Alpe-Adria bike path | Salzburg-Grado

Individual arrival to the festival, Mozart and cultural city of Salzburg. Winding alleyways and squares invite you to take a stroll and dreamy cafés invite you to enjoy genuine Austrian coffee specialities. Breathe in culture and history at every turn.

You roll leisurely out of the festival and Mozart city of Salzburg through the shady Salzach floodplains, with the Salzach as your travelling companion. The route takes you to Hallein, a Celtic town once rich in salt mining. The main attraction is undoubtedly the world-famous Celtic Museum. Passing the Gollinger waterfall, your overnight stay in the town of the same name is characterised by its pretty market square and 13th century castle.

From Golling you cycle up to Pass Lueg-Höhe, enjoying the view of the marvellously striking Tennengebirge mountains. The mountain gets closer and closer to the Salzach and the roar of the water gets louder and louder. You pass the so-called ‘Salzachöfen’, an impressive gorge created by the Salzach. After Werfen with its towering castle, you soon reach St. Johann. The towers of the Pongau Cathedral rise up here like double mountain peaks.

Shortly after Schwarzach, you bid farewell to the Salzach; from today, the Gasteiner Ache accompanies you through the wild and romantic Gastein Valley. You cycle via Dorfgastein and Bad Hofgastein to the famous spa and winter sports resort of Bad Gastein at the foot of the Hohe Tauern, which offers a variety of natural, historical and architectural sights. The landmark is the Gastein waterfall in the centre of the village, which has been the subject of many painters and poets. Now it's just a stone's throw to Böckstein, where a train from the Tauernschleuse takes you to the other side of the Alps, to Mallnitz, in just 10 minutes. Back in the saddle, enjoy the thrilling descent to your hotel in Mölltal.

Today you cycle along the Möll river through impressive high mountain landscapes, before entering the Drautal valley in Möllbrücke and thus the sunny south of Austria. The last few kilometres to Spittal an der Drau are a leisurely ride. The town was already an important transport hub for pilgrims in the Middle Ages and owed its prosperity in part to them.

You cycle along the Drau almost by yourself on a gentle downhill stretch. Halfway along, you should take a break in the small market town of Paternion with its churches and castles worth seeing. Pedal hard a few more times and you will reach Villach, the heart of which is the charming old town with its southern flair and cosy pubs and restaurants.

You cover the ascent to Tarvisio by train. The cycle path in Italy is also well developed and you cycle comfortably downhill through the Kanaltal valley, admiring the beauty of the Friulian Alps region with its unspoilt, untouched nature and extensive forests from the saddle. You can spend the night in one of the pretty villages at the foothills of the Julian Alps.

One of the most beautiful historical towns in Friuli Venezia Giulia lies at the southern end of the Canal Valley. The townscape of Gemona del Friuli is characterised by the majestic Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and will also inspire you. On the way to Udine, the first vines appear along the cycle route. Once in the city, savour the ‘dolce vita’ over a coffee in the piazza or while strolling through the alleyways and admiring the late Gothic and Renaissance buildings.

A warm Scirocco breeze blows around your nose! You cycle through vast reed landscapes and along small water channels towards the Gulf of Venice. You should definitely plan a stop in the Roman city of Aquileia, the so-called ‘Second Rome’, before you reach your destination. One of the most popular seaside resorts on the Adriatic, the historic fishing town of Grado, not only has an extensive sandy beach, but also a historic harbour and narrow streets with cosy restaurants that exude Italian flair.

After breakfast, individual return journey or start of your extension.