Vinschgau Bike Path

Reschen Pass to Merano, part of the Via Claudia Augusta

Facts - Vinschgau Valley Bike Path

Length: ca. 86 km (Reschen to Meran)
Altitude: ca. 1200 m (Reschenpass: 1.500 hm, Meran: 320 hm)
Duration: ca. 4-5 hours
Difficulty: medium
Recommended time: March to October
Ideal for road bike: in parts

Bike transport in 2026: Vinschgau Railway and Bikeliner

Last updated: June 22, 2026. Following electrification, the Vinschgau Railway is being brought back into service gradually and is still operating a limited timetable. Trains between Meran and Laas generally run every hour. Seven train pairs operate daily between Laas and Mals, with selected direct services between Meran and Mals. Bicycles can only be taken on regional trains when sufficient space is available. Reservations are not possible and a valid bicycle ticket does not guarantee carriage. Bicycles are not allowed on B250 rail-replacement buses.

From April 18 to October 4, 2026, a reservable Bikeliner minibus with bicycle trailer supplements the train service. It departs daily from Meran railway station, bus stop B, at 9:10, 10:10, 15:10 and 16:10, and from Mals railway station at 7:00, 12:00, 13:00 and 18:00. Intermediate stops at Naturns, Latsch, Schlanders and Spondinig are for drop-off only; boarding is not possible.

Each service has 14 reservable spaces for standard bicycles and e-bikes. Tandems, cargo bikes and bicycle trailers cannot be transported. Reservations can be made until 18:00 on the previous day; services from Mals to Meran require advance booking. Please arrive at the bus stop at least 15 minutes before departure. A bicycle ticket is required in addition to the passenger ticket. The bicycle day ticket costs €7.50, or €3.50 with a südtirolmobil Pass.

Important when planning the complete route: the railway and Bikeliner only travel as far as Mals, not to the starting point at the Reschen Pass. To ride the entire route from Reschen to Meran, you need a separate shuttle for the journey to Reschen or a rental bicycle from Lake Reschen.

Current train, Bikeliner, ticket and fare information
Reserve the Bikeliner and a bicycle space
Bike shuttles to the Vinschgau Valley and Reschen Pass

Directions

Start at the Reschen Pass

The starting point is the Reschen Pass at the northern tip of Lake Reschen. The reservoir was dammed after the Second World War and flooded the old village of Graun: to this day its church tower rises out of the water. The main route follows the paved western shore with views of the Ortler massif, while a gravel variant runs along the eastern shore. After about three kilometres you reach the bay with the church tower, ideal for a short break. The path then continues along Lake Haider, through which the Adige flows before plunging over rock steps into the valley, and descends to Burgeis and Mals.

Mals - Glurns - Prad at Stelvio

From the Mals train station the cycle path leads via Laatsch to the smallest town in South Tyrol: Glurns with its completely preserved town wall. The route continues along the Adige, past a reservoir and through a shady stretch of forest to the Prad fish ponds (recommended stop). Beyond them it crosses the "Prader Sand", a biotope in the delta of the Suldenbach stream, where the path is gravelled. Road cyclists can bypass this section via the industrial area of Prad. From the edge of Prad the cycle path runs on a paved meadow track to Tschengls, shared only with occasional agricultural vehicles.

Recommended stop: Gasthof Grüner Baum in the centre of Glurns.

Tschengls - Laas - Göflan

Towards Tschengls the cycle path climbs gently and turns off below the village with its Tschengls Castle onto a shady gravel track; road cyclists take the road through the village instead. After a short descent to Eyrs the path runs along the Adige into the marble village of Laas, whose marble is world-famous for its purity. Beyond Laas another gravel section leads through the forest, then downhill to Göflan, where a moderate speed on gravel is recommended. At the Kortsch fish pond the Radtreff Brugg invites you to take a break. From Göflan the path continues on asphalt through apple orchards to Goldrain.

Recommended stop: Radtreff Brugg at the fish pond.

