Advertise on podcast: Bike Switzerland

Your first riding day is a gentle one: twenty-nine flat kilometers tracing the Untersee from Konstanz into Switzerland, with plenty of time built in for stops. Coffee and fish salad in lakeside Ermatingen, a Napoleon museum that's secretly also a working farm at Schloss Arenenberg, a climbable medieval tower in Steckborn, and a quiet footbridge crossing to the tiny monastery island of Werd. You'll end the day in Stein am Rhein, one of the most beautifully preserved old towns in Switzerland , with a castle on the hill and a waterfall side-trip for anyone with time to spare. Napoleon Museum, Schloss Arenenberg — https://www.napoleonmuseum.chBurg Hohenklingen restaurant — https://www.burghohenklingen.comStein am Rhein Tourist Office — https://www.tourismus.steinamrhein.ch

Your Bodensee tour starts here with the easiest travel day of the trip. John talks you through the direct train from Zurich Airport, the Hotel Halm's unbeatable location right at the station, and what to expect from Elmar's orientation. Then he slows down for Konstanz itself: a walkable university town on the Rhine with medieval streets, specialty shops, two islands worth a detour, and a thermal spa for the days the weather doesn't cooperate. Plus his own confession about why he can't stay away from Konstanz Links mentioned in this episode: Train tickets & timetables — SBB AppHotel Halm — hotel-halm.deReichenau Island — reichenau-tourismus.deMainau Island — mainau.deBodensee-Therme Konstanz — bodensee-therme-konstanz.deConstanzer Wirtshaus — constanzer-wirtshaus.de

The final riding day ! Everyone finishes in Romanshorn out on Lake Constance — the far edge of Switzerland. There are two ways to get there: an easy, mostly-downhill way along the water, or the Appenzell climbing route ! We walk you through both, stop by stop — the old town at Altstätten, the Rhine delta, the spa village of Heiden — plus the lakeside paths and where to find ice cream (or cold beer) on a hot day. Congratulations are in order: you've ridden across Switzerland !!

The flattest day of the whole tour takes you clear out of Switzerland — across Liechtenstein and over the border into Austria, all in one ride. We'll ride the lakeshore out of Rapperswil past a convent and Carl Jung's stone tower. Brace yourself for the toughest climb of your life (but only twenty-meters). Then it's off to the Walensee for a swim in one of Switzerland's cleanest lakes — and it's coldest. Then it's the long Rhine run to the old covered bridge that leads into Liechtenstein, and on to a walkable old town in Feldkirch with a hilltop dinner waiting.

Our longest and hardest day — a hundred kilometers from Lucerne to Rapperswil, and worth every one. We roll out flat along the Reuss to Zug, then climb into the hills: past Sattel and across the lonely Rothenthurm moor, and into Einsiedeln with its great pilgrimage abbey (and the best beer in Switzerland). Then one last climb over the Etzel, where the whole of Lake Zurich opens up beneath you before a long coast down to Rapperswil. Want a shorter day? There's an easy out at Zug, and I'll tell you how.

Your longest day on the bike — but don't let the ninety-five kilometers scare you. There's only one real climb, the Brünig Pass, and we'll show you three different ways to skip it if you'd rather. The rest is flat: an easy roll along Lake Brienz (or a lazy boat cruise past the famous Iseltwald pier), lunch in Meiringen, a glide down to the lakeside villages of Lungern and Sarnen, and a final stretch beneath Mount Pilatus to one of Switzerland's most beautiful cities. John walks you through every choice — boat or bike, gravel or road, ride or train — plus where to stop for a beer, a swim, and a slice of pie along the way. We finish in Lucerne: the Chapel Bridge, the Lion Monument, and a quiet swim by the hotel as the sun goes down.

