3 incredible traffic-free family cycling routes in Austria & Italy

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Bea Searle, mum to two kids now aged 10 and 12, is the founder of Wild Bee Outdoors, a blog dedicated to independent, adventurous family travel in Europe. Growing up in Austria sparked a lifelong love for the mountains, and now she shares that passion through detailed guides on hut to hut hiking, multi-day cycling routes, and outdoor adventures in the European Alps and beyond. Bea combines local insights, practical tips, and family-friendly side trips to help others plan unforgettable holidays. Once a competitive mountain biker, these days she’s happy with any excuse to get back on two wheels; especially when it means discovering new places with her family.

My husband and I originally met through mountain biking, spending weekends in the Peak District, holidays in the French Alps; and even taking a wonderful tour through Laos. But family life in Oxford — a city not exactly known for its mountain biking scene — took over and our adventurous cycling dreams took a bit of a backseat. For quite a while our rides were all about getting from A to B in Oxford with two kids in tow (at least we still got to ride bikes in some form!) rather than the thrill of exploring new places on two wheels.

As the kids grew up and became pretty competent on their bikes, I started looking for what seemed like a unicorn: well marked routes that felt like a proper adventure, but were still pretty flat (or downhill), very little, or no traffic, and good bike hire infrastructure. I’m not a fan of flogging through Europe in a car, and would rather take the train or fly if necessary, but if you’re happy driving and bringing your own bikes, that works too.

I also wanted a trip that we would all enjoy and that wasn’t exclusively tailored to the kids - so great scenery, delicious food, and plenty of fun side adventures along the way were also on the wish list.

That’s exactly what makes these cycle paths in Austria and Northern Italy such fantastic choices for a family cycling holiday. They offer excellent long distance infrastructure, clear signposting, and plenty of easy places to stop, rest, and explore along the way. We’ve even had my hardcore 75 year-old parents join us for two of them, and you could definitely do them with little kids in a trailer. In short, these routes are hard to beat!

The routes

Use the jump links to skip to your chosen route:

The Drau Cycle Path – A scenic riverside ride from the Italian Dolomites into Southern Austria, with gentle terrain and plenty of places to stop and explore.
The Adige Cycle Path – A wonderful downhill route in Northern Italy past endless apple orchards, vineyards, castles, and charming South Tyrolean villages.
The Tauern Cycle Path – A breathtaking journey through the Salzburg region of Austria past waterfalls, lakes, and traditional villages, with loads to see both on and off the bike.

Overview

Distance: ~366 km from Toblach (Italy) to Varaždin (Croatia), but I recommend the 180 km from Toblach (Italy) to Villach (Austria). We did this over 7 days of around 25 km each.
Route type: Huge sections of the route are on completely segregated, traffic-free dedicated cycle paths. The other sections are either on small farm roads that are extremely sparsely used, or quiet roads through villages.
Bike rental: Papin Sport have a whole network of hire shops and affiliated shops along the whole route within Italy and Austria. This means you can rent bikes and panniers and any other equipment at the start and drop it all off at any of the affiliated shops when you finish. They also offer assistance along the route if your bike breaks (though we didn’t need this!). They rent kids and adult bikes, panniers, helmets and locks, though the kids’ bikes didn’t have pannier racks.
Where we stayed: Youth hostels, small guesthouses, hotels and B&Bs.
Campsite options: There are campsites along the route too; you will need to adjust your daily routes to fit with their locations.
Getting there & back: We took the Eurostar to Amsterdam, and then the Nightjet sleeper train from Amsterdam to Innsbruck. After a couple of days exploring Innsbruck, we took the train to Toblach, changing once in Franzensfeste (Fortezza). After we finished, we took a train to Bruck an der Mur, then a sleeper train from Vienna to Split, where you can fly back to the UK (travelling without bikes).

Route Highlights

Toblach to Lienz: Dolomite scenery & easy riding

Our journey began in Toblach (Dobbiaco), high in the Italian Dolomites. We had just completed our first hut to hut hike in the Dolomites (I can highly recommend this as a side trip - this route is great even for small children!), and on our return, collected our bikes and panniers from the brilliant Papin Sport outpost at Toblach train station.

The path is really well marked along the whole route. The first section, leading to Lienz, is downhill pretty much the entire way, making it a great first exposure to multi-day cycling for younger riders. The mountains form a dramatic backdrop, and there are a few fun stops along the way, including an adventure playground (the Wichtelpark) in Sillian. By this time, you’ve crossed the border into Austria.

Rolling into Lienz, you’ll find a lively town with beautiful squares, a fantastic open air swimming pool, a mountain bike park and an Alpine coaster for extra excitement.

We took two days over this section, but because you drop so much elevation, it could easily be done in one by all but the youngest of children!

We spent some time in Lienz exploring the city and its attractions, and also added in a second, more challenging hut to hut hike, with the hotel kindly storing our bikes until we were back and ready to pedal onwards.

