Historic church in a mountain village in Friuli along the Alpe-Adria cycle route, surrounded by green Alpine landscapes.

Austria, Italy

Austria & Italy bike tour: Alpe Adria cycle route from Salzburg to Grado

8 days

Bike tours

Departure days: Friday, Saturday, Thursday

410km

Easy

About the Alpe Adria cycle tour

The Alpe Adria Cycle Route takes you from the Austrian Alps to the Adriatic Sea in 8 days. You ride mostly on traffic-free paths, along rivers and lakes, and on a former railway line through the Fella Valley. You start in Salzburg and finish in the seaside town of Grado, Italy.

A train ride through the Alps lets you skip the steepest climbs. That makes this tour a good fit for recreational cyclists and e-bike riders. Your luggage goes ahead from hotel to hotel. You travel at your own pace, without a guide, with GPS tracks, a route book and a service hotline.

Not sure which date or bike suits you? Request a personal proposal and we answer within 2 business days.

Duration: 8 days / 7 nights, 6 cycling days
Type: Self-guided bike tour
Route: Salzburg (Austria) to Grado (Italy, Adriatic Sea)
Distance: approx. 367–375 km by bike, plus a short train ride (about 53 minutes)
Level: easy to moderate, mostly flat
Arrival days: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 7 to October 17, plus Wednesday and Thursday from July 7 to October 17
Included: 7 hotel nights with breakfast, luggage transfer, train tickets for the Alps crossing, route book and GPS tracks, service hotline

The Alpe Adria Cycle Route from Salzburg to Grado is a true cycling classic — from breathtaking Alpine panoramas to the Adriatic Sea, largely traffic-free and ideal for travellers who want to enjoy an active holiday without any worries

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Cycle path through the Grado Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea, final section of the Alpe Adria Cycle Route.

Alpe Adria Cycle Route passing Aquileia UNESCO Basilica, Italy

Who is this tour for?

Recreational cyclists who want a famous route without hard climbs
E-bike riders (rental e-bikes available)
Couples, friends and families with older children
Travelers who want a clear route and luggage transfer, but no group

If you want an even gentler river route, look at our Danube bike tour from Passau to Vienna.

Highlights of this Alpe Adria cycle tour

Salzburg: baroque Old Town (UNESCO) and Hohensalzburg Fortress
Salzach Valley: easy cycling along the river, past Hohenwerfen Castle
Alps crossing by train or bus: you skip the big climb over the Hohe Tauern (see the note on day 3)
Millstätter See: a clear Austrian lake, good for a swim
Fella Valley: the most famous part, a former railway line with tunnels and viaducts
Udine: elegant Italian city with Venetian influence
Palmanova and Aquileia: a 16th-century Venetian fortress town and a UNESCO Roman site
Grado: beach town on the Adriatic Sea

Day-by-day itinerary

Below you’ll find the detailed day-by-day itinerary of this 8-day Alpe Adria cycling holiday from Salzburg to Grado. Each stage follows mostly traffic-free cycle paths, scenic river valleys, Alpine landscapes, and historic towns, with constantly changing views as you journey from the Austrian Alps to the Adriatic Sea.

You get your travel documents and, if you booked one, your rental bike at the hotel. A parking spot is available at the hotel or about a 15-minute walk away, for the whole trip. Use the rest of the day for a walk through the Old Town. Overnight in a 3-star hotel in Salzburg.

You follow the Salzach River on mostly traffic-free paths via Hallein, Kuchl and Werfen. You can shorten the day by taking the hourly train: you then cycle only 29 km (61 m of climbing). A bike ticket costs about €3.50 and is paid on the spot. Overnight in a 3- or 4-star hotel.

You cycle to Schwarzach-St. Veit and take the train to Mallnitz through the Alps. A bike ticket (about €3–3.50) is paid on the spot. Then you ride through the Drau Valley, partly along the shore of Millstätter See. If you arrive between May 7 and July 4, the Tauern shuttle is closed. You then get a bus transfer from Schwarzach-St. Veit to Mallnitz, bike included. Tip: a detour to the Stappitzer Lakes in Hohe Tauern National Park. Overnight in Spittal or Seeboden.

You follow the Drau River to Villach and have a break in the old town. Then you follow the Gail River, gently uphill, via Arnoldstein to Tarvisio, where Austria, Italy and Slovenia meet. Overnight in Tarvisio.

For many cyclists this is the best day. You ride along a former railway line through the narrow Fella Valley, with viaducts and tunnels, to Pontebba. After a short stretch on public roads you continue toward Carnia, Venzone or Gemona.

You ride through Friuli on quiet country roads and partly on cycle paths, along the Tagliamento River and via Buia to Udine. See Piazza della Libertà and the Cathedral. Overnight in a 4-star hotel.

From Udine you cycle on cycle paths via Palmanova and Cervignano to Aquileia, then through the lagoon to Grado on the Adriatic coast. Overnight in a 4-star hotel or a 3-star superior hotel.

After breakfast the tour ends. You can add extra nights, or book the return transfer to Salzburg (see below).

Highlights along the route

Salzburg

The journey begins in Salzburg, a city where culture and landscape seamlessly come together. The baroque Altstadt, with its narrow streets and historic squares, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Towering above the city is Hohensalzburg Fortress, offering stunning views over the city, the Salzach River, and the surrounding Alps. A remarkable start to the Alpe Adria Cycle Route.

