The Main Cycle Route

Bilder & Reisen

map & Informations

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The almost 600-kilometer Main Cycle Route begins at the sources of the White and Red Main rivers near Kulmbach in Upper Franconia. In Mainz, the river flows into the Rhine. On this page, you will find information on the length, topography, and signposting of the trail, as well as tips on how to get there and the ideal time to travel. Of course, selected cycling holidays along the Main should not be missing either.

Among the river cycle paths, the Main Cycle Route is one of the classics in Germany. No wonder, you will find all the ingredients for a successful cycling holiday here. Visit towns worth seeing such as Aschaffenburg in Lower Franconia, the old bishop's town of Würzburg, the beer town of Bamberg, and the home of the Wagner Festival in Bayreuth. In between, there are beautiful little towns such as Gemünden, Lohr am Main, and the half-timbered idyll of Miltenberg. These lovely little towns are connected by a first-class cycle path that takes you through the wonderful, varied landscapes of Beer- and Wine-Franconia. The Main Cycle Route is considered first-class not only in terms of its signposting and trail quality. Look forward to the delicious Franconian cuisine, world-famous beer, and full-bodied wines.

View of Schloss Johannisburg with its red sandstone towers rising above green trees along the Main River in Aschaffenburg under blue sky. — Johannisburg Castle in Aschaffenburg

On the Main Cycle Route

Bamberg's historic Old Town Hall, a half-timbered building on a bridge over the Regnitz river, with colorful facades and a tower under blue sky. — The Old Town Hall in Bamberg

The Bayreuth Opera House with its distinctive orange-red facade and cream-colored ornamental details under a blue sky with white clouds. — The Bayreuth Opera House

Church with red roof and tower on hilltop surrounded by green vineyards near Volkach. Rolling hills and blue sky with light clouds in background. — The vineyards near Volkach

Cyclist on stone bridge in Marktbreit old town with colorful half-timbered houses, historic tower gate, and small canal below. — The Old Town of Marktbreit

Stone balustrade with baroque lion statues in Würzburg palace gardens. Historic palace building visible in background under blue sky with clouds. — The Palace Gardens in Würzburg

Cobblestone market square in Kulmbach with colorful historic buildings, white monument column, and flower planters under blue sky. — The market square in Kulmbach

Stream flowing through Bad Staffelstein with historic stone tower and colorful buildings. Green vegetation lines the water banks under blue sky. — Bad Staffelstein

Aerial view of Miltenberg with historic buildings, red-roofed houses, and church towers along the Main River, surrounded by green hills. — View of the Main in Miltenberg

Colorful half-timbered houses line a pedestrian street in Lohr old town. A church spire rises in the background under blue sky. — The Old Town of Lohr

Bestsellers on the Main Cycle Route

Discover all cycling tours along the Main Cycle Route

On the way from the source to the mouth

South of the festival city of Bayreuth, the Red Main has its source, which joins with the White Main near the margrave town of Kulmbach to form the Main. The Main Cycle Path officially begins in the middle of Bayreuth's old town. Passing Kulmbach, you reach the German wickerwork town of Lichtenfels. At the next turn of the Main, the Gesamtkunstwerk Bamberg awaits you. Thanks to the completely preserved old town ensemble and the lively beer tradition, it is one of the highlights of the Main Cycle Route. Our cycle tour tip: Bamberg is the starting point for the Cycle tour along the Main!

From Bamberg, you cycle almost automatically to Weinfranken. Cycle past vine-covered hills and gradually reach the towns of Haßfurth and Schweinfurth as well as the Volkacher Weinschleife in the heart of Franconian wine country. The old episcopal city of Würzburg in the middle of the Main Triangle is also one of your stops, as is the medieval Wertheim in the Tauber Valley. Incidentally, a trip along the Main can be perfectly combined with a detour into the Tauber Valley.

You can also experience the small town of Miltenberg, the gateway to the Spessart and Odenwald, as well as the Bavarian Nice Aschaffenburg along the Main. A few kilometers before the Main flows into the Rhine, you can see the skyline of the global metropolis Frankfurt am Main. The Main Cycle Path ends in the cathedral city of Mainz. The cycle path can also be easily cycled in the opposite direction. Our travel tip: On the great cycling vacation on the Main, you can cover almost the entire Main between Bayreuth and Aschaffenburg in 11 days.

