Alpe Adria Cycle Path for Families

From Salzburg to Villach on the Alpe Adria route

A diverse cycling vacation begins in the city of Mozart, Salzburg, leading you through the picturesque Salzachtal Valley, the wild and romantic Gastein Valley, and the idyllic Drautal Valley to Villach, located in the sunny heart of Carinthia. Along this route, you'll be able to marvel at the magnificent mountain backdrop, as well as the sparkling lakes and rivers.

Whether you're travelling by bike between Salzburg and Villach, you'll encounter peaceful river scenes, thundering waterfalls, rugged mountain peaks, and deep gorges. Of course, you'll also have the opportunity to enjoy traditional dishes like 'Salzburger Nockerl' and 'Kärntner Kasnudeln.' So, what are you waiting for?

The Alpe Adria Cycle Path connects Mozart's city of Salzburg in Austria with the Adriatic Sea in Italy. In part 1 you cycle in six stages from Salzburg to Carinthia's second city, Villach. The Alpe Adria Cycle Path leads you through an impressive landscape via old railway lines and numerous tunnels.

Details about the family-friendly bike tour from Salzburg to Villach

This family-friendly cycling adventure commences in Salzburg, known for its musical heritage, and leads you through the charming Salzach Valley, the wild and enchanting Gastein Valley, and the idyllic Drau Valley, ultimately arriving in the sunny heart of Carinthia, Villach. As you pedal along this scenic route, you'll be treated to breathtaking views of majestic mountains and the shimmering lakes and rivers that dot the landscape.

For families, the Alpe Adria Cycle Route offers a wealth of family-friendly attractions. Cyclists of all ages can revel in the tranquillity of the riverside paths, witness the exhilarating rush of waterfalls, take in the awe-inspiring sight of jagged mountain peaks, and explore the depths of picturesque gorges.

This impeccably designed cycle path is perfectly suited for family excursions, ensuring a memorable and enjoyable journey from Salzburg to Carinthia. It's an experience that will captivate both young and old, making it an ideal vacation for the whole family.

The highlights of the family-friendly cycling holiday to Villach

  • Mozart city of Salzburg: The Dom, Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter, Mozart's birthplace, Hohensalzburg Fortress, Von Trapp family residence, Mirabell Palace, and Hellbrunn Palace.

  • Porcia Renaissance and Castle: The stopover in Spittal an der Drau is all about culture. Renaissance enthusiasts can rejoice! In this town, you can visit the most beautiful Renaissance building in the northern Alps, Porcia Castle.

  • Mölltal: In this valley, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the impressive mountain panoramas.

Worth knowing about the family-friendly Alpe Adria Cycle Path

In eight days, you will cover approximately 175 kilometres on well-developed cycle paths and quiet service roads. With daily stages of 20 to 30 kilometres, there is plenty of time for relaxation and enjoyment. During the two train journeys, you can enjoy a well-deserved break.

This tour has been graded as Easy. Find out more about our cycling holiday difficulty levels.

You can read more about the Alpe Adria Cycle Path in our detailed guide.

Important: You do not need to be in a family group to book this tour. The route is ideal for those looking to book a cycling holiday for the first time or would prefer shorter distances each day.

Tour information
Easy
  • 8 Days / 7 Nights
  • Self-Guided
  • Luggage transfers included
  • Total cycling distance: approx. 175 km
Active on Holiday Team
+44 1706 618 155 Contact
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Itinerary

Individual arrival in the festival, Mozart and the cultural city of Salzburg. Winding alleys and squares invite you to stroll and dreamy cafes to real Austrian coffee specialities. At every turn, you breathe culture and history.

You cycle at your leisure out of Salzburg through the shady Salzachauen, the Salzach is your guideline. It goes to Hallein, a Celtic city that used to be rich through salt production. The main attraction is undoubtedly the world-famous Celtic Museum. Past the Gollinger waterfall, your overnight stay of the same name is quickly reached. Golling is known for its pretty market town and 13th-century castle.

