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Cyclists on asphalt road surrounded by meadows, trees and mountains

Drau Cycle Path shortened, Lienz – Villach

From Lienz to Villach

6 Days / 5 Nights
Easy
Cyclists on asphalt road surrounded by meadows, trees and mountains

Along the Drau through the south of Austria, the 6-day cycle tour from Lienz to Villach really allows you to enjoy yourself. The culinary delights can be placed firmly at the centre of this tour. Italian influences, Tyrolean specialties and finally the cuisine in Carinthia. And best of all: during the Drau Cycle Path you can work up an appetite while cycling!

Where better to start this tour than in Austria’s sunny city of Lienz, which impresses with its southern flair and wonderful views of the Lienz Dolomites. Explore the city’s distinctive landmarks, such as the Liebburg and Bruck Castle.

After a day trip to Toblach, Italy, where majestic castles and palaces line the path, continue to Berg im Oberdrautal and then Spittal. The neat little town invites you to stroll or visit the castles Porcia and Rothenthurn. The final stage on day 5 takes you to Villach. The Drau town with Alpine-Adriatic flair scores with Mediterranean influences from the regions of Friuli-Venezia Giulia and the neighbouring Slovenia.

  • The picturesque Oberdrautal: In western Carinthia, between the mountains and lakes, you can live and experience nature. Nestled between the Lienz Dolomites, the Gailtal Alps and the Kreuzeck Group, the Oberdrautal offers everything the outdoor heart desires – whether hiking, climbing, hang gliding, horse riding or swimming. There are also delightful villages and vast panoramas. Breathe in the clear air of this great piece of earth with us.
  • The cuisine with Italian and Tyrolean influences: You can taste the fact that Italy is not far away from the specialties of East Tyrol. Pizza, pasta but also speck and the traditional Schlipfkrapfen tickle the tastebuds. On your trip to Toblach, drink a cappuccino in a very Italian way, which gives you a real feel for the region.
  • Cosy wine taverns: continue the culinary delights! The typical local wine taverns invite you to take a break. See for yourself the sociable locals, enjoy a ‘Brettlejause’ (meat, cheese and bread board) and a glass of wine and don’t miss out on delicious pastries at the end.
  • The Drau Cycle Path is one of the most beautiful and attractive cycle routes in Austria. The start is in Toblach, which is where you also start your tour. In Todal, the fantastically laid out cycle path stretches for 510 kilometres from South Tyrol, then through the sunny south of Austria to Slovenia.

As already mentioned, the Drau Cycle Path is a highlight in itself on this tour. The cycle paths are mostly flat, often even slightly downhill. A perfect tour for nature lovers!

Itinerary at a glance

South Tyrol, East Tyrol and on to Carinthia, the Sunshine State of Austria. Along the way, explore Liebburg Castle in Lienz, the majestic Upper Drau Valley and Porcia Castle in Spittal. Rustic wine taverns invite you to stop for a bite to eat!

Arrival in Lienz in Eastern Tyrol located at the confluence of the rivers Isel and Drau. With a total of two thousand sunshine hours annually it is Austria’s sunniest holiday region. The breathtaking panorama onto the Alps and the Lienz-Dolomites will excite you.

Hotel (example): Schlossberghof

 

A train ride takes you comfortably from Lienz to Innichen. The river Drau is still a young river in this section, babbling and breaking her way through the narrow valley. Defiant fortresses, castels and palaces rise majestically above the valley and herald desires of the once rich and powerful. Modest Romanesque chapels, Gothic and Baroque churches, crucifixes and piety columns invite for a short break. Over a long distance the rugged, bizzare rockfaces of the Lienz-Dolomites tower over the landscape and hence turn today’s stage into an unforgettable experience.

Hotel (example): Schlossberghof

 

From Lienz, the confluence of the rivers Isel and Drau, you again follow the river Drau now appearing in a shade of gray, by the locals called ‚glacier milk‘, which is due to very fine rock particles coming from the gigantic rocks. Along ancient Roman trade routes – past ruins, castles, little churches and wayside crosses – you cycle through the picturesque Oberdrautal-valley. En route you pass pretty villages such as Pirkach, Oberdrauburg and the first market town on Carinthian soil, Dellach.

