The Complete Guide to Cycling Austria

Topography

Austria is a landlocked country sandwiched between Italy to the south and Germany to the north.

Located in the heart of Central Europe, it spans an area of 83,871km² (32,382sq mi), which is roughly equal to the size of the American state of Maine.

So if you're coming from the Americas or from down under, Austria might seem like a small country indeed. However, this small country has one of the richest cultures and history in Europe, having been the birthplace of luminaries such as the the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the father of modern bodybuilding Arnold Schwarzenegger, the physicist Erwin Schrodinger, the economist Fredrich Hayek, and the philosopher Karl Popper. Even Adolf Hitler was born in Austria.

Also called “Osterreich” by locals (meaning “Eastern-realm” in English), the country is located in the Northern Hemisphere (like all of Europe), with a latitude comprised between 47°-49° N (approximately halfway between the North Pole and the Equator!), and a longitude comprised between 10-17° E.

The country is one of the most mountainous in Europe with a whopping 60% of its surface covered in mountains.

Austria is entirely crossed by three major ranges of the Alps: the Northern Calcareous Alps (with the Parseierspitze as their highest peak at 3.036m/9960ft), the Central Alps (the most extensive range with the highest peak the Großglockner (3,798 m/12460 ft) and the Southern Calcareous Alps shared with Italy and Slovenia.

To give you an idea of how mountainous Austria truly is, consider that in the country there are 242 peaks over 3,000 meters (9,842 ft), with at least 150 meters of prominence, or a whopping twelve peaks with over 1,500m (4,921 ft) of prominence.

The average altitude of Austria is 910 m (2,986 ft), which makes it the 2nd highest country in Europe by elevation just behind Switzerland.

The high concentration of snowy peaks is also the main reason why the country's landscape is dotted with over 25.000 lakes and bodies of water (mostly of drinking water quality), that adorn every corner of Austria, making cycling in Austria an adventure of experiencing nature's pristine beauty.

If you enjoy cycling through alpine landscapes, it’s hard to find a more characteristic and spectacular location than Austria!

Flora

The Austrian Flora is typically alpine, luxuriant, and grandiose. Some 47% of the country is still today covered by forests and the variety of plants you can witness while cycling in Austria is astonishing.

The valleys are usually covered by broad-leaved trees and angiosperms such as the ever-present European beech, oaks, small-leaved lindens, hornbeams, Norway maples, and sycamore maples.

Above 1200-1500m (3900-4900mi), all flora turns into gymnosperms with coniferous forests that adorn the highest mountains like a warm ever-green coat.

The most common needle-shaped trees you might find on your route are Austrian Pine (also called “Pinus Nigra” or Black Pine - one of the most peculiar autochthonous plants from Austria), European larches, silver firs, Norway spruces, scots pines, stone pines, and Pinus cembra.

If you’re visiting Austria around late spring, or early summer, you can expect to also come across the triumph of flowers!

The most common are the white Edelweiss, which is also the Austrian national flower, the yellow mountain arnica, the golden hawksbeard, the white alpine anemone, and the deep-blue Gentiana acaulis (among many others!). A true natural marvel for the eyes!

Last but not least, it is important to underline the ever-presence of the color green all over the country!

The Austrian soil is extremely fertile, and rich in nutrients, while water is abundant. This contributes to the colorful splendor and highly saturated greens that make cycling through Austria a picture postcard experience.

Fauna

The Austrian fauna is typically alpine.

The most common large mammals you can see are the Alpine Ibex (mountain goat with curved horns), the Chamois (wild goat-antelope), the Red Deer, the Roe Deer, Wild Boars, and marmots.

More rare are the European Lynx and the Brown Bears which have been just recently been re-introduced in the nearby Italian Alps, but are often shot on sight when they cross the southern border into Austria.

As for birds, one of the most iconic animals you could hope to spot while cycling in Austria is the majestic Golden eagle, followed by bearded vultures, Eurasian owls, the melodious alpine accentor, the colorful yellowhammer, Eurasian wrens, and the white storks.

Austrian lakes and rivers also swarm with marine life, mainly trouts, perches, carp, and pikes.

Climate

Being a landlocked country, Austria enjoys a predominantly continental/alpine climate, with distinct seasons.

