The Tauern Cycle Route
On this page we have collected for you interesting facts about the Tauern Cycle Route. Info on the topography, the signage as well as tips on how to get there, ideal travel time and shortcut options.
The Tauern Cycle Route is one of the most beautiful routes that you can wish for as a cyclist. Hardly anywhere else will you get to see so many mountain giants on a bike trip. You cycle at the foot of the Hohen Tauern, the Kitzbühel Alps and the Tennengebirge, round the Berchtesgaden Alps, the Salzburg Slate Alps and the Hochkönig Massif.
And if you prefer to have your cycling trip organized by professionals, then take a look at our bookable cycling tours on the Tauern Cycle Path. You cycle, we take care of the rest – from hotel bookings to luggage transport!
Show more Show lessShort & Sweet: The Tauern Cycle Route
- Length
Depending on the variant 230 – 300 km - Topography
Altitude profile ●●○○○
The Tauern Cycle Path leads, if the route was planned counterclockwise, mostly slightly downhill due to the gradient. However, there are some intermediate climbs to master. - Signage
The signage is excellent. The Tauern Cycle Route is provided with green signs over the entire route in both directions. - Quality
The Tauern Cycle Route runs mostly on bike paths or low-traffic roads.
.
The cross-country and extremely charming bike tour begins in Krimml in Salzburger Land with a highlight. The Krimml Waterfalls, the highest in Central Europe, roar thunderously into the depths here. The wildly romantic Liechtensteinklamm or the Eisriesenwelt, the largest ice cave in the world and the Castle Hohenwerfen should not be missed!
What else is there to see along the Tauern Cycle Route? Lots of gorges and caves, museums and national parks, crystal clear lakes, castles and farmhouses. Of course, the cities of Salzburg and Passau are also true highlights.
Show more Show less
In Krimml, the first highlight already awaits you amidst a wonderful mountain backdrop. The Krimml Waterfalls are the fifth highest waterfalls in the world with a drop height of 380 meters. You cycle along the edge of the Hohe Tauern National Park. It is the largest national park in the entire Alpine region and one of the largest protected areas in Central Europe. Over 300 mountain peaks over 3000 meters rise here, 342 glaciers and 551 mountain lakes are to be counted.
You cycle at the foot of the impressive Glocknergruppe almost continuously downhill towards Bruck and Kaprun. There is enough time to enjoy the magnificent panorama of the surrounding mountain ranges. In Bruck, the Tauern Cycle Routes now divides.
The first variant takes you from Bruck through the beautiful Saalach Valley to Passau. We offer this route on our Tauern Cycle Path. Take a refreshing dip in the crystal-clear Zeller See before setting off in the direction of Salzburg. Even from a distance, you will recognize the Hohensalzburg Fortress, which towers stately over the city. Salzburg is synonymous with Mozart, Salzburg Festival and combines art, culture, tradition and modernity like hardly any other city. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Tauern Cycle Path takes you through the calm Salzach and Inn floodplains. On their banks lie the old boatmen's market Oberndorf, the Gothic Braunau, the Augustinian canons' monastery Reichersberg, the baroque town of Schärding, the castle of Wernstein and finally the "Three Rivers City" Passau. There you can now stretch your feet in the beautiful old town. Worth seeing are St. Stephen's Cathedral, seat of the Passau bishop, the Veste Oberhaus and the Prince Bishop's Residence in the style of the Viennese late Baroque.
The second variant of the Tauern Cycle Route leads from Bruck along the Salzach via St. Johann im Pongau and Golling to Salzburg. On our Tauern Cycle Tour in Austria beginning in Salzburg, we have combined both variants in one trip. You pass the impressive Salzachklamm and Liechtensteinklamm in the Salzach Valley, ride at the foot of the Grossglockner, Austria's highest mountain, but also get to enjoy the idyllic Saalach Valley.
Our Zillertal Cycle Path bike tour is just as beautiful. You start this seven-day bike tour in Innsbruck. The Tyrolean capital is small, but not only because of the famous Golden Roof or the imperial Hofburg exceedingly worth seeing and varied. In the Zillertal you follow the river, to your left and right the mountain giants rise into the sky. From Krimml you cycle, as in the first described variant, to Salzburg.
As you can see, there are many ways to travel the beautiful surroundings of the Tauern. We will be happy to help you make your decision.
Show more Show lessTravel season
Plan your bike trip along the Tauern Cycle Route best for beginning of May to beginning of October. Each season has its own special charm. Of course, it is especially beautiful when nature is lush and in full splendor pleases the eye. Consider in your planning also that it is likely to be a little tighter on the bike paths during the school vacations.
Signage on the Tauern Cycle Route
Getting there
If you want to be on the Tauern Cycle Route with your own bike, we recommend that you travel by car or train.
If you want to travel by train, the nearest train station, which is also easy to reach internationally, is Salzburg. Then you change trains to get directly to the Tauern Cycle Route via Saalfelden or Zell am See. Krimml can be reached by narrow-gauge railroad from Zell am See. Please inform yourself in good time about the possibilities of taking a bicycle with you. It may be necessary to reserve a bicycle parking space in advance.
If you would like to arrive by plane, the international airports of Salzburg or Munich are the closest.
.
Salzburg Central Station
Shortcuts
The bike route is accessible by train and bus throughout. On the route between Zell am See and Krimml runs the Pinzgau-Bahn.
From the train station in Krimml to the waterfalls there is a bus connection with the option for bicycle transport.
You can change on the section between Werfen and Golling on the parallel running train. Here, due to the narrowness of the valley, the cycle route still runs partially on the main road.
Pinzgau local railroad
For whom is the Tauern Cycle Route suitable?
The Tauern Cycle Route is suitable for normal recreational cyclists and also for children. Above all, make sure that you ride downhill in the direction of travel.
For untrained cyclists and children, the variant through the Saalach Valley is especially recommended.
On the way to Hohenwerfen Castle
