Genussradeln in Austria

If you like cycling but prefer a leisurely ride over a lung crushing mountain road, then Genussradeln might be your jam. Think gentle pedalling through storybook landscapes, punctuated with wine tastings and locally sourced food.

Whilst Austria has some amazing routes to challenge cyclists, it also boasts miles of beautiful cycle paths, terabytes of breathtaking views, and the kind of huts that make it difficult to leave. Here are four perfect 2–3 day trips where the pace is relaxed, the e-bikes are optional, and indulgence is mandatory.

 

1. Wachau Valley – Wine, Apricots & Danube Dreaming

Krems → Spitz → Dürnstein → Melk

The Wachau Valley is the undisputed queen of Genussradeln. 

The route clings to the Danube, where the water sparkles against a backdrop of terraced vineyards and medieval towns that look like they’ve been airbrushed. You’ll pedal past fields of apricot trees, rows of Grüner Veltliner grapes, and the occasional castle ruin peeking from a hilltop.

Starting in Krems, you can wander cobbled streets lined with wine taverns before heading west. In Spitz, it’s practically a civic duty to try Marillenschnaps (apricot schnapps) or a slice of apricot cake from a riverside café. Just a short ride away, Dürnstein offers blue-and-white baroque church towers, castle ruins, and the quirky claim to fame of once holding Richard the Lionheart prisoner.

End your journey at Melk Abbey, a gilded baroque masterpiece perched above the river, where frescoed ceilings and vast library halls feel like stepping into a painting.

 

2. South Styrian Wine Road – Tuscany Vibes, Alpine Twist

Ehrenhausen → Gamlitz → Leutschach

This is Austria’s answer to Tuscany; rolling vineyards, sun-warmed terraces, and cosy Buschenschank wine taverns.

Begin in Ehrenhausen, where ivy-covered wine estates and cellar doors welcome you with crisp Sauvignon Blancs and friendly chatter. The ride to Gamlitz takes you through countryside so lush it feels cinematic. Here, you can play like a kid at the Motorikpark, an outdoor agility course for adults and children, or simply sink into a wine terrace with a glass in hand.

From there you can push on to Leutschach, a small town with outsized wine credentials. Between tastings, enjoy a traditional Brettljause, a generous platter of cured meats, cheeses, and spreads served with freshly baked bread. The pace of life here is unhurried, the roads are quiet, and you might find you “accidentally” miss your train home...

 

3. Bregenzerwald & Lake Constance – Cheese, Culture & Alpine Calm

Bregenz → Schwarzenberg → Bezau

Prepare yourself for the cheesiest starting from the glassy blue waters of Lake Constance, you'll pedal gently into the Bregenzerwald, a region where cheese is a way of life. The air smells faintly of alpine meadows and woodsmoke, and the villages are a mix of traditional wooden farmhouses and striking contemporary timber architecture.

You can trace your way along the KäseStrasse Bregenzerwald, a network of routes connecting dairies, cheese cellars, and alpine pastures. Stop at farm shops for wheels of mountain cheese, meet cheesemakers who can tell you exactly which meadow their cows grazed on that morning, and watch the slow, meditative process of cheese maturing in cool stone cellars.

In Schwarzenberg, visit the Angelika Kauffmann Museum, dedicated to the celebrated 18th-century painter, and take a coffee break in the flower-filled village square. Continue to Bezau, where the cable car sweeps you above the valley to a panorama of jagged peaks and gentle hillsides

 

4. Inn Valley Cycle Path – Mountains Minus the Climb

Innsbruck → Hall in Tirol → Kufstein

If you want the grandeur of the Alps without huffing up endless inclines, the Innradweg is the ride for you. The path follows the Inn River through a valley hemmed in by dramatic peaks, linking colourful medieval towns, spa hotels, and riverside cafés.

Start in Innsbruck, where pastel-painted buildings and golden rooftops frame the mountain skyline. Roll east to Hall in Tirol, once a major salt-mining centre, with cobbled streets and a charming old town perfect for a slow wander. The ride to Kufstein is pure alpine therapy; gentle riverside pedalling, fresh mountain air, and the fortress of Kufstein looming like something out of a period drama.

Round off your trip with a soak in a thermal spa, a hearty Tiroler Gröstl (potatoes, onions, bacon, topped with a fried egg), and perhaps a glass of homemade schnapps from a family-run inn.

 

Genussradeln Tip: Pack light, book e-bikes if you want extra cruising power, and never pass a wine tavern without stopping.

 

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