Embark on an extraordinary cycling journey along the Rhine Cycle Route (EuroVelo 15), one of Europe's most scenic and accessible long-distance trails. Spanning 1,368 km (850 miles) from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea, the route follows the majestic Rhine River through Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. With diverse landscapes, historic landmarks, and smooth, well-marked paths, it offers an unforgettable adventure for cyclists of all levels.

Whether you're a seasoned cyclist or new to touring, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook leads you from the Rhine's alpine source to the North Sea, dividing the adventure into 27 manageable daily stages. Discover dramatic mountain scenery, the romantic castles of the Middle Rhine Valley, vibrant cities like Basel, Strasbourg, and Cologne, and the peaceful waterways of the Netherlands, offering a rich tapestry of Europe's natural beauty and cultural heritage.

• The Cicerone guidebook follows the renowned Rhine Cycle Route (EuroVelo 15), tracing the Rhine River from its alpine source in Switzerland to the North Sea, passing through iconic destinations such as Lake Constance (Bodensee), Basel, Strasbourg, Speyer, the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge, Koblenz, Cologne (Köln), Arnhem, and Rotterdam.
• Experience cycling highlights including the spectacular Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen, the legendary Loreley Rock, the scenic Rheingau wine region, the historic castles and vineyards of the Middle Rhine Valley between Mainz and Cologne, and the traditional windmills of Kinderdijk near Dordrecht.
• Benefit from comprehensive daily stage descriptions, easy-to-read maps, total distances, elevation profiles, up-to-date cycling conditions, and downloadable GPX tracks, making planning and navigation along the Rhine Cycle Route effortless.
• Choose from suggested 14-day, 21-day, or month-long cycling itineraries, with expert tips on customising your Rhine bike adventure and connecting seamlessly to the Moselle Cycle Route at Koblenz.
• Find curated recommendations for cyclist-friendly hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, and essential services conveniently located in picturesque towns and vibrant cities along the entire EuroVelo 15 route.
• Get invaluable guidance on bicycle preparation, packing essentials, cross-border travel between Switzerland, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, and seasonal tips to ensure an enjoyable and successful Rhine River cycling holiday from start to finish.

Plan your Rhine Cycle Route adventure with confidence and experience an unforgettable European adventure with this definitive guidebook.

Mike Wells is an author of both walking and cycling guides. He has been walking long-distance footpaths for 25 years, after a holiday in New Zealand gave him the long-distance walking bug. Within a few years, he had walked the major British trails, enjoying their range of terrain from straightforward downland tracks through to upland paths and challenging mountain routes. He then ventured into France, walking sections of the Grande Randonnee network (including the GR5 through the Alps from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean), and Italy to explore the Dolomites Alta Via routes. Further afield, he has walked in Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Norway and Patagonia. Mike has also been a keen cyclist for over 20 years. After completing various UK Sustrans routes, such as Lon Las Cymru in Wales and the C2C route across northern England, he then moved on to cycling long-distance routes in continental Europe and beyond. These include cycling both the Camino and Ruta de la Plata to Santiago de la Compostela, a traverse of Cuba from end to end, a circumnavigation of Iceland and a trip across Lapland to the North Cape. He has written a series of cycling guides for Cicerone following the great rivers of Europe.

This comprehensive guidebook to EuroVelo route 15 offers a detailed stage-by-stage description of the 1368km route along the Rhine, one of Europe's great rivers, passing through six countries on its way from Switzerland to the North Sea. The cycling is easy, downhill and along dedicated cycle lanes, the countries visited are very cycle-friendly and the waymarking is excellent. The whole trip can be completed in two weeks by a fit cyclist. The guide includes plenty of information to help you plan your trip, with advice on travel, accommodation and facilities. The full route is presented in 27 stages of 32-68km, with step-by-step route description, 1:100,000 mapping and notes on local points of interest. A facilities table, glossary and list of useful contacts can be found in the appendices. Starting in the Swiss Alps with high mountains, deep glacial valleys and gorges, the route soon reaches Europe's third largest lake, the Bodensee, and its greatest mainland waterfall. After Basel, the Rhine becomes a broad river, now the world's busiest river trading artery. The middle Rhine, between Bingen and Koblenz, forces its way through the narrow rocky Rhine gorge, lined by romantic castles perched above Germany's finest vineyards. Finally, the river passes through low-lying Holland, famed for its many flood dykes and windmills.