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Discover in this post our experience for the Lake Constance by bike with children, with our children 7 and 10 years. A route of almost 180 kilometers on bicycle to repeat!

Hello, adventurous friends! Today I want to share with you our exciting experience cycling the wonderful Lake Constance in Europe during 5 incredible days sleeping in a tent in campsites. As a mother of two children and a lover of motorhome trips, we have traveled many corners of this beautiful continent, but this time we embarked on a special adventure, a bicycle route with the little ones along Lake Constance through Germany, Austria and Switzerland! !

Get ready to discover a unique route and destination full of fun, impressive landscapes and unforgettable anecdotes!

A route through Lake Constance by bike with our little ones, which is summarized in these stages and visits:

About us

New adventures of the Kucavana: bike route and tent, madness or great family experience?

It had been more than a year since I (Pilar) had ridden a bicycle, but for years at home there was talk of doing a multi-day bicycle route and in a tent. This year the children and Jose finished pressing and I saw that it was the moment to do it. The ideal moment so that the children did not leave me behind yet, although later I ended up behind for a change ... and it is that these little ones are already unstoppable in everything ...

Our route around Lake Constance has been a family bicycle route that we will never forget. A route of 5 stages, 5 days and 4 nights in a tent and campsites, and where we have done 172 kilometers on bicycle with us children of 7 and 10 years old, improvising day by day and overcoming all obstacles together as a family.

It was our first cycle route that could not have been better selected thanks to our friend Genís Blog arreveure.cat . Who better than him, who has gone to China by bicycle, to advise us on our new adventure! Thank you Genís!

An experience that we will surely repeat.

Would you dare to go with two little ones on a cycling route and in a tent? If yes, stick around and keep reading. Here I tell you all our experience.

About Lake Constance and its cycle path

Where is Lake Constance? One lake, 3 countries to visit

Lake Constance is a natural gem which spans three countries: Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Imagine the excitement of our little adventurers when they found out that we were going to travel through three countries by bicycle. Now that's an adventure! Furthermore, the lake is the third largest lake in Central Europe and offers a wide variety of activities both on land and in water.

How to get to Lake Constance: by plane or by road

Getting to Lake Constance is very simple. You can choose to fly to the Airport Friedrichshafen or Zurich and go on train to Constance, which is near the lake, or arrive in our vehicle from anywhere Europe.

We chose the option of traveling in our motorhome. Nothing better than having our motorhome to be able to make stops on the way there and back at our own pace and to be able to bring our bicycles from Spain to enjoy the freedom of exploring at our own pace.

When traveling in a motorhome we had to leave it parked in a safe place and That is why our route begins in Austria in the town of Fußach, where do we find a individual who let us park it in his garden at a good price, for €10 a day.

Lake Constance cycle path with more than 260 cycleable km: First great tip

One of the things that made us fall in love with this bike route is the incredible bike path that surrounds the entire Lake Constance. Are more than 260 km of roads perfectly signposted and suitable for cyclists of all ages! Don't worry about getting lost, the route is very well marked and it's impossible not to find it!

It is well signposted, but as there are various variantsIf you don't plan it well you can take more turns and do more kilometers. So a First piece of advice: plan your route well before you go, follow the signs of the direction where you are going and never get carried away by Google Maps!

As for Google Maps, I attest that you should be careful since in many sections it will take you on roads with many cars and you will have a bad time, as happened to us in a part.

Above all, when planning the route well, always do it from the official website:

Official page of the Lake Constance cycle path: https://www.bodensee.eu/en/what-to-do/active/cycling/bodensee-cycle-route/

Why choose Lake Constance by bike with or without children?

Now, you might be wondering, why did we choose Lake Constance for our cycling adventure? Well let me tell you, this place has everything an adventurous family could want.

El landscape is simply stunning, with mountains like the Alps as a backdrop, vineyards and, of course, the beautiful blue lake that accompanied us in many moments, although not in all of them as you might think.

Furthermore, this bicycle route is very safe and child friendly. The Cseparate bike lanes In many sections they guarantee the peace of mind of parents while the children pedal happily away from the cars. AND on stretches that take the same path as other vehicles neighborhoods, are the few cars passing because They are rural roads with little traffic and very slow circulation.

And the best of all, There are so many interesting things to see and do along the way that everything in itself makes it a route 10!