TIP! Visit the natural spectacle Gollinger Wasserfall in the Torren (Roaring stream) district. (Adults approximately €7.00 / Children €5.00 to be paid on site) The beautiful and impressive waterfall plunges down over 75m in two stages, a sometimes rather steep forest path leads you up, and halfway through you cross the waterfall via bridges, along the force of the water all the way to the top of the waterfall.

ca. 30 km

From Golling, you cycle up to Pass Lueg-Höhe and enjoy the view of the beautiful and striking Tennen Mountains. The mountains are getting closer to the Salzach and the rumbling of the water is getting louder. You pass the so-called "Salzachöfen", an imposing gorge created by the Salzach. After Werfen with its towering castle, St. Johann is quickly reached. From Golling to Werfen, the journey over the Lueg Pass can be bridged/shortened by train (on your own, approx. min. 15 km).

ca. 35 km

The Salzach still accompanies you to Schwarzach and you continue by train to the romantic Gasteintal. You cycle via Dorfgastein and Bad Hofgastein to the well-known spa and winter sports resort of Bad Gastein at the foot of the Hohe Tauern, which has a large number of natural history and architectural sights. The landmark is the Gastein waterfall in the centre of the village.

ca. 20 km
Train ride Schwarzach-Gasteiner Tal

On this short stage, you can really enjoy the surrounding mountains again. From Bad Gastein, it is only a stone's throw to Böckstein, where a train takes you through the Tauernschleuse to Mallnitz on the other side of the Alps in just 10 minutes. Back in the saddle, enjoy the long descent to your hotel in the Möll Valley.

ca. 20 km
Train ride Böckstein-Mallnitz

Today you first cycle along the river Möll through impressive high mountain landscapes. The Drautal begins in the village of Möllbrücke and thus the sunny south of Austria. Calmly roll the last kilometres to Spittal an der Drau. The city was already an important transport hub for pilgrims in the Middle Ages and partly owed its prosperity to them.

ca. 30 km

You slowly roll down along the Drau almost alone. Halfway through you should take a break in the small market town of Paternion. Pedal a few more times and you are already in Villach, the charming old town with its southern flair at its heart.

ca. 40 km

After breakfast, your journey comes to an end. Or do you want to enjoy the sun in Villach for a few more days?

Route information

You mainly cycle on well-developed cycle paths and quiet side streets. Only a few parts of the stages also lead to busy roads or unpaved roads. In general, the route is slightly undulating, with the most demanding section between St. Johann and the Gastein Valley covered by train.

Prices and dates

Prices are per person in GBP and exclude flights

Price calculation and check availability: Alpe Adria Cycle Route for Families

Place of arrival: Salzburg
  Season 1
27.04.2024 - 10.05.2024
28.09.2024 - 05.10.2024

Saturday
Season 2
11.05.2024 - 24.05.2024
07.09.2024 - 27.09.2024

Saturday
Season 3
25.05.2024 - 06.09.2024

Saturday
Alpe-Adria Cycle Path for Families, AT-AARSV-08X-FAM
Base price
859.00
919.00
989.00
Extra bed 0-5 years 0.00 0.00 0.00
Extra bed 6-11 years 509.00 509.00 509.00
Extra bed 12-14 years 729.00 729.00 729.00
Extra bed from 15 years 859.00 919.00 989.00
Single room surcharge 299.00 299.00 299.00

Hotel information: You will stay in carefully selected 3***, 4**** hotels and guesthouses.

Child prices are valid in a room with 2 full-paying adults. Costs for children under 6 years (e.g. cot) are to be paid on-site.

Season 1
Apr 27, 2024 - May 10, 2024
Sep 28, 2024 - Oct 5, 2024
Saturday
Season 2
May 11, 2024 - May 24, 2024
Sep 7, 2024 - Sep 27, 2024
Saturday
Season 3
May 25, 2024 - Sep 6, 2024
Saturday
Alpe-Adria Cycle Path for Families, AT-AARSV-08X-FAM
Base price
Extra bed 0-5 years
Extra bed 6-11 years
Extra bed 12-14 years
Extra bed from 15 years
Single room surcharge
859.00
0.00
509.00
729.00
859.00
299.00
919.00
0.00
509.00
729.00
919.00
299.00
989.00
0.00
509.00
729.00
989.00
299.00

Hotel information: You will stay in carefully selected 3***, 4**** hotels and guesthouses.

