Published on: 23 April 2018 | Last updated: 26 December 2019
At a glance
Distance
102 kms
Difficulty/terrain
Easy. If you are heading north to south the route is predominantly downhill with the occasional small climb.
Traffic
Almost entirely on traffic-free cycleways or quiet roads. However, there is a section, just before Franzensfeste Fortezza where the cycleway has been closed and you have to ride on the main road.
Surfaces
There are a couple of short sections of aggregate-surfaced cycleway north of Brixen, but otherwise the cycleway is entirely on asphalt.
Signs
Well signposted and easy to follow
Also known as …
This route is also known as the Eisacktal Radweg (because it follows the Eisack river). It forms part of the München-Venezia and Ciclopista del Sole cycle routes. Until relatively recently it was part of eurovelo 7, but seems to have now disappeared from the maps of the eurovelo network.
Overview
The Brenner pass is the most important transport corridor between Italy and northern Europe. For cyclists, the cycleway is one of the main gateways into Italy and is a key link in the München-Venezia international cycle route.
The cycleway does a brilliant job of offering a tranquil and peaceful alternative. For long sections it follows the course of the old railway line to the Brenner — with the upgraded line rerouted through tunnels.
While it offers a very welcome alternative for international travellers, the cycleway is worth riding for its own sake. The main highlights are the towns of Sterzing (Vipiteno), Brixen (Bressanone), Klausen (Chiusa) and Bozen (Bolzano). The centres of these towns are some of the prettiest and most historic in the region.
Map and altitude profile
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Distances | |
---|---|
Brenner to Sterzing (Vipiteno) | 22 kms |
Sterzing (Vipiteno) to Fortezza Franzensfeste | 23 kms |
Fortezza Franzensfeste to Brixen (Bressanone) | 10 kms |
Brixen to Klausen (Chiusa) | 13 kms |
Klausen - Bozen (end to junction with the Etsch Radroute) | 34 kms |
Options and variations
The Brennerradroute connects with three other important traffic-free cycleways:
- you can continue south, following the Etsch (Adige) river as it continues on towards Trento, Rovereto, Verona and the Adriatic coast. You can also pick-up another cycleway that takes you to Torbole on the Lago di Garda
- at Fortezza Franzensfeste you can turn east and pickup the Fahrradroute Pustertal (Pustertal cycleway) that continues to Innichen (San Candido) close to the border with Austria where it connects with the Drauradweg
- at the junction with the Etschradroute (part of the Via Claudia Augusta), instead of continuing south, you can turn north and head towards Meran (Meran) and the Vinschgau (Val Venosta).
- heading north you can ride to Innsbruck, but note that after Brenner you have to continue by road for several kilometres.
Getting there … and getting back
Trains
The rail line through Brenner and Bozen is the main rail connection between Italy, Austria and southern Germany. Heading south to services run to Trento, Verona and Bologna. Three train companies operate services along the line:
- Trenitalia offer bike-friendly regional services to Bologna (via Bozen, Trento, and Verona)
- the SAD regional train company operates services north to Brenner and to Lienz in Austria
- the Deutsche Bahn-ÖBB Eurocity services to Innsbruck and München in the north and Bozen, Trento, Bologna, Verona and Venezia to the south.
To travel on the Eurocity services you need to reserve a bike place (cost 10€) in advance, and so far as I know, you can’t do this online. The DB-ÖBB service is the best option if you want to travel to Innsbruck or München, but the other companies’ services may be a better choice for other destinations.
You can download the timetable for the DB-ÖBB EuroCity service DB-ÖBB Eurocity service 2018 timetable and route map.
Planes
The closest airport is destinations and airlines). München airport is also easy to get to —simply get off at München’s Ostbahnhof and take the S-Bahn to the airport.
Heading south, the nearest airport is Verona, followed by Treviso, Venezia and Bologna.
Weather and when to go
April to June and September to October are the ideal months to ride this cycleway. You could also ride it in July and August, but bear in mind that at the height of summer the area around Bozen is often one of the hottest parts of Italy. The temperatures aren’t an issue on the higher sections (where the altitude is above, say, 1000 metres) but at lower altitudes, you are likely to see temperatures over 30ºC in mid-afternoon — so think ‘start early, finish early’.
Downloads
Maps to print out or view offline
GPS files

Signs on the Brennerradroute near Franzensfeste (Fortezza). Route markers for the München-Venezia and Südtirol Radweg (Ciclovia Alto Adige) cycle routes
More information
Places to stay
Transport and services
Resources
Articles in this series
- Brennerradroute: Introduction
- Brennerradroute: Brenner to Brixen (Bressanone)
- Brennerradroute: Part 2: Brixen to Bozen (Bolzano)
Get in touch
Please get in touch if you find any errors in the information, or if there’s anything, good or bad, that you’d want other cyclists to know.
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