Bicycle Tourism Surges in Central Germany as Infrastructure Investments Grow

Bicycle tourism in central Germany is gaining momentum as rising temperatures draw cyclists to the region's expanding network of long-distance routes, with the Elbe Cycle Route remaining the most popular long-distance cycle path in all of Germany, according to the ADFC. In 2025, approximately 3.3 million people in Germany undertook a cycling trip involving at least three overnight stays. An additional 4.2 million people went on shorter cycling trips of one to two nights, while 34 million took day trips by bicycle. Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia rank in the middle field among German states as cycling destinations, occupying positions 10 through 12. The economic weight of the sector is nonetheless substantial: in Saxony alone, bicycle tourism generates an annual turnover of over 560 million euros and supports approximately 10,800 jobs.

New infrastructure projects are set to expand the cycling offer across central Germany, with planners converting former railway lines into dedicated cycle paths. In the Magdeburger Börde, a new 28-kilometer cycle path is planned along a former railway line between Eilsleben and Haldensleben. In the border region, a nearly 43-kilometer route branches off from the Oder-Neisse cycle path at Steinbach on the German-Polish border, passing through sparsely populated terrain. These conversions carry a particular historical resonance: the railway lines being repurposed once carried the so-called Ferkeltaxe, the affectionately nicknamed rail buses that served rural communities before the lines fell out of use. The transformation of these corridors into cycling infrastructure represents a broader regional effort to attract leisure travelers and boost local economies.

The Elbe Cycle Route has long served as a flagship attraction for cycling tourism in Germany, running 1,280 kilometers from the Czech Riesengebirge to the North Sea at Cuxhaven. Central German states have historically occupied a mid-tier position in national cycling destination rankings, competing with more established western and southern German regions. Bicycle tourism across Germany has grown into a significant economic sector, with millions of participants annually generating revenue for accommodation, catering, and local services along major routes. The conversion of disused railway lines into cycle paths has become an increasingly common infrastructure strategy across Germany, repurposing former transport corridors for recreational use.

The figures underline how cycling has evolved from a niche leisure activity into a mainstream form of domestic tourism in Germany. The scale of day-trip cycling alone — 34 million trips in 2025 — illustrates the breadth of participation beyond dedicated multi-day touring. For the three central German states, the mid-table ranking in destination popularity points to both the challenge and the opportunity: established routes like the Elbe Cycle Route already draw significant visitor numbers, while new paths under development could lift the region's profile further. The combination of natural landscapes, historical railway corridors, and proximity to the German-Polish border gives the region a distinct offer that planners are working to develop into a more competitive cycling destination.