Schöffel Biketrips — riverside bike trails in Austria

Rivers have always fascinated people.Trickling springs can become raging torrents. Floods cause catastrophe and, as natural borders, rivers have often been the scene of battles. On the other hand, rivers also create fertile lands alongside and they’re not only borders but also important trade routes. It’s no coincidence that, since ancient times, communities have settled along estuaries, fords and river mouths.

There’s always something to discover along rivers: medieval towns, stunning bridges and mighty fortresses to name a few. And beyond that, these watercourses create unique landscapes. Sometimes a river squeezes through a narrow corset of gorges, sometimes it flows leisurely through a broad plain to create idyllic floodplain landscapes. With islands, meanders and cliffs, rivers are prized for their incredible features.

The best way to explore rivers and their surroundings is by bike. In the past 50 years, much has improved for cycling infrastructure and you can concentrate fully on enjoying the diverse landscapes. All you really need to do is choose your route.

To make it easier for you, in this Collection we’ve put together three beautiful riverside cycle paths in Austria. The Tauern Cycle Path begins at the foot of the Großglockner and leads you through a picture-book panorama via Salzburg to the city of Passau. This is also where the Innradweg ends, which begins high in the Swiss Alps. In the south of Austria, the Drau Cycle Path awaits, which you follow from Italy via Carinthia and Slovenia all the way to Croatia. No matter which of the three routes you choose, a fantastic Tour alongside Austria's rivers awaits you.