Discover South Tyrol/Südtirol's cycling adventures: bike hire, e-charging stations and the best cycle routes

Pedal power is the answer

Why hopping on a bike is always a great plan when holidaying in South Tyrol

Are you the kind of person who likes to be active on holiday? Who loves the flexibility to explore your surroundings entirely as you please? And while being as environmentally friendly as possible? In which case, we recommend a fabulous means of transport: the bicycle. Imagine riding your MTB or gravel bike through the Höhlensteintal valley with the Drei Zinnen peaks in view. Immersing yourself in the Mediterranean lifestyle on the Überetscher cycle path as it winds between vineyards and old country houses alongside Kaltern/Caldero lake. The extravagant architecture of the superb wineries enticing you to come and visit. You might stop for a refreshing apéritif in the town square before cruising gently through the historic old town of Sterzing/Vipiteno. And stay as long as you like.

5 great reasons to get on your bike

Bicycles do not produce any CO2 emissions. It's hard to beat cycling as an environmentally friendly way to explore your holiday destination at a certain pace.
The flexibility of being able to take a break at any time along the way or choosing to travel direct to your destination makes cycling a relaxing and enjoyable travel option.
Choosing pedal power over a motor vehicle also has health benefits: it promotes physical fitness and strengthens the cardiovascular system.
You can save time and money: for example, there is no need to hunt for a parking space, and you won't get stuck in a traffic jam.
Cycling connects people: you are much more likely to come across like-minded people on the cycle paths, and there is closer contact with the locals and their everyday culture in the villages.

IDM Süditirol-Alto Adige/Alex Moling

IDM Südtirol Alto Adige/Alex Moling

Don't have your own bike?

There are places to hire standard and electric bikes along all the cycle routes in South Tyrol. Many of the 140 or so bicycle hire facilities are located at train and bus stations, which enables environmentally friendly travel options. Whether it’s an e-bike, mountain bike or touring bike, thanks to professional advice, you are guaranteed to find the right bike for your trip. Are you planning a longer journey? E-bikes offer a range of up to 100 kilometres. Charge your battery at the charging stations while you enjoy a real Italian coffee, admire the frescoes in the cloister or marvel at the panoramic view of the Dolomites. Flexible hire periods allow you to hire a bike for half a day or several weeks, and you can return it to any hire location. For even more flexibility, the Südtirol Rad and Papin Sport bike hire companies offer a practical one-way service: you can hire your bike at any point and return it at another hire location, giving you the freedom to organise your route as you wish. The booking process is easy via the relevant online platforms. Ready for an adventure? On your marks, get set, go cycling!

Discover all bike hire locations

The best 7 tours for mobile explorers

From the abundance of cycle paths throughout this region, we have picked out the sections that are most typical of South Tyrol. Visitors can look forward to vineyards, cultural treasures, views of the Dolomites, vibrant towns and plenty of sunshine.

Passeiertal valley cycle path
The Etschradroute cycle route along the Via Claudia Augusta
The Etschradroute cycle route from Meran to Bolzano
The Weinradroute Süd cycle route, wine & cycle
Pustertal cycle route: Innichen/San Candido — Bruneck/Brunico
Pustertal cycle route: Bruneck — Franzensfeste
Drauradweg cycle path: Innichen

Passeiertal valley cycle path

You leave the town of Meran/Merano on a series of ascending switchbacks and travel along the Passer river into the rustic valley of the same name until you reach San Linêrt/San Leonardo, the birthplace of freedom fighter Andreas Hofer. The gentle gradient and child-friendly stops along the route, such as an extensive playground and picnic areas, make this an ideal tour for families. If you still have energy left when you reach St. Leonhard, you can continue to the Passerschlucht: a path along the riverbank that shows how the power of water shapes the landscape.

Pure natural indulgence

IDM Südtirol-Alto Adige/Alex Moling

The Etschradroute cycle route along the Via Claudia Augusta

This 89 km cycle route takes you from the west to the centre of the country. You start in the unspoiled and authentic Vinschgau/Val Venosta valley, with a view of a flooded village, of which only the church tower still protrudes from the water. At the same time, you will be following in the footsteps of the Romans, or rather the trade route that once served as a bridge between north and south — the Via Claudia Augusta. You will pass fields full of apple and apricot trees, the smallest town in South Tyrol, and Laas/Lasa, where the purest marble in Europe is quarried before being shipped all over the world. The Mediterranean spa town of Meran is also on this route, which finishes in the regional capital, Bolzano/Bozen.

