Am I on the right track? Current thoughts for starting my Danube Cycleway (Donaueschingen-Passau) trip in July: meet friend and hire bikes in Munich (have confirmed a rental place by the railway station).Train to a scenic town on the Bondensee for the night. Then train from Bondensee to Donaueschingen and start biking, without stopping in that town which is apparently not as appealing as any on the Bondensee. Does this make sense?
Any suggestions for the best option on the Bondensee, considering most straightforward train routes from Munich and to Donauschingen, also for character/scenic appeal?

>Does this make sense?
Yes, there are many smaller towns before you get to Ulm, most not really that interesting. It's nothing like the big stream further down. I've learned in school, the "real" Donau starts at the Blautopf. You have to stop there. There's nothing much too see a tiny lake, except the stream gets to the surface there. The whole area has underground caverns with ancient water. It starts getting scenic noth of Munich and into Austria. Anyway, it's a different route with not so many tourists, so why not.

We are going to be staying in one of 'those smaller towns' in late May - Munderkingen. It looks lovely. I will check back when we get back. Have a great trip. CJ

Great, thanks Carol Jean.

Have a lovely time!

hi capekidnappers
was looking for some tips on the Danube cycleway as we are doing it in october.
but wondered where you live as I live at cape kidnappers (te awanga) we may be neighbours

Hi Lyn,

Just checked my posts - that's a coincidence! I live in Wellington now but have many happy memories of visiting Cape Kidnappers when the family lived in Taradale, hence the name. Te Awanga - Hawke's Bay - a beautiful part of New Zealand! Hope you're not affected by recent floods and sea invasions?

Hi Capekidnappers
We are back. Really enjoyed Munderkingen. The bicycle culture is very evident there. It is SE of Ulm in a bend in the Danube. We found a great, unique (in my experience) hotel garni 'Cafe Knebel.' The owner is a pastry chef/baker but has so many other talents. All of his rooms are themed. We stayed in the Penguin room, and I thought it must have been the best until I saw some of the others. There is a Simpsons room, a Chocolate room and a Las Vegas room. The Orient room was beautiful in reds and golds, looked like the Arabian Nights room to me. We sat on the patio drinking beer (or eating) and watched bicyclists who had no reservation stop for the night. They are part of the Bed and Bike group. Chris Baer is the talented young man who owns it.
There are several good restaurants in town. One has an amazing collection of photos on his walls also the best zwiebelrostbraten I have had in a long time. It is Cafe Melber. I think you would be happy stopping there (Munderkingen) for the night.

www.cafe-knebel.de www.cafe-melber.de

If you have any questions, I will try to answer them. CJ

Hi CarolJean,

Thanks for your reprt - that sounds a delightful place and I'll certainly make a note to stop over. Did you stay anywhere else along the Danube in your travels? Or on the Bondensee, by any chance?
I have a tentative booking for a guest house called Gastehaus uber dem See in Lindau (on the Bondensee) but can't find any online reviews so am a bit unsure.
Cheers

We went to Ulm for two nights. Had never been there and it was delightful! Their Cathedral is the tallest 'on the planet' and very interesting. There is a window dedicated to Israel that is a 'not to be missed.' It (Ulm) has a charming old town with restaurants,etc. on a canal with the flower boxes overflowing. You can walk along an old wall or outside of it, along the Danube. We stayed right beside the Cathedral at the Ullner Spatz. It was 90 euro a night, had a tiny elevator and we would stay there again. Had lunch there one day and enjoyed it very much.We did all of this on foot - from the train station.

We didn't go to the Bodensee. Had thought we might, but went to Ulm instead. I'll check and see if I can find out anything about the Gastehaus.

Our last stop was in Munich and I love that town. Have to go - can talk to you later about it. Have a great trip. It is a beautiful part of the country. CJ

Sorry the name of the hotel is Ulmer Spatz. Also, forgot to recommend the Ulm museum, a short walk from hotel. Really interesting. It is free on Friday. Also, if you are in Munderkingen on Thursday, it is market day. If you like that sort of thing, it is great.

Could hire on Bodenzee. Have a look at http://www.mybikeguide.co.uk/Lake_Constance_Guide.php for hire companies.
Your train comes in on the German side of the lake so I'd look at Lindau for the night or Friedrichshafen

Hi and thanks,
We are now hiring bikes in Munich (at the railway station) and visiting both the Bondensee and Danube Cycleway. Looking at one night at Lindau (have one tentative gastehaus booking, a little way out of town), then heading straight to the Danube, or perhaps a second night on the Bondensee at Friedrichshafen or Meersburg, then getting the train to the Danube. Any thoughts on these choices? And accommodation anywhere? (Good clean 2 or three star, and have noted your good accommodation and Ulm resport, thanks Carol Jean.

Have you left yet
We live in Napier and have just completed what you are intending

We have lots of info - perhaps we could talk

Should have mentioned that be very careful about bike and pannier hire - need a good company and good products - we had both and would be happy to share the info (we think that there is a better solution than hiring bikes in Munich)

Hi,

Thanks, just checked into the forum - we have completed the ride now, the bikes were excellent from Radius at Munich main railway station.
Am now travelling in Spain, but would love to catch up perhaps when back home later in August.
In haste,