© HA Hessen Tourismus Roman Knie © HA Hessen Tourismus Roman Knie Picturesque long-distance routes - there are nine in total - and plentiful shorter, circular paths take cyclists through varied landscapes including around Frankfurt's green belt and along the River Main. Here are six route suggestions to get you started with cycling in Frankfurt Rhine-Main.
The flat, family-friendly Main Cycling Route runs alongside the River Main. Beginning in Mainz in the neighbouring state of Rheinland-Palatinate, the path takes cyclists through the vineyards of the gorgeous Rheingau wine region and passes Hessen's state capital of Wiesbaden before heading onwards to the metropolitan region of Frankfurt Rhine-Main, home to a bike-friendly green belt. The route winds via Hanau and Seligenstadt towards Bavaria, passing numerous historic sights and cultural attractions along the way. You'll also find lots of cycle-friendly places to stop for refreshments and accommodation.
Visit the official Germany Travel website for further details on this route.
Beginning in Hanau, birthplace of the Brothers Grimm, the 240/250km Hessen Railway Cycle Route comprises a mixture of disused railways, existing bike paths and secondary roads as it makes its way through the Spessart, Vogelsberg and Rhön regions. The route splits along the way, offering a long-distance option through the Kinzig Valley and a shorter route along the Volcano Cycle Path (Vulkanradweg) and the former Vogelsberg Railway (Vogelsbergbahn).
A relaxed, family friendly cycling route, the Hessen Railway Cycle Path includes highlights such as the Upper Vogelsberg Nature Reserve and the gorgeous Baroque city of Fulda.
Visit the official Germany Travel website for further details on this route.
The Rhine Cycle Route is one of Germany's most diverse cycling paths. Narrow sections in the Middle Rhine around Loreley alternate with steep slopes in the wine-growing areas and the flat valleys where white asparagus is harvested each spring. This interstate route covers over 100km, with lots of castles, palaces and monasteries to spot along the way. Cyclists will make their way along the right-hand bank of the River Rhine, beginning at Lampertheim and ending in Lorchausen, where Hessen shares a border with the Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz). This route also connects Hessen's two wine-growing regions: the Bergstraße and the Rheingau.
More details about the Rhine Cycle Route can be found on the EuroVelo website and Germany National Tourism Board website.
© Christina Marx
Totalling 395km, Hessen's longest cycle route takes cyclists from the home of the Brothers Grimm in Nordhessen to the Bergstrasse wine region in the south. Cyclists will pass sites that inspired legends and fairytales, from Trondelberg Castle, which inspired the story of Rapunzel, to Little Red Riding Hood country in the Schwalm region.
The route is challenging in places but offers very varied scenery: Ulrichstein, the highest town in Hessen (614m above sea level) provides stunning views of the volcanic Vogelsberg region; the green belt surrounding the city of Frankfurt am Main is remarkably rural; and the scattered orchards of the Odenwald are covered in blossom come spring.
The R3 Cycling Route follows in the footsteps of an episcopal grape courier from Fulda from the vineyards of the Rheingau to the rolling hills of the Rhön, offering riverside views of Frankfurt, Wiesbaden and Offenbach along the way. Beyond Philippsruhe Castle in Hanau, the Kinzig Valley opens into the wooded landscapes of the Spessart, where the cycling becomes more strenuous, particularly on the Fulda ridge.
The Milseburg Cycle Path (Milseburgradweg), however, which forms part of the R3, is predominantly flat, leading cyclists across 14 bridges along the former Rhön railway line, passing through the 1.2-km Milseburg tunnel along the way. (Note that this section is closed from November to March).
This 380km route shows off Hessen's varied landscapes as it leads cyclists from the north of Hessen to the south, from Diemelstadt to Lampertheim, mostly along asphalt paths. Travel through the densely forested Nordhessen, including the fairytale Kellerwald with its ancient beech trees, and stop off for a dip in Lake Edersee. Heading southwards, discover the meadows of the Wetterau region, the low mountains of the Taunus and the rolling vineyards of the romantic Rhine Valley. Long, flat stretches alternate with steeper gradients.