Tips for doing Lake Constance by bike

Before we embark on this adventure, I want to share with you some Helpful tips we learned during our trip around Lake Constance by bike:

Saddlebags with essential minimum luggage

It `s important to carry the essentials in our saddlebags, but without going overboard. Comfortable clothing, sunscreen, insect repellent, a basic first aid kit and, of course, a desire to have fun! Don't worry about food, since along the way you will find restaurants and places where you can stock up without any problem.

This was ours list of basics in our saddlebags:

• 1 4-person tent
• 1 gas camping stove and 2 gas bottles
• 1 camping utensil kit with pot and pan from Decathlon
• 1 kit to repair punctures and incidents on bicycles and replacement tubes
• 1 comb
• 1 bar of hard soap
• 1 sun cream
• 1 mosquito repellent
• 1 minimum first aid kit (paracetamol, ibuprofen, chloridixidine, gauze, plasters and wound patches)
• 1 headlamp

Y for each person:

• 1 cycling team on
• 2 summer outfits (1 of which would also serve as pajamas)
• 1 long pants and a fleece lining
• 1 raincoat
• 1 bottle of water
• 1 sleeping bag
• 1 mat
• 1 mini pillow

Bring bikes or rent them there

If you have your own bicycles, I recommend you take them with you. However, if you don't have them, you can also rent bikes in many towns around the lake. Just be sure to book in advance, especially if you need bikes for the kids, as availability may be limited.

In our case we brought our own because We couldn't find rental bikes in our children's sizes.

Normal or electric bicycles

Depending on your fitness level and that of your children, you can opt for regular or electric bikes. Electric bikes are a great option if you want to enjoy the ride without putting in too much effort. There's nothing wrong with pedaling with a little extra help!

in nIn our case, the pedaling was sweaty, while we saw retirees and non-retirees enjoying themselves on the electric ones.

Turn off mobile data in Switzerland

Here comes an important tip: if you plan to tour the Swiss side of the lake, remember turn off your mobile data or activate a roaming plan affordable like the one we hired with Holaflay, I'll tell you below how it works. Mobile data costs in Switzerland can be very high, so avoid unpleasant surprises on your bill.

Take a travel insurance that covers bicycle and health in Switzerland, Austria and Germany

Safety comes first, especially when it comes to cycling trips with children. Make sure you have travel insurance to cover any mishaps that may occur during your Lake Constance adventure. It never hurts to have that extra peace of mind, especially in Switzerland, where the European health insurance card only covers 50%. So my advice is: get good travel insurance.

About Us we hire the one from Iati I leave you here a discount that will also give us a small commission and will help maintain the blog if you hire it through this link without costing you more:

Bring an ultra-fast mobile charger

It is always good to have an ultra-fast mobile charger on hand. During our stops, we took the opportunity to charge our devices and make sure we had enough battery to take photos of all the special moments we lived.

Don't be in a hurry. Make cultural and gastronomic stops to enjoy

Remember that you are not competing in a race, so take your time to enjoy the scenery, make cultural and gastronomic stops, and soak up all the magic of Lake Constance. Visit the charming villages along the route, taste the delicious local gastronomy and immerse yourself in the culture of the region.

It is not necessary to reserve if you go camping in a tent as a general rule

If you plan to tent camp, don't worry about making reservations at campsites beforehand. You'll usually find space available, especially if you're traveling outside of peak season. Enjoy the freedom of choosing the perfect place to camp each night!

Swiss Francs and Euros in Switzerland

In the restaurants and places that we visited on our way through Switzerland, they accepted euros everywhere, so for two days that you are on this side of Lake Constance on a bike route, you do not need to take out Swiss francs or exchange euros for francs.

Bondensee Card

There is a card that for a small price for 3 or 7 days (which can be separated in time during a year) you can access more than 160 activities, museums and places within Lake Constance for the 3 countries that you will cross: the Bodensee Card. It includes from the most famous museums to the rental and classes of paddle surf or kayak and even the public ferries that cross the lake. In our case, we bought the 3-day one and we took advantage of it, but not everything we wanted, since on some days due to the tiredness of the little ones we didn't end up doing everything we wanted.

The Germans, neither the Austrians nor the Swiss speak almost English, prepare Google Translator

A small detail to take into account is that English is not widely spoken in this region, especially in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Don't worry, you don't need to be a polyglot to enjoy your trip, but I would recommend having a useful tool like Google translate on hand. I assure you that it will get you out of trouble and will help you communicate with the locals.