Day three got you to Wengen — now take a breath. No bikes today. John walks you through how to spend your rest day: the two easy hikes he keeps coming back to (cable car up to Männlichen, the ridge walk over to Kleine Scheidegg, and the gentle drop back down through Wengernalp), why a Coop picnic beats the crowded mountaintop restaurants, and whether that pricey trip up to the Jungfraujoch is really worth it. Along the way there's a bit of history on how the railways clawed their way up these peaks, a few notes on Swiss hiking etiquette, a rainy-day plan B if the weather turns, and where to track down a good fondue come evening. Plus one important reminder about your bags before you leave town tomorrow.

Riding day three takes us out of Saanenland and over into the Simmental, with an optional Gstaad detour for those who want the big valley views. From there it's deep into the boonies: 35 km of gravel through cattle country, past those enormous wooden farmhouses built on Simmental cow money, with a picnic somewhere along the way. We come out at Lake Thun for an easy, flat run down to Interlaken — then it's bikes parked at the Hotel Carlton, a train to the mountains, and a cogwheel climb up to car-free Wengen for the night. Practical tips on tickets, train platforms, e-bike chargers, and where to sit for the best Lauterbrunnen views are all in here. 70 km and 700 m of climbing — let's get started.

Today's 80km takes you up from the lake and into the heart of working Switzerland : pastures, dairy farms, and roads that feel like they were built just for cyclists. You'll stop at the medieval village of Gruyère (yes, the cheese is real, and so is the alien bar), roll through the quiet Intyamon Valley and cross a linguistic border somewhere around Rougemont. The day ends with a chalet-lined valley, a surprise climb to the hotel (sorry !) , and a spa that should be on the cover of a magazine. Around 1200m of climbing — nothing too nasty :)

It's the first riding day of the Bike Switzerland Challenge Tour. John walks you through everything you need to know before you roll out of Geneva — from bag drop logistics to what's ahead on the road. 87 kilometres, close to 800 metres of climbing, and one of the most spectacular stretches of cycling in all of Switzerland. Lake Geneva, the vineyards of Lavaux, and the French Alps on the horizon. A big first day — and an unforgettable one.

This episode covers everything you need for the final day of the tour. You’ll learn how to return and ship your bike from Romanshorn what to bring with you, and how to get back to Geneva by train. If you have time, the episode also suggests an easy layover in Bern, with a short walk through the old town, food stops, and a final scenic viewpoint. A simple, stress-free wrap-up to your ride across Switzerland.

On the final ride of the tour, you’ll coast downhill through the countryside of Thurgau and St. Gallen, crossing a 500-year-old stone bridge in Bischofszell and passing the moated Hagenwil Castle, still lived in and a great place to stop for coffee. Soon, Lake Constance comes into view, and it’s all downhill to Romanshorn—where you can dip your wheels in the lake and celebrate crossing Switzerland by bike.

This episode covers the longest riding day of the tour, starting in Baden and heading east through the outer edges of Zurich, before passing Zurich Airport on dedicated greenways. Along the way, there’s al stop at Kyburg Castle above the Töss Valley. The route then continues through quieter countryside toward Fischingen in the Hinterthurgau region. We also explain a possible shortcut that includes a train ride and reduces the day’s distance by roughly half for riders who want an easier option.

Today’s ride follows the Aare through the heart of Switzerland, from the railway crossroads of Olten to the spa town of Baden. Along the way we pass through Aarau and Brugg, where medieval art, psychiatry, and everyday Swiss life quietly intersect . We finish in one of my favorite towns: Baden. A place shaped by Roman baths, railways, and centuries of travelers.

On Day 7 of the Lite Route, you’ll follow the quiet bends of the Aare through the Swiss Mittelland, passing tidy farms, wooden bridges, and peaceful stretches of countryside. We stop in Aarwangen for lunch beneath the old castle where Bern’s reeves once ruled, then continue toward the striking fortress of Aarburg, perched above the river. The day ends in Zofingen, a beautifully preserved medieval town that’s perfect for an evening walk and a relaxed dinner. This episode gives you the highlights, a bit of history, and what to look out for along the way.