What makes an ideal cycling destination? A pleasant climate, a charming landscape with spectacular mountains, rivers and lakes - and a good infrastructure for bikers. Carinthia offers all of this. Austria's southernmost province borders on Italy and Slovenia and is located on the sunny southern side of the main Alpine ridge. The state capital of Klagenfurt is surrounded by rolling hills and high mountains - with the blue and turquoise of around 200 bathing lakes in between. The idyllic Drau and Gail rivers flow through the holiday region from west to east. Carinthia has around 1,000 kilometres of attractive cycle paths to offer. The Alpe-Adria and Drau cycle paths are particularly well-known and popular and have been listed by the ADFC as one of four 5-star quality cycle tours since 2016.
The Carinthia special was an extra issue in MYBIKE 2/2019. You can download the complete travel special with all travel information as a PDF below the article. The special costs 2.99 euros.
Facts, addresses and tips about cycling in Carinthia
The touring area with the Carinthian lakes and the rivers Drau and Gail is nestled in a hilly landscape and borders on Italy and Slovenia. The routes are mostly on tarmac or well-marked cycle paths. Some sections lead along quiet country roads or side roads. The route profile is mostly flat to undulating, with some steep climbs requiring gears suitable for mountain biking.
Travelling time
In the south of Austria, the cycling season starts in April in some regions and lasts until October. The times outside the peak tourist season in July and August are ideal for cyclists.
Arrival
By car via Munich, Salzburg and through the Tauern Tunnel. When travelling with cross-border bike transport, you need an international bike card. It costs ten euros and includes a
Pitch reservation (www.bahn.de/bahnundbike). From twelve selected railway stations in Carinthia, you can be conveniently transported to almost 4,900 accommodation establishments. Important: pre-booking by 6.00 pm the day before. The service can be booked at www.bahnhofshuttle.at
Overnight stay
In Carinthia, cyclists will find accommodation to suit every taste and budget. At www. radtouren.at you will find cycle-friendly accommodation with the ADFC's Bed & Bike seal of approval. Along the Drau cycle path, almost 50 inns offer cyclists special services (drauradwegwirte.at). You can also find accommodation at www.kaernten.at search.
E-bike tips
If you want to explore Carinthia by e-bike, you don't have to bring your own bike. Around 50 hire stations throughout the province offer bikes and accessories. The hire bikes can also be returned to another hire station. Information and booking at: www.kaernten-rent-ebike.at
Tour planning
The choice of cycle tours in Carinthia is huge. An overview can be found on the website touren.kaernten.at For each route there is a map, all route data, photos and GPS data to download. Good cycle tour books and cycle maps are available from publishers such as Esterbauer (www.esterbauer.com). The cycle map of Carinthia, scale 1:100,000, costs 7.90 euros.
Contact us
Kärnten Information, Völkermarkter Ring 21-23, A-9020 Klagenfurt, phone 0043/(0)463/3000, e-mail: info@kaernten.at, www.kaernten.at
The most beautiful cycle routes in Carinthia at a glance
GPS DATA
You can find the GPS data for all tour suggestions in the MYBIKE Collection on komoot
The 11 pleasure tours with all the information, GPS data and videos can be found here:
