Alpe Adria Cycle Path from Salzburg to Grado

Day 1: Salzburg
Individual arrival in the festival-, Mozart- and cultural city of Salzburg. Winding alleyways and squares invite you to take a stroll and cosy cafés entice you to taste genuine Austrian café-specialities. You live and breathe culture and history literally with every step you take.

Day 2: Salzburg – St. Johann (65 km)
Out of Salzburg, head south towards. Your bike tour on the Alpe Adria Cycle Path (Alpe Adria Radweg) continues along the shady wetlands of the Salzach river to Hallein, a formerly wealthy Celtic town due to salt mining. Hallein surprises with a romantic historic town centre including little alleyways, archways and opulent house fronts. Past the roaring waterfall, you pass Golling and continue along the cycle path onwards to St. Johann. Distinctive – just like twin-peaks – the steeples of the Pongau cathedral rise.

Day 3: St. Johann – Mölltal Valley (60 km + train ride)
Shortly after Schwarzach you bid farewell to the river Salzach. From today onwards the Gasteiner Ache leads you through the wild and romantic Gasteiner-valley. Via Dorfgastein and Bad Hofgastein you cycle to the renowned spa- and ski resort Bad Gastein situated at the foot of the Hohen Tauern-mountain chain, offering a variety of natural history- and architectural sights. The Gasteiner waterfall is the landmark situated in the centre of the town, which has been the focal point of many artists and poets. Now it is only a short distance to Böckstein, where a train takes you (in only 10 minutes) through the Tauernschleuse to Mallnitz on the other side of the Alps. Back on your bike you enjoy the speedy descent to your hotel in the Mölltal-valley.

Day 4: Mölltal Valley – Villach (70 km) 
Initially you cycle along the river Möll through the impressive alpine landscapes. The Drautal-valley and the sunny South of Austria start from the village of Möllbrücke. Almost effortlessly your bike rolls in a slight descent along the river Drau. In Spittal you get to visit the Renaissance-palace Porcia – sometimes called the most beautiful Renaissance-building north of the Alps. Just a bit more pedalling and soon you have reached Villach, with its enchanting old town, Southern flair and inviting pubs and restaurants. 

Day 5: Villach – Venzone/Surroundings (60 km + train ride)  
You bypass the ascent to Tarvis by train. In Italy too the cycle paths are well-developed and so you cycle leisurely downhill through the Kanaltal-valley and get to marvel at the beauty of the Friulian alpine region with its intact, unspoilt nature and vast forests. You finish the day in one of the picturesque villages located at the foothills of the Julian Alps. 

Day 6: Venzone/Surroundings – Udine (60 km)  
At the Southern exit of the Kanaltal-valley is the location of one of the most beautiful historic villages of the Friuli-Venice-Julia. The focus of the village of Gemona del Friuli is the majestic cathedral Santa Maria Assunta, that will blow you away. En route to Udine you come across the first vineyards and vines along the cycle route. Once you arrive in town, feel and experience the dolce vita over a coffee enjoyed on the Piazza or during a stroll through the alleyways while marvelling at the late Gothic and Renaissance architecture.

Day 7: Udine – Grado (55 km) 
Feel the warm breeze of the sirocco! You cycle through vast reed scenery and along little water canals towards the Gulf of Venice. In the Roman city of Aquileia, the so-called second Rome, we definitely recommend you plan a break before reaching the end destination of your holiday. One of the most popular Adriatic beach resorts, the historic fishing town Grado, will not only excite you with the vast sandy beach, but also with the historic harbour and the narrow alleyways with lovely restaurants all oozing Italian flair. 

Day 8: Grado
Departure after breakfast.