EuroVelo 15 (Rhine Cycle Route)

Riding the Rhine from Basel to Rotterdam feels less like a cycling challenge and more like a slow, rewarding drift through the heart of Europe.

The river does most of the navigating for you — you simply follow it north for roughly 14 to 18 days, and the continent unfolds in gentle chapters: Swiss precision giving way to German vineyards and cathedral towns, then the wide, flat geometry of the Dutch delta. Elevation gain is minimal once you leave Basel, which sits at around 260 metres.

After that, the route irons itself almost completely flat, with only the odd gentle rise through the Upper Rhine gorge between Bingen and Koblenz providing any real resistance.

Surface quality is generally excellent. The majority of the route runs on dedicated riverside paths or low-traffic farm roads, though you will encounter some shared-road sections, particularly in urban fringe areas. Navigation is well signed throughout Germany and the Netherlands; Switzerland requires a little more map attention. Expect a mix of fine gravel compacted paths and smooth tarmac — a hybrid or touring tyre handles both comfortably.

Logistically this is one of Europe's more forgiving long routes. Trains accept bikes at most points, so bailing out is easy if fatigue or weather turns. Bike hire is available in Basel, Cologne, and Amsterdam, though touring setups for multi-day use are patchier; bringing your own is preferable. Accommodation sits at every 20 to 30 kilometres in most sections — a mix of guesthouses, camping, and budget hotels.

The Dutch stretch offers particularly good cyclist-specific accommodation called fietsvriendelijk lodgings.

Ride northward, Basel to Rotterdam, to keep prevailing winds at your back; May through September suits most riders, though June and early July bring the heaviest tourist traffic through the Rhineland towns.