Eat in restaurants in Germany and save money in Austria and especially Switzerland where they are twice as expensive

If you are a food lover, you will be delighted to know that during your bike tour around Lake Constance you will have the opportunity to delight yourself with different flavors and traditional dishes. However, keep in mind that restaurant prices may vary depending on the country you are in. If you want to save a little, I would recommend you to enjoy the restaurants in Germany, where the prices are more affordable, and to reserve the restaurants in Austria and, above all, in Switzerland, for special occasions.

Bring enough water. There are not many sources in many sections

During your bike tour, it's important to stay hydrated, especially when the sun is shining brightly! Be sure to bring enough water for you and your children, as there may be few sources available on some sections of the trail. Remember that staying hydrated is essential to enjoy the adventure without setbacks.

Buy fresh fruit on your routes, rich and km0 without having to carry weight all the way

If you are looking for a refreshing and healthy option, I recommend buying fresh fruit during your bike rides. In addition to being delicious, fruit is an excellent source of energy and will help keep you going throughout the day. Take the opportunity to try the local fruits and enjoy their authentic flavor. In addition, by buying fruit on the way, you will avoid having to carry extra weight during the entire route.

Extra advice if you do the route around Lake Constance by bike with children

If you're planning a Lake Constance cycling adventure with your kids, here are some extra tips to make the most of everyone's enjoyment:

Cart or chair if they are small or Trax for the medium ones that cost them

If your children are young, the most practical thing to do is to bring a stroller or bicycle seat so that they can enjoy the ride comfortably and safely. Instead, if they're a bit older and still don't feel confident riding a bike on their own, you might want to consider using a Trax. These devices attach to your bike and allow children to pedal while you guide them. It's a fun way to make them feel part of the adventure!

Take your bikes. It is very difficult to find rental bikes for children of their size, there are only strollers or seats

One of the things we learned during our bike tour is that it can be difficult to find kid-friendly rental bikes at all the stops. Most places only offer strollers or pushchairs for the little ones. If your children already know how to ride a bike, I would recommend bringing their own bikes. In this way, they will be comfortable and enjoy the experience even more.

Have objectives to make entertaining stops in museums such as Zeppeling, Uldinguen de los Palafitos, to climb the cable car on Mount Pfander or simply to eat in a restaurant that you might like

As you plan your route, try to include stops at places that are fun for the kids. Lake Constance is full of interesting museums, such as the Zeppelin Museum or the Uldinguen Museum of Palafitos, which will surely capture your attention. In addition, going up the cable car on Mount Pfander can be an exciting experience for the whole family. Do not forget to also take into account their preferences when choosing restaurants to eat. If you find one with a menu they like, everyone will be happy!

Involve them if you go camping to set up the tent, do the laundry or cook dinner

If you plan to camp during your bike route, take the opportunity to involve your children in the camp tasks. They can help you pitch the tent, do the laundry, or even cook dinner. This will not only teach them useful skills, but it will also make them feel like an active part of the family adventure. Plus, they sure are having a lot of fun in the process!

Make as many stops as possible to cool off in the lake during your bike tour around Lake Constance with children

In the heat of summer, there is nothing more refreshing than taking a dip in the lake. Take advantage of every opportunity to make stops and allow the children to cool off in the crystal clear waters of Lake Constance. It will be an unforgettable and very fun moment for everyone!

Our experience and route during the 5 stages of our route around Lake Constance by bike with children

Let me share with you a little our personal experience during our family bike tour of Lake Constance!

Below, I will tell you everything about each of the stages of our bicycle and tent trip. You got it in video and explained in different posts, one for each stage.

Stage 0: Arrival and preparation for the Lake Constance bike adventure with children

From 12 hours of driving across France and Switzerland, we finally arrived at Lake Constance. We parked our beloved Kucavana, the motorhome that accompanied us on this trip, in a private parking lot in Fußach, Austria. The location was perfect, as it was right next to the bike path and allowed us an easy exit onto the route.

Once installed, We prepare all the luggage in the saddlebags and make sure we have everything we need. But before leaving, we decided to try out the bikes and enjoy a first dip in the lake.

It was a refreshing way to start our adventure!

Next stages, keep reading…

Lake Constance Europe map: what to see and campsites in Lake Constance for your route around Lake Constance by bike

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