Cycling in the Vinschgau: from the valley cycle path to the Stelvio
Cycling in the Vinschgau starts with the cycle path: about 80 kilometres from the Reschen Pass to Meran, almost all of it downhill. Road cyclists have the Stelvio, mountain bikers the trails of the Sonnenberg. The Ferienhotel Kastellatz in Prämajur near Mals is your base.
- 80 kmVinschgau cycle path from the Reschen Pass to Meran
- downhillalmost the whole way, also with children and e-bikes
- 48 bendson the South Tyrolean side of the Stelvio
- 540 mof climb from Burgeis up to the hotel: that is why you rent in the valley
Vinschgau cycle path: from the Reschen Pass to Meran
The route follows the Etsch and the old Via Claudia Augusta: villages, castles, apple orchards and lakes, paved and mostly downhill. The favourite stretch is Mals to Meran, about 60 kilometres.
Bike rental at Mals station
We do not rent bikes at the hotel, and that is a good thing: rent down at Mals station and you never ride the climb up to the hotel. Prices, opening hours and booking are on the rental's website.
- By car or bus line 277 to Mals station
- Rent a bike, including e-bikes, children's bikes and helmets
- Ride the cycle path downhill towards Meran
- Drop the bike at a station and take the Vinschgau railway back
Südtirolbike
Trekking bikes, e-bikes, mountain bikes and children's bikes. Drop-off at the stations down to Meran.
Papin Rent a Bike
City, trekking and e-bikes, children's bikes, helmets, child seats and trailers. Drop-off at any Papin station.
Back by rail and bus
The Vinschgau railway links Meran and Mals, and in season the BikeLiner bus carries bikes too. Our guests' Reschensee Guest Pass covers rail and bus; the bike may need its own ticket. Check times on suedtirolmobil before you set off, because timetables change.
Road bike: the Stelvio Pass
48 hairpin bends on the South Tyrolean side, built between 1820 and 1825, the climb starts in Prad. Whether the pass road is open is in the province's traffic report; vinschgau.net gives the date of the car-free Stelvio Bike Day.
Mountain bike and easy circuits
Mountain bikers find their core area on the Vinschgauer Sonnenberg. From Schlinig the Sesvenna hut is about two hours away. In the Uina gorge you push, and bikes are banned in the Swiss National Park. Relaxed: the circuit around Lake Reschen, 15.3 km with hardly any climbing.
FAQ
- Can I rent bikes at the hotel?
- Not at the hotel itself. At Mals station, Südtirolbike and Papin Rent a Bike rent bikes, including e-bikes, children's bikes and helmets. You get there by car or on bus line 277.
- Is there space for bikes at the hotel?
- Yes, there is space for your bikes at the hotel.
- Do I have to bring the rental bike back to Mals?
- No. Both rentals take bikes back at stations along the route; you return to Mals on the Vinschgau railway.
- How much does a rental bike cost?
- It depends on the bike and how long you rent it, with discounts for several days. Current prices are on the Südtirolbike and Papin Rent a Bike websites.
- Is the Vinschgau cycle path suitable for children?
- Yes. It is paved and mostly downhill. Children's bikes, child seats and trailers are available from the rentals at Mals station; you can shorten stages with the Vinschgau railway, which stops in many villages along the route.
- When is the best time for cycling in the Vinschgau?
- From spring into autumn. The Vinschgau is one of the driest valleys in the Alps; in spring the apple orchards blossom, in October the larches turn gold. Whether the rentals are already or still open is on their websites.
- How long is the Vinschgau cycle path?
- About 80 kilometres from the Reschen Pass to Meran, mostly downhill and paved.
- Can I cycle in the Swiss National Park?
- No, bikes are banned there and you must not leave the marked trails.
The Vinschgau rolls
Choose your travel dates, valley path or pass road, you decide anew every morning.