Am aiming to do this ride in May next year staying in hostels mainly.
Apart from the German language route sheet, havn't found out very much about it yet.
Has anyone else ridden it or got any tips/must see places!
They are two cities I've always wanted to visit , so seemed a good idea to ride between.
Berlin to Copenhagen
Re: Berlin to Copenhagen
I rode it a couple of years ago, and would definitely recommend it: an interesting route; mostly flat but with a few undulations just to keep things interesting; and with lots of fascinating towns and cities (and other things) along the way: there are lots of old Hanseatic towns in the German section (Rostock, of course, but also Gustrow and Butzow) which are worth a look; Waren and Krakow am See are classic German resort towns (the latter rather more faded than the former). On the way out of Berlin, the route follows the old East/West border for a bit, and passes by a preserved border watch tower (guarding the East from the West) which is now a small museum; and further north the route traces the edge of Ravensbruck concentration camp. The stretch in Denmark is a bit shorter on 'sights', perhaps, but has some excellent coastal scenery (and good beaches) instead. (It's worth detouring slightly to see the clifftop church at Hojerup, which is slowly falling into the sea..)
The signing is pretty good (although the specific Berlin-Copenhagen branded signs rather disappear once you get into Denmark, replaced by the Danish long-distance cycle signposts): the only place where I got seriously lost was on the final stage into Copenhagen (but that was largely my own fault, I think).
Road surface is a bit variable: 80% of it is tarmac, but there are some stretches of towpath and similar, some vicious cobbled streets in some of the German towns, and one very rough -- almost unrideable (on a touring bike with 28mm tyres) -- stretch on forest tracks between Waren and Krakow am See: if I were doing the ride again I think I'd try to find a detour to avoid that bit.
I used the Esterbauer/BikeLine guide (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Berlin-Kopenhag ... 3850000931): it's only available in German (as far as I know), but even if you can't read all the descriptions, its nevertheless worth having for the maps, accommodation info, etc. The one bit it might be worth getting translated is the (extremely helpful) street-by-street set of directions for getting out of Berlin: it's a slightly fiddly route in parts, and the additional tips from the guidebook were extremely helpful, I found. (I'd be happy to attempt a --very rough -- translation if that would be helpful: let me know...)
The signing is pretty good (although the specific Berlin-Copenhagen branded signs rather disappear once you get into Denmark, replaced by the Danish long-distance cycle signposts): the only place where I got seriously lost was on the final stage into Copenhagen (but that was largely my own fault, I think).
Road surface is a bit variable: 80% of it is tarmac, but there are some stretches of towpath and similar, some vicious cobbled streets in some of the German towns, and one very rough -- almost unrideable (on a touring bike with 28mm tyres) -- stretch on forest tracks between Waren and Krakow am See: if I were doing the ride again I think I'd try to find a detour to avoid that bit.
I used the Esterbauer/BikeLine guide (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Berlin-Kopenhag ... 3850000931): it's only available in German (as far as I know), but even if you can't read all the descriptions, its nevertheless worth having for the maps, accommodation info, etc. The one bit it might be worth getting translated is the (extremely helpful) street-by-street set of directions for getting out of Berlin: it's a slightly fiddly route in parts, and the additional tips from the guidebook were extremely helpful, I found. (I'd be happy to attempt a --very rough -- translation if that would be helpful: let me know...)
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John Holiday
- Posts: 528
- Joined: 2 Nov 2007, 2:01pm
Re: Berlin to Copenhagen
Many thanks for your detailed reply!
Roll on May!
Roll on May!
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Gearoidmuar
- Posts: 2387
- Joined: 29 Sep 2007, 7:35pm
- Location: Cork, Ireland. Corcaigh, Éire má tá Gaeilge agat.
Re: Berlin to Copenhagen
Did it with my wife and two friends 3 years ago. An easy tour, but some of the bike paths were a bit sandy and a small bit of walking was necessary. The soil is very sandy in this region. Towns good. East Germany LOOKS a lot more prosperous than Denmark. Denmark does not have widely available accommodation, at least not in this area. Loved Copenhagen. Ideally, if you have a GPS, download the track. I've seen it online.
There was some lovely quiet areas through woods.
Getting out of Berlin was rather fussy and complcated. Spent first night in Oranienburg.
There was some lovely quiet areas through woods.
Getting out of Berlin was rather fussy and complcated. Spent first night in Oranienburg.
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Gearoidmuar
- Posts: 2387
- Joined: 29 Sep 2007, 7:35pm
- Location: Cork, Ireland. Corcaigh, Éire má tá Gaeilge agat.
Re: Berlin to Copenhagen
Did it with my wife and two friends 3 years ago. An easy tour, but some of the bike paths were a bit sandy and a small bit of walking was necessary. The soil is very sandy in this region. Towns good. East Germany LOOKS a lot more prosperous than Denmark. Denmark does not have widely available accommodation, at least not in this area. Loved Copenhagen. Ideally, if you have a GPS, download the track. I've seen it online.
There were some lovely quiet areas through woods.
Getting out of Berlin was rather fussy and complcated. Spent first night in Oranienburg.
There were some lovely quiet areas through woods.
Getting out of Berlin was rather fussy and complcated. Spent first night in Oranienburg.
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John Holiday
- Posts: 528
- Joined: 2 Nov 2007, 2:01pm
Re: Berlin to Copenhagen
Just back from two week ride between Berlin & Copenhagen. Two exciting cities well worth a visit. The German section (mostly former East Germany) was well signed & passed through heavily wooded lake areas. Crossing by ferry from Rostock into Denmark, there seemed more wind generators than people!Much of this section is on quiet almost traffic free roads.
This section of the route followed a mainly coastal route. Both cities are very cycle friendly with massive network of wide cycle paths.
Motorists almost without exception treated cyclists with caution & respect. The only minor problem was the handful of scooters/motorcyclists
who insisted on using the cycle paths as a racetrack.
Stayed in hostels, & two in Germany were located at former Concentration Camps & looking at the horrors recorded on the information boards was a somewhat disturbing experience.
Unfortunately, only the last two days were in warm sunshine, including a day trip across the Oresund Bridge into neighbouring Malmo, Sweden.
Met lots of interesting people & could experience the wild life at close quarters.
Another memourable May trip!
This section of the route followed a mainly coastal route. Both cities are very cycle friendly with massive network of wide cycle paths.
Motorists almost without exception treated cyclists with caution & respect. The only minor problem was the handful of scooters/motorcyclists
who insisted on using the cycle paths as a racetrack.
Stayed in hostels, & two in Germany were located at former Concentration Camps & looking at the horrors recorded on the information boards was a somewhat disturbing experience.
Unfortunately, only the last two days were in warm sunshine, including a day trip across the Oresund Bridge into neighbouring Malmo, Sweden.
Met lots of interesting people & could experience the wild life at close quarters.
Another memourable May trip!
Re: Berlin to Copenhagen
I did this track last august, and I confirm it is very interesting. Also, Copenhagen is cycle-futuristic 