Overview
Take an unforgettable self-guided cycling adventure through the Austrian and the Italian Alps, finishing at the pearl of the Adriatic, Venice. The cycle route from Munich to Venice combines pleasant leisure cycling with the adventure of traversing the Alps from Germany over Austria to Italy. On dedicated cycling paths and calm side roads, you will experience three countries with their various regions and many natural and cultural sites.
The route starts in the capital of Bavaria, Munich and leads along the Bavarian lakes and Tyrolean rivers through the Dolomites to Treviso and finally to the gates of Venice.
- Bavaria’s capital Munich
- Cycling path along the old railway trails
- Lake Tegernsee
- Achensee, the biggest Tyrolean lake
- Bruneck castle
- Mountain scenery of the Dolomites
- Cycling paths along old railway lines
- The resort town of Cortina d’Ampezzo
- Treviso, city of fashion
- Venice
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Munich
Individual arrival to your hotel in Munich, and spending the rest of the day exploring the city.
Day 2: Munich – Bad Tölz | 60km
You leave Munich along the river Isar and will find yourself in the midst of untouched natural landscapes and dense forests. You will cycle past abbeys, bavarian villages and across the Isar wetland, you reach Bad Tölz, a picturesque old town.
- Cycling distance for the day: approx. 60km
Day 3: Bad Tölz – Schwaz/Jenbach or Maurach | 68-77km
Today you will follow the river Isar until you reach lake Sylvenstein. Cycling through the Karwendel nature park you pass the border between Germany and Austria arriving at the resort town of Achensee and its mountain lake. Take a boat trip on the lake before continuing your way down to the Inn valley and ending your stage in Schwaz/Jenbach or Maurach.
- Cycling distance for the day: approx. 68-77km
Day 4: Schwaz/Jenbach or Maurach – Innsbruck – Mühlbach/Rio di Pusteria | 96km or 88km + train
Today you cycle on the cycling path along the river Inn into Tyrol’s capital Innsbruck. Visit the historic town with its famous Goldene Dachl (Golden Roof) or go to Mount Isel with its ski-jump ramp or the Tirol Panorama. The demanding part from Innsbruck to the Brennero pass, the border between Austria and Italy, will be done by transfer (train or bus). From Brennero you cycle along the old railway track to Vipiteno and further on to Fortezza and Rio di Pusteria.
- Cycling distance for the day: approx. 95km or 88km + train (ticket included)
Day 5: Mühlbach/Rio di Pusteria – Niederdorf/Villabassa or Toblach/Dobbiaco | 50/55km
From Rio di Pusteria a well-built cycling path leads you through the Val Pusteria, passing the Mühlbacher Klause, a former border post. Once it was an antique gate between the provinces Rätien and Norikum. Along the river Rienz, you will arrive at Brunico. We suggest a visit of the Volkskundemuseum (South Tyrolean Folklore Museum) in Teodone or one of the two Messner Mountain Museums MMM in the castle of Brunico or on the Kronplatz mountain. From Brunico, you cycle along the cycling path along the river Rienz to Villabassa or Dobbiaco, where you will spend the night. After having spent a lot of time on your bike until here, we offer you a free pit stop at our service shop in Dobbiaco for a check-up on your bike (only valid for our rental bikes).
- Cycling distance for the day: approx. 50 – 55km
Day 6: Niederdorf/Villabassa or Toblach/Dobbiaco – Pieve di Cadore | 60/65km
You follow the cycling path on the old Dolomites railway trail passing lake Toblacher See and the WWI War Cemetery. Shortly after, you will admire a unique view on the world-famous Drei Zinnen (Three Peaks) before arriving at lake Dürrensee. The cycling path then leads to the border of the provinces of Bolzano and Belluno. From now on you roll comfortably downhill direction south to the pearl of the Dolomites, Cortina d’Ampezzo with its astonishing mountain scenery. Through the Boite-Valley you cycle to Pieve di Cadore.
- Cycling distance for the day: approx. 60 – 65km
Day 7: Pieve di Cadore – Conegliano | 80km
You will follow the newly built cycling path to Longarone. This town was completely rebuilt in 1963 after a landslide at the former Vajont dam, above the village caused a huge flood. From Longarone you cycle on to Conegliano.
