Cycling day trip from Hattingen to Duisburg

Roll out from Hattingen’s charming timber‑framed old town on the Ruhr and ease west toward Duisburg mostly on riverside paths. Expect a relaxed 44.5 km with a gentle net downhill (about 250 m up, 310 m down). Surfaces are largely smooth and fast—mostly asphalt and other paved sections—with a few short gravel or paving‑stone stretches, so wider tires are handy but not essential. The route is largely car‑free, with plenty of cycleway and quiet roads.

Highlights en route: the old Henrichshütte steelworks museum in Hattingen; Essen’s Baldeneysee with optional detours to Villa Hügel; and riverside scenery through Kettwig and Mülheim (look for the Wasserbahnhof). Roll into Duisburg at the Ruhr’s meeting with the Rhine—check out the Rheinorange landmark, the historic Innenhafen, and Landschaftspark Duisburg‑Nord. Fun fact: Duisburg is home to the world’s largest inland port, and this ride essentially traces the final stretch of the RuhrtalRadweg to its finish.

Great for a steady day out, coffee stops, and industrial‑heritage sights, with most of the mileage on paths and cycleways.