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Two cyclists resting against a hay bale in a meadow with bicycles nearby. Vineyards and a hilltop castle visible in the background.

Cycling tour around Weimar

Cycle tour along the Saale and Unstrut rivers

7 Days / 6 Nights
Medium
Two cyclists resting against a hay bale in a meadow with bicycles nearby. Vineyards and a hilltop castle visible in the background.

The wines of the Saale-Unstrut region have long since matured from an insider tip to a well-known drop. The traditional wine-growing region also boasts tranquil villages, castles and palaces as well as extensive landscaped parks. No wonder Johann Wolfgang von Goethe felt at home here around 200 years ago. The seven-day cycle tour along the Saale and Unstrut rivers uses the well-developed Saale and Ilm Valley cycle paths and the Thuringian chain of towns as a guide to cultural and natural sights.

Weimar – Jena – Apolda – Weimar

  • City of poets and thinkers, three Dornburg castles, Saale canyon

Facts & Map

  • Booking code
    DE-SARWE-7X
  • Accommodation level
    national 3* level
  • Duration
    7 days / 6 nights
  • Arrival days
    Saturdays to Tuesdays
  • Travel documents Language
    German, English
  • Minimum number of participants
    2 people
  • Parking information
    Public parking garages, for a fee. 
    No reservation possible through Radweg-Reisen.
Map showing cycling route through Weimar, Apolda, Jena, and Naumburg along Saale and Unstrut rivers with nearby cities Leipzig and Erfurt marked.

Map – Cycling tour around Weimar

Itinerary

Day 1

Individual arrival in Weimar

Weimar is the city of poets and thinkers. Names such as Goethe, Schiller and Friedrich Liszt, but also great female personalities such as Duchess Anna Amalia, still characterize the city of culture today. The city palace, a magnificent princely residence, and the state Bauhaus from 1919 are further landmarks of the city. You can experience opera, drama and dance up close at the Deutsches Nationaltheater.

Day 2

Weimar – Jena

approx. 25 km

Today's stage is deliberately kept short, as Weimar and Jena offer numerous sights. We recommend a stroll through Weimar's garden landscape to Goethe's garden house before continuing along the Ilm Cycle Path and Thuringian Chain of Towns towards the Saale. Highlights of the university and optics city of Jena are the views over the city from the JenTower glass skyscraper or into the stars from the Zeiss Planetarium.

Day 3

Jena – Naumburg

approx. 55 km

The famous three Dornburg castles are the first destination on this stage. High above the Saale canyon, on the edge of the cliffs, the Old Castle, the Rococo Castle and the Renaissance Castle are enthroned in a theatrical setting. Passing Rudelsburg Castle, which stands on high cliffs, and the two towers of Saaleck Castle, the route follows the Saale through Mediterranean-style wine terraces to Naumburg.

Day 4

Excursion to Nebra

approx. 40 km + train ride

Take the train to Nebra - made world-famous by the discovery of the Nebra Sky Disk. Its significance is explained at the Arche multimedia center. You then cycle along the Unstrut Cycle Path to the Rotkäppchen sparkling wine cellars and through the Blütengrund back to Naumburg. If you don't want to cycle after the sparkling wine tasting, simply take the MS Fröhliche Dörte from Freyburg back to Naumburg on the Unstrut and Saale rivers (not included).

Day 5

Naumburg – Weimar

approx. 65 km

Your cycle tour along the Saale and Unstrut rivers first takes you to Bad Kösen, which is known for its 325-metre-long graduation house, which is used to extract salt from brine. The next destination, Bad Sulza, is also dedicated to healing with salt. The tour continues along the River Ilm to the bell town of Apolda. Learn more about the town's bell-founding tradition at the GlockenStadtMuseum. You cycle to Weimar. You have the opportunity to get to know the city even better. Take a walk through the park on the Ilm and pay a visit to Goethe's garden house.

 

Day 6

Excursion to Erfurt

approx. 50 / 60 km

Today you cycle along the Thuringian city chain to Erfurt, the state capital of Thuringia. The spires of the Severi Church and Erfurt Cathedral will catch your eye from afar. The bell of the cathedral's central tower is the Gloriosa, one of the largest bells in the world. Another gem is the Krämerbrücke, the longest continuously built bridge in Europe. Fortify yourself with a hearty Thuringian bratwurst before making your way to Weimar. Alternatively, you can return to Weimar by train (not included).

 

Day 7

Individual departure

After breakfast, your cycle tour along the Saale and Unstrut rivers is already over. However, we are also happy to extend your stay in Weimar.

Historic tower with green cupola at Stadtschloss Weimar rising above surrounding buildings. Green park with decorative fence in foreground under blue sky.

Weimar City Palace

View of Dornburg Castles perched on a green hillside above a river. Lush vegetation covers the slope, with a small structure visible by the water.

The Dornburg Castles on the banks of the Saale

Goethe's Garden House, a white two-story building with dark roof, surrounded by green gardens. Four cyclists stand on a path in front of the house.

Goethe’s garden house in Weimar

Modern observation tower on a green hill with trees near Nebra. A curved metal railing leads up the grassy slope under a blue sky.

Site where the Nebra Sky Disc was found

Prices and dates

Prices per person in EUR

Services & Information

  • 6 nights with breakfast, national 3* level
  • Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel, 
    max. 2 pieces of luggage per person, max. 20 kg / piece
  • Travel documents with maps (1 x per room)
  • Service hotline (7 days, 08.00 a.m. – 08.00 p.m.)

Not included:

  • Train ride Naumburg - Wangen (Unstrut) incl. bike
  • Citys or visitors tax, if payable


Minimum number of participants: 2 people

Children’s discount on the basic tour price
  •  0 - 2 years = 100%
  •  3 - 12 years = 50%


Applies when sharing a room with two full-paying guests.

  • Start / Destination
    Weimar
  • Length
    approx. 235 km
    Daily routes between 25 and 60 km, Ø 45 km
    Altitude profile between 180 and 340 m, Ø 208 m
  • Tour operated by
    Local cooperation partner
  • Mobility note
    The trip is not suitable for people with limited mobility.

Rental bikes

Types of rental bikes

  • 7-gear bike, hub gears with backpedal
  • 21-gear bike, derailleur gears with freewheel
  • E-bike / pedelec


Fittings

Pannier, bike lock, pump, repair kit
On request: odometer, map holder (to be specified when booking)

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