Embark on thrilling bike tours in South Tyrol, pedaling through enchanting vineyards, picturesque valleys, and majestic mountains. Uncover breathtaking scenery, conquer challenging trails, and savor the region's rich culture and gastronomy. An unforgettable adventure for every cycling enthusiast!
This route links Völs am Schlern with Seis am Schlern and leads through variety-packed meadow and forest land at the foot of the Schlern, along well-surfaced bike paths through the Völs hamlets of St. Anton and St. Konstantin, past the idyllic St. Konstantin chapel and the St. Vigil golf course to Seis am Schlern.
This bicycle tour – connecting two of Kaltern's prettiest neighboring communities – offers a cornucopia of cultural impressions. This tour will first take you past Lake Caldaro to Tramin / Termeno, the home of the Gewürztraminer variety of grape. This charming wine village with its crooked lanes, historic buildings, and authentic wine cellars is nestled on the side of the Etsch / Adige Valley. The village square rises approx. 50 meters above the river flowing just three kilometers to the west, towards the Po Valley. Visitors to Tramin who want to get more than just a superficial impression of the regional culture should consider going to the Hoamet Museum at the village square, where they can embark on a mental journey backwards in time. In any event, you're sure to become a lot more familiar with South Tyrolean history in the course of this tour. Below on the Etsch River, you'll find Neumarkt / Egna, one of the most-beautiful places in South Tyrol and rich in history.
During the Renaissance Era, the market experienced an economic boom as draymen transporting their goods along the heavily-trafficked Brenner trade route needed a relay station for their horses every 30 km or so. After more and more goods were shifted to the increasingly important railroad, the village diminished in importance. Away from the rail line between the provincial capitals of Bozen / Bolzano and Trento, this commercial center no longer served that purpose. The village became impoverished, young people emigrated, and renovations slowed. But the alleged poverty of Neumarkt was simultaneously its selling point. In the 1980s, a cultural curator recognized the value of the place, with its neglected but unchanged and historically valuable center, and suggested that the center be completely restored in its original style. The restoration work was arduous and time-consuming – but done with care and attention to detail. Consequently, today's Neumarkt with its handsome houses and historic arcades is a true jewel. In some of the inner courtyards, you may still stumble upon original Renaissance frescos. All these aspects make Neumarkt an especially worthwhile destination in the beautiful "South of South Tyrol." The easy bike tour from Kaltern / Caldaro to Neumarkt will take you through the fruit orchards of the "Unterland" district of South Tyrol to the no-traffic zone of central Neumarkt. You can escape the hectic activity of the modern era and immerse yourself in the medieval atmosphere, with its charming old manors, charming lanes, and ancient monuments. There is an abundance of cute little boutiques and shops, and when it comes to dining, you can choose from many different little restaurants. We recommend that you stop by the little Andreas Hofer Museum or in the Museum for Everyday Culture. Andreas Hofer was a hero of Tyrolean history; after he was sentenced to death, he was transported to Mantua and, in doing so, spent a night in Neumarkt. He was kept in a house basement and, according to the story, told his guards: "Keep a good eye on me! Because if I run away, you'll be executed in my place." With a backpack full of pleasant memories and impressions, you can now continue your journey on the Etsch Bicycle Route towards Auer / Ora and finally undertake the 180 meters of altitude differential back to Kaltern – it'll get your heart pumping and so help you develop a little appetite for dinner in one of Kaltern's many nice restaurants.
Variants: This tour can be combined with, e.g., the "Mitterberg / Monte di Mezzo" tour.
Mustn't be missed: Tramin / Termeno with the Hoamet Museum. Neumarkt / Egna with its historic center and the Andreas Hofer Museum and the Museum for Everyday Culture in Neumarkt.
Do not fall in love with the high valley of Schlinig - former stopping place of smugglers on the way to Switzerland.
We start in the centre of Trodena (1127 m) and ride until we reach Fontanefredde. Then we have to get over 100 hm until we reach San Lugano. From the Passo San Lugano we start downhill until we reach Molina and the Val di Fiemme cycle route. the track includes less frequented asphaltic roads and some forest trails.
Possible restaurant stops: Hotel Restaurant Schönwies and Hotel Restaurant Trudnerhof at Trodena.
Starting in the centre of Trodena we ride downhill a few kilometres. The asphalted street passes vineyards where you can enjoy the amazing view of the Valle dell'Adige. Then we'll reach the village of Gleno and Montagna. On the old railroad track, which leads into the Val di Fiemme, we pass the village of Montagna. With an easy grade, as it was necessary for an old steam locomotive, we follow the old railroad tracks over bridge constructions and pleasant gravel paths until we reach Fontanefredde. After only two kilometres you'll reach again the centre of Trodena.