Lienz to Spittal: Rivers, mountains & quiet cycling

Leaving Lienz, the path follows the Drau River through lush valleys, small villages, and historic towns, making for a relaxing, mostly flat ride. We took our time, spreading this section over three days, staying in welcoming, cyclist-friendly B&Bs along the way.

The cycling only took half of each day, so we had lots of time for other excursions, which for us mostly involved visiting Austria’s excellent outdoor swimming pools. There’s one in most small towns, and they are sparkling clean with a huge grassy area to relax in. They also usually have a slide or two, as well as a cafe for a pick-me-up drink or even a full lunch.

We spent two nights in Spittal an der Drau, spending one of my famous “rest days” not resting at all, and hiking up to a peak (with some help from the Goldeck cable car and an energy-giving lunch at an alpine hut).

Spittal to Villach: Lakes & traditional villages

From Spittal, the Drau Cycle Path takes you through more stunning countryside before reaching Villach, a lively town known for its southern location with a distinctly mediterranean feel. We took two days over this section.

You can take a slight detour to visit the Faaker See, a turquoise lake just south of Villach. It’s a brilliant place to swim, and the cycle path makes it easy to reach.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can continue cycling into Slovenia, but for most families, Villach is the perfect place to finish the ride and hop on a train back to Toblach or onwards to another adventure.

The Adige Cycle Path (Etschradweg)

The Adige Cycle Path runs for 300 km from the Reschen Pass on the Austria / Italy border all the way to Verona, following the Adige River through beautiful landscapes in Northern Italy. We rode 120 km over three days, from Reschen to Bolzano, but I would love to complete it one day and make it to Verona. The best part of the route though is definitely the section we rode!

The beauty of this ride is that you drop a huge amount of elevation, making it REALLY fun. I mean freewheeling downhill for kilometres at a time, especially from Reschen to Merano. It’s a journey through vast apple orchards, vineyards, medieval castles, and sun drenched village squares, all connected by wide, smooth cycle paths that are completely separated from traffic.

Overview

Distance: ~300 km from Reschen Pass (Italy) to Verona; however we rode 120 km from Reschen to Bolzano over 3 days of about 40 km each.
Route type: Almost entirely traffic-free, mostly dedicated cycle paths and a few quiet country roads.
Bike rental: There is a network of affiliated bike rental shops throughout the South Tyrol area. This means you can rent bikes and panniers and any other equipment in Reschen am See and conveniently drop it all off in Bolzano. If you’re going all the way to Verona, you’ll need to hop on a train back to Bolzano to return the bikes, as the network of shops doesn’t extend south of Bolzano. The rental shop in Reschen offers both adults and kids bikes, e-bikes, trailers, panniers, helmets and kids’ equipment.
Where we stayed: We stayed in youth hostels and simple hotels / guesthouses.
Campsite options: There are campsites along the route too, although fewer beyond Bolzano unless you detour off route to Lake Garda (which would involve hills and traffic).
Getting there & back: Eurostar to Amsterdam, then the Nightjet sleeper train to Innsbruck. From there, take a train to Landeck Zams and then the hourly 273 bus from outside the station to Reschen (travelling without bikes). Afterwards, we took a fairly easy train and bus combo to Lake Ledro, and then another combo to Venice. From there it was an overnight train to Stuttgart, a high-speed train to Paris, and then the Eurostar back home.

Route Highlights

Reschen Pass to Merano: Alpine lakes & castles

Our ride started in the village of Reschen, where we’d arrived easily by train and bus from Innsbruck. We rented our bikes and sorted our kit, and set off on our adventure. The first thing you pass is the famous sunken bell tower rising from the middle of Lake Reschen, which is a bit of a surreal sight. Soon the traffic free cycle path starts to head downhill, with flower-filled meadows, mountain streams, and medieval castles passing by in a blur!

We stopped for a rest and an ice cream in Glurns, a perfectly preserved tiny walled medieval village, and pressed on to Laas, our first overnight stop. Here we stayed in a little hotel right on the town square which is cobbled entirely in marble thanks to the nearby marble quarry for which the town is known.

The following day we carried on to Merano, a town famous for its thermal baths and palm-lined promenades.

Merano to Bolzano: Vineyards & apple orchards

Leaving Merano, the landscape changes from Alpine peaks to rolling vineyards and apple orchards, and the cycling flattens out, so you need to put in some (minimal) effort! South Tyrol is famous for its apples, and along the way, we stopped at a self-serve honesty shack to enjoy fresh apples and pressed apple juice straight from the orchards.

Bolzano, our final stop, is a lively city with a wonderful mix of Austrian and Italian influences. We spent time exploring the Ötzi Museum, home to the 5,300-year-old Iceman, which is totally brilliant - don’t miss it. We also did another wonderful hut hike in the Dolomites from here - another side trip you shouldn’t miss if possible!

When we rode this route it was hot - be sure to check out all the ways to keep your kids safe when cycling on a hot day.

