A beautiful Alps crossing – the Munich-Venice Long-Distance Cycle Path
Bike Touring Collection by Radfernweg München-Venezia
11
Tours
57:59 h
535 mi
23,500 ft
Crossing the Alps is on the bucket list of many touring cyclists. In fact, for many it becomes THE highlight of their adventures. As the highest mountain range in Europe and covering an area of 200,000 square kilometres (124,00 miles), the Alps offer countless opportunities for a crossing. In Collection, we guide you along one of the most stunning crossings – the Munich-Venice long-distance cycle route.
Over 584 kilometres (362 miles) and 8 stages, you get closer and closer to your dream of crossing the Alps – turn by turn. Riding from Munich over the Alps to the Adriatic Sea is an incredible adventure. Tell us about your experiences after yout Tour, as you will make countless unforgettable memories: magnificent river landscapes, breathtaking mountain panoramas, glittering alpine lakes, and cultural highlights that will amaze you time and time again during the day.
You set off from the magnificent landscape of the Bavarian Oberland region before entering Austria’s largest nature park, the Karwendel Mountains. Next, the Brenner Pass takes you up to dizzying heights, yet the gradients are so gentle you barely notice how high you ride. In the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Dolomites, you surpass your previous altitude record as you are whisked away to another world of rugged rocks. Here, you can enjoy the Italian lifestyle and ride onto the world-famous city of Venice where you can swap your bike for a gondola on the historic waterways.
If you want to extend your trip, we show you three variations in this Collection. The long-distance cycle route’s western variant is the main route here, but we also show you the eastern variant. There’s also a two-day circular through the Belluno Dolomites National Park. Aside from the variants, all stages end somewhere with accommodation. If there’s only a limited choice, we’ll point this out. It’s a good idea to book in advance nonetheless.
If crossing the Alps sounds like a challenge, you’ll find the right valleys and passes with the help of this Collection. The Munich-Venice long-distance cycle path winds through high mountains as comfortably as possible. As the route is still quite new, some parts are not yet paved, so you should ride a robust touring bike. If you’d like to cycle the route with your road bike, then make sure you have sturdy tyres and avoid the route occasionally to avoid the main roads.
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Last updated: February 21, 2023
Tours & Highlights
- 04:1437.4 mi8.8 mph1,575 ft1,200 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
You start your bike tour to Venice at Munich Ostbahnhof. This is very well connected to the Deutsche Bahn network and can be reached practically from anywhere. From the train station it is only a short ride past Bordeauxplatz and you are already on the Isar, which will accompany you throughout today…
- 05:5850.6 mi8.5 mph2,475 ft1,600 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The eastern variant of the long-distance cycle route from Munich to Venice runs along the banks of the picturesque Tegernsee. Shortly before Grünwald it branches off from the Isar and leads to a large extent along the railway tracks via Oberhaching to Otterfing and from there via Holzkirchen and Oberwarngau…
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- 05:1641.0 mi7.8 mph2,275 ft1,350 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Today's stage not only brings you closer to the Alps, you are already driving a good bit into them and thus into the Karwendel Mountains, Austria's largest nature park. At the end of the day you will have almost passed the 1,000-meter mark, and you are only a few meters away from it. The shallow, albeit…
- 05:3851.4 mi9.1 mph2,975 ft2,600 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
Today you drive into the imposing Inn Valley, which you follow from Jenbach to Innsbruck. On the south bank of the Achensee you will pass just before Maurach am Seespitz. The Achenseebahn stops here with its nostalgically chugging steam locomotive. If you want, you can exchange your bike for a great…
- 04:4348.3 mi10.3 mph2,400 ft3,325 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
On today's stage, a highlight awaits you in the truest sense of the word: The Brenner Pass is on the bucket list of many touring cyclists and you will conquer it today! From your starting point it's another ten kilometers along the Sill to the Brennersee and from there it's really only a breeze until…
- 04:2934.9 mi7.8 mph3,000 ft875 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Today you go directly towards the Dolomites. So that it doesn't get too strenuous, you follow the entire day over the Rienza - almost to its source. As a result, the more than 900 vertical meters that have to be mastered today are spread over a pleasant 56 kilometers, as no longer descents await you…
- 05:1551.1 mi9.7 mph2,200 ft5,475 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
Today you will reach the highest point on your journey to Venice. It's about six kilometers from the starting point, then you have overcome the pass - at more than 1,530 meters above sea level. But even if the subsequent descent promises a lot of fun, it is worth enjoying the morning in the mountains…
- 07:2070.9 mi9.7 mph4,125 ft4,150 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This additional option on the route from Munich to Venice leads you along the southern part of the Belluno Dolomites National Park. In addition to diverse landscapes, the splendor of which is particularly evident in summer, when the flowers and grasses bloom in the brightest colors on the plateaus, you…
- 04:3547.4 mi10.3 mph1,850 ft2,900 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Even if Venice is not yet in sight, you are already nearing the end of your Alpine crossing. From Soverzene you drive on almost flat terrain to Lago di Santa Croce, a kite and windsurfer paradise. Here you can take your first break after 13 kilometers, let your gaze wander over the lake and the surfers…
- 05:0951.2 mi10.0 mph325 ft625 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
Today you swing onto the home straight towards Venice. Wow what a moment! Just 82 kilometers separate you from the gates of the lagoon city. And these will be able to be cycled down like clockwork due to the absolutely flat height profile. From Volpago del Montello, the route initially continues on a…
- 05:2450.8 mi9.4 mph325 ft350 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
The eastern variant of stage 8 is again shown separately in this collection and should not necessarily be understood as a single stage, as it is linked to the western variant of stage 8 behind Treviso. From Volpago del Montello there is a total distance of 110 kilometers, which you can also divide into…
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Collection Stats
- Tours11
- Distance535 mi
- Duration57:59 h
- Elevation23,500 ft
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