Check in to your hotel and then spend the rest of day exploring this small but fascinating city. Your welcome briefing and bike handover will take place around 17:30.

Salzburg must-sees include the Getreidegasse, a marvellous, old-world shopping street where ornate, wrought iron signs depict what is being sold within. Here you can also visit the birthplace of the city’s most famous son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart who lived at No. 9 until he was 17 years old. The city’s most prominent landmark, the Hohensalzburg Fortress, is also worth visiting and don’t worry about the climb as there’s a funicular railway to whisk you to the top. Of course, you can also just wander the atmospheric winding alleyways of this lovely old town, perhaps stopping at one of the inviting bars or restaurants to get the holiday off to to the right start.

The route leads you south, out of Salzburg along a peaceful cycle path beside the Salzach river. You will cycle through the pleasant little village of Gölling and then further on past the imposing Hohenwerfen Castle. An idyllic cycle path leads you through alpine meadows to the winter sports resort St Johann and then shortly after the village of Schwarzach you follow a scenic country lane uphill, past traditional old farmhouses and peaceful hamlets. The views get ever more impressive as you climb and after a while you descend and cycle through a tunnel into the Gastein valley. You ride gently uphill through the villages of Dorfgastein and Bad Hofgastein before taking on the final, steep but thankfully short climb to the old spa town of Badgastein. The grand old buildings of this unique town seem to cling to the mountainside and a thundering waterfall descends right through the town centre. You will spend th night in this captivating place.

After breakfast it's la short, 3 km pedal to Bockstein where you board a train that transports you and your bike under the main spine of the alps to the town of Mallnitz in the Möll Valley. A fast, switchback descent delivers you to the Drau valley where you begin to follow a network of peaceful lanes and cycle paths southwards. The majestic alpine scenery provides a stunning backdrop to this highly enjoyable ride. After the town of Spittal you follow the Drau river to the charming old alpine town of Villach. Enjoying a drink or meal in one of the town's cosy restaurants or bars you may notice a Mediterranean feel, confirmation that you are now on the southern side of the alps. You will spend the night in this quaint little town.

Important 2025 Update:

Due to planned construction work, the Tauern Rail Tunnel is expected to be out of service from the beginning of the 2025 season through until 04/07/2025. The itinerary wil therefore be adapted during this period. Instead of taking the train from Bockstein to Mallnitz, cyclists will be transferred to Spittal in the Möll valley where they will continue the ride to Villach (40km).

The day starts as yesterday finished, following the bike path along the Drau river. Soon though the route switches to the Gail river and heads towards the Italian border. You start to gently ascend a wide fertile valley and cross into Italy at the border town of Coccau Valico. The alpine scenery becomes more and more impressive as the majestic Julian Alps come ever closer. In the lovely alpine town of Tarvisio why not stop for some refreshment and to drink in the jaw-dropping scenery?

The next section of today's ride is quite simply magnificent and will live long in the memory. For the next 46 kilometres you will be following what must be the most scenic cycle path in the alps. The path follows the route of a defunct railway through pristine alpine wilderness. Along the way you will pass some of the old railway stations which have now been repurposed as restaurants and cafes for tired or thirsty cyclists. The winding route reveals ever more impressive scenery and evokes the feeling of an amusement park ride as it winds through tunnels around steep gorges and across high bridges. Eventually you emerge back into the real world and stop for the night in a hotel in, or close to the charming old town of Gemona.

After the majesty of yesterday's scenery it is impossible for the Friuli plains to be as impressive but nevertheless it is nice to cycle on level terrain through sleepy villages and vineyards. Stop for a break in the lovely square of the city of Udine before pedalling on to the Roman city of Aquileia, the second Rome, and well worth a look around. After a few more kilometres the unmistakeable tang of sea air fills your nostrils and you arrive on the Adriatic coast. A final triumphanmt ride across the lagoon causeway delivers you to the seaside resort of Grado. Head for the beach for a refreshing swim and then in the evening you'll be spoilt for choice for restaurants and bars in which to celebrate completing your cycling adventure.

After breakfast it's time to head for home or your next adventure