Germany Bike + Boat Tour Reviews — 1 to 30 of 1235

Being able to see the country side at a leisurely pace with our friends. Stopped to visit the goats and trail side coffee shops. One of the most memorable of any of our trips was the boat leaving Budapest at night. A sight we will never forget. Food on board was very good and service was great. The only issue we had was we were a large group of 18 that sat at 3 tables and we were asked to not change places but we missed out visiting with our other friends. We liked it so much we came home and booked another trip with Tripsite

Traveling by e-bike and boat along the Rhine felt like a luxury adventure with a touch of home. The wine regions reminded me of the rolling vineyards of Limburg, but the diversity here—Alsace, Breisgau, and Basel—was extraordinary. The cycling was easy and enjoyable.

My partner and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to explore three countries in one trip! Cycling along the Rhine was magical, with its lush vineyards and the majestic passage of Loreley being standout moments. The food was incredible—whether it was the Swiss chocolate, German sausages, or Alsatian pastries, every bite felt like a discovery. Basel’s Three Countries Corner was fascinating, and the medieval charm of Mainz was equally captivating. The guides made everything seamless. A perfect mix of culture, food, and nature!

This e-bike and boat tour along the Rhine was a dream come true! The landscapes were absolutely breathtaking, from the picturesque wine villages to the historic castles perched along the riverbanks. Each stop was rich in culture—Strasbourg Cathedral and Colmar’s Gothic art were personal highlights. And the food! Sampling local wines and regional dishes like tarte flambée in Alsace was an unforgettable experience. The stress-free e-biking made it accessible and enjoyable, even for someone like me who’s not an avid cyclist. Highly recommend this tour for its perfect balance of relaxation and adventure!

We have so many great memories of our trip that it is hard to pin down an "absolute favorite". Here are some of our best and most favorites memories, in no particular order of importance! The staff was so welcoming and helpful, we felt connected to all of them right from the start! The bike riding was fantastic--the ease of the e bikes, to the scenery, and then the visits at the historical sites such as the Roman mosaic, the Puerta Nigra, and the bunker from WWI in the farmer's field, we thought we had the best guides and were very well informed about the details of our day. Our accommodations aboard the Iris were comfortable, clean and well maintained. The other passengers were a lot of fun, and we felt comfortable spending time with each group. I cannot say enough about the food! We all looked forward to our excellent dinner after a long day of cycling, and the breakfasts were filling and tasty, every time! One day, after a 35-mile ride, some of the other passengers decided to continue for another 12 miles, but many of us chose to stay on the barge. The captain welcomed us into the wheelhouse and we were educated on how to operate the barge while going through a lock and dam!

The little towns like the v one pictured above. Use deutsch bank ATM to exchange for euros

I loved riding through the vineyards at harvest. The ride was mostly along the river and not on roads! The guides and hostess personnel were the best! So helpful and friendly, They were cheerful and fun every day. I must admit this trip was a bit of a disappointment: 1. Bikes were not very good--It is a bike trip (the bikes must work!). 2. Our room had recently flooded and it smelled of mold and mildew. 3. I had requested a vegan diet and they did not let me know they could not accommodate this request until I was already in Europe. The cook tried, but he didn't understand the difference between vegan and gluten free. I took another tour in Italy and it had none of these issues, so I would like to give Tripsite another chance. Spend money on bikes, it is important. I am a plant-based dietitian and published author--I would be happy to consult with your cooks to assist them in making quick and easy delicious vegan meals.

Every part of our trip was Enjoyable! The bikes were comfortable and easy to use, the rides were not too strenuous but rather “ a good day on a bike”. The routes gave us an Immersive look at the country side. Our guides were Fun and helpful. The staff of the ship went above and beyond and even provided a cake and a celebration for my husband’s Birthday!! Truly , a Bike and Barge trip is the Best way to see the Country! I could have turned around on the last day and started Another Trip! Thank you to our Wonderful Crew on the Magnifique I!!!!

