Interested in cycling the Adige Cycling Path in Italy?
You’ve certainly come to the right place because I cycled this amazing route. When cyclists ask what my favorite route in Europe it is not the Danube or Rhine, which I have also done, but the Adige Cycling Path.
I like to consider the Adige Cycling Path the most popular bike route that no one outside of Europe knows about. Our group of ten cyclists met cycling clubs, bike groups from other countries, school classes on bikes, and plenty of local riders, but only two other riders from North America.
Use my helpful guide to plan your own ride on this bike trail.
A bicycle touring route that starts in Austria as the Etsch Radweg and continues into Italy, crossing the Alps and following the Adige River to Verona, in Northern Italy. It is part of the Via Claudia Augusta route, which is an ancient Roman road that once linked the Po River valley of Italy with Austria and Southern Germany.
Route: Etsch-Radweg in Austria and Adige Cycle Path in Italy (EuroVelo 7)
Distance: 342 km or 213 miles from Landeck to Verona
Estimated time: 6 to 7 days
Difficulty: from Landeck challenging as climbing, but after Merano very easy
Side Trail: Mori Side Trail to Lake Garda
Starting Adige Cycling Path in Merano
The Etsch-Radweg has its starting point in the Southern Tyrol region of Austria, and the cycling tour goes through the Vinschgau Valley, which is sometimes known as the Ciclopista del Sole (EuroVelo Route 7). However, to skip some mountain sections through Reschen Pass, one can skip the first 144 km by taking a train and joining the route in the spa town of Merano, Italy.
I used the Bikeline Etsch-Radweg guide, which was written in German. However, the legend is in English, and the detailed maps are easy to read.
The enchanting town of Merano is located in the German-speaking region of Italy, and getting there by taking a local train from either Venice or Milan is easiest.
Our accommodation, the Albergo Alla Torre Siegler im Thurm hotel, had a lively bar, was located close to the bike route, and there was a nearby bicycle shop, a winning combination. And when checking in, they asked if we would be joining them for dinner, which turned out to be excellent value, as not a lot of restaurants open on Mondays in town.
Worth visiting: I did not expect to find palm trees in Merano, but due to the mild climate in the valley, there they were. Castel Trauttmansdorff Botanical Gardens, walking distance from the hotel.
We were using rental bicycles, which were delivered right to the hotel and stored in the underground garage along with plenty of bikes from other guests.
The Vinschgau Cycle Path, which follows the route of the Adige Cycle Route through the Venosta Valley, would also have been another location to start with an easy 78 km downhill ride to Merano/Meran from Lake Resia, with the medieval town of Glurns worth a visit. This route is popular with local cyclists, and there are sometimes restrictions on carrying bikes in the summer at some of the train stations.
Cycling from Merano to Bolzano
Getting a group of ten cyclists going on the first day with panniers can take a bit of time as everyone fiddles around before we got going on this long-distance cycling route. We were following a historic Roman route, so there were a lot of castles and historic buildings to be expected.
The section of the Adige cycling path from Merano to Verona is flat and takes about 3 days. Our first day of cycling was to be a short 35 km as the group got used to riding with loaded panniers, and we wanted to explore Bolzano, which was appreciated by everyone, as it was raining hard.
This traffic-free route in Italy was easy to follow until reaching the edge of Bolzano, where you need to take local trails into the heart of town, which could be confusing without a GPS.
The Adige River is the second longest in Italy, over 400 km, and the bike route follows a section on a dedicated path all the way to Verona, although the river continues to the Po Valley, where the river follows it to the Adriatic Sea.
The route is paved for the entire distance and runs down the valley to Verona, but today’s destination was Bolzano. The route today was mainly on low-traffic country roads, and we mainly encountered other cyclists and local farmers.
It was well-signed and flat with a few short climbs, and it did not take much time to reach the outskirts of Bolzano, the capital of South Tyrol, where we joined the local bike network to reach the main square, where we had our accommodation in the Stadt Hotel Citta.
At our very elegant hotel, the Stadt Hotel Citta, we were surprised when they asked us just to roll our bicycles into the lobby and park them there with the other bicycles. All the hotels during our bicycle tour had been advised in advance that we were arriving by bike and required storage, so they were not surprised by the arrival of a group of 10 very wet cyclists, as it had been raining part of the day.
We were surprised at how busy the market and streets were, even though it was a weekday.
I loved Bolzano, surrounded by the Dolomites and with its maze of pedestrian-only streets and market. One of the main attractions is the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology with the Iceman exhibit (a murder committed centuries ago by cavemen).
