Romantic trip along wooden half-timbered houses and beer gardens
September 01 - 09 / 2026
Departure date: 01 september 2026
. Endurance level: moderate / Agility level: moderate
Highlights
Bike, Barge and Cruise along the charming Bavarian Main River. Be amazed by the metropolis that is Frankfurt, the meandering streets and alleyways of romantic Miltenberg, as well as Aschaffenburg and the beautiful baroque city of Würzburg. Bike along the river named ‘Main’, surrounded by mountains and vineyards. Designated bike paths will lead you through old city centres, restored half-timber houses, Gothic & Baroque buildings, and cosy little towns. Starting in Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy an included brewery tour and beer-tasting session at the famous ‘Faust’ brewery.
Day-to-day itinerary
Day 1: Bamberg – Overnight dock
Afternoon check in, Merlijn will set sail. Wave ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ to Bamberg from the aft terrace, passing your first lock on the river Main. We’ll present you with a welcome drink and introduce the crew. We will also provide information on the tour, the ship, and offer you a safety briefing. You will enjoy your first dinner on board while cruising, afterwards we will dock for the night.
*Please note that we will not visit Bamberg during the tour, we strongly recommend traveling a few days earlier to see and visit Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage site. And a very charming, historic bishops’ town, home to Villa Concordia, the historic lock 100, water castle, baroque house on the bridge, and the former fishing settlement of Klein Venedig (Little Venice) - all emphasizing the close connection between town and river.
Day 2: Overnight dock – Hassfurt – Schweinfurt. Bike tour: 35-40 km or extend to 50-55 km
After a delicious breakfast and a bike safety talk, we will introduce you to your bike. When everyone is set, your first bike tour starts. Cycle along the ‘Main Radweg’. The slogan the Germans use to describe this bike path is ‘cycle, marvel and enjoy’! The route will follow the River, passing by several vineyards, the famous Maria Limbach pilgrimage church, and several little towns filled with half-timber houses. We’ll head for Hassfurt, famous for its late Gothic Ritter chapel and late Gothic church in the market square. Merlijn awaits you at the edge of the city to take you on an afternoon cruise, or you can extend your bike tour and peddle on to Schweinfurt, where Merlijn will dock near the city. Schweinfurt has an old centre full of cosy little areas, as well as a town hall, tower and marketplace, with dozens of artificial ‘Schweine’ (pigs) dotted all around the town.
Day 3: Schweinfurt - Marktbreit. Bike tour: 50-55 km
Breakfast is taken on board, Merlijn will cruise the River Main, which is a natural river, tempered with locks and dams. We’ll cruise along Kitzingen, that’s famous for its leaning tower. After reaching a dock we’ll set off to cycle the ‘Main Radweg’ once more. Passing villages that all are very well known to wine connoisseurs like Dettelbach, Sommerach, Nordheim, and Volkach. Just before the Main Valley slowly opens up, and less vineyards are visible, we can visit the pilgrimage church ‘Maria im Weingarten’, where the famous ‘Madonna im Rosenkranz’ by Tilman Riemenschneider is displayed. Today’s destination is the charming village of Marktbreit, where Merlijn awaits you.
Day 4: Marktbreit – Würzburg. Bike tour: 30-35 km
Today, the bike tour will lead you further on along the river Main, leaving behind Marktbreit and its historic centre. The next port of call is Würzburg, which is a definite highlight of the trip. Explore this beautiful Baroque city and visit the ‘Würzburg Residence”, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Enjoy a guided tour of the Residence, after which you will make your way to the ship. After dinner, it is almost obligatory to join in the local tradition of having a glass of wine on the old bridge.
Day 5: Würzburg – Lohr. Bike tour: 35-40 km
We’ll stay docked until the bike tour starts, giving the early birds an opportunity for a last peak in town before breakfast. You get on the pedals again, enjoy the beautiful nature and another picnic lunch prepared by the Merlijn chef, you will reach Karlstad, where the streets are laid out much like a chessboard, but are not entirely straight: a concept conceived for military purposes. After your visit to the city, you will board the Merlijn. Together, we’ll sail on to Lohr am Main and pass more locks on the river. Dinner will be served during the cruise, and afterwards there will be time for a post-meal walk in Lohr am Main with its Gothic and Baroque buildings.
Day 6: Lohr – Miltenberg. Bike tour: 45-50 km
While you enjoy your breakfast, the bikes will be prepared by the crew and will be waiting for you to start set off on today’s tour. This will take you along Wertheim: a town that invites you to visit its historic centre and mountain ruins, at the confluence of the rivers Main and Tauber. On the way, you will encounter the half-timber castle Homburg, and cycle through the ever-changing landscape of abundant vineyards and forested mountain slopes, with bizarre rocks and historic monuments, such as the Triefenstein monastery. Afternoon you will board the Merlijn again and sail on to Miltenberg, where our day ends. It’s a charming village with numerous alleyways, winding streets and old restored half-timber houses, as well as a historic market square and ‘Zum Riesen’, which is the oldest pub in Germany. After dining on board, you will be offered a tour and beer-tasting session at the famous ‘Faust’ brewery.