Goldrain - Latsch - Naturns

Passing the Goldrain lake you reach Latsch, where cosy bars invite you to take a break. At the St. Martin cable car the cycle path rejoins the Adige: past Kastelbell Castle, through orchards to Tschars and on to Staben, overlooked by Juval Castle. Shortly afterwards you reach the popular holiday resort of Naturns.

Naturns to Meran

The stage from Naturns to Meran continues along the Etsch, passing idyllic villages such as Plaus, Rabland, and Töll. In Töll, one safely crosses the main road using an underpass, before descending towards Algund. Along the bike route, a rest stop at the big chairs is recommended – a perfect spot to enjoy the panoramic view of Algund, Dorf Tirol, Meran, Schenna, and the expansive Etschtal valley. There, you can also find a water point to refill your water bottle(s).

The journey on your bicycle continues towards Algund, always at a controlled speed and without strain. Before reaching Algund, you pass by the miniature golf course and the swimming pool of Algund, while on the right side of the Etsch, the Forst Brewery is visible. At the Algund swimming pool, the bike path initially follows along the expressway, but then reaches an underpass leading to the Lido Merano. There, one crosses the Passer River over a bicycle bridge and continues on the bike path towards Bolzano (open Meran-Bolzano bike path), passing Schenna - or one can head towards the city center of Meran to enjoy a well-deserved aperitif. Additionally, there is the option to continue from the center of Meran into the Passeiertal valley (open Passeiertal bike path).

Thronsessel mit Ausblick auf Algund und den Meraner Talkessel - direkt am Radweg
Aussichtsplattform – Trauttmansdorffer Thronsessel Google Maps

Refreshment stops at the cycling path

Along the cycle path from Reschen to Meran, numerous rest stops await cyclists' discovery. From cafes and restaurants to grill spots and beer gardens, there's a perfect pit stop for everyone to refuel or simply enjoy the view. Whether you're taking a break in historic inns in Glurns or refreshing yourself with a cool drink in Algund, the variety of stopping points along the route makes your bike tour through the Vinschgau an unforgettable experience.

Here we have listed some beautiful spots, with a link to a map, so you don't miss any stops. Please check locally for opening hours.

Frequently asked questions about the Vinschgau cycle path

Which direction is best for cycling the Vinschgau cycle path?

From top to bottom, from Reschen or Mals towards Merano: this way the route rolls gently downhill almost all the way. To shorten the journey to the start, begin in Mals, which can be reached by train or Bikeliner (details in the section bike transport 2026). To start at the Reschen Pass itself you need a separate bike shuttle or a rental bike at Lake Reschen.

Is the Vinschgau cycle path suitable for families and e-bikes?

Yes. The route runs mostly gently downhill and away from car traffic; only a few short sections are shared with agricultural vehicles. Thanks to the descent, an e-bike is not a must. Numerous rest stops along the route, from the Prad fish ponds to the Algund swimming pool, are ideal for breaks.

Can I ride the route on a road bike?

Yes, with small detours: between Mals and Schlanders there are three gravel sections with road alternatives, for example via the industrial area of Prad or through the village of Tschengls. If you are in the Vinschgau Valley with a road bike, our page road cycling in the Vinschgau lists further tours such as the Stelvio Pass, the Martell Valley and the Schnals Valley.

Will the train take me back to Mals?

In 2026 the Vinschgau Railway is still running a limited service after electrification, and bicycle carriage is not guaranteed. From April to October the reservable Bikeliner therefore supplements the service between Merano and Mals. All details and booking links are in the section bike transport 2026.

Which cycle paths connect directly?

In Merano you can continue south on the Merano-Bolzano cycle path or ride the Passeiertal cycle path to St. Leonhard. From Bolzano the Adige cycle path leads on towards Trento and Lake Garda. The route is also part of the Via Claudia Augusta.

Ratings

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Vinschgau Valley Cycle Route: 4,09 / 5,00
136 ratings

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Cycle map - Vinschgau Valley

The bike path through the Vinschgau Valley is very well signed and runs for the most part along the Adige River (see Adige Cycle Path). A GPS device is not required. The route is also part of the Via Claudia Augusta, which connects the Reschen Pass with northern Italy.

Download GPX-File (304,49 KB)
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