Tips for the Weser Cycle Route

The start of the Weser Cycle Route in Hannoversch-Münden is popular. It is about 150 km from Hannoversch-Münden to Hameln. Depending on how long your stages are, you may need one or two stopovers. For example, in Bad Karlshafen and Holzminden or Bodenwerder. Pleasure cyclists plan between 30 and 60 km per day and sporty cyclists between 60 and 120 km. The Weser Cycle Path is mostly flat, so families can also make good progress.

How do you get your own bike to the starting point of the Weser Cycle Path?

Getting there by bike

The Weser, Werra, Fulda and Weser-Harz-Heide cycle paths meet in Hannoversch-Münden. So you can already get to Hannoversch-Münden via well-signposted cycle paths.

Arriving by train

When you buy your ticket at bahn.de, you can find out which trains are allowed to carry bicycles. You have to buy a ticket for these trains, too, and in IC or ICE trains you don’t stand a chance without a bicycle reservation.  The nearest ICE stations are in Göttingen or Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe.

Shipping your own bike to the starting hotel by DHL

If you want to save yourself the hassle of having to travel by train (unfortunately, bicycles are not the most popular passengers on the train), it is best to send your bike to the start hotel with DHL. If you want to send your bike with DHL, you will be surprised to find nothing at all about bikes on the DHL website. Nevertheless, there is a bicycle shipping service with DHL, the information can be found under service bulky goods.

Click here to go to DHL

To do this, select “Päckchen / Paket” as normal when franking online. Then select the parcel size up to 31.5 kg and then “bulky goods” for services. Especially for high-quality bicycles, you should also select transport insurance up to 2,500 euros or up to 25,000 euros. For expensive bicycles, DHL is by far the most sensible solution for shipping.

The booking of the shipment can be done completely – including payment – online. DHL will pick up the pre-packaged bike at the agreed time at the desired location and deliver it to the recipient within 1 to 3 working days. You should ask your host in advance whether the bike will be accepted and stored safely. It is also worth sending the bike a day earlier than DHL announces.

What should I put in my panniers?

Experienced long-distance cyclists know that less is more. Two well-packed (and waterproof) panniers can hold clothes and other items for tours of up to two weeks.

It is very helpful that more and more bicycle-friendly hotels offer cheap washing facilities so that cycling shorts and sweaty T-shirts do not have to be rinsed through in the bathroom sink. At Hotel Stadt Hameln there are extra washing machines for this purpose, and you can buy a wash pod at reception for just one euro.

As a rule, this luggage is enough for the Weser Cycle Route:

• 2 to 3 cycling trousers (maybe one long one underneath)
• 4 to 5 shirts
• Socks, underwear
• 1 warmer jacket for the morning (for cycling off) and the evening in the beer garden
• Rain trousers and rain jacket
• Cycling gloves
• Headgear or cycling helmet
• Sunglasses
• Bike lock
• 1 pair of trousers for the evening
• 2 to 3 blouses or shirts for the evening
• 1 pair of cycling shoes (light and quick drying), 1 pair of shoes for the evening
• Toiletries (all small travel size) , sunscreen and mosquito repellent
• Holder and bottle for drinking water on the bike
• Cash, credit card, EC card
• Health insurance card

One member of your cycling group should carry the most important tools:

• Spare inner tube / repair kit
• Hand pump
• Cable ties / tapeMultitool Mini bike tool

What can you do without:

• Elegant items for the evening
• Hairdryer (available in every hotel room)

In between a boat trip

The ships cruising on the Weser are happy to take your bike on board.

The free Weser Cycle Route App

A perfect companion is the free Weser Cycle Route app. It’s also great for preparing your Weser cycling trip. Here you will find information about the stages, places of interest and tips for the best places to stop.