Alpe Adria cycling route, Cycling path from Salzburg, Austria to Grado, Italy

The Alpe Adria cycling route runs 415 kilometres from Salzburg to Grado, with about 232 kilometres in Austria and 183 in Italy. It follows the Salzach and Gastein valleys, crosses the main Alpine ridge by shuttle train from Böckstein to Mallnitz, then continues through Carinthia and the Canal del Ferro to the Friulian plain and the Adriatic.

The route reuses railway lines and tunnels built in the early 20th century for train transport. This old industrial infrastructure was later transformed into a modern cycling corridor across the mountains.

The route passes through Mozart's birthplace Salzburg, medieval Venzone, Roman Aquileia, and the coastal town of Grado. Along the way, visitors experience regional Austrian and Italian food, architecture, and local ways of life.

The route divides into eight stages with cyclist-friendly accommodations, repair stations, and train connections allowing visitors to skip sections as needed. This infrastructure lets riders set their own pace and adapt their journey flexibly.

The Tauernschleuse train shuttle carries cyclists and their bikes through the Tauern massif from Böckstein station to Mallnitz in about 11 to 12 minutes, crossing the main Alpine ridge. It runs hourly, so riders on the third stage avoid the high pass entirely and continue downhill into the Mölltal.