Cycling the Alps was a dream of mine ever since I set off for Scotland to start my bike tour across Europe. I knew it was something I wanted to do because I love the mountains. (And also probably needed to do because they’re right smack in the middle of everything!) But I was incredibly nervous about it.
I had heard some pretty scary stories from people who had ridden in mountain ranges. They described being on busy roads, with small or no shoulders, cars and trucks speeding by, unable to brake adequately because of the steep descents. It didn’t sound like the safest or most enjoyable experience!
But I still really wanted to get through the Alps. It was always on my mind — if there was a route to get through them, would I be safe getting through them, was I strong enough to get through them…
When I found there was an actual bike route from Munich to Venice I thought it must be too good to be true. But it’s not! There is a bike route from Munich, Germany, through Austria, all the way to Venice, Italy. You are on actual bike paths for long stretches, sometimes sharing quiet roads with cars, and very occasionally on busier stretches with cars but it is possible to bypass these by train.
You get to spend around 560km cycling by crystal clear water, through forests and beautiful towns, mountains all around you, the sounds of cowbells faintly ringing in the distance. It’s unreal. And yes there is of course plenty of climbing — about 3,000 vertical meters. But if you train properly, take it at a pace that works for you and/or go with an e-bike if needed — you too can experience this beautiful journey!
It was one of my favourite parts of my bike tour, and I am so glad I was able to do it. I hope the above video and the breakdown below of my mileage, accommodations and other resources will help provide you with the information you need if you want to do a similar trip. Happy riding!
1. MUNICH TO IFFELDORF
Mileage: 58km
Accommodation: With cyclist friend I met.
Note: This was off the actual Munich-Venice bike route so I could visit my friend.
2. IFFELDORF TO VÖLS (NEAR INNSBRUCK)
Mileage: 65km (Friend drove me ~25km to bypass a steep climb on a main road so would have been longer if purely cycled. But you’ll likely stick to the actual bike route so won’t be over this way anyway! Innsbruck is where I reconnected with the actual bike route after this detour.)
Accommodation: Camping Innsbruck/Völs — just a small plot of land but conveniently located. Quite expensive (25 euros for 1 tent, 1 person) compared to most campsites around Europe but many other campsites in the Alps were similarly high.
3. VÖLS TO VARNA
Mileage: 65km (Took train to bypass 8km stretch on main road)
Accommodation: Camping Vahrner See — big land with horses running in a paddock and a whole field to myself. A couple kilometers off the route but only 13 euros.
4. VARNA TO TOBLACH
Mileage: 71km
Accommodation: Toblacher See Camping — popular site and the camping zone for cyclists/hikers is small so you’re quite packed in and it’s pricier — 22 euros. But you’re on a crystal clear lake with mountains all around. It’s stunning.
5. TOBLACH TO LONGARONE
Mileage: 85km
Accommodation: Albergo de Bona — Inn and restaurant run by a lovely Italian couple. Clean and affordable.
6. LONGARONE TO SPRESIANO
Mileage: 86km
Accommodation: Terre Bio Camping — An organic kiwi farm run by an Italian couple where you can pitch your tent among the rows of kiwis! 11 euros and amazing experience.
7. SPRESIANO TO MESTRE (VENICE)
Mileage: 67km
Accommodation: Air B&B — reasonably priced, clean and near tram to get into Venice.
OTHER RESOURCES
Official Munich-Venice Bike Route
Detailed breakdown of route
GPX Route File
If you have any questions not answered in this post or video on cycling from Munich to Venice, please don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments below. Happy cycling!
More Videos on Bike Touring
5 Tips for Cycling Scotland
Bike Tour Packing List
7 Tips for a Safe Solo Bike Tour
so informative and honest about the difficulties….
I love your post!! I’m planning on doing this trip from Innsbruck to Venice this fall. Until then, I’d like to do the ride from Munich to Innsbruck. I know you did a different route but would you say this is also a very beautiful region and a worthwhile ride for that reason?
Hey Kristen! I’m sorry I didn’t see this until now! Yes from everything I’ve heard the route from Munich to Innsbruck is lovely. I was actually sad I didn’t get to see it! I really wanted to see Bad Tolz and Lake Achnasee. I’m sure it will be a lovely route! Have a great ride!
Hey!! Love your videos they are preparing me well! I just downloaded the route, slightly nervous as I’ll only have about 3 months to train and the route says it’s all for ‘expert’ riders. Think I will manage if I just take it slow??
Thanks
Tami
Hey Tami! I’m so excited for you to see this beautiful route! Of course everyone’s fitness level is different so I can’t say for sure but 3 months is a good amount of time to get in some key training 🙂 Training on some hills and practicing with the gear weight you’ll be carrying will likely be a big help. And then taking it slow for sure. Always keeping in mind there’s no shame in walking your bike or hopping a train for a stretch if you need to 🙂 As I mentioned, I did for the short stretch with little/no shoulder and I have no regrets! Have so much fun!
Hello thanks for all the advice on your video.
We are planning to do the route in august with 3 teenagers. I need some advice about how to get the train back from Venice at the end. There will be 5 of us and I need to find a way of getting us and our bikes back to Munich from Venice (and then on to London but we have done that but before). Is there a train route where we can book our bikes? Or an alternative?
Thanks
Sarah
Hey Sarah! I’m so sorry, unfortunately I didn’t take the train back to Munich so I can’t speak to that. From Venice I did take the train to Trieste (in Italy). It was very easy — I just rolled the bike on. Might be good to call some of the train companies operating out of Venice and see what they suggest. Something to keep in mind is that some trains have bike limits so booking ahead to ensure all 5 bikes make it on may be needed. Good luck — it sounds like an incredible family adventure!
Hello thanks for all the information. We want to do this journey this summer with our teenagers. What we haven’t been able to figure out is how to get home at the end of the journey. We have not been able to understand the options for getting bikes and trains back from Venice to Munich.
Thanks for your video and posting all the resources. I will do that trip to celebrate my 60th birthday in May. I plan to rent a bike in Munich, so looking at your video do you recommend renting a gravel bike? I won’t be doing the back packing and camping part of the trip since a company will move my luggage and book hotels for me, so I will be able to travel lighter.
And just out of curiosity, what are the specs of your bike in this trip you made?
That’s exciting! The bike I used was a cyclocross bike, it got the job done, but a little unstable on rough roads with all my gear strapped to it. I think a gravel bike would be a good choice for this route. The company you’re working with may have some helpful suggestions!
Hi – thanks for your video. Im pretty keen to do the route solo in September. Although I love the mountains I hate heights ! Are there many stretches where vertigo might kick in (big drop offs by the side of the road/path)? Thanks
Hey Greg! Off the top of my head – yes there were some sections with drop offs. From what I remember there was a stretch on gravel in the dolomites where I stayed tucked along the mountainside to be safe, and also a windy descent on a bike path after one of the passes (I can’t remember if that had rails). This was in 2019 so it’s possible things have changed. I hope that’s helpful information though I wish I had better news to report!
Thanks Sheelagh – oh well – it’s too late now. Leaving Australia for Munich in 2 weeks. Better get training.
Wishing you all the best Greg!