Part 3 – Salzburg to Grado and the Adriatic Sea

Part 3 of our cycling grand tour begins in Salzburg where the route traverses alpine valleys, wild river gorges, historic castles, and mountain passes before descending through Venetian landscapes to the coastal town of Grado Italy.

Route Overview & Map

Salzburg
│
│ ~35 km (22 mi) along the Salzach River
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[Golling]
│
│ ~35 km (22 mi) past Lueg Pass & gorges
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[St. Johann in Pongau]
│
│ ~60 km (37 mi) through Gastein Valley + Tauern Tunnel Train
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[Mölltal]
│
│ ~30 km (19 mi) along the Drau River
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[Spittal an der Drau]
│
│ ~40 km (25 mi) framed by Carinthian Alps
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[Villach]
│
│ Train to Tarvisio + ~60–70 km (37–43 mi) through Canal Valley
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Gemona Region
│
│ ~55 km (34 mi) past Julian Alps & vineyards
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[Udine]
│
│ ~55 km (34 mi) through reed landscapes & lagoons
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[Grado] (Adriatic Sea)

Total Distance: Approx. 365 km (~ 227 miles)

Countries Visited: Austria, Italy

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 27: Travel day – Budapest to Salzburg

We travel from Budapest to Salzbug via high speed train.

Day 28 – 31 – Rest days in Salzburg

We will take a few days off cycling to explore Salzburg’s baroque old town. Key sights include the Hohensalzburg Fortress overlooking the city, Mirabell and Hellbrunn Castles, and Getreidegasse with Mozart’s birthplace.

Day 32: Salzburg to Golling

Part 3 of our cycling adventure kicks off with cycling to Golling.

• Distance: Approx. 35 km (22 miles)
• Highlights & Sights: Ride south along the Salzach River through shady meadows. Visit Hallein to explore the oldest salt mine in the world, or take a short hike near Golling to see the Golling Waterfall set in alpine forest.

Day 33: Golling to St. Johann in Pongau

• Distance: Approx. 35 km (22 miles)
• Highlights & Sights: Begin with a moderate climb over Lueg Pass, offering views of the Tennengebirge range. Pass the narrow Salzachklamm gorge with 1,000-meter-high rock walls. Pass through Bischofshofen (famous for the Four Hills Tournament ski jump) and end near the Liechtensteinklamm gorge.

Day 34: St. Johann in Pongau to Mölltal

• Distance: Approx. 60 km (37 miles) + Train Transfer
• Highlights & Sights: Tackle a climb to Oberuntersberg into the Gastein Valley, ending at the spa town of Bad Gastein. At Böckstein, board a 10-minute train through the Tauern Railway Lock, cutting through the main Alpine ridge to Mallnitz in the Mölltal Valley.

Day 35: Mölltal to Spittal an der Drau

• Distance: Approx. 30 km (19 miles)
• Highlights & Sights: Enjoy a leisurely downhill ride through high mountain scenery in the Mölltal valley. Join the Drau River at Möllbrücke and continue into Spittal, where you can visit Porcia Castle—one of the Renaissance buildings north of the Alps.

Day 36: Spittal an der Drau to Villach

• Distance: Approx. 40 km (25 miles)
• Highlights & Sights: Ride along river dikes framed by the Carinthian Alps. Finish in Villach, Carinthia’s second-largest city, sitting near Mount Dobratsch (known as the “mountain of butterflies” for housing up to 1,300 species).

Day 37: Villach to Gemona Region

• Distance: Approx. 60–70 km (37–43 miles) + Train Transfer
• Highlights & Sights: Take a short train from Villach across the Italian border to Tarvisio, a border town where Austrian, Slavic, and Italian cultures meet. Cycle down through the Canal Valley along a repurposed railway line surrounded by forested peaks.

Day 38: Gemona Region to Udine

• Distance: Approx. 55 km (34 miles)
• Highlights & Sights: Depart the foothills of the Julian Alps at Gemona, a historic town rebuilt after the 1976 earthquake. Watch the landscape shift into vineyard-covered hills as you approach Udine, famous for its Venetian architecture and wine taverns.

Day 39: Udine to Grado

• Distance: Approx. 55 km (34 miles)
• Highlights & Sights: Cycle through wide reed landscapes and past small waterways. Catch the salty sea air as you enter the island city of Grado, an old fishing town located in a lagoon along the Adriatic coast.

Day 40: Grado

We conclude our cycling adventure and enjoy a day by the sea in Grado.

Day 41: Travel to Trieste

We travel to Trieste either via a ferry or train. (TBD)

Day 42 – Day 43 Trieste

We will spend a few days exploring Trieste and the surrounding the area.

Day 44 – Trieste to Frankfurt and the journey home

We conclude our grand tour and begin our journey back to reality.