Along Germany’s Longest River (Rhineland)
Rhine romance meets urban flair and cultural highlights. Life along the Rhine river is full of variety. “Father Rhine”, as many like to call the river affectionally, connects some of Germany’s most colourful cities. Bonn, Düsseldorf, Cologne and old industrial locations like Duisburg lie close by along its shore. In-between is an idyll full of castles, half-timbered houses and picturesque promenades.
The different cities all have their own charm. In Bonn, you can find out more about Beethoven – or check out some of the famous museums close by. Go hiking in the “Siebengebirge” (the Mountains of Seven Summits) with its canyon-like valleys and forested peaks. The mystical Drachenfels (dragon cliffs) awaits you with ruins.
Or take a stroll along the historic gardens around the Unesco World Heritage protected rococo castles, “Augustusburg” and “Falkenlust”. Take a ride along the “Rheinradweg” cycle trail and you can connect all these highlights on one fascinating route.
Tourismus NRW e.V. 
Reinhart Julian 
Radowitz/ Shutterstock.com
The “Rheinradweg” follows the river from its source to its estuary, 1,320 kilometres in total. Five of the stages, 226 kilometres, undoubtfully some of the most beautiful parts, are in North Rhine-Westphalia.
TIP: If you don’t want to ride the whole way, the “Bike and Boat Ticket” gives you the chance to take a boat for some of the way between Cologne and Linz. Just hop on and off and ride on!
ROUTE: The “Rheinradweg” (Rhine Bike Path) in NRW takes you from Honnef to Wesel in 226 kilometres along the banks of the river. You can reach all starting points of the different stages easily with the train, giving you the freedom to ride them one by one or to make the most of a full long weekend, riding this beautiful part of the trail in one go.
SIGNS: The Rheinradweg is well posted – just follow the blue signs with a yellow biker. Usually the sign will also show you the distance to your next destination.
Come and Explore! (Düsseldorf)
The city with a sunny mindset. The metropolis Düsseldorf combines cosmopolitan flair with the groove of the Rhineland. Whether you love fashion, architecture, art or music – Düsseldorf has plenty to offer. The city along the Rhine is well-known for the “Kö”, one of Europe’s most prominent luxury boulevards.
The so-called “media-harbour” sparkles with architectural gems by Frank O. Gehry or David Chipperfield. At night, hit the “longest bar in the world”, as the old quarter of the city is known. This area is packed with traditional and modern bars, serving freshly poured “Altbier”, Düsseldorf’s famous dark beer.
Oliver Franke/ Tourismus NRW e.V. 
engel.ac/ Shutterstock.com
Few people actually know that the state capital Düsseldorf is a perfect place for bike rides! Ten different routes invite you to explore the city in all its facets. And it’s surprisingly green – for example around the castle at Benrath with its beautiful parks, in the south of the city. The north surprises many visitors, with its forests and deer park at Apper Wald.
TIP: Düsseldorf has a large Japanese population – and the area around Immermannstrase is also called Little Tokyo. If you love Japanese Manga, sushi and ramen, make sure you plan some time here!
ROUTE: The different “Tour Ds” are numbered, and there’s really something for everyone. Whether you want to take a short, 11km-long night ride through the illuminated city or you’d prefer to explore the whole of Düsseldorf on an 80km trail, the pathways to discover the city are endless!
SIGNS: You can find detailed maps and GPS-points to each individual tour online.
