The Mosel Cycle Path

The International Mosel Cycle Path begins in Metz, France, and offers you a wonderful opportunity to discover the similarities and differences between Germany, Luxembourg, and France. On well-maintained premium routes, you’ll cycle through varied landscapes and learn all sorts of interesting facts about German, French, and Luxembourgish history and culture. The entire Mosel Cycle Path is mostly flat, runs along the water, and is paved almost the entire way. From Metz to Thionville, you’ll follow the “Véloroute Charles le Téméraire” bike path, and from Thionville onward, the Moselle Bike Path is signposted as “Le Chemin de la Moselle.” The German section of the Mosel Cycle Path begins in Perl, Saarland, and runs downstream along the Moselle to Koblenz, where the Moselle flows into the Rhine. The German section of the Mosel Cycle Path from Perl to Koblenz is 248 kilometers long.

Here you can find the entire route: Moselle Cycle Route (Entire Route)

The Mosel Cycle Path, as a riverside bike trail, is characterized in particular by its gentle gradients, its proximity to the water, and the beautiful views of the river it offers. Whenever possible, the route of river bike paths is kept as close to the river as possible. If a bike path does not always run directly along the river in some places, it is usually due to overriding considerations, such as topography, nature conservation, safety concerns, or property rights.

The Mosel Cycle Path follows the meandering course of the Moselle River and runs directly along the riverbank for long stretches. The route alternates between sections on a dedicated paved path and sections along public roads, as well as through-town sections with and without bike lanes.

The Mosel Valley is an impressive wine-growing and river landscape, largely characterized by its steep slopes. However, it is also an important transportation corridor, so proximity to traffic unfortunately cannot be entirely avoided. As a result, the Mosel Cycle Path runs parallel to the federal highway or railroad tracks on some sections, though it is almost entirely separated from other traffic by a dedicated bike path or bike lane.

Yes, the Mosel Cycle Path is accessible and signposted on both banks along many sections. However, the official main route always runs along only one side of the river. From a traffic perspective, this route is the more attractive one and takes you along both the right and left banks of the river. You can recognize it by the green-and-white route logo inserted below the bike signs along the path.

In many towns, you’ll have the opportunity to cross to the other side via a bridge or ferry, as the secondary route also offers scenic highlights, tourist attractions, and unique experiences. This way, you can tailor your bike tour along the Moselle to suit your individual preferences.

The Mosel Cycle Path is excellent for cycling in either direction. Many cyclists choose the route from Perl to Koblenz because it follows the river all the way to its confluence with the Rhine. However, thanks to the mostly flat terrain, there are no significant differences in difficulty. Which direction you choose therefore depends entirely on your personal preferences, your arrival and departure times, or your planned stages.

The Mosel Cycle Path follows its own route, and you can join it at any point, allowing you to plan tours of any length. With no major inclines, it’s easy for even young cyclists to navigate. Since some sections of the bike path are designated as bike lanes running alongside the road, children riding their own bikes should be comfortable riding on the road.

Our tip: Stages 1 from Perl to Nittel and Stage 4 from Mehring to Piesport are particularly child-friendly sections away from road traffic.

Since 2024, the Mosel Cycle Path has officially held the ADFC 4-star quality certification, making it one of the most beautiful long-distance bike routes in Germany.

The ADFC (Allgemeine Deutsche Fahrrad-Club e.V.) rates particularly high-quality cycling tours with up to 5 stars. The higher the number of stars, the better the experience for cyclists. Signage, road surface, traffic conditions, and services along the route play a central role in the evaluation.

The Mosel Cycle Path is consistently and uniformly signposted, so you generally won’t need any additional navigation aids while riding. You’ll find all the important information you need to plan your trip in advance on our website. In addition, our official tours are available in the Rhineland-Palatinate Tour Planner, on Outdooractive, and on Komoot, complete with up-to-date route maps and GPX tracks available for download. This way, you can conveniently plan your tour from home and even use digital guidance if needed.

In this ancient cultural landscape, fascinating cities and quaint half-timbered villages with their picturesque town centers await you. Imposing castles tower high above the riverside bike path. Here you’ll find treasures from every era, from prehistory through the Roman era and the Middle Ages to modern times. First and foremost: our impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site in Trier. 

At a total of 40 so-called “listening spots” along the Mosel Cycle Path between Perl and Koblenz, you should hop off your bike and get to know the region better during a short break. The “Listening Spots along the Mosel Cycle Path” open your eyes to the region’s unique landscapes and top sights along the way—wine knowledge included!

In addition to the Mosel Cycle Path, there are many other bike paths in the region waiting for you. Many of these routes can be perfectly combined with a trip along the Mosel and offer even more opportunities for varied cycling experiences. For example, you can experience the savoir-vivre of France and the Saarland on the VeloRoute SaarLorLux or the Saar Cycle Path. Unspoiled nature and family fun await you along former railroad lines in the Ruwer Valley and the Eifel. Or you can choose one of our themed bike trails, which take you through picturesque villages.