The Tauern Cycle Path (Tauernradweg)

Some rides feel like they belong on the cover of a travel magazine, and the Tauern Cycle Path is definitely one of them. On this route we encountered towering peaks, thundering waterfalls and rivers to play in, along with a fun border crossing into Germany.

Stretching 315 km from Krimml to Passau, this route begins at Krimml’s spectacular waterfalls before following rivers through scenic valleys. We cycled 170 km from Krimml to Salzburg, the most picturesque and rewarding stretch. Despite the dramatic mountain backdrop, the traffic-free path is mostly flat or gently downhill, winding through charming villages and beautiful countryside with plenty of places to stop, play, and explore. Ending in historic Salzburg is the perfect finale!

Overview

Distance: ~315 km from Krimml (Austria) to Passau (Germany); we rode 170 km from Krimml (Austria) to Salzburg (Austria) over 7 days of about 24 km each.
Route type: Mostly traffic-free, with segregated cycle paths and some quiet country roads.
Bike rental: We rented bikes, panniers, and locks from Avelo Salzburg, which, unlike the other routes, required transporting the bikes to Krimml. I arranged a bike taxi with a trailer for our group of six, which worked well despite some chaotic communication and a bit of a stressful start when we arrived to pick up the bikes! Still, Avelo remains the best rental option for this route.
Where we stayed: We stayed in youth hostels, small traditional guesthouses, hotels, B&Bs and even a farm stay along the route.
Campsite options: There are some campsites along the route, though fewer than on the other routes in this post and this would constrain your daily distance options.
Getting there & back: Eurostar to Paris, then Nightjet sleeper train to Salzburg. From there, we took a one-hour bus ride to the small village where we had a farm stay (travelling without bikes). To save time on the way home, we flew from Salzburg.

Route Highlights

Krimml to Bruck an der Großglocknerstraße: Waterfalls, mountains & cowbells

Our ride began at Krimml Waterfalls, one of the most spectacular natural sights in the Alps. There’s an easy walking trail alongside the falls, and it’s well worth taking the time to hike up for incredible views before setting off on two wheels.

From Krimml, the cycle path descends gently through the Hohe Tauern National Park, a stretch framed by snow capped mountains and meadows full of cows with jangling bells. We took three days over this section, and added quite a few extra activities alongside the fairly short days of cycling. The best was probably the Wildkogel Slide Trail, a series of giant metal slides that take you down the mountain in sections, but we also swam in natural lakes and outdoor pools, stopped for picnics and found some great playgrounds.

Bruck an der Großglocknerstraße to Salzburg: Lakes, rivers & Mozart’s city

The route splits here. I wouldn’t recommend going through the Pongau valley with kids, as there’s a long section where the valley is so narrow that there’s no space for a separate bike path, and you have to join the main road. Instead, take the route which follows the Saalach River.

We pedalled through the beautiful lakeside town of Zell am See, and onwards through the green Saalach valley until we reached our farm stay for the night.

The next day, we detoured very slightly off the route to explore the Vorderkaserklamm gorge, swimming in the river before continuing to Lofer, where we spent two nights enjoying hiking, mountain-top adventure playgrounds, and great restaurants. Our last stop on the route was Bad Reichenhall, a rather elegant Bavarian spa town just over the German border.

That left us pedalling the final stretch to Salzburg for our final day. It’s a very bike-friendly city, with safe cycling routes through the city back to the bike shop where we dropped our bikes.

For families, Salzburg has great attractions beyond music and history. The Hohensalzburg Fortress, perched high above the city, is a must see, and don’t forget to try an apfelstrudel!

Final tips for a great ride

Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way:

Bike rental & transport: Each route has good bike rental options (though the Tauern bike path is logistically more difficult than the others), including e-bikes, baby seats and child trailers, which you could also use for luggage. The routes also have train stations along some or all of the way, depending on the route, if any of your party needs a break from the bikes. For more on this, check out the benefits of hiring for your family cycling holiday, and where to hire family cycling equipment.
Best time to go: May to early October offers the best weather, with warm days and little chance of snow in the mountains.
Packing essentials: Lightweight rain gear, cycling gloves, plenty of snacks, water bottles or Camelbaks, swimming stuff, puncture repair kit and small pump, and a change of clothes or two — packing light is key. A few dry bags of different sizes are handy along with straps to attach to either pannier racks or handlebars.
Where to stay: There are family-friendly hostels, hotels, guesthouses, and campsites along each route, many of which cater specifically to cyclists.

Final encouragement

Whichever route you choose, you’ll find excellent infrastructure, well-marked, traffic-free cycle paths, bike hire options, and easy train connections to make your trip as smooth as possible.

For our family, these trips have been so much fun, combining beautiful scenery, delicious food, and a real sense of adventure at a pace that suits all of us.

If you’re looking for a family-friendly cycling holiday that’s fun for everyone, you really can’t go wrong with any of these routes. And if you need more tips or inspiration, check out my blog for more on cycling and hiking adventures in the Alps!