Winters last from December to February, and are generally freezing cold, with temperatures often dropping below freezing point in all regions of the country and snow being a common occurrence during the entire season. Not for nothing, after all, is Austria one of the best countries for skiing!).

From March, temperatures begin to rise as the alpine snow-caps start to melt, and with it, the cycling season starts at the beginning of April.

Summers are generally warm, especially in the lowlands where temperatures might peak at 25-30° (77-86°F), while the temperature at higher altitudes reaches 18-22°C (64-71°F). At this time of the year, evening showers are rather common as the humidity of the lakes tends to induce rains by nightfall, but they don’t usually last more than an hour.

Lastly, autumn in Austria starts around mid-September, and it’s not particularly rainy like in most parts of Europe. While temperatures might get chilly as we head into October (8-15°C / 46-59°F), autumn days tend to be rather sunny, and are great for cycling and witnessing the colorful foliage of rural and mountainous regions.

Note: in Austria, altitude changes a lot between region and region, and it greatly impacts temperature. It’s thus very common to come across temperature variations while riding through the countryside.

Economy

With a GDP of US $667 billion (2024), Austria is the 14th largest economy in Europe and the 26th worldwide.

Its GDP per capita is among the highest in the world, at 64,600 Euros ($ 69,000), which is roughly 10% higher compared to neighboring Italy or 40% more than its other neighbour, Slovakia.

The Austrian economy, like that of other European nations, is dominated by the service sector which accounts for 70% of its GDP. Only 28% comes from the manufacturing sector and only 1,2% coming from agriculture and forestry.

Within the service sector, tourism accounts for roughly 6% of total GDP, which is highly- developed but yet not massified like in other corners of Europe.

Apart from services, the most important industries of Austria are related to:

Industrial and automobile machinery Hand-crafted items (jewelry, ceramics, glassware) Paper products and Wood Red Bull (the company is from Austria and uses Austrian water to make its energy drink!)

According to Numbeo.com, the cost of living in Vienna (the capital of Austria and its most expensive city), is roughly 20% less than in London and 20% higher than in Rome, which is surely important data to keep in mind when budgeting your trip!

Following are what we believe to be the best regions to cycle in Austria.

1. The Bucklige Welt Region Around Vienna.

Perfect for beginners and intermediate cyclists, the Bucklige Welt region (“fat-duckweed world” in English) takes its name from the signature plant that fills its valleys.

This region is also called the “land of the thousand hills”, and offers a variegated set of panoramas with typical Mittel-Europa sceneries such as middle-age castles and renaissance palaces (such as the Burgweg Grimmenstein, the Krumbach Schloss or the Seebenstein Castle), mountain churches (such the Bergkirsche) and picturesque citadels (such as the Burg Wiener Neustadt).

The region is fairly easy to cycle, thanks to wonderful and well-kept bike lanes cutting through the green crops and the pine forests. Last but not least, being located only 100km from Vienna (62 mi), it means that a visit to the Bucklige Welt could be combined with a 1-2 day tour of the Austrian capital city!

2. Kärnten or Carinthia, the Sunniest Region in Austria.

Located on the southern end of Austria on the border with Italy, the Kärnten region is a mix of towering peaks and postcard-worthy lakes such as the Weissensee and the Millstatter See.

The valleys of Carinthia are extremely wide, fringed with relatively low-lying mountains, allowing the Kartner region to bask in the sun like no other region in Austria. For cyclists, this makes it a great region for enjoying longer light hours in summer and the mid-seasons.

The region is served by a convenient bike-friendly train that can also bring you in less than 2 hours to the heart of the Pustertal near Lienz, to cycle the famous lakes’ trail from Lienz to San-Candido.

3. Innsbruck and the Otztal, in the Heart of Tyrol.

Located on the west side of Austria, the Tyrol is a region famous for winter sports such as alpine skiing, jump skiing, and snowboarding. The mountains here are tall, steep, and humongous.

The lowest part of the region is its capital city Innsbruck in the South at 574m above sea level (1883 feet) while the highest is the Wildspitze mountain in the North at 3768m (12421 feet).

As you can guess, this is a region best suited for avid mountain bikers and athletes.

Some of the most popular climbs in Otztal are the Valley Glacier Road, the Renschen Pass, the Timmelsjoch, and the Otztaler Radmarathon. Also, the Aquadome near Längenfeld is one of the most modern and picturesque Spas in Europe and a must-visit for a relaxing break.