Possible restaurant stops: Hotel Restaurant Schönwies and Hotel Restaurant Trudnerhof
This scenic tour leads from Bruneck via the Pustertal Valley cycle route to Brixen.
As an alternative option to the Seiser Alm cable car, you can tackle the ascent with pure pedal-power. The advantages: The road is car-free from 9am to 5pm, so nothing can get in the way of the fun.
The classic itinerary of the region starts in Trodena. It leads downhill to the old sawmill and goes along a forest road with a pleasant incline through the "Kaltwassertal" up to the col Passo Cisa (1448m). We keep walking on this altitude and follow the way towards the Malghette, the highest point of the tour. In an easy descent, we reach Anterivo and San Lugano. We follow the old railroad track to Fontanefredde. The last gradient brings us back to Trodena.
Advice: This tour can also be started from the town hall square in Anterivo
Possible restaurant stops: Le Malghette - Krabes Alm, Hotel Restaurant Schönwies andHotel Restaurant Trudnerhof at Truden
The South Wine Route then runs about 40 km in a long circuit to Salorno / Salurn, the southernmost community of South Tyrol. Along the way, you'll pass through the charming wine villages of Tramin / Termeno, Kurtatsch / Cortaccia, Margreid / Magrè, and Kurtinig / Cortina all’Adige as you glide along the Wine Route.
The South of South Tyrol: Bicycle tour
This tour begins at the square in front of the large winery cooperatives (Kellerei Kaltern and Erste + Neue). From here, the bike trail will lead you through the vineyards and down to Lake Caldaro and past its eastern shore (by Klughammer) towards Auer / Ora. You'll pass the reeds and the biotope on the southern banks of the lake before the route enters the Auer-Tramin Bicycle Trail. There, it also bends into the South Wine Route. You can ride on it in either direction. In other words: There are two paths to the southernmost point in Salurn.
If you now take the right turn, you'll first proceed on the South Tyrolean Wine Route and enter into the historic wine village Tramin / Termeno. The Gewürztraminer variety of grape – which is indigenous to this locality and is used to make some of the finest wines available – is named after this village. The route continues to the south through the historical wine village of Kurtatsch / Cortaccia and past the famous "original grapevine" grafted here in the year in Margreid / Magrè. From here, you will proceed to Kurtinig – often referred to as "Little Venice" by the locals because it is flooded so often. It's only now that the route crosses the Etsch River. Salurn is located on its eastern side. You can take the short side-trip to the Haderburg – which was established here on a rocky prominence in the 11th century as a fortress.
On the return trip back to Kaltern, you will encounter the villages of Neumarkt / Egna and Auer / Ora on this side of the valley. In Neumarkt, you ought to visit the centuries-old and impressive leafy arcades in the center (which is closed to motor traffic). It's a wonderful opportunity to exit the hustle-and-bustle of modern times and immerse yourself in the Middle Ages. You can admire the handsome old manors, enjoy the coolness of the arcades, and explore the village's shopping options.
Farther to the north, the bicycle trail will take you past the Castelfeder biotope – an ancient cult site located on a wild, romantic hilly landscape abounding with fascinating geological formations and enormous boulders left behind by receding glaciers, and that has lost none of its magical appeal. If you wish, you can now pay a visit to Auer before continuing across the Etsch River to Lake Caldaro and up to Kaltern.
A fitting conclusion would be, e.g., a visit to the wine house at the starting-point / finish line of this tour. Or at the market square. The "Punkt" wine house there carries a wide assortment of wines from the Lake Caldaro area.
Variants: At Margreid / Magrè and Neumarkt / Egna, there are two additional bridges over the Etsch River which you can use as short-cuts. There is also rail service between Salorno / Salurn, Kurtinig / Cortina, Margreid, Neumarkt, and Auer – a great way to save yourself a few kilometers (www.suedtirolmobil.info).
General information about these three wine village tours:
Biking along the South Tyrolean Wine Route is always a very special experience. Mild temperatures and about 300 days of sunshine per year make the oldest Wine Route of Italy an ideal place for active vacationers and pleasure-seekers wishing to explore the vicinity by bike. The three pleasure cycling routes of the low-traffic South Tyrolean Wine Route offer a wealth of options to experience the vineyards, visit the wine cellars, and explore the castles. The three wine routes (North, Middle, and South) display almost no significant grades – and they can be cycled throughout the year, both individually and in combination.
