Alsace by bike – 20 ideas for bike rides and bike paths where to pedal

Updated on 2024-04-23
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Laurène
Laurène
Laurene is the founder of the My weekend in Alsace. She likes to explore Alsace, on foot, on her bike, on her horse or in her car to find good spots for her readers.

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Looking for the most beautiful bike paths in Alsace and the best bike rides? We are lucky in Alsace to have a wide range of choices. Alsace is one of the first cycling regions in France: 2,500km of cycling itineraries are waiting for you, with cycle routes allowing you to do itineraries but also perfectly marked out day trips.

Being a great lover of bicycle touring, I test a lot of different bike paths and bike rides. I propose you here a small selection of bike rides that I have all tested and liked.

I have tried to offer you various corners of Alsace and different durations so that there is something for all levels and all desires, from a family bike ride to more sportive loops. I’m adding ideas as I discover them 🙂

Alsace Wine Route by bike

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The beautiful Châtenois

The Alsace Wine Route is THE most famous bicycle route in Alsace, and we understand why when we ride it, it’s just beautiful! If you start discovering Alsace by bike, I can only advise you to ride it… As for me, I can’t get enough of it!

Trail of the Forts

piste-forts-velo-strasbourgThe Piste des Forts is a bike tour around Strasbourg, which is 85km in total and is located in both France and Germany. You can very well make only a part of it, I reassure you 😉 It is a nice itinerary which allows to discover various places around Strasbourg.

Bicycle path on the Bruche Canal

velo-canal-bruche-alsaceThis is certainly the favorite bicycle path of Alsace! The Véloroute du Canal de la Bruche runs from Strasbourg to Soultz les Bains and follows the pleasant Canal de la Bruche, which is pleasant to ride in all seasons. Be careful, we meet a lot of people during the weekend…

Discovery of the Rhine jungle

jungle-rhenania-germanyThis is an exotic bike ride that allows you to discover the untamed arms of the Rhine. As a bonus, the itinerary is Franco-German and we take a ferry to cross the Rhine and pedal to the other side… It’s fun!

Canal du Rhône au Rhin from Strasbourg to Colmar

velo-canal-rhone-rhinThe Rhone-Rhine Canal Cycle Route is the Eurovelo 15, a large cycle path along the canal. It can be a bit boring because it is very straight but it can also be nice because it is flat and allows to connect Strasbourg to Colmar quite quickly. It can be a nice idea for a day trip!

Greenway Portes Bonheur

greenway-rosheim-portalsThe Voie Verte Portes Bonheur – Chemin des Carrières runs from Rosheim to Saint-Nabor and follows the route of an old railroad. It is a very beautiful itinerary which allows to see varied landscapes but also to visit beautiful villages. Really nice!

Cycling around Kaysersberg

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If you are looking for a bike ride on the Alsace Wine Route, this is a great idea for a route! This tour passes through beautiful villages like Kaysersberg, Turckheim or Katzenhthal and offers beautiful panoramas along the way. A real pleasure!

Discovering Alsace Bossue

loop-velo-alsace-bossueThis cycling tour takes you to a relatively unknown part of the region, theAlsace Bossue, with its gently rolling hills. A very pleasant itinerary ideal for getting off the beaten track!

Loop in the Valley of the Thur

point-vue-valley-thurThis bike loop in the Thur Valley is a little bit sportive, because of its length and its difference in altitude. It allows you to explore the valley but also to make pleasant breaks at the Kruth Lake and the Wesserling Park. You can also shorten its length with the train.

Between wines and cheeses in the Valley of Munster

velo-vallee-munsterThis is a cycling route that allows you to make a nice loop in the Valley of Munster, with very pleasant breaks in villages like Turckheim and Soultzbach-les-bains or to taste wines and cheeses! We are really between the mountain and the Wine Road, that allows to discover different facets of Alsace.

Cycling around Strasbourg

ride-velo-foret-roberts atHere is a bike route that I find ideal to mix visit of Strasbourg and its nature side! Because one of the great advantages of the city is its easy access to nature… And this loop is the perfect proof! No difficulty to expect, it’s all flat 🙂

Loop in the Rhine band around Mulhouse

ottmarsheim-veloI imagined this loop myself in order to discover the Rhine strip, the part of the territory located near the Rhine, starting from Mulhouse. You will discover the Hardt Forest, the Rhone-Rhine Canal, the sublime church of Ottmarsheim the locks of Niffer… Many points of interest to see along the way and no difficulty to expect, it is very flat.

Bike ride in the valleys of the Thur and Doller rivers

velo-vallee-thurThis is a short but slightly uphill bike tour that allows you to discover the two most southern valleys of Alsace, the Thur and Doller valleys. This is a nice walk that starts on the Wine Route but continues with a more mountainous atmosphere. We are really in between!

Sports route in Saverne

chateau-haut-barr-saverneFor those who are looking for a sporty but still rich in beautiful discoveries, this route is one of my favorites! One discovers indeed the pretty Saverne, the Mont Saint-Michel the Castle of Haut-Barr or the abbey of Marmoutier. Beautiful visits and… beautiful climbs in perspective for your calves!

Bike ride in the Ried d’Alsace

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This easy bicycle loop allows you to discover the Ried d’Alsace. I really like this itinerary because it allows to discover the variety of the heritage of this corner of Alsace: natural heritage but also built heritage with beautiful villages and the splendid abbey of Ebersmunster. really nice!

Stroll around Molsheim

molsheimHere you have a cycling route that is a bit off the beaten track, since this is not the most well-known corner of Alsace. However, there are some beautiful discoveries to be made along the way: little known villages of the Wine Route, the church of Dompeter, the abbey of Altorf and of course the beautiful Molsheim. And don’t forget the gourmet breaks if you wish!

Small loop of the 3 countries

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Here is a cross-border itinerary that will take you to Germany and Switzerland in addition to France. A change of scenery guaranteed! It is a pretty easy loop because very flat of 40 km and passing essentially by cycle tracks.

Bike ride around Guebwiller

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I really like this bike route around Guebwiller, a bit sporty and which allows you to walk in the Vosges forest and in the Alsatian vineyard. As a bonus, it offers beautiful views!

Cross-border tour around Seltz-Lauterbourg

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Between Alsace and Germany, here is a nice idea for a bike tour that will make you discover the banks of the Rhine. It is an easy course because it is flat. As a bonus, you take the ferry to cross the Rhine, it’s always fun 😉

Cycling loop between the Wine Route and the Alsace plain

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Here is one of my bike rides crush! This circuit of about 50km allows you to discover the variety of Alsace by crossing not only the Wine Route and its magnificent villages but also the place of Alsace, less known but which also has points of interest like the splendid abbey of Ebersmunster. As a bonus, you can also visit the beautiful Sélestat.