4. Salzkammergut,

Salzkammergut, which literally translates to the "salt domain" for its salt mines is where hills meet mountains near Salzburg.

The Salzkammergut is perhaps the most famous cycling region in Austria. Famous for its stunning alpine lakes, charming villages, and rich cultural heritage, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

Known as one of Austria’s most scenic areas, the Salzkammergut spans across the provinces of Upper Austria, Salzburg, and Styria, and it is ideal for cyclists looking for both leisurely rides and more challenging routes through picturesque landscapes. Just keep in mind as a rule of thumb: west of Salzburg are mountains, and all that stays on the east of the city are hills!

Generally speaking, paved roads are wide and well-maintained all over the country.

Bike shops and cyclist-friendly accommodations are surprisingly common all over Austria as cycling is a beloved activity fierce part of the Austrian Culture, so no matter where you choose to go, you can expect a welcoming and supportive environment for your pedaling tour!

1. The Tyrolean Round Trip between Innsbruck and Kühtai

This is a dream road for true climbers in the nature wonderland of the Tyrol, starting from Innsbruck to Kühtai and back.

This 121km loop (75 mi) involves 2500m (8202 feet) of altitude difference and takes approximately 6 hours, crossing green mountain pastures, peaceful alpine villages, and forests of coniferous. Between cows and sheep, on this route, you can witness the azure water reservoirs and the majestic Martinswand mountain. High levels of fitness are required as many sections present average gradients above 8%.

2. Pustertal Dolomites Tour from Lienz

Starting from Lienz, the Pustertal trail is a panoramic, mostly paved 122km-long ride (76mi) in the beauty of the Pustertal and the east-Karnten region. While the low-valley from Lienz to Sillian can be recurred by cyclists of any level, (and it’s served by a convenient bike-friendly local train), the come back through Kotschach is a challenge for most passioned bikers (up and downs up to 750m/2460feet of altitude). On this route, you can expect to encounter low traffic as you witness mountain lakes, evergreen forests, and ancient medieval hamlets.

3. The Salzburg Hills and Lakes Tour

This is an easy route in the surroundings of Salzburg, through a countryside as vibrant as the city itself. The itinerary options are widely customizable, but we would recommend not to miss Postalm (a vast alpine plateau in the Salzkammergut with impressive summit panorama and an oasis of peace and serenity away from the hustle and bustle of low-valley destinations) and the Lake Hallstatt between the peaks of Hallstatt and Obertrauner. If you love mountain passes, you will love this trail!

4. Panorama Route through the Bucklige Welt

A 2-3 hours route for beginners and laid-back bikers through the castles and palaces of the Bucklige Welt, with plenty of options to stop for a glass of Riesling or a jump in history.

Start from Bad Schönau (easily reachable with a short bus ride from Vienna or Graz) and take the round trip (it’s well-signaled by blue “Panorama route” signs. Highlights for a stop are surely the Rosengarten Kirchschlag (an impressive rose garden!), the Krumbach Castle, and the Seebenstein Castle.

Best Season

The best period for cycling in Austria is surely May to September, when days get warmer with peaks up to 20-25°C (68-77°F). Rains are rare, except for evening showers, and the sun shines for longer.

Given the high average altitude of the country and its trail, Austrian summers are fresh but don’t get excessively hot: perfect for escaping the Mediterranean heatwaves and enjoying biking at comfortable temperatures. Peak Season

The best season for cycling in Austria also coincides with the peak tourist season in general, as many Europeans from neighboring countries flow to Austria every year attracted by its extremely favorable temperatures.

As tourists and cyclo-tourists collide in the same period, prices for accommodation and services tend to grow in summer, although not excessively.

A second peak season in Austria is normally December-February when the many ski resorts and the ski world cup draw winter sports passioned from all over the world. However, this is not ideal for cycling due to the snow and the cold.

Off Season

From mid-October, the daytime temperatures in Austria normally drop everywhere below 15°C (59°F) with lows down to 5°C (41°F).

November, December, January, and February are usually abundantly snowy and unfavorable months for cycling, while March and April temperatures, despite swinging from year to year, are still generally considered unfavorable for cycling due to rainfalls and low temperatures too.

