Exploring Austria's Best Day-Trip Cycling Trails

Austria is a great destination for cycling holidays, with a variety of landscapes to explore, from flat, easy riding in the east near Vienna, to high mountains in the west. The country's extensive network of asphalt trails, cycle paths, and roads offers something for cyclists of all skill levels, from novice riders to advanced climbers.

The Danube Bike Trail is one of the most prominent bike routes in Austria, taking riders through some of the country's most impressive cultural sites. The Tauern Bike Path offers an easy route through the Alpine region, with flat trails along the Salzach and Saalach rivers.

In addition to these longer routes, there are also many day trip options available in Austria. The Wachau Valley Wine Tasting Bike Tour from Vienna, for example, offers a full-day experience combining cycling and wine tasting. The Vienna City Bike Tour is another active option for exploring the city's highlights.

For those looking for a unique adventure, there are also e-bike and mountain bike tours available, such as the Innsbruck Scenic eBike Tours, which take riders through the picturesque mountains surrounding the city.

Cycling in the Salzkammergut region in Upper Austria

The Salzkammergut region is perfect for a cycling holiday, with routes suitable for all skill levels. You can choose to cycle on paved cycleways, roads, or even try out some compact gravel paths. The area is also very accommodating to cyclists, with many hotels catering to those on two wheels.

One popular route is the Salzkammergut Lake District Tour, which takes you to 13 lakes, including Mondsee, Attersee, and Wolfgangsee. Along the way, you can enjoy swimming, fishing, sailing, and hiking. The tour is a loop that can be started anywhere along the route, but officially begins in Salzburg and continues southeast to St. Gilgen, St. Wolfgang, and Bad Ischl.

Another option is to create your own itinerary and plan your route as you go. You can start and end in Salzburg, visiting as many or as few lakes and towns as you like. This gives you the flexibility to spend more time in places that interest you and take part in various attractions, such as visiting palaces, spas, caves, or mountain trails.

For those looking for a more structured tour, there are cycling tour operators that can help plan your trip, including booking accommodations and transferring luggage.

The Salzkammergut region truly offers something for everyone, from beginner-friendly trails to challenging mountain routes. So, whether you're a novice rider or an advanced cyclist, you can enjoy the beauty and charm of this unique part of Austria on two wheels.

The Danube Bike Trail

The trail is perfect for all kinds of cycling, from leisurely rides to road cycling, and is suitable for solo travellers, families, and bigger groups. It is paved and almost traffic-free, following an old horse path where teams of horses once towed barges upstream. The route mostly follows dedicated bike paths, with only a few sections following minor roads. It is flat or slightly downhill all the way, passing through picturesque towns and villages, lush farmland, and sprawling vineyards. Along the majestic river, riders will pass romantic castles, cosy villages, and stunning landscapes.

There are several options for those looking to embark on a cycling tour of the Danube Bike Trail. One popular option is the 'Classic' version of the tour, which offers 7 nights of cycling from Passau to Vienna. This self-guided tour costs from EUR €1019 and covers approximately 35 miles per day. The route takes riders through the various breathtaking districts of Upper and Lower Austria, including the natural beauty of the verdant Danube Valley, the stunning Schlögen Bend, and the wonderful landscapes of the Machland, Strudengau, and Wachau.

Another option is the 'Active' version of the tour, which offers 5 nights of cycling and is designed for those interested in covering longer distances each day. This self-guided tour costs from EUR €749 and covers approximately 50 miles per day.

For those looking for a more upscale option, there is the 'Upscale Lodging' version of the tour, which includes stays in the top hotels in each overnight stop along the way. This self-guided tour offers 8 nights of cycling and costs from EUR €1479.

Cycling in the Wachau region

The Wachau region offers a 25-kilometre stretch of the Danube cycle path, featuring adventure playgrounds, wonderful bathing areas, romantic villages, impressive castle ruins, museums, and many places to rest. You can choose to cycle along either side of the Danube. On the north side, you'll pass the famous medieval villages of Spitz, Weißenkirchen, and Dürnstein. The south bank offers a more relaxed ride with beautiful villages and famous views of the terraced wine hills and villages across the river.

There are plenty of rest stops along the way, with comfortable pergolas for cyclists to take a break and enjoy the river views. You can also take a ferry to go to the shore and return on the ship or train.

If you don't have your own bike, local companies offer bike rentals, and there is also a public bike-sharing system, nextbike, with stations across the Wachau region.

The Tauernradweg trail along the Salzach and Saalach rivers

The Tauernradweg trail is a paradise for cyclists of all ages and abilities. The trail stretches over 270 or 310 kilometres, starting at the small village of Krimml, amidst the Hohe-Tauern National Park region, and ending in the city of Salzburg or further on to Passau. The trail follows the Salzach and Saalach rivers, offering cyclists the opportunity to take in the impressive panorama of the Hohe Tauern mountain range.

The starting point of the trail is marked by the Krimmler waterfalls, the highest in Europe, where you can adjust your helmet one last time before setting off on your journey. The trail then leads you through the Salzach River valley, also known as the Salzach Valley, passing through many villages of the Oberpinzgau such as Bramberg, Mittersill, and Niedernsill. The route continues via Taxenbach, Werfen, and Golling until you reach Salzburg.

Along the way, you will be treated to scenic beauty and countless attractions. Highlights include the Liechtenstein gorge, Hohenwerfen Castle, and the option to visit the world's largest ice caves in Werfen or the salt mines in Hallein. You can also take a detour to charming places like Maria Alm and Lofer and even a shortcut through Bavaria into Salzburg.

From Salzburg, the bike trail continues north to Oberndorf, where you can visit the Silent Night chapel, before reaching the German border town of Passau. Here, you have the option to connect to the famous Danube bike trail towards Vienna.

The Tauernradweg trail is mostly flat, with only some minor climbs, and is suitable for all skill levels. The trail is also family-friendly, especially the route through the Saalachtal. Accommodations along the trail are plentiful, with many hotels catering specifically to cyclists' needs.

The Vorarlberg Trail and Bodensee Lake Loop

As you embark on the trail, you will follow the Ill River to Feldkirch, where you can explore the medieval town centre and the majestic Schattenburg Castle. Continuing north along the Rhine River, you will eventually reach Bregenz, renowned for its summer music festival performances on a floating stage on Bodensee Lake. From Bregenz, you have the opportunity to connect to the international Bodensee Lake loop, allowing you to extend your journey to Germany and Switzerland.

The Bodensee Lake loop itself presents a unique experience, as it takes you around the lake and across three countries: Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. This loop starts and ends in Bregenz, and if you wish to take a break from cycling, you can opt to take a ferry to Konstanz. The trail and the loop feature paved bike paths or roads with very little traffic and are mostly flat, making them suitable for cyclists of all skill levels.

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