Child prices are valid in a room with 2 full-paying adults. Costs for children under 6 years (e.g. cot) are to be paid on-site.

Season 1
Apr 27, 2024 - May 10, 2024
Sep 28, 2024 - Oct 5, 2024
Season 2
May 11, 2024 - May 24, 2024
Sep 7, 2024 - Sep 27, 2024
Season 3
May 25, 2024 - Sep 6, 2024
Salzburg
Double room p.p.
Single room surcharge
-25% Discount for child 12-14 years in additional bed
-50% Discount for child 6-11 years in additional bed
Villach
Double room p.p.
Single room surcharge
-25% Discount for child 12-14 years in additional bed
-50% Discount for child 6-11 years in additional bed
99.00
59.00
65.00
45.00
89.00
55.00
69.00
45.00
99.00
59.00
65.00
45.00
89.00
55.00
69.00
45.00
99.00
59.00
75.00
49.00
89.00
55.00
69.00
45.00
Additional nights
Place of arrival: Salzburg
  Season 1
Apr 27, 2024 - May 10, 2024
Sep 28, 2024 - Oct 5, 2024

Saturday
Season 2
May 11, 2024 - May 24, 2024
Sep 7, 2024 - Sep 27, 2024

Saturday
Season 3
May 25, 2024 - Sep 6, 2024

Saturday
Salzburg
Double room p.p. 99.00 99.00 99.00
Single room surcharge 59.00 59.00 59.00
-25% Discount for child 12-14 years in additional bed 65.00 65.00 75.00
-50% Discount for child 6-11 years in additional bed 45.00 45.00 49.00
Villach
Double room p.p. 89.00 89.00 89.00
Single room surcharge 55.00 55.00 55.00
-25% Discount for child 12-14 years in additional bed 69.00 69.00 69.00
-50% Discount for child 6-11 years in additional bed 45.00 45.00 45.00
Price
21-Speed Unisex Bike
Unisex E-Bike
27-Speed Bike PLUS
Child Bike
21-Speed Men's Bike
99.00
239.00
159.00
89.00
99.00
Prices per person in GBP

Our rental bikes

Included services and travel information

Services

Including

  • 7 nights accommodation as described, including breakfast
  • Train ride Böckstein-Mallnitz including bicycle
  • Train ride Schwarzach-Gasteiner Tal including bicycle
  • Personal welcome meeting (German, English)
  • Luggage transfer(s) max. 1 piece of luggage 20 kg per person
  • Travel folder 1 x per room (German, English with route and overview maps, detailed route description, places of interest, important telephone numbers, suitcase labels)
  • GPS data available on request
  • Service Hotline

 

Not included

  • Tourist tax, if applicable, is to be paid locally
  • Costs for children under 6 years (eg cot) are payable locally
  • (Optional) Transfer back to Salzburg every Saturday morning, costs €99 per person, surcharge for own bicycle €29 per bicycle. Reservation required, payment in advance
Arrival information
  • Airport: Salzburg, Vienna or Munich Airport(s)
  • Train: Salzburg station
  • Parking: Parking space approx. €15 per day, to be paid on site, reservation not possible. Public garage approximately €70 per week
  • Return: The return journey by public transport from Villach to Salzburg has good connections, direct trains run every two hours, and the journey time is approximately 2.5 hours. Costs approximately €35 per person, excluding the bicycle. Check out www.omio.com
Sample hotel list

This is a sample hotel list. Hotels will be booked depending on availability.

Salzburg

Hotel Goldenes Theater 4****

www.gt-hotel-salzburg.com

Golling

Hotel Pension Golingen 3***

www.golingen.at

St. Johann

Hotel Brückenwirt 4****

www.hotel-brueckenwirt.at

Bad Gastein

Hotel Mondi 4****

www.gastein.mondihotels.com

Mölltal

Erlebnishotel Mölltal 3***

www.erlebnishotel.at

Spittal

Hotel Ertl 4****

www.hotel-ertl.at

Villach

Hotel Seestuben 3***

www.seestuben.at

 

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