Southern Alsace, from Basel Countryside to Strasbourg

Overview

This cycling tour takes you through the heart of three countries - France, Germany, and Switzerland. Unlike other Alsace tours that concentrate mainly on wine villages, this tour combines the Black Forest foothills, historic border towns, and trinational heritage with Alsace’s vineyards and half-timbered villages. From the Basel area, known for its world-class museums and medieval old town, you’ll ride north into Germany’s Baden region, stopping in spa towns and the university city of Freiburg, gateway to the Black Forest. The route includes Breisach on the Rhine, the UNESCO fortress town of Neuf-Brisach, and the wine capital of Colmar. Continuing along the Alsace Wine Route, you’ll discover villages like Eguisheim and Riquewihr before concluding in Strasbourg, with its Gothic cathedral, UNESCO-listed old town, and canals of Petite France. What makes this tour unique is the variety: three countries, three cultures, and three landscapes in a single ride - from Swiss and German heritage to French wine traditions - all linked by riverside paths and historic cities. Day 1: Arrival in the trinational Eurodistrict of Basel, where France, Germany, and Switzerland meet. You’ll stay in either Saint-Louis (France) or Weil am Rhein (Germany), both just minutes from Switzerland’s third-largest city. Basel is known for its medieval old town, its vibrant mix of modern and historic architecture, and over 40 museums, including the Kunstmuseum and Fondation Beyeler. A relaxed bike ride is the perfect way to explore the city’s highlights, from the Rathaus on Marktplatz to the banks of the Rhine. Day 2: Leaving Eurodistrict Basel, follow the cycle route along the Rhine into Germany’s Baden wine region. Your destination is Müllheim, where the Markgräfler Museum showcases local history and the St. Martin Church preserves 14th-century frescoes. Just a short detour brings you to Badenweiler, home to the ruins of a Roman bath complex and a hilltop castle overlooking the Black Forest foothills. Day 3: Today’s ride passes through Heitersheim, with its Villa Urbana Roman site and the former Order of Malta castle. Continue through Bad Krozingen, a spa town famous for its thermal baths, before reaching Freiburg im Breisgau, often called the gateway to the Black Forest. The city is known for its Gothic cathedral, lively university atmosphere, and eco-friendly urban design. From the Schlossberg hill, you can watch the sun set over the rooftops, with views stretching to the Vosges Mountains in France. Day 4: Follow the Breisgau-Radweg bike path to Breisach am Rhein, where the cathedral dominates the skyline above medieval lanes. Crossing into France, stop in Neuf-Brisach, a Vauban fortress town built in the 17th century and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue to Colmar, the capital of Alsace wines. Its historic center is one of the best preserved in France, with canals, colorful half-timbered houses, and landmarks like the Unterlinden Museum, which houses the Isenheim Altarpiece, a masterpiece of Renaissance art. Day 5: Leaving Colmar, you join the famous Alsace Wine Route. Vineyards stretch at the foot of the Vosges Mountains, dotted with villages that have shaped the region’s winemaking tradition for centuries. Stops include Eguisheim and Kaysersberg, both voted “Favorite Village of the French” in recent years. These towns are known for their cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, and family-run wineries producing world-class Rieslings and Gewürztraminers. Day 6: Continue along the Wine Route through villages steeped in tradition. Hunawihr is known for its fortified church and stork reintroduction center, while Ribeauvillé combines medieval towers with local wine cellars. In Bergheim, you can stroll intact town walls, and in Andlau, visit the remains of its Romanesque abbey. The day ends in or near Obernai, a town famous for its Renaissance square, colorful houses, and strong Alsatian identity. Day 7: Cycling north, stop in Rosheim to admire the Saints-Pierre-et-Paul church, a jewel of Alsatian Romanesque architecture. In Molsheim, once the home of Bugatti, you join the Bruche Canal cycle path leading directly into Strasbourg. The city’s historic center, the Grande Île, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with landmarks including the Gothic cathedral, the medieval