Despite its small size, Austria’s cuisine is rich, varied, and full of irresistible and world-renowned delicacies. The Austrian food tradition is deeply rooted in its past (Austro-Hungarian empire) and intertwined with the cold and once-upon-a-time hostile morphology of the country. Because of that, what you can expect to find in Austria is an earthy, warm, speciated, and calory-rich cuisine to pleasantly rock you and surprise you.

The five top dishes you should try while cycling in Austria are:

1. Wiener Schnitzel

The schnitzel is a breaded and fried veal -sometimes pork- cutlet, traditionally served with lemon and parsley. It is prepared by coating the meat in flour, then egg, and finally breadcrumbs before frying in clarified butter until golden. Can be accompanied by mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and potato chips, and it is unbelievable!

2. Apfelstrudel

The majesty of Austrian Tyrolian desserts. The strudel is a thin and gluttonous pastry filled with spiced apples, raisins, and cinnamon, typically rolled up and baked. The dough is stretched paper-thin before being filled and baked until crispy. There are also modern versions with pears, cherries, or apricots, and even with sauerkraut, but the original always remains the apple one!

3. Käsespätzle

That’s a must-try, so typical as it gets! The spätzle are egg-based noodles made by combining flour, eggs, and water. They get boiled and once ready, layered with cheese before baking. The topping of crispy onions crowns the dish: earthy, warm, tasty! An ideal dish for the mid-seasons when temperatures start to drop!

4. Sachertorte

Probably the most famous Austrian cake in Europe, invented by Franz Sacher in Vienna in 1832 for Prince Metternich. The Sacher is a rich chocolate cake with a layer of apricot jam, traditionally topped with dark chocolate icing. It is baked, then cooled and filled with jam before being frosted. Vienna is still open the Sacher Cafè where the cake was first invented.

5. Knödel

Born as a poor dish, the knodels are round dumplings made from bread or potatoes, and meat/vegetables leftovers. Often served as a side dish; the dough is cooked in boiling water and can be served both wet (in soups), or dry (with meat or topped by melted butter and sage). In modern times, they have become a true specialty, and every Austrian restaurant claims to have the best novels in the country!

Bonus Dish : Meat Cuts and Cheese. Try some platter of cold cuts and cheeses on the Alps, Austrian cheese and charcuterie are other worldly and the variety is immense!

Austria has been a member state of the EU since 1995 and is part of the Schengen Area.

If you’re not a citizen of a member state, you can apply for a Uniform Schengen Visa which will allow you to stay in the country for up to 90 days, as well as cross into other EU countries.

You can find more information on the EU Page for Schengen application.

Currency

The official currency in Austria is the Euro, which as of 2024 stays at around 1Euro = 1,10USD.

Throughout Austria, all major credit card circuits are accepted (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, American Express), and all merchants are obliged by European law to offer the possibility of paying by card.

This makes carrying liquid cash quite optional while cycling in Austria, although having a small amount on you is always a good idea as sometimes you might find tiny restaurants or mountain lodges where the internet doesn’t reach.

Transport

The main international airports to fly into Austria are the Innsbruck Airport (INN) located in Tyrol on the West side of the country and the Vienna Airport (VIE) located in the extreme North East.

Public transport in Austria is among the best in Europe: well-organized, efficient, punctual, and also, for the vast part, biker-friendly.

On most regional and long-distance ÖBB trains (the national train company), you can indeed take your bicycle with you for just a 10% additional fee on the train fare.

Trams and buses connect tiny towns and remote locations: the most popular companies, in addition to local buses, are FlixBus, Eurolines, RegioJet, and BlaBlaBus.

Language

The official language in Austria is German, while Croatian, Slovenian, and Hungarian are recognized as the official languages of the autonomous population in a few small bordering regions.

Austrians are famous for having regional dialects and a few specific terms not commonly used in Germany, but overall the language structure is the same (think of the differences such as American and British English).

Above 40% of Austrians speak English (almost all people under the age of 35!), which makes it easy to navigate the country even without a word of German.

Said that learning a few polite words such as “Guten Morgen” (good morning), Danke (thank you), and Alles Gut (all good), will bring you a long way 😊

Culture and Religion

The predominant religion in Austria is Christianity with approximately 62% of its population identifying themselves as such, while the 2nd major faith group is atheists, with a whopping 22% (one of the highest amounts in Europe!).

