No boredom and definitely no whining from the back seat of the car. Go on a cycling tour with your children and you're on to a winner from the start. Numerous long-distance cycle routes are ideally suited for the whole family, whether your little ones are pedalling themselves or getting pulled along in a trailer. There are so many options to choose from: if you want to get back to nature and discover Germany's industrial heritage, choose the Emsland Route or the RuhrtalRadweg. If you want to cycle on level ground without any gradients, try the Mecklenburgische Seen-Radweg. If you want easily combinable tours courtesy of an integrated network, go for the NiederRheinroute.

For smaller children, however, mini-races, regular playtime breaks and the prospect of upcoming adventures are usually enough to keep them entertained. Even giving them a small piece of luggage to carry on their bikes can be a source of motivation. Kids can then be proud of "their contribution" to the family expedition. So long as you are flexible in terms of routes and places to stop, show a bit of creativity along the way and have prepared sufficiently, perhaps even together with your children, a cycling holiday in Germany can be one to remember.