That is where I want to go

IDM Südtirol-Alto Adige/Alex Moling

The Etschradroute cycle route from Meran to Bolzano

Do you want a convenient and environmentally friendly way to travel from this spa town to the regional capital? The route runs along the Etsch river through the area where asparagus and apples are grown. The route is probably at its most beautiful — and tastiest — during the apple blossom season, when restaurants and inns invite visitors to savour the freshly cut and delicately prepared asparagus. If you prefer, you can hop on the train for the return journey.

Sounds good

The Weinradroute Süd cycle route, wine & cycle

The more southerly of the two wine cycle routes takes you through the area where the local Gewürztraminer grape variety is grown, from the wine villages of Kurtatsch and Margreid to Kurtinig and Salorno/Salurn. As well as views of the landscape between apple orchards and vineyards, fig trees and cypresses, the focus is on indulgent wine tastings, where South Tyrolean wine can be enjoyed at innovative wineries. Thanks to mild temperatures, this cycle tour is available between March and November

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Pustertal cycle route: Innichen/San Candido — Bruneck/Brunico

The cycle path from Innichen to Bruneck offers a trip through the unspoilt natural environment of the Pustertal valley, where the colour green is omnipresent — from lush meadows to expansive fields and dense forests. Along this historic railway line, the route alternates between gentle climbs and relaxing descents, past picturesque villages and through the heart of the Pustertal valley. The destination is Bruneck, the economic centre of the region, where tradition meets modernity, and urban flair is imbued with a touch of Alpine charm.

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Pustertal cycle route: Bruneck — Franzensfeste

Starting from the pleasant little town of Bruneck, the main town in the Pustertal valley, you follow the Rienz river until shortly before your destination at an imposing fortress. The route takes you through fields, forests, meadows and villages, past a Roman settlement, medieval hermitage and farmhouses. You can hop on the train at almost any time if you want a shorter trip — the cycle path runs alongside the railway line.

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Drauradweg cycle path: Innichen — Lienz (AUT)

An extremely popular section of the 510 km long Drauradweg cycle route from Toblach/Dobbiaco through Kärnten/Carinthia to the Croatian-Slovenian border at Varaždin: following gentle gradients, this cross-border route runs between the main Alpine ridge on the left and the Dolomites on the right as you travel from South Tyrol to Austria. Village and town centres, a South Tyrolean waffle factory, picnic spots by the river or a castle all offer plenty of opportunities to enjoy sights beyond the cycle path.

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IDM Südtirol Alto Adige/Alex Moling

City or museum visit by bike

Cycle from town to town and village to village or, as some sporty locals do, from home to work: all this is possible thanks to South Tyrol’s well-developed network of over 500 kilometres of signposted cycle routes. The routes take you along the three valley cycle paths that stretch from north to south and from west to east. Follow our example and hop on your bike to cycle the 43 kilometres from Bolzano to Brixen/Bressanone. There is so much more to see this way: for example, the cycle route between Bolzano and Kaltern/Caldaro and Kardaun and Waidbruck takes you along disused railway lines and through narrow tunnels. Along the three largest rivers, the Etsch, Eisack and Rienz, the cycle path gradients are always gentle, and you can take a breather at lovely rest stops and other refreshment points. Time for a spot of culture? In which case, take a closer look at the following sights along the cycle routes.

Maps of the valley cycle paths

It's worth taking things more slowly

Time to spare while out and about on the valley cycle paths? In which case, it's worth making a detour to these sights and leisure attractions. They are either practically on the cycle path itself, or can be reached by bike via a short detour.

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On beautiful detours

The residents of Bolzano make almost a third of their everyday journeys by bike. This puts the regional capital at the top of the list of Italian cities. Best of all: the cycle paths run through green spaces, large and small parks and along beautiful promenades.

Discover green Bolzano by bike

Bicycle carriage on public transport

If cycling is too strenuous or time is short, you can also cover certain sections by public transport. Lots of public transport stops are located directly on the cycle routes. Transporting your bike by train, bus or cable car is subject to a fee and, for reasons of space and safety, is only available on certain routes.

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