Jugendherbergs-Radtour um den Bodensee

Youth hostel bike tour around Lake Constance

A Lake Constance bike tour from youth hostel to youth hostel is an uncomplicated way to save on accommodation costs and spend a relaxing bike tour not only for families. The youth hostels are usually located in the immediate vicinity of the Lake Constance Cycle Route, so you can cycle without major detours to your daily stage destination.
If you are not afraid of a little bit of organization in advance, then a relaxed bike tour awaits you. With our luggage transport, you can also cycle carefree around Lake Constance on a youth hostel bike tour.

Start in Constance

Most cyclists start their Lake Constance bike tour in Constance. From the largest city at the lake, you can quickly get to the islands of Mainau and Reichenau, without whose visit no Lake Constance bike tour would be complete. Moving the start of your Lake Constance bike tour to Constance means that you will also end your bike tour there. With two nights, one night at the beginning and one night at the end of your bike tour, you will definitely have enough time to visit the many sights in and around Constance.

Youth hostel Konstanz
The landmark of the youth hostel in Constance is the Otto Moericke Tower, a former water tower. You will recognize your destination from afar! The youth hostel is located in the suburb of Allmannsdorf, a little elevated on a hill. The view over the lake to the Alps makes you forget any effort of getting there!

1st stage: Constance - Stein am Rhein - Constance, approx. 35 km + boat trip or approx. 69 km

The first destination of your youth hostel bike tour is immediately UNESCO World Heritage Site: Reichenau Island. Through the famous poplar avenue you cycle with the best views of the island, which was once a center of the religious world. Even today, the various churches and fonts bear witness to this rich cultural heritage. Due to the warm climate on and around the lake, the island of Reichenau is today known mainly for its fruit and vegetable cultivation. As well as for the incomparable views of the volcanic cones of the Hegau and the rolling hills on the opposite Swiss shore.
On the island of Reichenau, board a boat to Gaienhofen on the Höri peninsula.

Navigation Reichenau - Gaienhofen: Timetable and Prices

The beautiful Höri was an important source of inspiration not only for Hermann Hesse. A few climbs now lie ahead of you on the way to Stein am Rhein. The lovely little town is one of the most beautiful on the lake! In the winding alleys, the brightly painted, leaning half-timbered houses from the Middle Ages are lined up closely together. Stein is watched over by Hohenklingen Castle, which towers high above the town.
After an extensive stroll through the town, take a leisurely boat ride back to Constance. The view of the shore of the Lower Lake and the island of Reichenau is simply magnificent!

Stein on the Rhine
Our tip:

Instead of in Stein am Rhein you sleep after this stage once again in the youth hostel Konstanz. So you save not only the expensive overnight stay in a Swiss youth hostel. You can also, when you return to Konstanz, start this stage without luggage. Your bike bags will stay in Konstanz while you are on the road with light day luggage.

If you want to extend this stage, simply forgo the boat ride from Stein am Rhein to Konstanz. In this case, you cycle on the Swiss side of the Untersee back to your youth hostel in Constance. In the small, lovely villages, you will have to take the road in some places. Outside, however, you will always be guided to the sidewalk, so that you are relaxed on the way.

2nd stage: Constance - Radolfzell - Überlingen, approx. 52 km

From the youth hostel Constance you have the best view of the flower island Mainau, which lies in the Überlinger Lake. Only a few kilometers on the bike and you have arrived at the gates of the count island. Take your time for an extensive visit! The splendor of colors and flowers is incomparable.
Back on the bike, you now cross the Bodanrück. This is the headland that divides Lake Constance into Lake Überlingen and Lower Lake. After Dingelsdorf you take the associated slope in attack and go on the Lake Constance cycle path via Dettingen and Kaltbrunn to Radolfzell.
Reward yourself there for the distance covered so far with a cone of ice cream in the beautiful old town! From the Lower Lake you now make your way to Überlinger See, which you reach in Bodman. After Ludwigshafen you cycle along the lake via Sipplingen to Überlingen, your next stage destination and once an important trading center.

Youth Hostel Überlingen
The hostel in Überlingen is one of the most modern around Lake Constance. After many renovations, it was reopened only in February 2016. Each room, whether single or shared room has its own bathroom with shower and toilet in the house. In the garden are not only table tennis tables, but it was also created a large football court.

