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Regensburg St Peter's Cathedral

Regensburg - Bamberg, MS Casanova

Following in the Footsteps of King Ludwig

8 Days / 7 Nights
Medium
Regensburg St Peter's Cathedral

The essentials at a glance

Bike and boat tour from Regensburg to Bamberg combining cycling with onboard accommodation on MS Casanova. The route follows the Danube, Altmühl Valley, and Regnitz rivers through Bavaria, passing UNESCO World Heritage sites in Regensburg and Bamberg. Daily cycling distances range from 30-55 km on towpaths, quiet roads, and forest trails with some longer climbs. Highlights include Kelheim's Liberation Hall, the historic Ludwig Canal with 101 locks, Nuremberg's medieval old town, and Franconian beer gardens.

Experience a journey through time along the Danube and the Main-Danube Canal – comfortably on board and actively on two wheels. Between Regensburg and Bamberg, a fascinating route awaits you, passing through some of southern Germany’s most beautiful and historic towns. Explore medieval alleys, magnificent churches, baroque old towns, and vibrant beer culture – all set in a picturesque river landscape. During the day, you’ll cycle at a relaxed pace along well-maintained bike paths; in the evening, unwind aboard your floating hotel. Join us for a varied journey full of culture, nature, and Bavarian joie de vivre!

The starting point of your bike & boat holiday is the UNESCO World Heritage city of Regensburg. From here, you cycle along the Danube through the Altmühl Valley Nature Park, where quiet valleys, striking rock formations, and charming medieval towns alternate along your route. The tour continues past Kelheim, home to the impressive Liberation Hall, through the idyllic landscapes around Riedenburg and Beilngries, and along the historic Ludwig Canal to Hilpoltstein.

Nuremberg, with its vibrant old town and sights along the “Historic Mile,” offers a cultural highlight, before the Regnitz Cycle Route leads you through green floodplains, picturesque beer gardens, and Franconian half-timbered towns to the baroque city of Bamberg, renowned worldwide for its beer tradition. Well-developed cycling paths and relaxed evenings on board make this journey a varied and leisurely experience.

  • Liberation Hall in Kelheim: A monumental landmark of King Ludwig I., towering above the Danube and Altmühl, offering spectacular views.
  • Altmühl Valley Nature Park: Impressive rock formations, castle ruins, and tranquil river landscapes accompany your stages through one of Bavaria’s most beautiful natural areas.
  • Historic Ludwig Canal: A 19th-century engineering marvel, complete with old locks, bridges, and quiet towpaths, inviting you to cycle and marvel.
  • Nuremberg Old Town: Medieval scenery, half-timbered houses, churches, and restored buildings along the “Historic Mile” provide cultural highlights.
  • Regnitz Floodplains & Beer Culture: Shady riverside landscapes, cozy beer gardens, and Franconian small towns like Forchheim add a touch of leisurely enjoyment to your journey.

This bike & boat tour is rated as medium in difficulty. Daily stages generally range between 30 and 55 km and mostly follow quiet cycle paths, towpaths, and low-traffic secondary roads. Some sections run along field and forest tracks, and occasionally longer climbs need to be tackled – a reasonable level of fitness is recommended.

The route is exceptionally varied in terms of scenery and rich in cultural sights: historic towns, nature parks, and technical monuments accompany you, alongside cozy stops along the Danube, Altmühl, canal, and Regnitz rivers. In the evenings, the comfortable MS Casanova, your floating hotel, awaits.

itinerary at a glance

Individual arrival in Regensburg. The largely preserved historic old town and the Stadtamhof district, with their many architectural monuments, have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 2006. It is said that Regensburg boasts around 6.000 listed buildings – more than any other city in Europe!

The first stage takes you through idyllic landscapes and past small villages. A first highlight awaits you in Kelheim, where the Altmühl and Danube rivers meet. Towering above the town is the impressive Liberation Hall, a monumental structure commissioned by King Ludwig I, which rewards a short climb with spectacular panoramic views. Your journey continues through the Altmühltal Nature Park, winding through forested valleys, past striking rock formations and castle ruins. The day’s destination is the charming town of Riedenburg, often called the “Pearl of the Altmühl Valley.” Here, you can enjoy a medieval atmosphere and relax in one of the cozy beer gardens.

