Biking in Austria: Adventures on Two Wheels

Beautiful landscapes and outdoorsy workouts go hand in hand in Austria. It comes with little surprise, therefore, that biking and mountain biking rank among the most popular activities in Austria during the warmer months, enjoyed by locals and visitors alike (add the pleasant breeze and you’re in for a coolcation adventure at the same time!). Austria’s holiday regions continue to top up their game with more trails and tours available by the year, including options for those following the latest biking trends.

Have a look at what Austria has to offer this year, from new cycling routes to postcard-perfect e-biking tours and the ultimate gravel biking challenge.
 

NEW BIKING TRAILS IN AUSTRIA

Scenic route, vineyards, multi-day adventure? Have a look at the latest biking trails opening right in time for the summer holiday season.

• Marchkopf Circuit, Zillertal’s latest biking tour, is 43,6 km long, and leads across the Sidanjoch and the Zillertaler Höhenstraße. The route is challenging, and bikers need to climb around 1,980 m, with the average cycling time being five and a half hours. Not yet exhausted? Bikers can extend to a mega loop that includes five passes across 76 km and 3,720 km of altitude.
   
• The new Danube Limes World Heritage Tour connects the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Passau in Germany, Oberranna and Schlögen in Upper Austria. Bikers will learn about the region’s Roman history and rich heritage along the way.  
   
• Love wine? The Donau-Veltliner Wine Cycle Route, named after one of the most popular local white wines, leads through Lower Austria’s wine region and boasts stunning views of the vineyards along the way. The trail is 46,65 km long, suitable for leisurely bikers, and takes a little over three hours to complete. 
   
• SalzburgerLand invites gravel bikers to explore its stunning landscapes on two new multi-day tours (a moderate and a challenging one), both starting right in the city of Salzburg. The gentler circular tour is 460 km long, requires bikes to overcome 6,700 m of altitude, and takes five to seven days to complete. The harder one features 650 km, an impressive 12,700 m in altitude, and will send bikers on the road for ten to twelve days.
   

E-BIKING AND E-MOUNTAIN BIKING IN AUSTRIA

E-biking is becoming ever more popular and it’s easy to see why: The little extra help from the electric battery allows holidaymakers to take on slightly more challenging routes and opens adventures to families and those not quite on top of their fitness yet. Here are four especially stunning e-bike tours.

• From Salzburg to Salzkammergut: This beautiful circular tour takes bikers from the heart of Salzburg to the lakes Fuschlsee, Wolfgangsee and Mondsee. It is 79,1 km long and mostly flat. Bonus: E-bikers can experience the European Capital of Culture while working their muscles.
   
• Tirol’s Kaiser range ranks among the most stunning mountain formations in the Alps and the circular Kaiser Mountains Tour takes e-mountain bikers straight to the highlights. It leads through the St. Johann in Tirol and Kufstein region, is 85,6 km long and comes with postcard-perfect around every corner.  
   
• Lungau in SalzburgerLand is Austria’s highest e-bike region. Adventurous bikers can challenge themselves to the multi-day Lungau EXTREM Tour (166,8 km, highest point: 1,855 m).
   
• While the Carinthian Lake Loop in Austria’s southernmost province isn’t officially classified as an e-bike route, some extra support allows bikers to enjoy the landscapes even more. It is divided into eight stages and covers more than 400 km, with 20 lakes along the way.
   

GRAVEL AUSTRIA: THE ULTIMATE BIKING ADVENTURE

Gravel biking, the mix of road and mountain biking, keeps trending and those looking for the ultimate escape will love the new Gravel Austria Tour, leading from Lake Neusiedlersee in the east of Austria all the way to Lake Constance, with stunning landscapes, cosy accommodations, and countless sightseeing and foodie options waiting to be explored. The tour is 3,000 km long, leads through eight Austrian provinces and takes 14 days to complete. The stages are of varying difficulty level, with sections on gravel alternating with those on tarmac. While most gravel biking enthusiasts take up the challenge to cycle the whole distance, it’s perfectly possible to choose just one or two – or return to complete.

Highlights on this tour include the Großglockner High Alpine Road, Bad Ischl and the Salzkammergut region, the South Styrian Wine Road and Carinthia’s lakes, the warmest in the country. 
 

DOWNLOAD THE FULL PRESS RELEASE

Photos available below. Please include photo credits.