There are journeys that stay with you for a long time. Not because of a single highlight, but because of the many little moments in between. Our cycle tour from Salzburg to Grado was just such a journey.
For seven days, we followed rivers and disused railway lines, climbed mountain passes, traversed stunning mountain landscapes and were eventually carried all the way to the Adriatic coast. Every day brought new landscapes, new impressions and new encounters with people who share the same passion: travelling by bike.
This tour showed us just how lovely travelling at a leisurely pace can be. Instead of rushing from A to B as quickly as possible, the journey itself became the destination. And that’s exactly what I’d like to tell you about. 🚴♂️✨🌊
Our adventure begins early. We board the train to Salzburg at 5.00 am. For just 48.99 euros, we’ve found a surprisingly cheap connection. And, to our delight, the entire journey is relaxed and goes completely smoothly. All the trains are running on time. We arrive in Munich so punctually that we have to wait a short while before the train pulls in.
From Munich, the ÖBB finally takes us to Salzburg. We reach our destination at around 3.00 pm and walk to our hotel, ‘Zum Hirschen’, in just a few minutes. The hotel immediately impresses with its central location, friendly staff and excellent facilities, including a sauna and fitness area.
At 5.00 pm, we’ll have our briefing with the tour guide. As well as receiving important organisational information, we’ll be given our bikes. We’ve opted for e-bikes and, in addition to the usual locks, we’ll be given a shared chain lock and a small repair kit. The bikes are also fitted with a saddle bag and a handlebar bag.
Afterwards, we find ourselves drawn to Salzburg’s old town. We stroll through the narrow streets, soak up the special atmosphere and let the evening draw to a leisurely close. It soon becomes clear to us that Salzburg is far more than just a good starting point. If you have the chance, you should definitely plan to stay an extra night – the city has so much to offer.
Our adventure begins early. We board the train to Salzburg at 5.00 am. For just 48.99 euros, we’ve found a surprisingly cheap connection. And, to our delight, the entire journey is relaxed and goes completely smoothly. All the trains are running on time. We arrive in Munich so punctually that we have to wait a short while before the train pulls in.
From Munich, the ÖBB finally takes us to Salzburg. We reach our destination at around 3.00 pm and walk to our hotel, ‘Zum Hirschen’, in just a few minutes. The hotel immediately impresses with its central location, friendly staff and excellent facilities, including a sauna and fitness area.
At 5.00 pm, we’ll have our briefing with the tour guide. As well as receiving important organisational information, we’ll be given our bikes. We’ve opted for e-bikes and, in addition to the usual locks, we’ll be given a shared chain lock and a small repair kit. The bikes are also fitted with a saddle bag and a handlebar bag.
Afterwards, we find ourselves drawn to Salzburg’s old town. We stroll through the narrow streets, soak up the special atmosphere and let the evening draw to a leisurely close. It soon becomes clear to us that Salzburg is far more than just a good starting point. If you have the chance, you should definitely plan to stay an extra night – the city has so much to offer.
After a delicious breakfast with everything you could possibly want – from porridge and hummus to freshly made omelettes – we set off on our first stage, full of anticipation.
To begin with, we cycle leisurely out of Salzburg and follow the River Salzach. The route takes us to Hallein, where we stop for our first break at Café Erisa. This lovingly decorated café, with its many little details, comes highly recommended.
We carry on towards Golling. Time and again, we’re treated to fantastic views of the surrounding mountains. In Golling, we make a short detour to the famous waterfall. The seven-euro entrance fee is money well spent, as the natural scenery is truly impressive.
The route then continues over the Lueg Pass to Tenneck and finally to St. Johann. Our destination for the day is the Hotel Martell, which welcomes us with warm hospitality and a lovely room with a balcony. We round off the evening with an excellent meal at the Havanna restaurant.
We’re in for a varied stage today. Our destination for the day is Obervellach, but first we’ll be visiting the impressive Liechtenstein Gorge.