For dinner, our group went to a family restaurant featuring Austrian cuisine recommended by the hotel front desk, the Weisses Rossl Cavallino Bianco, and enjoyed Wiener schnitzel, apple strudel, and similar dishes.
The area to the south of Bolzano/Bozen is popular with tourists, with hiking and ice caves in Kaltern, and also Lake Caldaro (Lago di Caldaro) with public beaches and water sports. But it was off our route, so we missed those areas.
Bolzano to Trento Cycling
After a superb buffet breakfast, the next day the sun came out and we set off again down the Adige cycling path, which was basically following the river by the same name. No roads for the rest of the trip; we were following a paved bike path. You may see signs for Trentino-Alto Adige, which is the name of the region.
The scenery was awesome with mountains on both sides and the main highway out of sight. The valley is covered with vineyards and apple orchards growing Granny Smiths, which were being harvested during our September visit. The route is next to the train line for a short distance near Auer/Ora. Also, the Eisack (German)/Isarco (Italian) River joined the River Adige south of Bolzano, so it got wider.
There were a lot of riders out on this day, and almost all seemed to stop at the bicycle café, a perfect spot and distance along the route. There were plenty of picnic tables outside from which to admire the view.
I continued our easy ride into Trento, where, although we were on a local bike path, we had to watch for cars again. I took a quick ride around town to the Domplatz, viewing the Palazzo Pretorio and Duomo in the main square. There is a Trento guided walking tour of the historic center.
I then headed across the river and up a short, steep hill to the Garni San Giorgio DellaScala. Although the owner did not speak English, we settled into our rooms with a superb valley view before heading to the patio for a drink.
Others who were also bicycle touring came up the hill and checked in. As the hotel has no restaurant, we walked a short distance down the hill to one that catered to local citizens with classic Italian dishes.
After breakfast in our hotel, we loaded our bicycles with our lightweight panniers and headed back into Trento before rejoining the cycle route for our 53 km ride. Again, it was over flat terrain with mountains on both sides and a beautiful landscape, but we did stop to take photos of the Castel Baseno on the slopes to our left. But there were plenty of apple trees along the way.
Cycling from Trento to Rovereto
Arriving in Rovereto, the tourist office had set up an information booth beside the bike route for cyclists with maps and what to see in the area. After chatting with the helpful girl at the tourist booth, we walked across the cobblestones to a nearby café for a coffee and were joined by a large group of cyclists from the Netherlands. It was a busy place with lots of cyclists.
Just before Rovereto on your left, you can see the large feudal fortress, Castel Beseno, dating from the 12th century. Expect a steep climb if you wish to view it. This is one of several castles along the route.
Riding from Rovereto to Mori
Then it was back on the riverside bike route until we reached the town of Mori, riding through a mix of vineyards and numerous orchards. There, the Adige Bike route continues to Verona. Cyclists heading from Bolzano to Venice continued on this route, part of the Via Claudia Augusta Cycle Route, a 753 km long-distance route along an Old Roman Road.
Riding from Mori to Verona
If you do continue your cycling trip on the main route, Avio Castle, also known as the Castle of Sabbionara, can be seen on your left on the mountainside, where you can view the ornate interiors with medieval frescoes.
An important route in Roman times, but you can expect one short climb just past Canale.
When you arrive, consider the Verona Card with Arena Priority Entrance, available for 24 or 48 hours, giving you entrance to city museums and monuments.
Mori Cycle Track (Pista Ciclabile Garda) to Lake Garda
However, our group and it seems almost every other cyclist took the Pista Ciclabile Garda (also known as the Mori Cycle Track), a branch of the cycle path to the west through the mountains.
The Mori Cycle Track is a signed route that first goes through quiet streets in the town of Mori before heading along a paved bike path that parallels the only road through the gap in the mountains. There is some elevation gain as you ride through the town of Mori, then follow secondary roads on a parallel bike track.
It then splits from the road and heads into a forested park with a few small uphills and superb views. Going through the Passo di San Giovanni, you will see hills on both sides.
Cross the road, and you come out on top of a mountain with views of Lake Garda (photo opportunity), but we had to hurry as clouds were moving in and rain was in the forecast. A long, long downhill ride brought us into the tourist town of Torbole, located right on the lake.
The bike ride continues along a shared bike/pedestrian walkway along the shores of Lake Garda until reaching Riva del Garda, where the route ends. There is a cycle route around Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy, which takes a few days to complete.
Riva del Garda
Roads in this town were busy as we made our way to the Astoria Park Hotel & Spa, best known for its superb breakfasts. They had a huge bike lockup room and rentals as well. Riva del Garda has plenty of bike shops, lakeside cafes, and a castle, and is worth several days’ stay.
