Austria's landscapes are incredibly varied and the options are endless. Be it a relaxing walk or experiencing the great outdoors in the Austrian Alps. Keep in mind that you are never far from historic city centers, cultural events and gourmet restaurant.
Walk Austria's Alps
Biking throughout Austria
Cycling has become one of the most popular ways to experience the unique Austrian countryside, small towns and cities.
Biking throughout Austria's countryside is another great way to experiece our beautiful country. Wheather you are a soft-biker or enjoy rugged landscapes there are biking trails for every type.
1. Vorarlberg Trail and Lake Constance Loop
Cyclists experience the diversity of Vorarlberg's (Austria's most western province) scenery on the bike trail between Bludenz and Bregenz. Surrounded by a majestic mountain backdrop and and nestled between five valleys, the medieval Alpine town of Bludenz is the perfect starting point for this Alpine Adventure. Bludenz can easily be reached via train (closest airport gateway is Zurich) and besides cycling offers great hiking, fishing, shopping. For chocolate lovers, don't miss a tour of the Suchard chocolate factory where the famous "Milka" (thats the purple one you will find in every Austrian store) is produced.
The bike trail follows the Ill river to Feldkirch with its medieval town center and the majestic Schattenburg castle. Following the Rhine river north, you will eventually get into Bregenz, known for ist summer music festival perfomances on a floating stage on Lake Constance. From Bregenz you will connect to the international Lake Constance Loop, allowing you to visit Germany and Switzerland as well. If your legs are caving in, you can take a short-cut on the ferry to Konstanz. The loop will bring you back to Bregenz on the south shore of the lake. For added variety, parts of the loop may be accomplished by boat.
Distance: Total of 200 miles, including Lake Constance Loop
Starting Point: Bludenz Start and Finish for Lake Constance Loop: Bregenz
Features: Paved bike paths or roads with very little traffic. Mostly flat
For detailed information contact:
Vorarlberg Tourism
Roemerstrasse 7
A-6900 Bregenz
Tel: (011-43-5574)42525
FAX: (011-43-5574)425 255
2. The Tauernradweg along the Salzach and Saalach River
This may very well be one of the most exciting cycling tours in Europe. Scenic beauty, Europe's highest waterfalls, a visit to Salzburg and countless attractions along the way. The starting point of this bike trip is the small village of Krimml, inmidst the Hohe-Tauern National Park region. With its impressive waterfalls and some great hiking excursions, it might take you an extra day to leave Krimml and get started on your journey. The bike trail will follow the Salzach River through charming villages to Zell am See, a picturesque summer and winter resort. Here you will have two options for your way to Salzburg, to continue along the Salzach River with a chance to visit the world's largest ice caves in Werfen or the salt mines in Hallein.
Or you can take the (even more scenic) route along the Saalach river, visiting such charming places like Maria Alm and Lofer and taking a short cut through Bavaria into Salzburg. From Salzburg the bike trail will lead north through Oberndorf (with the Silent Night chapel) to the German border town of Passau where you may connect and continue to the Danube bike trail towards Vienna.
Distance: 203 miles, 110 miles from Krimml to Salzburg
Start: Krimml (can be reached by narrow-gauge train from Zell am See)
Finish: Passau
Features: slightly downhill only some minor climbs, mostly on paved trails and or minor roads with local traffic. Some gravel or mountain trails are used (not recommended for racing bikes).
For further information contact:
Salzburg State Tourist Board
P.O. Box 1
A-5300 Hallwang
Tel: (011-43-662)6256 12
Fax: (011-43-662)623070
3. The Salzkammergut Lake District Tour
The "Salzkammergut" salt chamber district of Austria, with its many lakes in a beautiful alpine environment, has become one of the most popular vacation spots in Austria. This bike trip will lead you by no less than 13 of these lakes offering you a chance to break up your cycling with swimming, fishing and sailing and hiking. This tour is a loop which allows you to start your adventure anywhere along the route. The official starting point is Salzburg from where the route will follow southeast to St. Gilgen on Lake Wolfgang, further along to St. Wolfgang and Bad Ischl, our former emperor's Franz Joseph's favorite vacation spot (visit his former hunting lodge !). Further south the trail will lead you into the picturesque town Hallstatt. Don't miss taking a small boat out on the lake and enjoy one the country's best photo ops. Stop at the ice caver near Obertraun. Via the Traunsee, Attersee and Mondsee, all of which invite to some great water activities.