This was our 8th bike & boat tour with Tripsite and once again it was an outstanding trip. It's difficult to pick a favorite since each one has it's own highlights and we always love to embrace the differences but this one really excelled in every category.

The route - A perfect mix of paved dedicated trails along the 3 rivers, winding streets through classic little medieval towns and a few stretches though bustling cities like Frankfurt. We probably went through a few more small towns and villages than on some of our other trips which was a real plus. We generally had time to stop and look around and sample some local goodies. A highlight was riding through the woods surrounding the Frankfurt airport and stopping to visit the Zeppelin Museum, fascinating history and a lot of exhibits focusing on the Hindenburg. We averaged 26 miles a day on generally level paths. We opted for the e-bikes - we could have done OK without them but when we hit a bit of a climb at the end of the day it was pretty nice to be able to get a little boost. Every night we were docked close enough to the center of town that we were able to take a walk after dinner and get some local flavor - this is one of the things that we like the best about these trips.

The boat - The Iris may not look too fancy from the outside but once inside we were blown away with the way she has been updated and renovated from her days as a cargo ship. The decor and appointments are first class, the cabins are roomy with comfortable beds and well equipped bathrooms, dining area is well laid out, and the front lounge is a cozy place to enjoy a beverage from the self service bar.

The people - The crew and guests are always key to a successful trip and we had a superb group. Our captains, mate and host (Dick & Adrienne, Mark & Anna) did a fantastic job with the day to day operations and made sure that all of our needs were met. Our chef Berber served up amazing meals every day with creative combinations of fresh ingredients that were quite welcome after a long day on the trail. Our guides Ferry and Treasa did a great job of planning the days journey and managing our fairly large group of 23 bikers. The pace and route needed to be adjusted a few times due to weather and construction but at the end of the day everything went smoothly and a good time was had by all. As we have experienced on all of our trips the guests were a fun group from varied backgrounds with the right attitude for an active vacation. Most had been on at least one bike and boat trip previously, some on the Iris as well.

A 5 star experience - we would highly recommend this trip on the Iris for both novice and experienced bikers. Excellent on every measure.

Our time on the Merlijn was fabulous! Coen and Cristina, the ship's owners, are the absolute best as was the crew. Everything from the accommodations, the food, the tours and the biking was top notch. We especially enjoyed the bike helmets that allowed us to listen to our guide provide guidance as well as historical information on our rides. We are already looking forward to choosing another tour aboard the Merlijn.

The whole trip was excellent. To many thing to choose just one.

The trip on the Merlijn was wonderful. The captain, crew, and guide were all 5 star. Accommodations on the barge were very nice, with modern baths, excellent lighting, and adequate storage. The guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the areas we biked through. The wine tour we had one evening was the best I have ever taken. One evening we all had a meal out at a German restaurant that was delightful. I like the bike helmet they provided. It networked with the guides helmet and she was able to give us information as we road on excellent bike paths.

The scenery along the Mosel River was spectacular and the heritage buildings and the history associated with them was both interesting and educational. The friendships that developed along the course of the trip added to our enjoyment and memories. The food was excellent although possible less in the way of trying to produce high end dishes and providing more in the way of comfort foods especially during the cold and rainy weather soups and stews would have been appreciated.

Biking and boating into Germany, Luxembourg and France was spectacular. Seeing the incredible vineyards and tasting the wines from this area. Our stay and the crew on the Magnafique 1 was excellent and we hope to book another tour.

Although the weather wasn't always the most cooperative, the biking along the Moselle offered beautiful scenery of steep hillside vineyards with stops in small towns along the way. Our tour guides were fantastic and easily (or so it seemed) adapted to the route changes that needed to be made due to the flooding of the Moselle and the fact that the bike paths weren't always accessible. Our guides were knowledgable about the areas we visited and offered interesting information about castles, churches and other areas of interest in the cities.
As far as tips for others, if you are planning a bike/barge trip, be prepared for varied weather and biking conditions. Being flexible will allow you to enjoy things that aren't necessarily what you had expected.