Day 7: Miltenberg - Aschaffenburg. Bike tour: 40-45 km
Following the ‘Main-Radweg’, we will pass lovely small towns and villages, such as Klingenberg and Groszheubach, both famous for their fine red wines, before continuing to our destination of Aschaffenburg. In the afternoon, you’ll have the chance to stroll through the old city centre to see the churches, and the large castle situated along the riverbank.
Day 8: Aschaffenburg – Frankfurt. Bike tour: 40-45 km or extend to 50-55 km
We start with another delicious onboard breakfast to fuel you up for the day’s cycling! Leaving Aschaffenburg with good memories you’ll start the bike tour, taking you to the small, romantic city of Seligenstadt with its meandering alleyways, half-timber houses and Basilica. Continuing via Klein-Krotzenburg along the river Main and Steinheim, we’ll head towards Hanau, the town where the famous Grimm brothers were born. You might want to try a ‘Currywurst mit Brötchen’ along the way: a type of fine German pork sausage typically steamed and seasoned with curry ketchup! After your visit, we will head towards Offenbach, passing Bürgel and Mühlheim.
Afternoon we’ll cruise together towards our final destination Frankfurt: Europe’s banking city. Frankfurt was a city state, the Free City of Frankfurt, for nearly five centuries, and was one of the most important cities of the Holy Roman Empire, as the site of imperial coronations. It lost its sovereignty upon the collapse of the empire in 1806, and then permanently in 1866, when it was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia. Frankfurt is a both a major city and a global hub for commerce, culture, education, tourism and transportation. It is the financial centre of the European continent, and home to the headquarters of major European Banks. At night a farewell diner will be served onboard.
Day 9: Frankfurt
After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye and continue your European trip or leave for the airport. As we don’t really visit Frankurt during the tour, we can recommend to extend your holiday in this city.
Would you like to stay on board and travel longer on the Merlijn? This is an excellent trip to combine with the successive Passau - Bamberg Bike & Barge cruise> This combination means your tour will run from Passau to Frankfurt, and you will bike barge & cruise the full connection between the Rhine and Danube rivers.
Included in your tour:
- 9 nights onboard Merlijn
- Early check-in and late check-out
- Full service of staff, maintaining cabins, manned bar (no self-service)
- Porterage of luggage upon arrival and departure
- Private stateroom of 11 m2 with 2 comfortable beds (80 x 200 cm) that can be pushed together/separated. Individual climate control and private bathroom with shower, toilet, sink, heated and illuminated mirror. Coffee & tea-making facilities from Nespresso, a varied package with coffee cups included.
- Supply of bedding, towels, facial tissues, hand soap, shampoo, sewing kit, vanity kit, bathrobe & slippers.
- Daily loading and unloading of your bicycle to and from the ship
- Use of lightweight state-of-the-art bicycle
- Use of a waterproof bike bag, city backpack, towel, water bottle, helmet with communication system.
- English speaking-tour guide (experienced guide who knows the route like the back of their hand)
- Support vehicle, there will be a staffed support vehicle on several days during the scheduled bike tours.
- Brochures of the area available on board
- Harbour, lock and canal fees
Included culinary care:
- Welcome drink with bubbles and warm snacks
- All day unlimited coffee & specialty-coffee prepared with fresh milk, variation of tea, hot chocolate and potable ice water (self-service).
- Extensive breakfast buffet daily with at least; 2 warm dishes, freshly baked croissants or similar pastries, various types of bread, toaster, yoghurt, cereals, fresh fruit and various beverages.
- Packed lunch prepared by the staff in a special lunch bag with at least a lavish sandwich, snack and drink.
- 9 day tours include 7 three-course dinners
- Dinners are based on ‘plate service’, meals are served in the dining area.
- Meals are perceived by our guests as “luxurious” or even “gourmet style”.
Included beverages during bar opening hours:
- Several sodas served from a small bottle
- Wide variety of wines (also non-alcoholic wine)
- Beer on tap and various beers from the bottle (also non-alcoholic beer)
Included excursions:
- Ferry costs on the bicycle route
- Guided city tour at Residence Würzburg
- Beer-tasting session at the famous brewery Faust
Not included in your tour:
- 1 dinner, the day and location will be announced at the start of the tour
- Excursions, entrance fees and guided tours other than mentioned
- Beverages other than those mentioned (such as spirits and cocktails)
- City maps, bike maps, etc. (we have a lot available however we can’t guarantee every destination)
- Inbound and outbound journeys, such as flights, trains, bus or other type of transfers
- Gratuities (cash only)
- Electronic payments of your onboard expenses (cash only)
- Insurances, we strongly recommend that you purchase cancellation insurance as well as travel insurance.
Not included extra services on board (payable on board):
- Rental of electric bicycles €30,- per piece, per day. Reservations in advance are advisable
- Laundry service, current price available on board