Thaya Cycle Trail – Cruising on disused rail tracks in Lower Austria

Are you looking for the perfect bike adventure for the whole family? The Taya Cycle Trail is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxed bike ride. Cycle paths, refreshing swim spots, and impressive historical ruins and castles come together along two former Thayatal railway lines. You can follow these paths to roam through the gentle terrain of Lower Austria’s Waldviertel.

Historically, as steam locomotives could only cope with gradual gradients, railway lines were leveled wherever possible. Today, this is great for cyclists, especially young bikers, as there are hardly any ascents. This means that the cycling pros of tomorrow can pedal at lightning speeds, perhaps even faster than you would like them to.

The Thaya Cycle Trail begins in Göpfritz an der Wild. From there you cycle via Raabs an der Thaya to the Czech border. After crossing the border, you visit the Czech part of the Thaya Cycle Trail and the village Slavonice. Next, a short ride south brings you back to the Austrian border where you cycle via Waidhofen an der Thaya back to Göpfritz, which is almost entirely flat.

The 106-km-long (65-mile) Thaya Cycle Trail offers four days of cycling fun for the whole family along tarmacked paths. If you are looking for a sportier challenge, you can easily bundle the stages together. It’s up to you how to plan your adventure as each stage always ends in a place with plenty of accommodation. Nevertheless, I recommend that you reserve your overnight stays in advance.

Please note that due to the current situation (COVID-19) the following restrictions apply: Unfortunately, due to entry restrictions, the Thaya Cycle Trail cannot be navigated in the Czech Republic. However, there is an alternative route that runs along the border on the Austrian side. I will briefly explain this to you in the corresponding stage (2). Furthermore, the alternative route is also signposted on site.

The ideal time to travel on the Thaya Cycle Trail is from April to October. If you want to take a shortcut, the Waldviertel bus runs from May to October and takes you and your bike from Drosendorf via Raabs and Dobersberg to Slavonice and back. You can call +43 810 22 23 24 for more information.