tour
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tour
A journey or excursion that begins in one place and returns to the same place, often for tourist purposes.
Wir haben eine zweistündige Rundfahrt mit dem Schiff durch den Hafen gemacht.
We took a two-hour tour by boat through the harbor.
The word is made up of 'rund' (round) and 'Fahrt' (ride/trip). So it literally describes a trip that goes in a circle and ends back at the starting point.
Die Bus-Rundfahrt durch die Altstadt war sehr informativ.
The bus tour through the old town was very informative.
In a tourist context, 'Rundfahrt' (tour) is often combined with the verb 'machen' (to do/make) and a means of transportation. It also often forms new words such as 'Stadtrundfahrt' (city tour) or 'Hafenrundfahrt' (harbor tour).
Am Nachmittag wollen wir eine Rundfahrt mit dem Schiff machen.
In the afternoon we want to take a tour by boat.
In this meaning, it almost always refers to a sporting competition, usually in cycling. Words like 'Etappe' (stage), 'Team' (team), 'gewinnen' (to win), or names like 'Giro d'Italia' in the context clearly show that it is about sports.
Er bereitet sich das ganze Jahr auf diese schwere Rundfahrt vor.
He prepares all year for this difficult stage race.
tour
'die Tour' and 'die Rundfahrt' can both mean an excursion or trip to several places. 'die Tour' is more general: you can use it for a hike, a bike tour, or an excursion with several stops. 'die Rundfahrt' fits especially when you travel by vehicle, often as a tourist, and return to the starting point at the end. Learners may confuse the words because both describe a planned route. In practice: a 'Rundfahrt' is usually a specific kind of 'Tour', namely a trip in a circle or one that returns to the starting point.
In der Stadt haben wir vor dem Termin eine Rundfahrt mit dem Bus gemacht.
In the city, we took a bus tour before the appointment.
Am Wochenende machen wir eine Tour durch die Berge.
At the weekend we're going on a tour through the mountains.