This cycling tour follows the Alpe Adria Cycle Path from Villach in Austria to Grado on the Adriatic coast. The route covers approximately 260 km over 5 cycling days through the Canal Valley, passing Tarvis at the Austrian-Italian border, the historic town of Gemona, and the Renaissance city of Udine. The tour features well-developed cycle paths with gentle hills and one longer ascent to Tarvis. Highlights include the Roman city of Aquileia and the fishing town of Grado with its sandy beaches and historic harbor.
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This cycling tour leads you from Austria’s sunniest state along the South side of the Alps all the way to the sea including impressive nature spectacles, cultural diversity and gastronomic delicacies. Sample the Carinthian dish ”Kasnudeln”, marvel at the peaks of the Carnic Alps, enjoy a glass of white wine from the Collio region on a piazza in Udine and finally rewards yourself with a dip in the refreshing Adriatic Sea. Lots of variation guaranteed during your route from the Alps to the sea.
The two countries definitely have one thing in common: the love of enjoyment and culinary delights! The mix of cultures is reflected above all in the respective national cuisine. What can you look forward to? Traditional Austrian dishes and of course Mediterranean, Italian delicacies. Accompanied by culinary delights, leave the Alps behind and welcome the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. After the exit of the Val-Canale-valley you cycle towards the sea. With every pedal-push the Adriatic coast stretches out in front of you featuring miles of sandy beaches. Once arrived in Grado it is time to take a deep breath and enjoy!
Cultural diversity in Tarvisio: At the border between Austria and Italy, you will be greeted in three languages! Because this is where Austrians, Italians and Slovenes say “Hello”!
Gemona del Friuli: The picturesque townscape, the majestic Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the impressive vines speak for themselves. Feel the “Dolce Vita” and enjoy pizza, pasta and more.
In six days, you leisurely cycle on the gently undulating bike route from Villach to Grado. You cover between 35 and 70 kilometres per day. The journey is ideal for bliss cyclists and easy to master featuring a medium level of difficulty. The only longer ascent is just before Tarvisio. The motto there is: Keep calm, gather strength – and continue South!
More information about the topic Crossing the Alps you'll find here.
Itinerary at a glance
From Villach, you cycle to Tarvis where you enjoy the first Italian cappuccino. Through the Canal Valley, you will reach impressive Udine and finally Grado - the charming, historic fishing town in the lagoon.
The silence of the mountains, the gentle shores of the crystal-clear lakes, pure nature - located in the heart of Carinthia, Villach reflects all this diversity.
You leave Villach along the river Gail and in a little while you leave Austria and welcome Italy. In the triangle of Italy, Austria and Slovenia sprawls the canal valley, the Italian city of Tarvis builds the centre of it. Austrians, Slovenians and Italians are living here next to each other since centuries, so all three big European families of languages – Germans, Romans and Slavs – are meeting up here.
In Italy the cycle path is also perfectly developed and hence allows you to leisurely cycle downhill through the Val Canale-valley and from your bike marvel at the beauty of the Friulian alpine region with its intact, unspoilt nature and extensive forests. Your Day Finish is one of the picturesque villages located at the foothills of the Julian Alps.
At the Southern exit of the Val Canale-valley is the location of one of the most beautiful historic villages of the Friulian-Julian-Veneto. The focus of the village of Gemona del Friuli is the majestic cathedral Santa Maria Assunta and 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 whilst marvelling at the late Gothic and Renaissance architecture.
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 recommend you definitely plan a break before reaching the end destination of your holiday. One of the most popular Adriatic beach resorts, the historic little fishing town Grado, will not only excite you with the extensive sandy beach, but also the historic harbour and the narrow alleyways with lovely restaurants all ooze Italian flair.
You mainly cycle on well-developed cycle paths and quiet side roads. Only a few sections lead you also along roads with heavier traffic or on dirt paths. Overall the route leads you on slightly hilly terrain, with a longer ascent after Tarvisio.
Prices & Dates
Prices per person in EUR
Our Rental bikes
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
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
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 |
50 cm |
51 cm |
55 cm |
60 cm |
63 cm
Gravel Bike 20-speed
Dereilleur gears with freewheel
Very sporty, roadworthy premium rental bike with diamond frame
Body size approx. 155 cm - 195 cm
49 cm |
55 cm |
57 cm |
59 cm
Unisex Electric Bike 5/8-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
Services & Information
Further details about this tour
Included
Accommodation in 3***-hotels, in Villach in 4****-hotels
Breakfast
Welcome briefing (German, English)
Luggage transfer
EUROBIKE developed route
Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English, French)
App for Navigation and GPS-data
Service hotline
Optional extras
Return transfer to Villach every Saturday morning, costs from Grado per person EUR 105, 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
Villach train station
Klagenfurt, Salzburg or Ljubljana airport
Hotel parking garage, costs approx. EUR 15 per day; hotel parking spaces, costs approx. EUR 5 to EUR 10 per day
Public parking spaces free of charge outside the city centre; public parking garage, costs approx. EUR 40 per week
The return journey by public transport is only possible with a change of transportation
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 EUR 20 per room.
Services & Information
Further details about this tour
Included
Accommodation in 3***-hotels, in Villach in 4****-hotels
Breakfast
Welcome briefing
Luggage transfer
Digital travel documents incl. navigation app, GPS-data, route book
Service hotline
Optional extras
Printed route book, per room EUR 20
Return transfer to Villach every Saturday morning, costs per person EUR 115; extra EUR 45 for your own bike, to be paid for in advance, reservation is necessary
Bike rental, including rental bike insurance
Arrival / Parking / Departure
Arrival by train to Villach (www.oebb.at)
Klagenfurt airport, by bus to Klagenfurt West and by train to Villach, duration approx. 1,5 hours (www.stw.at, www.oebb.at)
Parking: Hotel parking spaces, costs approx. EUR 5 to EUR 15 per day; free public parking spaces or public garage, costs approx. EUR 45 per week
Departure by bus from Grado to Cervignano and by train further to Villach, duration approx. 4.5 hours with 1 change in Udine (www.tplfvg.it, www.trenitalia.com)
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!
Active vacations are among the most environmentally friendly and healthiest ways to travel. Traveling on two wheels means moving in a climate-conscious way while conserving resources.
Our carefully selected accommodations, like us, are committed to lived sustainability. They are deeply rooted in their regions, work with local suppliers, provide attractive employment opportunities for local residents, and thereby strengthen local value creation.
With the Eurobike On Tour app, we offer a digital version of our travel documents, allowing you to navigate confidently while on the road. By moving to digital formats, we help conserve valuable natural resources.
Eurobike has been certified as a sustainable tour operator with the internationally recognized Travelife certification. To achieve this, more than 261 requirements were carefully met.
Even though hiking vacations are among the most climate-friendly forms of travel, they still generate CO₂ emissions. These are carefully measured using the “Carmacal” calculator. Through our commitment to selected climate protection projects, we aim to give something back to the environment.
Immerse yourself in the Italian dream of la dolce vita, or let yourself be drawn along the beautiful Blue Danube—your next dream cycling tour is waiting for you. Book our top tours for 2027 now!
Immerse yourself in the Italian dream of la dolce vita, or let yourself be drawn along the beautiful Blue Danube—your next dream cycling tour is waiting for you. Book our top tours for 2027 now!