Get out of the city and into nature: 8 tour tips

Nature Tour Bremerhaven: between the Weser and Lune

Bremerhaven: New harbour with the Klimahaus and the German Emigration Museum ©DZT (Florian Trykowski)

Lapwings and golden plovers, kingfishers, dragonflies and water buffalo: the Luneplate nature conservation area is home to a diverse fauna. The flat coastal landscape between the mouth of the Weser and the Lune river is the destination of the 34-kilometre Nature Tour around Bremerhaven. Pack a picnic and enjoy a relaxed meal along the way.

Potsdam: circumnavigating Templiner See

Bicycles on the banks of the Havel ©Adobe Stock (Sina Ettmer)

Baroque splendour with a lake view: with its parks on the bank of the Templiner See, the setting of Caputh Palace is truly idyllic. Albert Einstein's former summer house is just around the corner. The 20-kilometre bike path around Templiner See near Potsdam is defined by the juxtaposition of culture and nature. Along the way, attractions include small bays that are perfect for bathing, as well as a ferry crossing.

Münster: from castle to castle

Muenster: Moated castle Huelshoff with Droste-Museum and Center for Literature ©DZT (Francesco Carovillano)

More than 400,000 bicycles for a population of 310,000 – Münster once again claimed the title of Germany's bicycle capital in 2023. So hop on a bike and explore the excellent infrastructure, for instance on the 34-kilometre circular trail from Münster Castle into its idyllic surroundings. Visit the Hülshoff moated castle along the way – where you can order a picnic basket packed with regional specialities.

Leipzig: Neuseenland Cycle Route

Leipzig: three cyclists on the Neuseenland cycle route ©Szymon Nitka, Znajkraj (Szymon Nitka, Znajkraj)

Nine bodies of water, including Lake Cospuden and Lake Kulkwitz, line the nearly 100-kilometre-long Neuseenland Cycle Route to the south of Leipzig. All of them were created as part of landscape recultivation in the former open-cast lignite mine. Today you can go swimming here, get active in the canoe park, spend the night at the lakeside or explore historic sites such as Borna.

Greifswald: Route of North German Romanticism

Greifswald: Riems Island in the Greifswald Bodden ©AdobeStock (Aufwind-Luftbilder)

Romanticism was defined by painters, poets and writers, notably Caspar David Friedrich and Philipp Otto Runge. Follow the trail of four great artists on the 54-kilometre Route of North German Romanticism between Greifswald and Wolgast – and enjoy views over the Bay of Greifswald along the way. Take the train back to your starting point after the tour.

Saarbrücken: Saarkohlenwald Loop

Saarbrücken: Old bridge with old town in the background ©Adobe Stock (Fotoschlick)

Industrial monuments from mining days of the past alternate with secluded forest landscapes, making the 80-kilometre-long Saarkohlenwald Loop perfect for a diverting day trip. Immerse yourself in Earth history at the GONDWANA adventure park, marvel at the natural phenomenon of the Burning Mountain just like Goethe once did and stop at cosy guesthouses.

Baden-Baden: tour to the summit of the Badener Höhe

Freudenstadt: Friedrich Tower on the Baden Heights ©https://hellotravelersblog.com/visiter-la-foret-noire-en-allemagne-notre-itineraire-de-3-jours/ (@HelloTravelers)

Nearly 1,500 metres in altitude over a distance of 60 kilometres: if you want to really let off steam on a mountain bike trip in between pleasant treatments at the Baden-Baden health resort, the summit tour is the one for you. This challenging tour passes Yburg Castle at an elevation of more than 1,000 metres. Cosy taverns invite you to sample regional specialities along the way.

Passau: on the sparkling course of the Inn

Passau: Danube river with city view ©www.bayern.by (Florian Trykowski)

They meet at the three-river triangle in Passau: the Ilz with its dark water, the Danube in blue-brown and the green of the Inn. An enjoyable tour follows the course of the Inn for about 30 kilometres until it joins the Danube. If you get hungry for more along the way, you can follow the Inn for more than 500 kilometres in Germany.