Udine

The route takes you to Udine, an elegant city where Venetian influences meet Friulian hospitality. The historic center is characterized by wide squares, arcades, and stately palaces. At the Piazza della Libertà, often considered one of the most beautiful squares in northern Italy, you can soak up the relaxed Italian atmosphere. Udine serves as the cultural heart of the Alpe Adria Cycle Route and is the perfect place to enjoy a good glass of wine and local specialties after several days of cycling.

Fietspad door de lagune van Grado langs de Adriatische Zee, eindtraject van de Alpe Adria fietsroute

Cycle path through the Grado Lagoon

The cycle path to Grado is one of the most remarkable sections of the Alpe Adria Cycle Route. Riding along a long, straight causeway, you pass through the open Grado Lagoon, with water, reed beds, and expansive views on both sides. The route is completely flat and traffic-free, allowing you to fully enjoy the scenery and the fresh sea air in peace.

Fietsen door het groene Fella-dal op de Alpe Adria fietsroute in Noord-Italië

Fella Valley

The Fella Valley represents the scenic highlight of the Alpe Adria Cycle Route. Here, you cycle along a former railway line, transformed into a comfortable, completely traffic-free bike path. The route winds through a narrow mountain valley, past steep cliffs, green slopes, and clear mountain streams.

Aquileia

Aquileia is one of the most important Roman cities in northern Italy and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Once a powerful trading center of the Roman Empire, today you can walk and cycle past impressive archaeological remains that bring the past vividly to life.

Friuli

Friuli is a region where nature, culture, and tranquility come together. The landscape features rolling hills, vineyards, rivers, and small villages, with the foothills of the Alps in the background. After the rugged high mountains, Friuli feels gentler and more open, a natural transition towards the Adriatic Sea.

Prices and departure dates

The prices below are per person, based on double occupancy.

2027

Dates	Double room	Single room
Oct 14–17	€969	€1,279
Jun 13–Jul 2 and Sep 26–Oct 13	€1,139	€1,449
May 7–Jun 12 and Jul 3–Sep 25	€1,224	€1,534

Included

7 nights in 3- and 4-star hotels, with breakfast buffet
Luggage transfer from Salzburg to Grado (liability cover up to €1,000 per person)
Parking space in Salzburg
Train ticket Schwarzach-St. Veit to Böckstein (2nd class)
Tauern shuttle ticket Böckstein to Mallnitz, bike included (2nd class), or a bus transfer when the shuttle is closed
Route book and tour map, travel documents with GPS data
Service hotline during your trip

Not included

Travel to and from Salzburg
Return transfer from Grado to Salzburg (optional, see below)
Lunches and dinners (unless you book half board), and drinks
Bike tickets for trains (about €3–3.50) and train tickets used to shorten stages
Local tourist tax, up to €3 per person per night, partly payable locally
Bike or e-bike rental (optional)
Tips, personal expenses, travel and cancellation insurance

Optional extras

Prices are per person, including VAT.

Service	Price
Single Room Supplement (limited availability)	€ 372
Half Board – 4 dinners (not available in Salzburg, Osoppo & Grado)	€ 138
Trekking Bike Rental (per stay)	from € 108
E-Bike Rental (per stay, subject to availability)	from € 240
Return Transport of Own Bicycle by Coach (per bicycle)	€ 46
Extra Nights in Salzburg or Grado	On request

Practical information

Travel Type: Individual cycling holiday
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Cycling Days: 6 active cycling days
Distances: Approx. 50–65 km per day
Total Distance: Approx. 410 km
Elevation: Mostly flat to gently rolling; steeper Alpine sections by train (Tauernschleuse)
Level: Easy to moderate (Level 2/5) – suitable for recreational cyclists and e-bikes
Starting Point: Salzburg, Austria
End Point: Grado, Italy (Adriatic Sea)
Luggage: Daily luggage transfer from hotel to hotel included
Navigation: Digital GPS routes + detailed travel documentation with maps and practical tips
Transfers: Return transfer for persons from Grado to Salzburg included
Departure: Thursday to Saturday, from 21 May to 9 October

Important Information

Return transfer from Grado to Salzburg

This is an optional extra. Coach every Friday and Sunday, from May 15 to October 23, 2027. On Saturdays from July 10 to October 23 there is a coach to Mallnitz and then a train with reserved seats to Salzburg. On other days you arrange your own return.

Return Transport of Own Bicycles (surcharge applies)

Transport of guests’ own bicycles is available for an additional charge and must be booked in advance.

On-site booking is not possible
Costs are charged to the travel agency (gross = net)
Only available in combination with a booked return passenger transfer (bus or train) and subject to availability
No liability is accepted for any damage to bicycles during the cycling tour or transport (exclusion of liability applies)

Procedure – Bus Return

Bicycles are transported together with passengers on the coach to Salzburg. Customer and bicycle must travel on the same transfer.

Procedure – Bus & Train Combination

If bicycles are handed in in Grado on Friday or Saturday at 5:00 p.m., they are transported overnight to Salzburg. They will be available for collection at the arrival hotel in Salzburg the following day from approximately 4:00 p.m.

Return transport of your own bike is optional and only possible with advance reservation.
Maximum insured value: € 1,500.
Bikes with a rim width of more than 5 cm are only possible on request.
Without prior registration, transport cannot be guaranteed.