In the Netherlands we are very poorly equipped with height meters. I’m not built for climbing, but I find it very fun. The Netherlands is not a top destination. Of course, the alternatives for a ride in the Netherlands are readily available. Alps cols, Pyrenees, Dolomites or else the routes in the The Ardennes. Germany is somewhat underrated in this regard. In the Eifel you can find beautiful climbs and cycling routes waiting for you. With good infrastructure and the perfect ‘kaffee & kuchen’, cycling in the Eifel National Park is the next best thing. To mention the wonderful gravel options (11 canal cruise, Anyone?z) Not to mention that cycling in the Eifel is definitely worth it!.

Cycling in the Eifel at a glance

• Close by: from South Limburg you can be in Monschau within an hour, an ideal base.
• Climbing: lots of short and medium climbs around Monschau and the Rur reservoirs, with cobbles in Monschau itself.
• Highest summit: the Hohe Acht (747 m), with sections of over 18%.
• Vennbahn: a cycle route of about 125 kilometres along an old railway line, from Aachen via East Belgium to Luxembourg.
• Gravel: the Eifel National Park is full of forest and gravel roads, and the 11 Stuwmerentocht is a well-known gravel classic.

Updated in October 2026 with the key facts and practical tips. The story below is our original article.

Basecamp Monschau

When you’re heading to another region, it’s always good to have a nice ‘base camp’. Of course, any hotel/apartment/lodging can serve as a base camp, but some places are just a little better than others. Monschau is an ideal base camp if you’re going cycling in the Eifel. All the facilities are there, good infrastructure, and you’re also right where you want to be. It’s located a bit to the west of the Eifel region, but you’ll still be able to tackle the beautiful routes nearby. The only downside: the Hohe Acht, one of Germany’s most beautiful and toughest climbs, is located on the edge of the area. A round trip is 160km plus over quite hilly terrain. But then you get to climb the most beautiful mountain with an amazing view. 747 meters high and slopes of 18 to 27%.

High Eight, Adenau, Germany

• Distance: 5.5 km, Elevation difference: 295 m, Average gradient: 5.4 %

Straw bales

From Monschau you can take various routes, and because it is somewhat tucked between hills, it’s quite quick to get back up from the picturesque center. If you’re thinking, “I’m ready,” then start with the Eschbachstrasse. The (Belgian) Ardennes lover will be delighted because it’s straight up gravel here! That leads to the Imgenbroich, a climb that’s a total of two kilometers long with 118 meters of elevation gain. Still, that 6% ’s a start.

If you want to start off a little more relaxed, for example you can take the long climb towards Eupen, which in 5.3 kilometers only counts an average of 3.8%. Then you’ll be a bit more easily warm up. The downside: you’ll be right back in Belgium anyway, and that’s exactly why we don’t want to go to Monschau and the Eifel. Anyway.

Let’s get started

For a nice cycling trip, you end up heading more towards the north, towards the heart of the ‘National Park Eifel’. Here you encounter the river Ruhr (which eventually ends up in Roermond) and you have several (beautiful) dammed lakes, such as at the Urfttalsperre. This is a round trip of 50 kilometers with a few hundred meters of elevation gain. Of course, there is also the option to do a tour around the lake via various secondary roads. Upwards, downhill. Enjoy!

If you just want to go back and forth, there are endless possibilities for a nice return trip from the Talsperre. For example, from Rurberg, take the Kesternich, where you can climb almost 6 kilometers up. The same climb from Einruhr adds another 500% meters and 0.2% more to the total distance. That’s nice, right? And if you’re really in the mood, you can also take the Grunentalstrasse towards Monschau, which takes you to ‘higher altitudes’ in 2 kilometers with 9.6%. Literally and figuratively.

Go North/South – Old railway line

We have to mention this tip here. After all, how cool is it to cycle over old railway tracks? There are examples of this all over Europe, but you don’t really see it this close to home. The start (or end point?) of this route is in Aachen, just across the border. You then have 128km (!) of route over/along the old railway connection that actually follows the border between Belgium, Germany and later also Luxembourg. Don’t expect wild elevation changes here (after all, trains don’t like that either), but rather cool views and bridges, tunnels. The whole mix that you can expect along such a route along an old transport artery.

From Monschau you are about halfway along this route, and if you take it south you are actually diving right into the (German-speaking) part of Belgium to eventually end up at the northern tip of Luxembourg. Then, heading north, you take the route towards Aachen and mostly stay in Germany.

In the east and further to the southeast, this region also has beautiful climbs and routes. The climbs around Gemund are a must-see, but they are naturally located a little further from Monschau to start.

Cycling route in the Eifel National Park

Here is a powerful cycling route through the Eifel. You might be better off doing it in two days, but it is a beautiful route to cycle in the region.