A relaxed ride through the heart of the Altmühl Valley: This stage follows well-developed bike paths with hardly any inclines, leading you to the charming town of Beilngries with its winding alleys and baroque parish church. Along the way, numerous information boards offer insights into the region’s history and the geological features of the Altmühl Valley. There are plenty of opportunities to stop for a coffee or simply take in the peaceful beauty of the surrounding nature.

Your cycling tour first takes you to the old town of Freystadt, where you can explore the town center and visit the baroque pilgrimage church "Maria-Hilf-Wallfahrtskirche" – one of the most important baroque churches in Germany, beautifully situated in a meadow just outside the town. The destination of today’s stage is Hilpoltstein.

Today’s ride takes you through the Rothsee Nature Park before you discover one of the oldest canals in the world: the historic Main-Danube Canal built under King Ludwig I, also known as the Ludwig Canal. With its 101 locks and scenic views, it’s a true engineering and landscape highlight. In the afternoon, you arrive in Nuremberg – a city rich in history with a beautifully restored medieval old town. Follow the "Historic Mile" to see the city’s most important and authentic buildings, carefully reconstructed after their destruction in World War II.

Today, the Regnitz Cycle Route takes you along the scenic valley route through lush greenery. As you leave the city, you’ll pass iconic landmarks like the “Kettensteg” (Chain Bridge), the “Henkersteg” (Hangman’s Bridge), and the historic craftsmen’s houses of Weißgerbergasse, before continuing through the green Hallerwiesen meadows. The ride leads you through the restored floodplains of the Pegnitz River toward Fürth – a short detour into the heart of the town is well worth it! From there, you continue along river meadows, shaded by tall oaks entwined with wild hops, through flat countryside and sandy pine forests, heading toward Erlangen.

Your final bike tour takes you through the meadow landscapes of the Regnitz Valley, continuing along the Regnitz Cycle Route. Take a break at one of the many traditional beer gardens along the way and enjoy a refreshing beer or a slice of homemade cake. You’ll stop in Forchheim, a small and charming Franconian town, before cycling on to the thousand-year-old imperial city of Bamberg.

After breakfast checkout until 9:00 am– have a safe journey home.

Other variations of this tour

Difficulty level

Medium

You cycle along towpaths by the canals or on quiet country roads, farm tracks, and forest paths. A few longer climbs are part of the route, so a basic level of fitness is recommended.

Prices & Dates

Prices per person in EUR

Our rental bikes

The different types of rental bikes at a glance

Unisex Rental Bike - Symbol photo
Unisex bike

High-quality unisex touring bike with comfortable low entry

Available gear options can be found in the price table

E-Bike rental bike - Symbol photo
Unisex Electro bike

High-quality unisex electric bike with comfortable low entry

services & information

Further details about this tour

Inlcuded

  • Program according to itinerary from Bamberg to Regensburg
  • 7 nights in outside cabins in the booked cabin category
  • 1 welcome drink
  • Full meals (7x breakfast, 6x packed lunch for cyclists or lunch snack on board, 6x afternoon coffee break, 7x 3-course-dinner)
  • On board tour guide incl. daily tour briefing
  • Daily cabin cleaning, change of bed linen and towels as needed
  • Detailed travel documents (navigation app and GPS-data)
  • All harbour, lock and bridge fees

Optional

  • Bringing your own bike/electric bike: € 49,- (on request only, limited)
  • Helmets € 45,-/week, reservation necessary and to be paid for at the time

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Bambergtrain station 
  • Underground parking “Zentrum Nord” approx. €15 per day
  • Park & Ride options on the outskirts of the city

Things to note

  • Minimum number of participants: 75 persons
  • Further important information according to the package travel law and additional information about your bike and boat trip can be found here
  • This tour is a partner tour.

Your boat

Melanie Spitzwieser

"We look forward to making your holiday dreams come true"

Melanie Spitzwieser
Travel Specialist
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Friday: 9.00 am - 5.00 pm
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