Distance: 192 mile loop with start and finish in Salzburg
Features: mostly biking paths and side roads with little traffic, for short distance where highways are being used, railway or buslines offer an alternative
For further information contact:
Salzburg State Tourist Board
P.O. Box 1
A-5300 Hallwang
Tel: (01143-662) 6256 12
Fax: (01143-662) 62 30 70
or Upper Austria Information
Schillerstrasse 50
A-4021 Linz
Tel: (011-43-732) 663 022
Fax: (011-43-723) 600 22
4. The Danube Bike Trail from Passau to Vienna (or on to Hainburg)
The most prominent of all bike routes in Austria, this tour will take you some of Austria's most impressive cultural sites. Starting at the historic German Border town of Passau the trail follows the Danube River (Europe's second largest) into Vienna. The city of Linz, the baroque abbey of St. Florian and the many castles along the way and of course, the famous "Wachau" region with ist charming villages, vineyards and romantic fruit orchards. Don't miss a visit to the baroque abbey of Melk overlooking the Danube.
Duernstein, with ist ruins where King Richard the Lionhearted has been captured on his way back from the crusades, and the 1000 year old town of Krems are other must-see stops on the tour. For those wishing to cycle further along past Vienna, the Hainburg area close to the border with Slovakia is the end of the marked bike trail
Distance: 197 miles
Start: Passau Finish: Hainburg
Features: 90% traffic free bike trails along the Danube River, practically flat or slightly downhill. Some points of interest will require short uphill battles.
For further information contact:
Upper Austria Information
Schillerstrasse 50
A-4021 Linz
Tel: (011-43-732)600 2211
Fax: (011-43-723)600 220
National Parks in Austria
Burgenland:
Nationalpark Neusiedler See - Seewinkel
With its delicate wetland reed beds, salt-water ponds and flood-meadows this national park is the only steppe national park in Central Europe. The national park stradles tha border between Austrian and Hungary and boasts an enormous diversity of flora and fauna: around 300 species of birds can be watched. Explore the park by foot, bike, or on horse.
info@nationalpark-neusiedlersee-seewinkel.at
Lower Austria:
Nationalpark Donau-Auen
Located just outside Vienna lies this great, undeveloped flood plains, which offers ideal living conditions to its fauna and flora. Explore this park by food, bike or on a boat.
nationalpark@donauauen.at
Nationalpark Thayatal
This park, situated in the northern part of Lower Austria, is located at the border to the Czeck Republic. Countless species of fauna and flora, some of them very rare like the black stork are at home in this park. Castles and ruines dominate this national park.
office@np-thayatal.at
Upper Austria:
Nationalpark Oberoesterreich-Kalkalpen
This park houses the largest protected woodland in Austria. Guided tours of the cave system allow you to explore the fascinating underground world of the Kalkalpen.
natpark.kalkalpen@co.telecom.at
Styria:
Nationalpark Gesaeuse
Located in northers Styria this park was formed by the roaring waters of the Enns river, that run through the rocky canyon. Besides hiking and walking we also suggest: white water rafting.
info@nationalpark.co.at
Tirol, Salzburg and Carinthia:
Nationalpark Hohe Tauern
The largest nationalpark in Central Europe is shared by Tirol, Salzburg and Carinthia. The park is home to many scenic treasures, including both the majestic Grossglockner and Grossvenediger massifs, the ancient woodland of the Rauris Forest and the thunderous Krimml waterfalls. The journey over the Grossglockner High Alpine Road takes you to an altitude of 0.9 miles and through a range of climate zones.
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