Anyone who travels by bike is not only looking for exercise - but also a connection: to the landscape, to history, to their own rhythm. Saxony-Anhalt offers cycle paths through floodplains and towns, over hills, mountains and forest trails.
The Big Three: Premium Bike Paths with a View
Elbe Cycle Path: Along the River
The Elbe Cycle Path is regularly voted one of the most popular cycle routes in the ADFC cycle travel analysis - a clear indication of quality, infrastructure and experience. In Saxony-Anhalt, it follows the Elbe for almost 350 kilometers - from Havelberg in the north to Lutherstadt Wittenberg in the south. It leads through the UNESCO Middle Elbe Biosphere Reserve, past stork meadows, old dykes, cathedral towers and modern bridges. The Elbe Cycle Route is D-Route 10 from the source of the Elbe to the North Sea.
Saale Cycle Path: Wine, Water, World Heritage
Between Saaleck and Barby, the Saxony-Anhalt section of the Saale Cycle Path runs for around 180 kilometers through one of the oldest cultural landscapes in Germany. It has been designated a quality cycle route by the ADFC - a distinction for consistently good route quality, reliable signposting and cycle-friendly infrastructure. Vineyards, medieval towns, river landscapes and rock - here you cycle through the northernmost quality wine-growing region in Germany. Castles, fortresses and viewpoints appear again and again. And sometimes: a glass of Pinot Blanc in the sun. The Saale Cycle Route is part of D-Route 11 from the Baltic Sea to Upper Bavaria.
European Cycle Route R1: Across Europe, right through Saxony-Anhalt
The European Cycle Route R1 leads over 5,000 kilometers across Europe. In Saxony-Anhalt, the European Cycle Route runs for 266 kilometers through varied landscapes and important places. From the Harz towns with their half-timbered houses and mining relics, it continues across the Elbe meadows near Dessau-Roßlau with the Bauhaus ensemble to the places where Martin Luther worked in Wittenberg. The route combines architecture, history, nature and industrial culture. The R1 is part of D-Route 3 - and offers a variety of links to other national and European routes.
Discovery Routes: Themed Trips
A cycle route like a journey through time: the Sky Disc Cycle Route connects the city of Halle (Saale) with the Nebra Ark over a distance of 71 kilometers, following in the footsteps of history dating back over 3,600 years. The starting point is the Nebra Ark, the modern visitor center at the site where the Sky Disc was found. The route leads through open landscapes, past archaeological sites and accompanying information points. The destination is the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle, which houses the original of the famous Sky Disc. The route is ideal for a day trip with a sense of history, landscape, and a view of the sky.
This 68-kilometer circular tour takes you through the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm – a cultural landscape that is unique in Europe as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cyclists can discover the green and blooming grounds, including castles, gardens, and bridges, and follow the axes, sightlines, and avenues that Prince Leopold III Friedrich Franz of Anhalt-Dessau once had laid out. Castles, pavilions, bridges, and landscaped gardens alternate along the route. Those who want a break from cycling can take a gondola ride or visit the Gothic House, Mosigkau Castle, or the Orangery in Oranienbaum. This tour combines nature, aesthetics, and enlightenment in a quiet yet impressive way.
The Altmark circuit runs for over 500 kilometers through quiet, open countryside – with storks, Hanseatic towns, and wide horizons. The route connects towns such as Salzwedel and Stendal with old monasteries, Romanesque fieldstone churches, and the river landscapes of Milde, Biese, and Aland. Historic market squares, thatched houses, and cobblestone streets appear again and again. Travelers can ride on well-signposted paths, rest in bicycle-friendly accommodations, and discover regional specialties along the way – from Altmark wedding soup to Salwedel Baumkuchen. Ideal for multi-day gravel bike tours with luggage.
