Via Claudia Augusta Bike Trail
Picture of Via Claudia Augusta Bike Route. Photo by: qwesy qwesy, CC BY 3.0
Bike Route Overview
The Via Claudia Augusta is a long-distance cycling route stretching up to 752 kilometers across three countries (Italy, Austria and Germany) and following the path of an ancient Roman road. It is Europe's easiest Alpine crossing for touring cyclists and it connects Donauwörth in Bavaria to northern Italy, passing through diverse landscapes from the Bavarian plains through the Alps to the Mediterranean climate of the Po Valley.
The route divides into two variants after Trento:
- The Padana Variant (650 km): Continues to Ostiglia via Verona
- The Altinate Variant (700 km): Leads to Quarto d'Altino near Venice via Feltre
The trail's historical significance dates back to 15 BC when Emperor Augustus initiated its construction following the conquest of Alpine regions. Later, Emperor Claudius expanded it into the first trans-Alpine road connecting Europe, linking the Adriatic port of Altinum and the river port of Hostilia with the Danube. This ancient trade and cultural route of the Roman Empire has been revitalized since the mid-1990s as a modern cycling path.
Famous Lake Reschen with its submerged 14th-century church. Photo by: Philipp Steiner, licenses: gfdl
Today, it's one of the most popular bike trails in the region and the second most popular cross-border cycling route among German cyclists.
Terrain Profile
- Mostly paved bike paths and quiet secondary roads
- Key elevation points:
- Fernpass: 250m climb from Biberwier
- Reschenpass: 500m climb from Pfunds
- Recommended direction: North to South due to more favorable elevation profiles
- Shuttle services available for all mountain passes
Route Characteristics
Martina mountains. Photo by: Michielverbeek, CC BY 3.0
Bavaria
- Journey from the Danube through the broad Lech Valley
- Rolling hills and alpine meadows of the pre-Alpine region south of Landsberg
North Tyrol
- High mountain terrain beginning at Füssen
- Notable passes: Kniepass, Ehrenberger Klause, and Fernpass
- Follows the Inn River through Upper Inn Valley
Trento. Photo by: Martin Stiburek, CC BY 4.0
South Tyrol
- First Mediterranean influences after crossing the main Alpine ridge
- Travels through the EU's largest continuous apple-growing region along the Adige River
- Rich vegetation and Mediterranean climate
Trentino and Veneto
- Padana Variant: Follows the Adige Valley to Verona and the Po Valley
- Altinate Variant: More challenging route through Valsugana, featuring Lake Caldonazzo and the Piave Valley, with views of the Dolomites
What does Via Claudia Augusta have to offer?
- Amazing cycling infrastructure through mountains
- Landscapes change every 20-30 kilometers
- Spans three countries, ten regions, and three climate zones
- Rich in historical Roman artifacts and cultural sites
- Numerous museums showcasing Roman history
- Local culinary specialties, including Roman-inspired dishes
- Famous Lake Reschen with its submerged 14th-century church
Reschensee, South Tyrol. Photo by: Luca Lorenzi, CC BY-SA 3.0
Practical Information
Transportation
- Well-connected railway stations along the route
- Free parking available in Donauwörth
- Shuttle services:
- Available for all mountain passes
- Return transport from Italy to Germany (six days per week, excluding Saturdays)
Navigation
- Mostly well-signposted, though signage quality varies by region
- Recommended to carry a mobile phone with GPS app or a GPS device
- Interactive maps and apps available for trip planning, you can download most recent GPS/GPX file from Traili (top right corner of this page)