The Alpe Adria Cycle Path
Built on top of a nineteenth-century railway, so it is almost flat. From Tarvisio it runs in three directions: Slovenia at twenty-four kilometres, Austria at thirty-seven, the sea at a hundred and seventy-six.
- From the houseruns through Tarvisio — you set off from the house by bike
- When to goApril to October.
- Towards Kranjska Gora (Slovenia)24 km each way, entirely on the old railway
- To the border at Rateče9 km from Tarvisio Boscoverde, a gentle climb then level
The reason this cycle path is so easy is no accident: it runs on the course of a nineteenth-century railway, the one that linked Vienna to Venice. And a railway cannot climb steeply. The result is an almost level route, with lit tunnels and viaducts where the climbs would be, because that is where the trains went. It is fully surfaced and largely reserved for bicycles: you ride without cars beside you.
From Tarvisio it sets off in three different directions, and this is the point almost no guide explains.
The clever move changes with the direction. Towards Slovenia you go and come back in a day without thinking about it. Towards the sea, instead, you ride down and return by train: a morning downhill to Venzone or Udine, load the bike on the train and come home without effort. That is why this route works even if you are not fit: you never do the climb.
Towards Slovenia, Kranjska Gora: twenty-four kilometres. This is the direction almost everyone setting off from here takes, and it runs entirely on the old railway bed. From Tarvisio Boscoverde it is nine kilometres to the border at Rateče, first a gentle climb and then level; from there another seven, gently downhill, to Kranjska Gora. You cross a border without noticing, have a drink in Slovenia, and come back.
Towards Austria, Villach: thirty-seven kilometres, about three and a half hours. You pass through Arnoldstein and follow the Gail valley, often along the river and in the shade of the woods.
Towards the sea, Grado: a hundred and seventy-six kilometres in three stages — Tarvisio to Venzone 62, Venzone to Udine 56, Udine to Grado 58. This one is downhill almost throughout, and it is the journey for someone with a week to spare.
In summer the tunnels are cool but dark: you need a light on the bike even in broad daylight. And if you head for Slovenia or Austria, carry valid identification: the border is crossed without checks, but it is still a border.
The Alpe Adria Cycle Path in pictures
Frequently asked questions
Can you cycle from Tarvisio to Kranjska Gora?
Yes, and it is the ride most loved by people setting off from Tarvisio: twenty-four kilometres each way, all on the old railway bed and reserved for bicycles. Nine kilometres to the border at Rateče, then another seven gently downhill to Kranjska Gora.
Can you reach Austria by bike from Tarvisio?
Yes. Villach is about thirty-seven kilometres, three and a half hours of riding, passing through Arnoldstein and following the Gail valley along the river.
Where can you hire a bike in Tarvisio?
At Baldan Sport by the Dogana, which has direct access from the cycle path and hires city bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes, with a repair workshop. There is also Lussari Sport in the village. Along the route you can hire at Camporosso and at the old Ugovizza station.
Are there places to stop along the Alpe Adria Cycle Path?
Yes. The old Ugovizza station has been turned into a refreshment stop; at Malborghetto there is a rest area with a bar and a playground, turning right before the tunnel; heading down the valley there are the cyclists’ stops at Chiusaforte and Resiutta.
How long is the Alpe Adria Cycle Path from Tarvisio to Grado?
A hundred and seventy-six kilometres, normally split into three stages: Tarvisio to Venzone 62 km, Venzone to Udine 56 km, Udine to Grado 58 km. From Tarvisio towards the sea it is downhill almost throughout.
We run a holiday flat in Tarvisio, in a well-served, strategic spot in the heart of the village. We know these places because we go to them: the distances, the car parks and the opening times above were all checked at source, one by one.
See the flat