Fietshotels Eifel – Monschau

There are plenty of beautiful hotels, apartments or holiday homes to be found in and around Monschau. One of the tips we can give you is the ACHAT hotel in Monschau. This is a cyclist-friendly accommodation from which you can explore the region. Another option in Monschau is The Long Man

Check it out Bett+Bike There are plenty of options nearby, which guarantees a good accommodation. That’s also where our ‘secret tip’ comes from, because the Youth hostel in Monschau is a perfect place. Well, it’s not high-end, no wellness or anything like that, but it’s exactly what you need. And they have all the facilities for safely storing the bike, routes, key sets, cleaning areas etc. And the youth hostel in Germany is usually just really clean. That’s the least you can expect!

More You can find the info here!

Additional information about cycling in the Eifel You'll find it in ours too Other article.

Cycling in the Eifel: A great alternative

We don’t hide it; cycling in the mountains is the best thing we can do. The fact that we have to cover most of our kilometers through vast meadows, along the Dutch delta and occasionally climb the Dutch hills is certainly no disgrace, but there’s nothing like the mountains. To be able to enjoy the Alpine giants, the Pyrenees If you’re in the Dolomites, you’ll often be in the car for eight hours or more. Is there nothing closer to home that would allow you to catch a glimpse of the real climbing and descending? Absolutely, there is!

text and photos: Erwin van de Mountain High Chasers

After less than four hours of driving, I park the car in the parking lot of our accommodation and take my bike out of the rack. I don’t plan to climb Mont Ventoux, Alp d’Huez or Passo dello Stelvio, but based on the landscape, I still have high expectations of this excellent alternative: the German Eifel.

READ ALSO: FIRST TIME CLIMBING IN THE MOUNTAINS

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING? HERE IS OUR BASIC PACK LIST

Perfect roads

For many Dutch people it is a familiar area, the Eifel And especially the Moselle is often mentioned in the holiday magazines. Yet it is striking how few cyclists you see here. The heatmap on Strava and the different segments also show that there is not an extremely high number of cyclists here. There should be a reason for that, you would think. 

I quietly roll down the valley to the town Leiwen Along the Moselle. While I haven’t been on the bike for more than five minutes, I’ve stopped twice to take a photo. The view is worth interrupting this descent. The rowan trees occasionally let a glimpse of the Moselle valley with its well-known river through. What immediately catches my attention are the amazing roads. We know the Germans can build fast roads, but even in an area like this, the roads are perfectly suited. This continues throughout the entire route, whether you’re riding on a bike path or a country road.

Climbing and descending

To be honest, with the absence of the gigantic peaks around you, you don’t immediately feel like you’re in the Alps, Pyrenees or Dolomites, but still, this ride exceeds my expectations and I dare to call it a good alternative to mountain biking. Soon enough, the Garmin indicates that the first climb segment begins, still 165 meters…GO! Almost eight kilometers of climbing starts with a percentage of nine percent. Soon enough, I find myself in the high mountains, and not just from the statistics on my screen. The road winds up between the pine trees with the increasingly beautiful view of the valley on the left. The real climbing feeling is further enhanced by the hairpin bends. There are not 48 of them, but with a little imagination, it’s just like Stelvio.

Looking out over the hills

Once you reach the top, you look out over a beautiful hilly landscape and wonder where you just came up from. This also applies to the descent. The road goes up and down smoothly until you suddenly plunge down into a delightful descent with again excellent road conditions. I encounter no one along the way and I can use the entire route without danger because it is well-marked here. My maximum elevation today is just under 500 meters, but still you always get out over the trees for a moment and then descend back into the forest. This also contributes to the feeling that you are really climbing and descending.

A little less alpine, just as beautiful

The second climb is a little less ‘Alpine-like’, but with a length of 6.5 kilometers it is still quite an effort. The nice thing about this climb is that you pass through two German villages (Büdlich and Breit), where literally two people stare at you and there is no rooster to crow to get you going. Where the climb was a little less, you get your money’s worth during the descent. A beautiful wide descent through the forest with hairpin bends for the ultimate experience.

Conclusion

My ride ends with a 2.4 kilometer climb back to my accommodation, where you can pedal at an average of 6% km/h. As I enter the final bend, I think back on my expectations for this ride.

If you expect high snow-capped peaks and climbs of 10 kilometers or more, you will be disappointed. But for those who really want to climb and descend over fantastic, quiet trails, there will be a paradise of possibilities here. Whether you go for a 44-kilometer coffee ride or an adventurous 144-kilometer hike. It will be a combination of relaxing and enjoying the scenery while alternating between the river and the surrounding hills. Speaking of coffee, Germany is still not known for its coffee culture, so don’t expect too much from that. The Apfelstrudel, on the other hand, was definitely something worth licking your fingers at.

So on Friday afternoon after work, get in the car and drive in less than four hours to Leiwen and the surrounding area offers a great alternative if you want to climb well and descend wonderfully.

Routes

Questions about cycling in the Eifel

Are the Eifel hills good preparation for the Alps?

Yes. The climbs are shorter, but in a weekend you can easily rack up 2,000 to 3,000 metres of climbing.

When is the best time?

From April to October. On the High Fens plateau it can be considerably colder than in the Netherlands in spring and autumn.

More cycling regions across the border are on our page: Cycling in Germany.