Even on the way there, we meet other cycle tourists. These encounters are among the best moments of a tour like this. Time and again, they lead to fascinating conversations and interesting insights into other people’s travels.
The Liechtenstein Gorge makes a particular impression on me. Massive rock faces, roaring torrents and the power of nature make this place a real highlight.
Back on the route, we cycle steadily uphill through beautiful countryside. After lunch in Dorfgastein, we pass through Bad Hofgastein. Just before Bad Gastein, we face a slightly more challenging climb of around 1.7 kilometres.
Once we reach the top, we are rewarded with a view of Bad Gastein’s famous waterfall. Shortly afterwards, the first – and, on this trip, only – rain shower sets in. We carry on to Böckstein, where we take the train through the Tauern Tunnel. A little later, we reach Mallnitz and cycle the next seven kilometres downhill towards Obervellach.
Our Hotel Pacher delights guests with its beautiful garden and inviting terrace.
After a hearty breakfast, we set off again towards Villach. Meanwhile, the temperatures are rising day by day.
Luckily, on the way we come across a small stream – or rather a lake – which is perfect for a refreshing break. After cooling off, having a midday snack and a quick nap in the shade, we carry on with our walk.
In Villach, the modern Hotel Voco awaits us, situated right on the Drau terraces. The hotel has a wellness area and offers a wonderful view of the Drau.
Naturally, we’ll start by exploring the town. With its charming alleyways and relaxed atmosphere, Villach is the perfect place for a leisurely stroll. In the evening, we’ll treat ourselves to a special culinary experience at Restaurant Lagana.
After a hearty breakfast, we set off by train at 09:45. The bikes are transported in a separate carriage and everyone lends a hand with loading them.
Our destination is Tarvisio. You could also cycle the entire route, in which case the day’s stage would cover just under 100 kilometres. We therefore decide together to take the train instead.
At Tarvisio station, we’re a bit lost at first. It’s only after a moment that we realise we need to go through the underpass to the other side of the tracks.
Then one of the most beautiful sections of the entire journey begins: the former railway line to Venzone. The old track has been transformed into a superbly developed cycle path. For kilometres on end, we cycle gently downhill through breathtaking mountain scenery, over old railway bridges and past spectacular views.
We stop for a short break in Pontebba before continuing our journey. Our hotel, Alma Living, is situated right next to the cycle path. Whilst it doesn’t quite measure up to our previous accommodation, it’s perfectly adequate for one night. In the evening, we cycle into the historic centre of Venzone to enjoy our dinner there.
As the temperatures are now very high, we’ll be setting off at around 9.00 am.
Today’s stage takes us via Venzone and Gemona towards Udine. We gradually leave the mountains behind us and arrive in a typical Italian landscape of vineyards, cypress trees and rolling hills.
We arrive in Udine at around 1 pm. As a treat, we treat ourselves to an ice cream before checking in at the Hotel Suite Inn.
Each room is individually designed and has its own colour scheme. Our room is red. Although we arrive very early, we’re allowed to check in after just a few minutes and find our luggage already waiting for us.
The rest of the day is spent exploring the city. Udine charms us with its beautiful old town, cosy cafés, small squares and lively atmosphere. We particularly enjoyed the fact that, at the weekend, live music adds to the Mediterranean holiday atmosphere.
To be honest, we’re feeling a bit wistful, as our final day of cycling is already upon us. This trip has been full of fun and has brought us so much joy so far.
As the heat is now really starting to be felt, we cycle through the final stage without taking any long breaks. After all, the sea is calling.
We arrive in Grado at around 2.00 pm. Our luggage hasn’t arrived yet, but that doesn’t bother us much. We start by enjoying a cold drink and are able to check into our room shortly afterwards.
The rest of the luggage arrives in the afternoon. Now there’s plenty of time to explore the town, stroll through the narrow streets and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.
As we’ve booked an extra night just in case, we don’t need to rush. That even leaves us time for a swim in the sea – the perfect way to round off our trip.
You will find the already reduced bike prices in our price section. Applies to all new bookings and subject to availability.