Starting in the centre of Trodena we follow the main road until we reach Fontanefredde and San Lugano, passing the old railroad. After a nice climb-down we arrive at Molina. With a panoramic view over the lake "Lago di Stramentizzo" we go uphill until Guggal, Anterivo and to the Passo Cisa (1448m). The tour continues with an uphill to the highest Point, the Malga Monte Corno. Then we follow the European long distance path E5 until we reach Trodena.
Possible restaurant stops: Malga Monte Corno, Hotel Restaurant Schönwies and Hotel Retaurant Trudnerhof at Trodena
Circuito di Naturno (Naturno – Plon – Kreuzbrünnl lungo la Bike Highline Meran/o fino a Ötzi trail – Platzgumm – Ötzi Flow Trai - Naturno)
The Lake Caldaro circuit rout is not especially long. With a length of 17 km and about 300 meters of altitude differential, it's the ideal training tour for your day of arrival, a great way to familiarize yourself with the "lay of the land" around the lake, and an efficient method to obtain a quick overview of the countless further possibilities this region offers. The route is chiefly over asphalt biking paths so it's especially well-suited for novice cyclists and families with children. You'll first glide away from the Infopoint in the Kellereistrasse and down into the Lavason Valley. The trail then flattens out as you continue down towards Lake Caldaro and Auer / Ora. Now comes a single, short ascent before you apply the brakes and speed through the vineyards on your way to the lake. Once you've arrived at the lake in Klughammer, you'll continue on the eastern shores of the lake towards the south. Just south of the lake, you'll take a right turn from the Bozen-Auer Bicycle Trail and proceed over level ground around the lake, past the St. Joseph Church, until you come to the large parking lot at Lake Caldaro with its many lakeside restaurants, beaches, and swimming areas. In the summertime, you'll be tempted to go for a refreshing dip or treat yourself to an ice cream. After a rest-stop, you can continue along asphalt bicycle trails up to Kaltern / Caldaro – there are limestone-white ties embedded in the ground all along the Wine Route that indicate the various different wine-growing terrains. You'll now have to shift gears and overcome 180 meters of altitude differential – which is easier in the afternoon, with the south wind to your back. Once you're back in Kaltern, the lively atmosphere there might tempt you to enjoy a refreshing ice cream or a delicious cappuccino.
Variants: South of Lake Caldaro, you can proceed straight along the bicycle trail towards Auer / Ora and undertake a multitude of longer tours – e.g., the "Mitterberg / Monte di Mezzo" tour or the "Neumarkt / Egna" tour.
Mustn't be missed: Beautiful Lake Caldaro with its biotope and bird-watching point. The famous Caldaro Wine Route.
This tour, the Valle Isarco route I, links the biking region of the Seiser Alm/Val Gardena with the bottom of the Eisacktal Valley, where a number of tours lead in the direction of Brixen and Bozen. These well-maintained bike paths guarantee great routes for mountain bikers and road cyclists alike.
"Are you searching a change to cycling? The true bike adventure begins by mountain biking in the Anterselva Valley! "
Both children and adults will enjoy the new MTB area behind the fish pond in Anterselva di Sotto. 3 downhill tracks with different degrees of difficulty and a pumptrack for children awaits you.
The Eisacktal Valley II link trail connects the valley basin and the Bozen – Brixen cycle path with the Seiser Alm/Val Gardena biking region and its 600 kilometres of trails. The link route ties in with the St. Oswald loop route back to Seis am Schlern or Kastelruth.
The Pustertal Valley Bike Route is particularly suitable for bicycle tours and family cycling tours, for beginners but also for experts. The paved bike path starts in Rio Pusteria-Mühlbach and leads via the villages of Vandoies di Sotto-Niedervintl, Vandoies di Sopra-Obervintl, Chienes-Kiens, Casteldarne-Ehrenburg and S. Lorenzo-St. Lorenzen to Brunico-Bruneck. This first section is very flat and 25.5 km long.
From Brunico takes about Perca-Percha, Valdaora di Sotto-Niederolang, Valdaora di Mezzo-Mitterolang, Valdaora di Sopra-Oberolang, Ried, Villabassa-Niederdorf and Dobbiaco-Toblach to San Candido-Innichen. This second section is again very flat, 33.5 km long and suitable for everyone.
The third section takes us from San Candido on Versciaco-Vierschach to Prato Drava-Winnebach where you cross the Austro-Italian border. Now follow along the Drava River to Lienz. This last subsection is 44 km long and very easy and ideal for families. For the return we can use the train to come back to the starting point. If the total distance is too long, you can also take only a small part of the track, and the other you can travel by train.