Mountain Biking and Road Biking in the Harz Mountains
Mountain Biking: Harz with a Profile
The Volksbank Arena Harz is home to the largest MTB trail network in northern Germany: 74 signposted circular tours, 2,300 kilometers of trails and over 55,000 meters of altitude. Plus five bike parks in Braunlage, Hahnenklee, Sankt Andreasberg, Schulenberg and Thale. Whether enduro, downhill or technical training - everyone will find the right line here.
Road Bikes: Curves, Edges, Classics
Road bike fans will find challenging routes in the Harz Mountains that demand stamina, technique and a sense of direction. Steep climbs - with passages of up to 18 percent - take you up to hilltops, past reservoirs, through tight bends and along narrow roads. The region was once a stage of the Peace Tour and is now regularly part of the Tour of Germany. The low traffic density on many side roads also makes the Harz ideal for individual training and intensive preparation in small groups.
Bicycle transportation is free of charge here!
In Saxony-Anhalt, bicycles can be taken free of charge on all local trains and PlusBus lines. Ideal for flexible tours, spontaneous shortcuts or relaxed return journeys.
Further Routes at a Glance
In addition to the major highlights, it is also worth taking a look at smaller but characterful routes: the Aller Cycle Path (66 km in Saxony-Anhalt) follows a historic river landscape through architectural culture and garden dreams. The Elster Cycle Path (238 km) connects state borders - from the Thuringian Vogtland to Saxony-Anhalt. The Havel Cycle Route (43 km in Saxony-Anhalt) shows the four-country region, the Elbe-Havel Cycle Route (65 km) connects the river courses. The Mulde Cycle Route (51 km in Saxony-Anhalt) combines medieval castles with modern hydraulic structures. The Saale-Harz cycle path (69 km) connects the Saale cycle path with the Harz Mountains. The Salt Road (137 km) runs along old trade routes. And the Unstrut Cycle Route (190 km) combines wine, water and Romanesque architecture. The Berlin-Leipzig cycle route (233 km) also passes through Saxony-Anhalt - and opens up paths into the history of the Reformation.
Discover Regional Tours
In the Altmark region, the cycle route takes you through wide open fields, old Hanseatic towns, and quiet river meadows. The Milde-Biese-Aland Tour (96 km) follows small rivers through open countryside. The Four Countries Border Cycle Route touches Brandenburg, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and runs along the Green Belt. If you want to delve deeper, follow the Reformation Cycle Route (168 km) to churches and monasteries – or the Bismarck Tour (44 km), which combines history and the present.
The Harz Mountains are a meeting place for professional road cyclists, MTB enthusiasts, and leisure cyclists. The Karst Landscape Adventure Tour (50 km) leads through geological formations. The Green Belt Cycle Route (70 km) follows old border lines, now a path through wilderness and change. Road cycling fans ride around the Rappbode Reservoir (115 km), while mountain bikers are drawn to the W9 route: Off to the Brocken (27 km).
Between castles, vineyards, and river bends, the cycle paths in Saale-Unstrut lead through a lively cultural landscape. In the Droyßig-Zeitz Forest (45 km), the route passes through ancient forests. The Zuckerbahnradweg (37 km) cycle path follows a former railway line, while the Saale-Unstrut-Elster Rad-Acht (173 km) connects central routes to form a large loop.
Between the Garden Kingdom and Goitzsche, Bauhaus and quarry pond: the region offers a wide variety of routes. The COAL|STEAM|LIGHT|LAKES cycle route (353 km) tells the story of structural change. The Bauhaus Tour (18 km) is short but dense – through Dessau, past master houses and visions. Around Lake Goitzsche (30 km), a popular circular route leads through the former open-cast mining area. The Fläming Cycle Route (43 km) runs through forests and small villages.
From the waterway junction to the heathland – this is where technology meets nature. The Boderadweg cycle route (110 km) follows a small stream through the countryside. The “4 Million Years of Human History” route (52 km) leads to archaeological sites and museums. Late spring blossoms along the Holunderradwege cycle routes (52 km) – in the countryside and along the wayside.