The culture of Austria is extremely peculiar and unique, as the central location of the country within the European continent fostered cultural exchanges with its neighbors and populations to come.

Festivals in Austria are among the most prestigious in the world and they are extremely varied: the Viennale film festival in October is a must-see for movie lovers, the Salzburg Festival is a jump into centuries-old art and classic music, and the Danube Island Festival is one of the greatest music festivals in Europe with over 20 stages hosting any musical genre.

Austria is the birthplace of Mozart, so it goes without saying that Austrians love music, be it is metal, rock, classical, hip hop or jazz does not matter. Along your route, you can expect to cross several tiny festivals and local concert halls hosting events year-round.

If you’re visiting in June, be sure not to miss the Sonnenwende Festival (summer solstice) in the Wachau region (Lower Austria), where you can expect to witness artful bonfires, floating lights dancing on the Danube waters and incredible fireworks by night.

Last but not least, remember that tipping around up to 10-15% of the bill is pretty customary in Austria (it’s one of the few countries in Europe where it is almost expected.

Appliances and Devices

Electricity in Austria, as in most of the European continent, is supplied at 220-240 volts, and Italy uses a frequency of 50 Hz.

The electrical sockets in Austria are Type C plug (flat with two round pins), and Type F plug (also called “Shuko”), which are the most common sockets found throughout Europe (same as Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Turkey, and all Eastern Europe).

The Shuko socket is circular with two circular pins.

Mobile Coverage

4G and 5G coverage is widely available all over the country, although it might not be always stable and signal intermittence is common in the mountainous regions, especially in narrow valleys.

Few “dark areas” remain in Austria today, where both mobile service and data are not available, but normally it’s just sufficient to move a few hundred meters to find the signal of a data tower again.

The main Austrian phone companies are 3 (Drei), A1 Telekom, Bob, Magenta, HoT, and Red Bull Mobile. You could also think about getting an e-sim by e-travelsim, Maya mobile, Airalo, or Holafly.

Time Zone

Austria is in the Central European Time (CET) zone, which is UTC+1. However, during daylight saving time, it switches to Central European Summer Time (CEST), which is UTC+2.

Read A Concise History of Austria (Steven Beller 2006) – a book to make sense of this tiny and peaceful country, that incredibly started two world wars, Radetzky March (Joseph Roth 1932) – for those interested in learning about the Austro-Hungarian empire, The World of Yesterday (Stefan Zweig 1942) - narrating the rise and fall of the Golden Age of Vienna.

Listen: Tyrol Yodel Music, Falco, Dj Otzi, Andreas Gabalier (Schlager Musik), Konkrust (folk-metal band)

Watch: Woman in Gold (2025), The Third Man (1949), Sissi (1955), Amadeus (1984), Museum Hours (2012)

Eat: Wiener Schnitzel (breaded and fried veal or pork cutlet), Tafelspitz (boiled beef served with horseradish and sides), Kaiserschmarrn (shredded pancake with powdered sugar and fruit compote), Apfelstrudel (apple strudel), Sachertorte (chocolate cake with apricot jam), Tiroler Gröstl (pan-fried potatoes with bacon and onions), Knödel (dumplings), Goulash (hearty meat stew), Marillenknödel (apricot-filled dumplings)

Drink: Stiegl Goldbräu Beer, Gösser Radler, Ottakringer Beer, Riesling Wine, Glühwein (hot boiling wine), Spritzer (white wine with Soda), Marillenschnaps (fruit brandy distilled from apricots)

Learn: Cooking the perfect schnitzel and strudel, and the craftsmanship of carving wood sculptures.

Experience: Visit the Opera house in Vienna, ride the Grossclockner High Alpine Road, visit the art city of Salzburg and the Hohensalzburg Fortress, ride through the abbeys, monasteries, and castles in lower Austria, take a relaxing break at the Aquadome in Lagerfeld, visit the Schonbrunn Palace

Austria has great infrastructure, stunning natural beauty, one of the most beautiful European capitals in Vienna, and a rich and varied culture that make it a delight to cycle through.

If you’re interested in cycling in Austria, drop us an email, and we will be happy to craft a dream Austria cycling itinerary for you.
Electric bikes are also available for all our bike tours.

For more information on cycling in Europe, make sure to have a look at our guides to cycling Italy and cycling Spain.