Alpe-Adria cycle path | Salzburg toTriest

Individual journey 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, you can enjoy the thrilling descent to your hotel in Mölltal.

Today you cycle along the River Möll through impressive high mountain landscapes. The Drau Valley begins in Möllbrücke and with it 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.

Please note: Due to construction work, the Tauern lock is expected to be out of service until 4 July 2025. The itinerary will be adapted during this period. You will spend the night in the Gastein Valley instead of the Möll Valley and will be transferred to Spittal.

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.

At first, you cycle along the Drau for a while. But soon the cycle path leads you along the Gail towards Italy. ‘Servus Austria - Ciao Italia’ is the motto at the border. In Tarvisio you will even be greeted in three languages. This is because Austrians, Slovenians and Italians have lived together here for centuries and all three major European language families - Germanic, Romanic and Slavic - meet here directly.

The cycle path is also well developed in Italy, so you cycle comfortably downhill through the Kanaltal valley and admire the beauty of the Friulian Alps region from the saddle, with its unspoilt, unspoilt nature and extensive forests. One of the pretty villages at the foothills of the Julian Alps serves as an overnight stop.

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 canals towards the Gulf of Venice. You should plan a stop in the Roman city of Aquileia, the so-called ‘Second Rome’, before you reach today's 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.

You first leave the coast and cycle through the rugged karst towards the Gulf of Trieste. Back by the sea, you are accompanied by a breathtakingly beautiful coastal landscape and the world-famous Miramare Castle is another highlight of today's cycle tour. The time-honoured harbour city of Trieste is the crowning glory of your trip.

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