Starting in the centre of Trodena on an asphalted street we drive down to Fontanefredde (1005m). Then we drive past the farm "Pausa" until we reach Montagna (672m). The track leads past Castelfeder (377m), between Ora and Egna we reach the connection to the Adige Cycle Route.
If you've ever been to Kaltern / Caldaro or at least passed by it, then you'll already be familiar with the Mitterberg, this long, heavily forested hump of reddish rock in the middle of the Etsch / Adige Valley between the Etsch / Adige River and Lake Caldaro. But not everyone knows that there are more than 600 km of trails and paths in the vicinity of the Mitterberg – an ideal playground for bikers of every stripe. The Mitterberg circuit tour leads entirely along bike trails. It is not restricted solely to the Mitterberg. Rather, it will take you around it – a tour that is extremely suitable for beginners and families – but also a great trail to get a little practice. From Kaltern, you'll first glide along the bike trail on your way down to Auer / Ora. You then continue along Lake Caldaro and finally round the southern tip of the Mitterberg until you come to the Etsch Bridge. Here – just before the village of Auer – you'll now enter the Etsch Valley Bicycle Trail which continues to the south towards Trento and to the north towards Bozen / Bolzano. The tour sticks to the Etsch River – usually far enough away from the autobahn so that you won't be bothered by traffic noise. The Mitterberg circuit tour can be taken in either direction since it consists wholly of asphalt bicycle paths. But the direction indicated here is recommended especially for afternoons when the south wind – the "Ora" – will provide a pleasant tailwind as you speed along the level Etsch Bicycle Trail towards Bozen. Just behind Bozen, the bike trail winds along the old railroad line slightly uphill towards Kaltern.
Variants: To the south of Lake Caldaro, you can continue straight on the bike trail to Auer / Ora and combine this route with, e.g., the "Neumarkt / Egna" tour.
Mustn't be missed: Lake Caldaro, the provincial capital of Bozen, Sigmundskron Castle with the Messner Mountain Museum.
The „Eisacktal Valley-Dolomites region Seiser Alm link trail“ connects the valley cycle path with the Seiser Alm/Val Gardena biking region and its villages Kastelruth, Seis am Schlern, Völs am Schlern, Tiers am Rosengarten and Seiser Alm.
While you breeze through the landscape, you can stop and pay a visit to the many wineries strung along the route like pearls along a necklace, in the villages of Nals / Nalles, Vilpian / Vilpiano, Terlan / Terlano, and in the provincial capital itself. From Kaltern / Caldaro, you'll register a couple more kilometers on your odometer. A pleasant but relatively simple tour is thus transformed into a lengthier tour offering a wide variety of visual appeal – but it will require more time and moderately good fitness (or a fully charged battery). If you want to take the official North Wine Route from Kaltern, you'll first have to descend the Etsch / Adige Valley. This connecting segment – which features a lot of attractions – does not lead directly downhill. Rather, it curves along the sun-drenched slopes at the foot of the Penegal and will take you on less-trafficked side roads through charming little hamlets and vineyards. After starting at the square in front of the large winery cooperatives (Kellerei Kaltern and Erste + Neue), you'll be treated to several meters of altitude differential as the road undulates up and down. Only later, once you've reached the Etsch / Adige Valley, does the route level off. The North Wine Route stretching down through the valley could now be taken in either direction. But let's proceed in the clockwise direction, through the wine villages of Nals, Vilpian, and Terlan. Later, you will pass through a cultural landscape crowded with historical manors and handsome villas in the "Gries" district of Bozen, which is known for its wineries. You have now reached the provincial capital.
But before proceeding into the city center, we should first go on a jaunt around the perimeter. At the entrance of the Sarn / Sarentino Valley, on the northern outskirts of Bozen, there is, e.g., Runkelstein Castle – a picture-perfect example of medieval architecture with a well-conserved cycle of frescos you can admire. Continuing through the districts of Rentsch / Rencio and Kardaun / Cardano in the northeast, the wine route will now take you into the lively city center. And why not cap this marvelous experience by sipping an espresso at the Waltherplatz or sauntering through the lovely arcades? Do you like art? Then you ought to drop by the Museion, South Tyrol's preeminent museum for modern and contemporary art. From the city center, the route now continues to the Sigmundskron Castle. This impressive castle looming high above the capital city has been the home of the Messner Mountain Museums Firmian since 2004. This museum houses a comprehensive collection on the subject of alpinism. This is also where this trail diverges from the official North Wine Route and bends back towards Kaltern / Caldaro. Time for the last ascent on the bike trail – so you'll hopefully still have some energy in your calves (or battery). A fitting conclusion would be, e.g., a visit to the wine house at the starting-point / finish line of this tour. Or at the market square. The "Punkt" wine house located there carries a wide assortment of wines from the Lake Caldaro area.
