Alsace Wine Route by bike – Short guide

My Overall Thoughts on Cycling the Alsace Wine Route

Why cycle the Alsace Wine Route?

Exploring the Wine Route by bike lets you discover the vineyards in a whole new way: no noise, no pollution, the wind in your hair, the scents of the earth and sun-drenched (or rain-soaked, depending on the weather—but keep in mind that it’s usually quite hot in Alsace during the summer!) vineyards. Nothing but perks! As a bonus, you can easily stop for a break anywhere—which isn’t possible when you’re driving!

The cycle route passes through beautiful countryside and charming villages. It is hilly, which may put some people off. However, you don’t need to be a great sportsman to ride a bike: if you do a minimum of sport regularly, it will pass by itself. Another increasingly popular option is the electric bicycle. The electric bike makes the route really accessible to everyone.

Which bike should you choose for the Alsace Wine Route? (trails and road surfaces)

The Véloroute du Vignoble has few real bicycle paths reserved exclusively for bikes. It is rather a mix between restricted traffic lanes (on which cyclists and local residents circulate, i.e. mainly the agricultural machinery of the winegrowers going to work in the vineyards) and roads (open to all). The road portions are still quite small, so cycling in the area is still very enjoyable!

Since you’ll be riding exclusively on paved roads, you have a choice of bikes: you can opt for a road bike if you’re in sports mode, but you can also choose a hybrid bike (perfect for cycle touring) or a gravel bike. However, I wouldn’t recommend bringing a mountain bike, as it’s not well-suited for this type of route.

How many days does the Alsace vineyard cycle route (Eurovélo 5) take?

There are several options for discovering Eurovélo 5. As for me, it’s an itinerary I’ve travelled many times before, but never tire of! It’s clearly the most beautiful in Alsace, let’s face it.

If you’ve only got a day or so to spare, or you’re not really used to cycling

You can also opt for just one section of Eurovélo 5. In that case, I’d advise you to choose one of the (many!) existing loop rides, which you can do for a full or even half-day. You’ll be able to choose a ride that’s longer or shorter, more or less sporty, suitable for children, etc…

In Alsace, we’re lucky enough to have a number of cycle routes and tracks, making it easy for you to create lovely loops for great days out on the Alsace Wine Route! I propose several different circuits, allowing you to discover different parts of the Wine Route:

• Easy bike tour around Kaysersberg (20km)
• Loop starting in Kaysersberg, via Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé, Bergheim, and Turckheim (44 km)
• Cycling tour around Sélestat (47km)
• Couronne d’Or vineyard tour (33km)
• Forest and vineyard walks around Guebwiller (25km)
• Sports circuit around Rouffach (34km)
• Circuit between Vallée de Villé and Route des Vins (32km)

If you have a few days to spare and would like to go roaming

In that case, I recommend choosing the section of EuroVelo 5 between Colmar and Strasbourg. You can easily reach Marlenheim (the official start of the Wine Route) by following the Bruche Canal from Strasbourg, and once you arrive in Colmar, you can easily take a train with your bike to return to Strasbourg.

In my opinion, this is the most beautiful part of the Véloroute du vignoble! Allow at least 3 days for this, so you’ll be able to enjoy a fairly leisurely day’s cycling, but there’s plenty to see along the way, and it would be a shame not to plan several cultural and gourmet stops.

You’ll be able to explore picture-postcard landscapes and visit some superb villages at the same time (and enjoy wine tastings– in moderation, of course!). Examples include Rosheim, Obernai, Barr, Mittelbergheim, Itterswiller, Scherwiller, Châtenois, Bergheim, Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, Colmar… For more information, please read the detailed article I wrote on my other blog about the Alsace Wine Route by bike between Strasbourg and Colmar (in French only).

If you’re into sports

Are you a road cyclist who wants to cycle the Wine Route? You can easily do the entire Véloroute du Vignoble:

• or over a day if you are well trained and wish to pedal exclusively
• or two days of riding, but also take the time to make a few tourist and gourmet stops.

I’ve already taken this second option with friends for a weekend: it’s easy to get to Thann by train with your bike, then we did the first day between Thann and Colmar (with an overnight stay in Ingersheim), and the second day from Ingersheim to Strasbourg. It makes for a great weekend of sports and sightseeing!

Here are my tracks on Komoot. I’ve added a few detours that I thought were relevant to the official Véloroute du Vignoble itinerary, such as passing through Kaysersberg, Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé, which are not on the Eurovélo 5 route. It adds a bit of distance and elevation gain, but it’s well worth it! Be careful on the second day, on the Komoot map it goes to my home and not to Strasbourg. Once in Soultz-les-Bains, take the Véloroute du Canal de la Bruche back to Strasbourg.

What You Need to Know About Cycling the Alsace Wine Route

• A 140-km route between Marlenheim and Thann, which can be completed in a single day (short loop) or over several days of hiking
• Electric bikes make the route accessible to riders of all skill levels
• There are many short loops that let you explore part of the vineyard without having to ride the entire bike route
• On-site rental or all-inclusive package: several options to suit your needs

Looking for a specific loop for the day? Check out my 44-km loop starting in Kaysersberg—one of my favorites on this route.

How do I get to the Véloroute du Vignoble?

• 🚆 By train: Marlenheim and Thann, the two endpoints of the route, are served by trains, as are Strasbourg and Colmar in the middle of the route. Overall, it’s fairly easy to take the TER Grand Est with your bike: no reservations required, and no extra charge on Alsatian lines. The only exception to be aware of: bikes are not allowed on trains on the Strasbourg–Basel line during weekday rush hours (6:00 a.m.–8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.). More details are available on the dedicated TER Grand Est page.
• 🚲 From Strasbourg: Follow the Canal de la Bruche Bike Route to Soultz-les-Bains, where it connects directly to the Vignoble Bike Route.

FAQ: Your Questions About Cycling the Alsace Wine Route