The Merlijn is the best sailing ship in all of Europe if you want to bike. The captains Coen and Cristina (also the ship owners) are just wonderful people. I feel like family every time I travel with them and this was my 8th trip with them (7 trips in the last year alone). So if you want 5 star accommodations, service and meals, this is the ship to sail on. Their bikes are the best out there and I feel confident in saying that as I have done 15 bike and barge trips! Give the Merlijn a try and you will be hooked like I am. The Merlijn also gets the best bike guides out there along with extremely friendly and caring crew. Love the Merlijn and Coen and Cristina.

The crew was extremely helpful and always available to help.

So much fun! Loved all the vineyards and charming towns we rode through. Our captain, mates, chef and guides were top notch! Highly recommend this bike tour, we loved it!

I am not much of a biker but so enjoyed the biking. The best part was the people, our guide was delightful. The Flora was exceptional, we were treated to gourmet fresh home cooked meals. Felt at home but also catered too! Plenty drinks to choose from reasonably priced. Excellent coffee on demand! I hope to do it again!

Biking in the Mosel wine region watching grape harvest.
Exploring the city of Trier was a highlight.

wonderful staff on the boat, great itinerary, fabulous food.

The staff was above exceptional. The weather caused problems for the crew, but I thought it was handled extremely well. We missed the Iron Gates because of weather conditions, but the staff made up for that as well. The final dinner was fantastic, but the change in plans on our arrival, not being able to land in Passau was very discombobulating, and highly stressful. Plus, we didn’t have time to collect my thoughts properly. It was horrible.
I would have like a better room than in the hole of the ship where I couldn[t see anything
I would have liked a better electric bike from the start than the one I was originally given because I had to miss some biking.

Fantastic active vacation with beautiful rides. Incredible delicious and healthy food. Fun activities on board and options for additional tours were good. Highly recommended.

The most memorable part of this trip was NOT the boat breakdown for 2 days but the absolutely beautiful , kindly, acceptance by everyone with the unfortunate circumstances. I did not hear one grumble or complaint by anyone on board. Everyone worked tirelessly and professionally to correct the issue and make alternate arrangements for the bikers. It was the biggest and best display of humankind working together to make things right. It was so heartwarming to experience such a wonderful situation especially during these very challenging world situations. I can’t praise us ALL enough for making the trip such an unforgettable experience.
Sincerely, Sally Coomber

I enjoyed all parts of this trip. Our guides, Alv and Hetty were very friendly, relaxed, and patient. They both were well informed, and provided interesting commentary and information along the way. When things did not go as planned, they always had another plan. Everyone was made to feel welcome and comfortable.
The bike paths along the river were incredible, easy to manoeuvre, and very scenic.
The meals on the barge were delicious. All the staff were friendly and courteous.
I’m looking forward to another trip wit Tripsite!

The ride along the Danube was spectacular! Especially the last day from Krems to Pöchlarn. Some of us opted to go for city bike tours in Budapest and Vienna. I found Vienna to be especially crowded and wouldn't do that ride again. Nevertheless, our guide was very knowledgeable and interesting.

The beautiful scenes while biking along the Danube. We would of liked to have a longer trip in order to spend more time in the cities.

The beauty of the old towns, villages and cities we rode and cruised through was breathtaking. The fact that two weeks prior to our arrival the Danube flooded most of our routes and was already cleared was inspiring. The accommodations on the Vivienne were excellent and we were very well fed! The crew were excellent and very accommodating to our needs. The bikes met our needs and beyond (they survived riding through mud and flood waters).

Great food, good cycling and enjoyable trips to Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava

The best part of the week was being able to spend time in three European capital cities, namely Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava. The biking too was fabulous and we enjoyed meandering along the Danube. The food on board was amazing. The crew was exceptional.