quarter of La Petite France, and centuries of cultural influences. Strasbourg’s role as the European capital and its renowned Alsatian cuisine make it the perfect finale to the journey. Day 8: Departure from Strasbourg. Extend your stay to explore more of Alsace and its cycle paths, or return home with memories of vineyards, river landscapes, and the cultural crossroads of France, Germany, and Switzerland. Accommodations: This tour includes 3 nights in comfortable 3-star hotels and 4 nights in carefully selected 4-star hotels, offering a balance of convenience and comfort throughout your stay. Bicycles: Standard bike includes Unisex or men's frame, ideal for an upright position. Aluminum frame, flat handlebar, Royal Comfort saddle, 7 or 21-speed (Shimano Alivia). 7-speed with back-pedaling brake hub. Flat pedal, Shimano V-Brake, rear rack, mudguards, 28-inch wheels. Men's bike on request. Unisex electric bike includes Aluminum frame (23 kg), On-board computer with LCD display will indicate your speed, distance, battery charge status and other data. Royal Comfort saddle, 8-speeds integrated into the hub, Bosch Active Line motors, Battery: Bosch power pack 500 Wh, range approx 90 km average speed on flat terrain. Flat pedals, Shimano Déore disc brakes front and rear, backpedaling, rear rack, mudguards, 28-inch wheel. Accessories: Handlebar bag with map holder (waterproof), rear bag (waterproof), repair kit with small tools and spare inner tube, bicycle pump, key or combination padlock, odometer. Please note: Helmets are not included. You will need to bring your own. Supplemental accessories on request: Child seat (9 month - 6 years old), Child bike (3 to 8 years old), Child transporter KTM (1 to 2 children), Tag a long (3 to 6 years old). What’s Included: Accommodations for 7 nights, Daily breakfasts, Standard touring bike, Bike insurance, Luggage transfer, Digital travel documents, including navigation app, GPS data, and route book, Signposted route, Service hotline, GPS tracks. What’s Not Included: Lunches and dinners, Drinks, Helmets (bring your own), Printed route book, Entrance fees and excursions, Local taxes, Travel Insurance. Skill Level — Easy–Moderate: This is an easy to moderate self-guided bike tour along the Rhine River. The route follows cycle paths and secondary roads with little traffic outside the towns and villages. More traffic is naturally encountered entering and exiting towns and villages. There are a few days that you will have some hills to climb: Days 3, 5 and 6. Airport Info: Closest airport to Basel/Mulhouse is the Basel International Airport (BSL). Another major international airport close to Basel is Zurich Airport (ZRH), located 49 mi. (79 km) from Basel. Local Travel: Arrival in Basel: From EuroAirport Basel–Mulhouse–Freiburg, the quickest way to the city is bus line 50, which goes directly to Basel SBB (main train station) in about 20 minutes. Taxis and private shuttles are also available. Arrival in Zurich: From Zurich Airport, frequent trains connect directly to Basel SBB in about 1–1.5 hours. The train station is located inside the airport terminal. From Basel SBB, you can take a short taxi ride to your hotel. Climate: Mild temperatures for the region can be expected. Temperatures start to increase from April, peaking over August and September. Rain can occur throughout the year, so it is a good idea to pack rain gear. Below you will find the average temperatures and rainfall for the area. Please check local weather conditions prior to your arrival. Important to know - Documents: It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, visa requirements, and acquisition, blank passport pages required for your destination (s), etc. US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and entry into other countries is travel.state.gov. Non-EU and EU residents: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and your destination country or countries. Important note: Please check on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status as once implemented, this will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa. Tour Operator: This tour is run by Espace Randonnee. We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide. We are not a broker. We do not inflate tour prices. We are simply travelers helping travelers.

Daily Ride Schedule

Accommodation & Services

Accommodation

Hotel

What's Included