Alpe Adria Cycle Path, Salzburg – Villach

Individual arrival to Mozart town Salzburg. Winding alleyways and squares are inviting for a stroll. You should visit a typical café to taste some Austrian delicacies. With every step you breathe in culture and history. Stroll through Getreidegasse, discover Mozart’s birth house or take your time for some shopping. In the afternoon distribution of rental bikes, if booked.

Hotel (example): Hotel Goldenes Theater

Your bike tour starts in Salzburg and you continue through the shady Salzach lowlands along the river. You cycle to Hallein, which was due to its excavation of salt a rich Celtic city in former times. Hallein impresses with its romantic old city, small alleyways, gates and precious houses. Main attraction is the popular Celtic museum. Along the river you reach the waterfall, the beautiful market square and the fortress from 13th century in Golling. If you want to extend your tour you can make a tour through romantic valley Bluntautal.

Hotel (example): Hotel Golingen

From Golling up to Pass Lueg, enjoy the views onto the beautiful mountain range. You will even not notice the slightly climb. The mountains are coming nearer, and the water is getting louder. You pass the so-called “Salzach-Öfen”, an imposing canyon which was built through the river. At the foot of mountain Hochkönig you reach Werfen. The biggest ice cave in the world is inviting you for a loop tour through the bewitching world of shimmering ice (duration about 4 hours). A last view onto fortress Hohenwerfen before you continue to Bischofshofen. Within a few kilometres you reach St. Johann. We recommend visiting the dome with its towers and the wild romantic Liechtensteinklamm (gorge).

Hotel (example): Brückenwirt

Feeling fresh and rested you start your third leg to Schwarzach im Pongau. Marvel at the pretty Schloss Schernberg on the hill above the village before hopping onto the saddle. Shortly after Schwarzach you leave the Salzach and will be accompanied by the Gasteiner Ache through the wild and romantic Gastein valley. Gather your strength before travelling uphill to the “Ausgleichsbecken”, which will see you cover 2,5km with an elevation change of 130metres – you’ll definitely build up a sweat. Now comes the Klamm Tunnel, where you can cycle its 1,5km on a cycle path. If you want to avoid the tunnel, you can take a train or shuttle service from Schwarzach (about a 10 km drive). Via Dorfgastein and Bad Hofgastein you cycle to the renowned spa and winter sports resort of Bad Gastein, at the foot of the Hohe Tauern, which offers a wealth of natural history and architectural sights. It is then only a stone’s throw to Böckstein, where a train from the Tauernschleuse takes you to Mallnitz on the other side of the Alps in just 10 minutes (self-paid about €5/person). Back in the saddle you can enjoy rushing downhill to your hotel in the Mölltal.

Hotel (example): Erlebnishotel Mölltal

First off, as you travel along the river Möll you cycle through impressive mountain landscape. In Möllbrücke the Drautal begins, and the sunny south of Austria. Take a leisurely pedal over the last kilometres to Spittal an der Drau. In the middle ages this city was an important junction for pilgrims. Here you can visit the Renaissance Porcia Palace, built in the 16th Century in the style of Italian palazzo – sometimes referred to as ‘the most beautiful Renaissance building north of the Alps’.

Hotel (example): Erlebnis Post - Hotel mit EigenART

Enjoy this route – it leads slightly downhill along river Drau. You should plan a stop in Paternion with worth-seeing churches and palaces. Within short distance you reach Villach with beautiful old city, southern flair and homelike pubs and restaurants.

Hotel (example): City Hotel Villach

Unfortunately you have reached the end of your journey! One thing is certain though: you can head home full of new experiences and impressions. Alternatively you could continue cycling from Villach to Triest... the Adriatic coastline is calling!