With August upon us, we are already entering the final part of summer. And with plenty of sunny days in sight, I am planning lots of cycling and hiking trips around the Schwarzwald. Even with all my activities, I still haven’t explored everything this beautiful area has to offer. Not to mention all the cycling routes. There is always another path or different turn to take. Then, one day, a local friend and keen cyclist, who knows plenty of cycling routes throughout Baden-Württemberg, suggested that we catch the train and go cycling in and around Konstanz and Bodensee.
Great, let’s do it!
The Baden Württemberg Train
I hadn’t travelled by train for a while, but with the affordable Baden-Württemberg-Ticket, it was easy to grab my bike and catch the train to Konstanz on Lake Constance (Bodensee).
The two-hour journey through the Schwarzwald was actually very enjoyable, with plenty of beautiful scenery along the way. The train climbed high through the deep forest before heading downhill again towards the Bodensee. Everything looked so pretty, but I couldn’t wait to arrive and begin cycling around Konstanz.
So far, I had only visited Lindau and Bregenz at Bodensee, the German and Austrian sides rather than the German and Swiss sides.
A quick change into my cycling shorts, one photo of the Bodensee and I was ready to ride!
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Cycling in and around Konstanz
Starting in the Old Town of Konstanz, we followed the cycle path along the lake, which was easy to find and follow. With so many other cyclists around, it was clearly a popular place for cycling around Bodensee.
We headed towards Staad, continued through Dingelsdorf and then cycled towards Wallhausen. Riding beside the lake and through the hills of the surrounding residential areas was very enjoyable. There were lots of pretty houses with beautiful views across the water.
It reminded me a little of Starnberger See. You can read about my trip there last year here: My summer in Bavaria – the best of the best!
We couldn’t have picked a better day for cycling around Bodensee. The weather was absolutely perfect. And although everybody seemed to be out and about, the cycling paths thankfully weren’t too busy.
The campsites, however, looked completely full. I guess that is European holiday season for you!
The cycling around Bodensee continues…
After Wallhausen, we turned left and cycled through the fields towards the other side of the peninsula and the Bodensee. There was only one very steep hill to conquer. And yes, I pushed my bike for the final few metres! Cycling in and around Konstanz and the Bodensee certainly had its challenges.
At the top, however, I suddenly found myself surrounded by beautifully decorated trees. The place was called a “floral paradise”. I wasn’t quite sure what it was, but it looked pretty enough for a little rest.
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From then on, I was promised there would be no more hills. And so, downhill we went, all the way to the turn-off for Reichenau Island.
Reached by a long causeway, the road leading onto the island is lined with tall poplar trees and looks incredibly picturesque. It was certainly one of the prettiest parts of the Bodensee.
I tried to take a few photos without stopping too often. After all, I didn’t want to keep my cycling buddies waiting! Most of them were taken one-handed while riding. Shall we call them cycling snapshots?
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The cycling continues …
After completing a loop around Reichenau Island, with its many vegetable fields and vineyards, we returned to the mainland and headed back towards Konstanz.
But not before briefly dipping into Switzerland. Why not? After all, it was right there!
We cycled through the gorgeous little town of Gottlieben, passing plenty of people enjoying a swim and a cold beer. After four hours in the sun and 70km of cycling, however, we decided that we had probably done enough for one day. It was time to head back.
What a great day cycling in and around Konstanz and Bodensee. But can we please have some lunch now?
So, after a delicious pizza and a small beer to quench my thirst, overlooking the lake, of course, it was time to catch the train home. Luckily, the return journey wasn’t too crowded. And I was definitely looking forward to a shower!
What an amazing round trip cycling in and around Konstanz and Bodensee. Even while we were still riding, I was already thinking about my next train-and-bike destination. Where to next? It seems so easy to organise and makes a great day trip. The more time outdoors, the better!
That said, the train to Konstanz had been very busy, with definitely no social distancing, and the city itself was packed. Next time, I would probably plan my day trip during the week. Why go when everybody else is going, right?
Perhaps I will also return to Konstanz simply to walk around and explore the Old Town. Although cycling certainly allowed me to see much more of the surrounding area.
Check out my other cycling trips here!
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