Alpe Adria Cycle Path sporty, Salzburg – Grado

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

Hotel (example): Hotel Goldenes Theater

Get out of Salzburg and head south. Past the rushing waterfall, you will pass Golling and continue on the well-maintained bike path to St. Johann. Shortly after Schwarzach, you say goodbye to the Salzach, from now on the Gasteiner Ache accompanies you through the wild and romantic Gastein valley. Via Dorfgastein and Bad Hofgastein, you cycle to the well-known spa and winter sports resort Bad Gastein at the foot of the Hohe Tauern. The landmark is the Gastein Waterfall in the middle of town, which has been the inspiration for many painters and poets.

Hotel (example): Hotel Elisabethpark

In the morning, it is only a stone's throw to Böckstein, from where a train of the Tauernschleuse takes you to the other side of the Alps, to Mallnitz, in only 10 minutes. First, you cycle along the river Möll until you reach the Drau valley. Here, the sunny south of Austria begins. You cycle leisurely on to Spittal an der Drau, an important traffic junction for pilgrims in the Middle Ages. Now, pedal a few more times and you've reached Villach, whose heart is the charming old town with its southern flair and the cozy pubs and restaurants.

Hotel (example): Hotel Voco

At first, it's still along a stretch of the Drau. But soon, the bike path leads you along the Gail River in the direction of Italy. "Servus Austria - Ciao Italia" is the motto at the border in Tarvis. Also, in Italy, the cycle path is well developed and so you cycle comfortably downhill. Through the Val Canale-valley you can admire the beauties of the Friulian Alpine region. The place to stay is one of the pretty villages on the foothills of the Julian Alps.

Hotel (example): Hotel Pittis

On the way to Udine, the first vines appear along the bike route. Once in the city, feel the "dolce vita" with a coffee in the "piazza". You will ride through wide landscapes of reeds and along small water canals in the direction of the Gulf of Venice. In the Roman city of Aquileia, the so-called "Second Rome," you should plan a stop in any case, before you reach your destination for the trip. The historic fishing town of Grado, known to inspire not only by the extensive sandy beach.

Hotel (example): Hotel Rialto