3rd stage: Überlingen – Friedrichshafen, approx. 32 km

Pile dwellings in Uhldingen

The somewhat shorter cycling stage on the Lake Constance Cycle Path to the next youth hostel is due to the many sights that lie along the way. Whether you visit the opulent pilgrimage church of Birnau, the pile dwellings in Unteruhldigen or the castle and palace in Meersburg – there is a lot to see today! A detour to the Affenberg in Salem is also a good idea. Here our animal relatives will even eat out of your hand! And if you arrive in Friedrichshafen in the early afternoon, simply visit the Zeppelin Museum. There a full-scale replica of the famous Hindenburg airship is displayed.

Youth hostel Friedrichshafen
Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin, the famous founder of the Zeppelin airship yard, is the namesake of the youth hostel in Friedrichshafen. The youth hostel is located directly on the bike path and can therefore not be missed.

4th stage: Friedrichshafen – Hard, approx. 42 km

Lindau Port

Two highlights of the bike tour around Lake Constance are on the agenda today: Lindau with its unique island old town and the festival city of Bregenz. In both cities there is much to discover: Be it the 6 m high marble lion guarding the Lindau harbor or the ever-changing lake stage in front of Bregenz. There is a youth hostel in Lindau, but our suggestion for today's stage is to spend the night in Hard, a suburb of Bregenz. So the bike stage is neither too long nor too short.

Das Junge Hotel, Hard
Lake Constance and the Rhine are not far away, perfect to end the evening relaxing on the shore. The Junge Hotel in Hard is a modern youth hostel just a few kilometers to Bregenz. Single, multi-bed and family rooms are available in the house.

5th stage: Hard – Constance, approx. 67 km

Pavilion in Lake Constance near Bregenz

You will cross two national borders today: From Hard in Austria, it is only a few kilometers to the border with Switzerland. Via Rorschach, Arbon and Romanshorn you cycle today the last stage of your bike tour on the Lake Constance bike path. On the way, you will repeatedly pass lido resorts that are ideal for breaks. In the evening you will cross the border into Germany between the towns of Kreuzlingen and Konstanz, which have almost grown together.
On this stage you cycle through Switzerland, but do without a costly overnight stay. Because like so many things in Switzerland, the prices for overnight stays in youth hostels along the Swiss shore are quite a bit more expensive than in Germany or Austria. And if this stage seems too long for you, then simply book our luggage transport. Because cycling without luggage is quite carefree.

Tips for your Lake Constance bike tour from youth hostel to youth hostel

  • Modern houses and casual atmosphere, instead of long corridors and cold showers.

Whoever thinks of youth hostels as class trips long ago, which were characterized by cold showers, bad canteen food and many bunk beds in large dormitories, will be surprised by the modern hostels: Most of the houses have been renovated to give guests a more relaxed stay. Smaller rooms, modern sanitary facilities and an uncomplicated atmosphere characterize today's youth hostels. Not only many families swear at present on vacation in the youth hostel, also alone travelers find here fast connection.
In addition, many youth hostels around the lake were awarded by the ADF as bett+bike businesses: This means that there is a storage room for your bike, drying rooms for possibly wet cycling clothes, tools for minor repairs and, which is not a matter of course at Lake Constance, even in the high season the possibility of staying only one night in the youth hostel. Finally, the next morning you cycle on to your next accommodation.

  • Youth hostels in Germany: membership is mandatory

The German youth hostels are centrally organized in the German Youth Hostel Association (DJH). Membership in the non-profit association is required for overnight stays. However, the cost of membership is not high (about 22.50 euros per family per calendar year, as of August 2016), and should you not sign up until the second half of the year, you will only pay half price for the current year.

  • Early planning pays off

Lake Constance is not only in the high season a popular destination. The cheap accommodation offers in youth hostels are therefore quickly booked up. Plan ideally a few months in advance.

  • For you and your children: family room instead of dorm.

In the dormitories of the youth hostels, guests are usually accommodated separately by gender. A cozy alternative for families offer so-called family rooms – your family remains in these rooms among themselves and does not have to separate before bedtime. Usually, these rooms also have a separate toilet / bathroom area, which you do not have to share with the other guests.
Since the offer meets with many families on open ears, these rooms are usually booked up particularly quickly. Another reason to plan your youth hostel bike tour around Lake Constance a few months in advance.