The cycle path along the Drau, the largest river in the Southern Alps, is a special insider tip for active vacationers. Imposing mountain backdrops alternate with charming towns and sights as well as natural valleys with the warmest bathing lakes in Europe. The Drau cycle path is 510 kilometers long and leads from South Tyrol and East Tyrol via Carinthia and Slovenia to Croatia.

With the coveted 5-star award from the German ADFC (General German Bicycle Club), it is one of the most attractive and beautiful cycle routes in Austria. Leisure cyclists as well as ambitious athletes get their money's worth on the well-developed, paved and uniformly marked trails.

Drau cycle path in the Rosental, © Gert Steinthaler

From striking peaks to charming towns  

The starting point is in Toblach in the Italian South Tyrol against the backdrop of the world-famous Three Peaks. The river continues to East Tyrol, past the Lienz Dolomites, to the sunny city of Lienz, to Carinthia, to the cultural city of Spittal an der Drau and into Villach, with its Italian touch. Carinthia's crystal-clear swimming lakes are not far from the Drau cycle path and invite you to take a relaxing detour. The route continues through the charming Rosental, just past Lake Klopein, the warmest swimming lake in Europe, to the large Völkermarkt reservoir. From the Slovenian border the landscape is very natural and the bike path runs through quiet villages and finally over the pretty wine town of Maribor with a view of the vastness of Pannonia to Varaždin in Croatia.

A river to enjoy

The stages of the Drava Cycle Path in Austria (approx. 300 km) are particularly suitable for leisurely cyclists and families with children due to their gentle gradients. With years of experience, Kärnten Radreisen has designed a variety of enjoyable and challenging tours along the Drava River. These cycling tours vary in daily distances between 30 and 70 kilometers and can be tailored for families as well as more experienced cyclists. Another highlight is the popular combination cycling and canoeing tour , where one or more daily stages can be completed by canoe on the Drava for a change of pace.

Culinary, you will be spoiled along the entire route by the many Drauradweg hosts with regional specialties of the Alpe-Adria cuisine that will reliably get tired legs going again.

Relaxing overnight stays in charming hotels and pensions and the excellent service of Carinthia Radreisen with daily luggage transport make the Drau cycle path tour an all-round pleasure.

Highlights on the Drauradweg

In the immediate vicinity of the Drau cycle path you will find wonderful natural treasures and interesting sights:

• Toblacher Feld: The source of the Drau in South Tyrol
• Sillian in East Tyrol (1.103m above sea level, Wichtelpark, Heinfels Castle)
• Lienz: largest city in East Tyrol, castle, town market
• Aguntum: former Roman city in East Tyrol
• Greifenburg: climbing park with swimming lake
• Spittal an der Drau: Porcia Renaissance castle
• Villach: lively old town, Carinthian thermal baths
• Rosegg: Castle & Zoo
• Ferlach: Gunsmith Museum, Bee Museum, Tscheppaschlucht
• Rosental: nature reserve
• Klopeiner See: warmest swimming lake in Europe
• Völkermarkt reservoir: canoe tours, birdwatching
• Ptuj: Castle, oldest municipality in Slovenia
• Fala: Hydroelectric Museum
• Maribor: old town with old wine cellars