Explore Germany by Motorcycle

Germany is a country of extraordinary contrasts for motorcycle touring. In the south, the Bavarian Alps rise dramatically from rolling green foothills dotted with onion-domed churches and fairy-tale castles. In the west, the Rhine and Moselle valleys wind through steep vineyards and medieval towns. The Black Forest delivers dark, winding roads through dense woodland, while the north opens up into a landscape of rivers, forests, and the Ardennes borderlands. Tie it all together with some of the best-maintained roads in Europe — including stretches of unrestricted Autobahn for those who want them — and Germany offers touring that satisfies every kind of rider.

The Romantic Road and Bavaria

Germany’s Romantic Road is one of the most famous touring routes in Europe, and for good reason. Stretching from Würzburg in the north to Füssen on the edge of the Alps, it threads through a succession of medieval walled towns, baroque churches, and vineyard-covered hillsides that look like they’ve been lifted straight from a storybook. The riding is relaxed and scenic — low daily mileages through quaint villages on quiet roads that encourage you to stop, explore, and soak up the atmosphere.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is the jewel of the route — a perfectly preserved medieval town of half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, and intact city walls that you can walk in their entirety. Würzburg, set among the hills of one of Germany’s most important wine-producing regions, provides a cultured starting point. And Füssen, the 700-year-old town perched above the River Lech with the Alps as its backdrop, is home to Neuschwanstein — the fairy-tale castle that inspired Disney and remains one of the most photographed buildings in Europe.

Bavaria as a whole is motorcycling paradise. The foothills of the Alps provide sweeping, well-surfaced roads with constant mountain views, while the smaller routes between villages wind through farmland, past baroque monasteries, and alongside crystal-clear lakes. Augsburg, Bavaria’s oldest city, adds historical depth with its 11th-century cathedral, while Garmisch-Partenkirchen — host of the Winter Olympics and the annual BMW Motorrad Days festival — sits in a picture-perfect Alpine setting that draws tens of thousands of riders every year.

Rhine, Moselle, and the Black Forest

Western Germany offers an entirely different touring experience. The Rhine Valley, with its steep vineyard-covered hillsides, clifftop castles, and river-hugging roads, is one of Europe’s classic motorcycle routes. The Moselle Valley nearby provides a quieter alternative — a winding river road through some of Germany’s finest wine country, with medieval towns at every bend. Trier, on the Moselle, is Germany’s oldest city, with Roman ruins that date back two thousand years.

The Black Forest lives up to its name — dense, dark woodland covering rolling hills, with roads that twist through the trees and emerge at viewpoints overlooking valleys and lakes. Lake Titisee, nestled in the heart of the forest, provides a picturesque stop, while the spa town of Baden-Baden adds a touch of elegance. The riding through the Black Forest is flowing and satisfying — not as dramatic as the Alpine passes but hugely enjoyable, with well-surfaced roads and minimal traffic.

What to Expect on the Road

German roads are outstanding. The maintenance standards are among the highest in Europe, road surfaces are smooth and consistent, and the signage is exemplary. The Autobahn network handles long-distance traffic efficiently — with the bonus of unrestricted speed sections for those who enjoy opening the throttle — while the secondary roads through the countryside and mountains are quiet, well-engineered, and perfectly suited to motorcycle touring.

The terrain varies dramatically from north to south. The Bavarian Alps offer genuine mountain riding with satisfying elevation changes and flowing curves. The river valleys provide gentler but equally scenic routes. The Ardennes borderlands in the west are more rugged, with forested hills and quiet roads that connect naturally with Belgium and Luxembourg. Daily distances on a German tour can be as relaxed or as ambitious as you choose.

Beyond the Bike

German food and drink culture is a genuine highlight of touring here. Bavarian beer gardens, Franconian wine taverns, Rhine Valley weinstubes, and Black Forest gasthöfe all offer hearty, satisfying fare — Schweinshaxe pork knuckle, Maultaschen dumplings, Flammkuchen, Bratwurst in endless regional variations, and cakes and pastries that are dangerously good. The beer needs no introduction, but the wines of Franconia, the Moselle, and the Rhine are world-class and excellent value.

The baroque palaces — Ludwigsburg houses one of the largest in Europe — medieval walled towns, and Romanesque cathedrals provide a cultural richness that goes far beyond the fairy-tale castles. Germany wears its history openly, from Roman Trier to the Ardennes battlefields, and the towns along any touring route reward exploration on foot as much as the roads reward time in the saddle.

Best Time to Ride

Germany’s riding season runs from April to October, with May to September offering the best conditions. June and September provide warm weather and comfortable temperatures without the peak summer crowds. July and August are warmer and busier at the tourist highlights but excellent for Alpine riding. The Romantic Road and Black Forest are at their most atmospheric in late spring and early autumn, when the light is soft and the vineyards are either fresh green or turning gold.

Ride Germany with Motorrad Tours

Our German tours take in the Romantic Road, the Bavarian Alps, the Black Forest, and the Rhine and Moselle valleys — combining fairy-tale medieval towns, world-class beer and wine culture, and beautifully engineered roads into a tour that proves Germany is far more than just the Autobahn. With relaxed daily mileages, experienced guides, and characterful accommodation in historic towns and Alpine villages, this is touring at its most civilised and enjoyable. Browse our upcoming Germany departures below.