Map showing the Main Cycle Route through Germany from Frankfurt to Bischofsgrun, with stops including Bamberg, Bayreuth, and Würzburg. Distances marked in red. — Route of the Main Cycle Route

Short & simple: The Main Cycle Route

Length
approx. 600 km
Topography
The Main Cycle Route runs without any major climbs. Along the source rivers, the Red and White Main, the ride on the Main Cycle Route becomes more strenuous.
Signposting
The cycle route is signposted throughout with the Main Cycle Route logo in both directions. Only one side of the river is signposted at any one time, although both banks are passable.
Quality
Most of the time you cycle along the Main on separate cycle paths or low-traffic country roads and service roads. Rarely do you cycle on unpaved forest or field paths.

Female cyclist on path through green vineyard rows in Frickenhausen. A white chapel with red roof sits on hilltop under blue sky. — Cyclist on the Main Cycle Route near Frickenhausen

Travel time

As soon as the weather permits, usually between mid-April and mid-October, nothing stands in the way of a tour along the Main Cycle Route. The reawakened nature welcomes you in spring. In summer, shady trees accompany you as you cycle and the next beer garden is rarely far away. Summertime is the most popular time for cycling tours along the Main. Wine lovers especially enjoy the late summer and autumn, when the green shining vineyards turn golden and red and the winegrowers taste their young wines.

Pompejanum villa on a hillside with vineyards, overlooking Johannisburg Castle with red sandstone towers in Aschaffenburg under blue sky. — Pompejanum and Johannisburg Castle in Aschaffenburg

Arrival

If you want to cycle along the Main Cycle Route with your own bike, we recommend traveling by car or train. All major towns on the Main are connected to the motorway and federal road network as well as to the regional and long-distance services of Deutsche Bahn. If you are traveling by train, please enquire in advance whether your chosen connection allows you to take your bicycle with you. If you are traveling a long way and have booked a rental bike, we recommend using the airports in Nuremberg and Frankfurt am Main in addition to the car and train. From here you can easily reach all the larger towns on the Main by train.

Frankfurt skyline at sunset with skyscrapers silhouetted against golden sky. Green trees and residential areas fill the foreground. — The skyline of Frankfurt am Main

Shortcuts

Some railroad lines run almost parallel to the Main Cycle Path. If the weather doesn't play ball, an unforeseen breakdown occurs or you want to take a day out on the bike, you have the option of shortening the stage by train. In the summer months, you can also break up your stages with a short boat trip on the Main.

Wertheim Castle with stone towers and turrets sits atop a green wooded hill under a blue sky with white clouds.

Who is the Main Cycle Route suitable for?

The Main Cycle Route is ideal for pleasure cyclists who are curious about Franconian cuisine and delicious wine. Nature lovers will be thrilled by the varied landscapes on both sides of the Main. Or do you, as a family with children, appreciate relaxed cycling away from the major roads? Garnished with countless historic towns, castles, and palaces, culture and history enthusiasts will also get their money's worth. The Main Cycle Route is suitable for everyone!

The wide paths are well-suited for the use of a child's trailer. Since you cycle on low-traffic routes, you can let your children cycle long sections by themselves. The almost gradient-free route and the manageable stages on the Main Cycle Route make a cycling holiday just as enjoyable for beginners as for sporty cyclists who plan their stages accordingly.

Between Bamberg and Gemünden am Main and between Wertheim and Aschaffenburg, the route is also suitable for racing cyclists.

Historic stone bridge over the Main River in Kitzingen with colorful buildings and church towers perfectly mirrored in calm water under blue sky. — The Main Bridge in Kitzingen

Frequently asked questions about the Main Cycle Route

Search FAQs

Stone bridge over Main River reflecting Festung Marienberg fortress on hilltop in Würzburg. Red-roofed buildings line the riverbank under blue sky.

How long is the Main Cycle Route and where does it run?

The Main Cycle Route is nearly 600 km long and begins at the sources of the White and Red Main near Kulmbach in Upper Franconia. It ends in Mainz, where the Main flows into the Rhine.

Is the Main Cycle Route flat, or are there climbs?

The Main Cycle Route is mostly flat with no major climbs. Only near the source rivers, the Red and White Main, does the ride become somewhat more demanding.

Which cities lie along the Main Cycle Route?

Highlights include Bayreuth, the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bamberg, the episcopal city of Würzburg, medieval Wertheim, Aschaffenburg, and the metropolis of Frankfurt am Main shortly before the route ends in Mainz.

Is the Main Cycle Route also suitable for road cyclists?

Yes, especially the sections between Bamberg and Gemünden am Main and between Wertheim and Aschaffenburg are well suited to road cyclists due to the terrain and surface.

What cycling trips along the Main Cycle Route does Radweg-Reisen offer?

Options include the Franconian Figure-Eight Tour from Rothenburg, the Main cycling tour from Bamberg, and the extended Main cycling holiday from Bamberg to Mainz — each with luggage transport and hotel bookings included.