During our free day, we went on a hike to the Bastion, dating from Roman times. A stroll on the west side of the harbor, then up the stairs to see the remains of the bastion, which provided a superb view of the town.
Old Ponale Road Path – from the edge of Riva del Garda, this hiking and mountain bike trail slowly goes up the side of a mountain and through some tunnels. Excellent views of Lake Garda along the way. At the finish is a very crowded cafe with lake views and cyclists turning around for their descent. Recommended; remember it is shared by cyclists and walkers.
Some of our group had taken the ferry to nearby Malcesine and taken the cable car to Castello Scaligero and the summit of Monte Baldo. Besides Malcesine, you can also visit the lakeside promenades of small towns such as Limone and Torbole.
Afterward, we all gathered at a cafe in the Piazza 3 Novembre harbor area for some bruschetta, drinks, and other snacks, and watched the ferries and people strolling.
Although there is a bicycle path around the entire lakeshore, during our visit, we took the ferry to Peschiera del Garda, located at the south end, and continued our bicycle tour of the Veneto Region.
We spent a few nights in Verona exploring the city.
Adige Cycling Path Map
Where to stay while on the Adige Cycling Path
Using Expedia will easily help you find great accommodation along the route. Also, consider HostelWorld.
These are the hotels we stayed at during our journey; all were bike-friendly.
Albergo alla Torre Siegler im Thrum, Merano – nice restaurant & bar, minutes from the bike path. Book dinner with the hotel on arrival, good value.
Stadt Hotel Citta, Bolzano – located right beside the main square and used to cyclists
Garni San Giorgio Della Scala, Trento – hillside views of the city and Adige Valley; great breakfast, and although the owner did not speak English, he was expecting our cycling group.
Astoria Park Hotel Spa, Riva del Garda – walkable to the walled town, has a bicycle storage room. Great included breakfast, although the restaurant is a bit pricey for dinner.
Boutique Hotel Scalzi, Verona – bike friendly and located close to the center of Verona
Adige Cycle Tours & Resources
Bike tours on the Adige Cycling Path may include luggage transfers and the use of eBikes.
Trips.com – I booked a train to get to the start of the trip.
Veloco Bike Rentals – this is the company we used on the tour
Travel Insurance – with Safety Wing
FAQS: Adige Cycle Path
Where does the Adige Cycle Path Start and End?
The route starts in the town of Landeck in Austria and crosses the Alps to Verona in Italy.
How long is the Adige Cycling Route
342 km or 213 miles from Landeck to Verona, although if you go into Bolzano or Trento, the distance will increase.
Is there a bike shuttle service on the Adige Cycle Path?
Bikeshuttle, based in Austria, offers a shuttle service on the route for cyclists.
Is the Adige Cycle Path paved?
Yes, it is on local and regional bicycle paths and is entirely paved.
Is the Etsch-Radweg and the Adige Cycle Path the same thing?
The Etsch-Radweg is the German name for the route, and Adige Cycle Path for the Italian section, although you will see signs posted with both names.
When is the best time to travel the Adige Cycle Path?
This is a popular tourist area for Italians as well as international visitors and can be busy in the summer months. Best in May/June or September/October when the weather is still good but not as crowded.
For which target group is the Adige Cycle Path suitable?
Beginners, families, school groups, and international cyclists would enjoy the section from Merano to Verona. If starting in Austria best for those experienced in bicycle touring.
Looking for more information on cycling in Italy and Austria?
If you’re planning a bike tour of Austria or Italy and are looking for more information, consider reading some of our other posts:
- You may wish to continue to the Adige trip by going on a bike trip through the Venice Region
- Near the start of the Adige Route is the Tauern Bike Route in Austria
- In the Lakes District of Austria is the Salzkammergut Cycling Path
- Going through Germany and Austria is the Danube River Cycle route from Passau to Vienna
- From Vienna to Budapest, the Danube bike route continues into Hungary
- A little to the south, you may want to go cycling in Tuscany
- Other bicycle touring regions in Italy to check out
Final Thoughts: Adige Cycling Route
This route is not as well-known as Tuscany but is just as interesting. Highlights included the botanical gardens, historical cities, castles, mountains (in the distance), vineyards, apple orchards, and excellent cycle paths. As mentioned, this is my favourite European cycling route.
The long-distance EuroVelo 7 also follows much of this route. Any Italy Cycling Guide would want to include the Adige cycling route, which offers exceptional scenery and flat terrain for riding and is well-signed with good pavement for very enjoyable riding (and no cars either)!
