EuroVelo 15 - Rhine Cycle Route

The EuroVelo 15 – Rhine Cycle Route follows the Rhine from its headwaters at Andermatt in the Swiss Alps to the river's mouth at Hoek van Holland on the North Sea, crossing four countries: Switzerland, France, Germany and the Netherlands. It was the first EuroVelo route to be certified under the European Certification Standard, and it remains one of the most ridden long-distance routes in Europe. Along its course it is signed locally as the Rheinradweg (German), Véloroute Rhin (French) and Rijnfietsroute (Dutch).

This page covers the route as a whole. Each country section linked below has its own detailed guide with conditions, highlights and transport information.

What kind of route is EuroVelo 15?

A river route from source to sea. Riding north, the Rhine does the navigation for you and the net gradient works in your favour: the Alpine kilometres come at the very start in Switzerland, and from Basel onwards the route stays in the river valley. The Rhine has carried trade and culture between the Alps and Northern Europe for over 2,000 years, and the route passes a string of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Strasbourg's old town, Speyer Cathedral, the Rhine Gorge and Cologne Cathedral.

The certification survey behind the route's EuroVelo status divides it into 37 daily sections and rates 97% of the certified route as suitable for occasional cyclists. The route operator also recommends it for family trips; conditions vary by section, so check the country guides for traffic and surface details on the stretch you plan to ride.

Which countries does EuroVelo 15 pass through?

Four countries, and along the Upper Rhine the route is in places signed on both banks of the river.

Switzerland

From Andermatt, high in the Alps, the route descends with the young Rhine past the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen and along Lake Constance to Basel, where the river turns north.

France

North of Basel the route runs through Alsace along the French bank of the Upper Rhine, with Strasbourg and its UNESCO-listed Grande Île as the centrepiece.

Germany

Germany holds the longest share of the route: Speyer Cathedral, the castle-lined Rhine Gorge between Bingen and Koblenz, and Cologne Cathedral all sit directly on or beside the river.

Netherlands

In the Dutch delta the Rhine splits into branches and the route follows it through the Netherlands' dense cycling network to the sea at Hoek van Holland.

Planning your EuroVelo 15 trip

Start with the country guide for the section you want to ride, then open the full route in the VeloPlanner planner to shorten it, add detours or split it into stages at your own pace. The GPX track for every section is available directly on its route page.