Variants: If you wish, you can shorten this tour between Andrian / Andriano and Terlan via the Etsch Bridge. And in Bozen, you can shorten your ride and proceed directly to the Waltherplatz in the city center. There is now train service between Vilpian, Terlan, and Bozen – an additional option to shorten the route (suedtirolmobil.info).
With a length of about 23 km, this is the shortest of the three wine village tours. It will take you through some of the best-known and most-scenic historic wine villages along the South Tyrolean Wine Route, including Girlan / Cornaiano, Eppan / Appiano, and Kaltern / Caldaro – renowned for their Pinot Blanc and the local Lake Caldaro wine.
This roundtrip tour begins in Kaltern, at the square in front of the large winery cooperatives (Kellerei Kaltern and Erste + Neue). From here, the route stretches through a patch of forest to the two Montiggl lakes. It continues to Girlan / Cornaiano, an historic wine village with underground wine cellars actually occupying more area than the village itself. The following segments include St. Pauls / San Paolo as well as St. Michael /San Michele – the actual center of Eppan, renowned for its fortress. You might consider taking a side-trip to the mountain fortress of Hocheppan (managed), which dates back to the 12th century. From there, you can admire a fabulous view of the Etsch / Adige Valley and the Dolomites. The wine route will now take you back to Kaltern by the Lake – which enjoys a great reputation not only for the Lake Caldaro wine named after it. Once you've completed the tour, we recommend going to the market square and visiting the "Punkt" wine house – which has been modernized in appearance – or the South Tyrolean Wine Museum.
General information about these three wine village tours:
Cycling along the South Tyrolean Wine Route is always a unique experience. Mild temperatures and approx. 300 days of sunshine per year make this, the oldest Wine Route of Italy, an ideal place for active vacationers and pleasure-seekers wishing to explore the vicinity by bike. The three pleasure cycling routes of the low-traffic South Tyrolean Wine Route offer plenty of options to experience the vineyards, visit the wine cellars, and explore the castles. The three wine routes (North, Middle, and South) display almost no significant inclines – and they can be cycled throughout the year, both individually and in combination.
Complete service
Variants: This roundtrip tour can be taken in either direction. If you take it in reverse order, you'll begin in Neumarkt / Egna and visit the Castelfeder last. But because the route crosses the street between Neumarkt and Montan / Montagna, you can also limit yourself to looping backwards via Pinzon / Pinzano and Montan, or you can completely forgo this loop.
This tour will take you through picturesque South Tyrolean vineyards all the way to Entiklar and is one of the most-challenging of the novice tours around Kaltern. You'll have to contend with more than 700 meters of altitude differential. But on the other hand, it does not require a high level of technical cycling skills – that's because the trail is almost entirely over asphalt paths. Especially in the springtime, when the fruit trees blossom beneath the snow-capped mountains of the Dolomites, this tour boasts a great deal of scenic beauty. From Kaltern, you'll first cycle up the low-traffic road uphill to Altenburg – just to get your blood flowing at the beginning. Then you'll glide over the small, level plateau until you come to a steep asphalt path downhill to Söll / Sella and further downhill to Tramin / Termeno. If that's enough for you, you can also cycle down into the fruit orchards on the floor of the Etsch / Adige Valley and glide back to Lake Caldaro. But we recommend that you continue along the defined route – that's because the especially appealing segment will take you through hilly terrain and through the fruit orchards and vineyards to Kurtatsch / Cortaccia and finally to the small village of Entiklar high above the Etsch / Adige Valley. On the valley floor, you'll find the little town of Margreid / Magrè. You've now already completed the difficult part of the tour – the return trip is over level side roads and through fruit orchards back to Tramin and from there to nearby Lake Caldaro. Once you've arrived there, you might want to stop for refreshments at one of the many dining establishments there – or maybe go for a dip in the lake. Afterwards, you can attack the remaining 180 meters of altitude differential on the way back to Kaltern.
Variants: At the roundabout, you can take a right turn and go on a side-trip to Neumarkt / Egna.
Mustn't be missed: The St. Vigilius Church in Kurtatsch / Cortaccia, the numerous fruit orchards and vineyards along the route, and the charming little village of Entiklar / Niclara.
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