and likely cross the border into Germany for a short while and passing by small, historic villages. We’ll stay in the quiet town of Bad Zurzach where we can take advantage of the natural thermal waters.

Hotel: Gasthof zur Waag

Day 4

Where: Bern
Terrain: Hilly
Ride: 79 mi or 126 km
Meals: B, L, D

A longer day where we pass many quaint villages along the Aare River. The town of Bern is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the capital of Switzerland. Its architecture is breathtaking. The tower of the cathedral (300ft high) affords an amazing view.

Hotel: Allegro Bern

Day 5

Where: Bern or Alps
Terrain: Rolling
Ride: 25 mi or 40 km
Meals: B

You can choose to explore Bern’s city center, its many attractions, cafes and museums, or ride to Burgdof and back. Bern sits on the Aare river and in August it is possible to go bathing along its banks. Built on a narrow hill surrounded on three sides by the Aare River, its compact layout has remained essentially unchanged since its construction during the 12th to 15th centuries. Despite a major fire in 1405, after which much of the city was rebuilt in sandstone, and substantial construction efforts in the 18th century, Bern's old city has retained its medieval character.

The Bernese Oberland means the Highland of Bern because this part of the Alps is close to the city of Bern. On this day, you can opt for a day trip to the Grindelwald. Grindelwald First is a summit that can be reached by cable car and is famous for hiking. The recently opened Cliff Walk is a steel structure that clings to the rock, and then swings under the observation platform and the cable car to end below the cable car station. This thrilling experience on the idyllic Swiss Alps is a must do if you love mountains, but you should avoid it if you suffer from fear of height.

Hotel: Allegro Bern

Day 6

Where: Yverdon les Bains
Terrain: Rolling
Ride: 55/69 mi or 88/110 km
Meals: B, D

The ride heads southwest via Fribourg. Yverdon sits on the southwestern tip of Lake Neuchâtel and it’s an important health and spa resort. Roman ruins testify that this destination was already known for its curative waters back then. A savoy castle dominates the town. The southern side of the lake is less developed and it is a nature preserve.

Hotel: Hôtel du Théâtre

Day 7

Where: Montreux
Terrain: Hilly and then flat
Ride: 41/50 mi or 66/80 km
Meals: B, D

Today’s ride is flat and goes along the fertile Plain de l’Orbe, passing pristine waters and rolling hills. Le Mormont is a small mountain that has been excavated to mine chalk. It forms a watershed between the Rhine and the Rhone basins, separating the Venoge and the Orbe valleys to the South and North, respectively. We finish our journey on the biggest of Swiss lakes, the “small sea” Lake Geneva.

Hotel: Masson Montreux

Day 8

Where: Montreux
Terrain: Departure
Ride: None
Meals: B

Goodbye! After breakfast, we will arrange a transfer that will take you to the Zurich Airport in time for your connecting flights.

[fa icon="plus"] Other Info and Cost

How to Get There

Airport - Zurich (airport code ZRH)

Other transportation - Private transfer by Tourissimo from the airport to the first Hotel. Upon request, guests can be picked-up elsewhere (additional cost).