Hotel (example): Ferienhotel Sunshine

 

Today you cycle mostly along the river Drau through the marvellous Carinthian farmland featuring forests, fields, old farm houses and little hamlets. Cosy wine taverns, called ‚Buschenschenken‘ await with proper farm food and invite you to take a break. Past time-honoured farm houses decorated with flowers the well-developed Drau cycle path takes you to Spittal an der Drau. The centre of Spittal features a main square, which you might call ‚cute‘ and a particularly beautiful palace, which is considered one of the most impressive Renaissance building with the clearest style in all of Central Europe and is called ‚Porcia‘ named after the previous owners.

Hotel (example): Hotel Ertl

 

Today you cycle through the ‚Cultural Promenade of Upper Corinthia‘. You leave the area of Spital along the river Drau and immerse yourself into an ancient cultural scenery, meadows and forests and idyllic wetland- areas. Past Kellerberg palace always along the river Drau you reach Villach. The heart of Villach features the pretty old part of town with its Italian flair and the cosy pubs and restaurants. The Drau-metropolis presents itself to visitors adequately as vivacious and oozing southern flair. Part of the character of the town is definitely the river Drau, meandering through Villach just like a blue ribbon.

Hotel (example): Elaya Hotel

 

Day
06
Departure or extension

Route Information

Easy

The Drau cycle path mainly runs directly along the Drau-riverbank, is perfectly developed, good road conditions and is signposted throughout.

Prices & Dates

Category: 3***- and 4****-hotels

Prices per person in EUR

Our rental bikes

Men's bike 21-speed
Dereilleur gears with freewheel

High-quality men's touring bike with classic diamond frame

Body size approx. 165 cm - 205 cm

56-51 "sloping" cm |
60 cm |
64 cm
Unisex bike 21/24-speed
Dereilleur gears with freewheel

High-quality unisex touring bike with comfortable low entry

Body size approx. 148 cm - 190 cm

43 cm |
46 cm |
51 cm |
56 cm
Unisex bike 7-speed
Hub gears with coaster brake

High-quality unisex touring bike with coaster brake on the rear wheel

Body size approx. 155 cm - 190 cm

46 cm |
51 cm |
56 cm
Unisex Electro bike 8-speed
Hub gears with freewheel

High-quality unisex electric bike with comfortable low entry

Body size approx. 148 cm - 195 cm

46 cm "xs" |
46 cm |
51 cm |
56 cm
Rental Bike PLUS 20/27-speed
Dereilleur gears with freewheel

Sportier, lighter and more precise premium rental bike with diamond frame

Body size approx. 155 cm - 205 cm

46 cm |
51 cm |
60 cm |
63 cm

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Accommodation as already mentioned
  • Breakfast
  • Welcome briefing (German, English)
  • Luggage transfer
  • EUROBIKE developed route
  • Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English, French)
  • 1 train ride Lienz – Innichen incl. your bike
  • App for Navigation and GPS-data
  • Service hotline

Optional extras

  • Return transfer by minibus to Lienz every Sunday morning, costs EUR 99 per person from Klopeinersee and EUR 85 per person from Villach, extra EUR 39 for your own bike, to be paid for in advance, reservation is necessary
  • Bike rental, including rental bike insurance

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Lienz train station
  • Klagenfurt airport
  • Public car park near the hotel approx. EUR 35 per week, parking spaces free of charge at the edge of town.
  • From Villach good train connection back to Lienz.
  • From Lake Klopeinersee by bus or taxi to Völkermarkt and then by train to Lienz.

Things to note

  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price!
  • Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!

Join us in achieving greater sustainability by choosing our digital route book, rather than the printed version. As a small thank you we will give you a discount of €20 per room.

Nicole Maderegger

"I look forward to making your vacation dreams come true."

Nicole Maderegger
Travel specialist
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