- Cycling distance for the day: 80km
Day 8: Conegliano – Venice Mainland/Mestre | 95km
You leave the Alps behind and pedal to Treviso. River Sile remains your faithful companion until you reach the Adriatic Sea and Venice mainland/Mestre from where you can start your exploration of the Serenissima.
- Cycling distance for the day 95km
Day 9: Departure
Individual departure or possibility to extend your stay.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is in 3 or 4-star hotels with en-suite facilities. We have carefully hand-picked all places and regularly monitor their quality. We always choose accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
Meals
Breakfast is included. In towns, each hotel has its own restaurant where you can taste international or local meals, or try the other local restaurants. When no restaurant location is available on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before.
Difficulty and terrain
The cycling tour from Munich to Venice is of varying difficulty and is most suitable for experienced cyclists. The most demanding stages over the Alps (Innsbruck–Brenner) can be shortened by train or bus and the stage from Dobbiaco to Cortina d’Ampezzo leads easily along the cycle path on the old railway trail. The last two days are downhill and flat towards the sea. The tour is suitable for trained children over 16 years. Average daily distances vary between 60km and 95km (on one day only). You can also rent an e-bike from us, which makes the trip accessible to many more people (read more about difficulty grades). We provide individual information package upon arrival, including city guides, maps, programme and route description. We can also provide GPX files with all the tracks, which you can load on your smartphone app or GPS device. The road signage is good so navigating between the towns is quite easy.
When to go
The tour can depart on any Friday and Saturday between late April and early October.
Other departure days of the week are also possible for groups of minimum of 5 people (upon request).
The climate in the region is continental, cold and temperate. Depending on location and altitude, temperatures vary, but, in the May-September period, the daily averages are 15 – 25C. Spring and autumn are cooler with occasional rain. Rapid weather changes are possible during the day.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Most convenient arrival and departure airports are the ones in Munich, Innsbruck, Venice and Treviso. There are good train connections from all these cities to your starting point.
By train or bus
- By car: From the North motorway A9, from the South using the Brennero motorway A22 to Austria and along the E45 to Germany and then on the A8 to Munich.
- By train: If you choose to travel without flying, there are international train stations in both Munich and Venice. Timetables available on: DB, ÖBB, Trenitalia or Rail Europe. You can also use the Omio planner above.
- Low cost flights to the airports Munich, Innsbruck, Treviso or Venice Marco Polo. On request, we can organise transfers from the airport to the starting point of the tour.
Inclusions
Included
- Accommodation in hotels of 3* (sometimes 4*) category
- Breakfast buffet or full breakfast
- Personal tour information
- Transfer by train or bus from Innsbruck to the Brenner pass
- Pit stop for bike inspection in Dobbiaco (for our rental bikes only)
- Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel on cycling days
- Detailed documents (maps, route description, places to visit, important telephone numbers)
- Videobriefing
- Access to our Navigation App
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
Options, extras and supplements
- A supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room
- This holiday is NOT available for solo travellers
- Optional extra nights before or after the tour
- Bike rental (standard trekking bike, e-bike or top bike)
- Airport transfers
Bike Rental
We can provide high-quality rental bikes and additional equipment if requested. These bikes have been specially designed for our bike tours. They are comfortable, safe and sturdy bikes and therefore perfect to undertake tours of several days duration.
Our standard rental bikes are 21-gear touring bikes (men’s and women’s frames available). The bikes and appending equipment (repair kit, pump, spare inner tube, wheel-lock, saddlebag,…) will be at your disposal in the arrival hotel. At the end of your bike tour, you simply leave the rental bike at the last hotel – we take care of the return.
Our rental e-bikes are 9-gear step-through touring bikes are equipped with Bosch Performance Line Motors, with a range of approximately 100 km. The bikes and appending equipment (repair kit, pump, spare inner tube, wheel-lock, saddlebag,…) will be at your disposal in the arrival hotel.
Our top bike rental options are 21-gear aluminium touring bikes, each equipped with the Shimano Deore XT groupset. The bikes and appending equipment (repair kit, pump, spare inner tube, wheel-lock, saddlebag,…) will be at your disposal in the arrival hotel.
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