Alpe Adria

Countries: Austria and Italy

A cross-border cycling route linking Salzburg with Villach, Udine, Aquileia and Grado, overcomes the physical border formed by the Alps and achieves a direct connection between the network of cycling routes in central Europe and the Adriatic Sea.

Fantastic “ciclovia” crossing the Alps in an easy way that permit discovering the UNESCO Heritage of Salzburg and Aquilea.

The route covers approximately 415 km and is typically completed in eight stages, taking cyclists from the Alps to the Mediterranean through a remarkable variety of landscapes, cultures, and cuisines.

A distinctive feature of the route is its use of former railway corridors, tunnels, and dedicated cycle paths, making the Alpine crossing accessible to a wide range of cyclists rather than only experienced mountain riders. The route combines spectacular scenery with a relatively gentle gradient, following river valleys and historic transport corridors for much of its length.

The Alpe Adria Route offers a rare opportunity to cycle from the heart of the Alps to the Mediterranean Sea while experiencing multiple cultures, languages, cuisines, and landscapes. The combination of excellent infrastructure, railway heritage, scenic mountain and river landscapes, and historic towns has made it one of Europe’s most popular cross-border cycling routes.

More information:

www.alpe-adria-radweg.com

photos: Roberto Rovelli, Italian Greenways Association

With the help of GIS Tour and Story Map, discover the Ciclovia Alpe Adria and the 15 itineraries that combine greenways and UNESCO cultural heritage. You can view the route on any device, with images, videos and even 360º virtual reality of aspects of these attractive routes.

These offer just a taste of the beauty and appeal of European greenways and UNESCO sites, now available thanks to the European project Greenways Heritage.