Cycle tour to Italy - from Salzburg to Jesolo

With by bike to Italy - departure in Salzburg, over the Grossglockner, crossing the Italian border, along the bridge to Venice and the destination Lido di Jesolo

But why all this?

Was it the desire for an adventure, a little challenge or simply to try something completely new? This year's cycle tour to Italy was definitely a challenge for us. Several days on the road, in the middle of nature and through the city, over asphalt and gravel, overcoming metres in altitude and enjoying great descents. The whole thing actually started in 2021 with our first cycle tour to Grado, riding the Alpe Adria Trail - but we'll come to that another time. Back then we wanted to try something new and this year we wanted to challenge ourselves and top last year's bike tour. And so we set off by bike from Salzburg Airport in the direction of the Grossglockner, where we were really put to the test. After this successful challenge and a lot of happiness, we crossed the border into Italy to Mestre. As our personal highlight, we crossed the bridge to Venice and then it was next stop Lido di Jesolo.

The most important thing for a cycle tour to Italy is planning

How do you start a cycling holiday like this, how did we approach the whole thing?

There were only two of us, my work colleague - a very good friend of mine - and me. I think that was a big advantage. A larger group of friends might be more fun and put you in a good mood, but finding hotels, eating out, doing things and pleasing everyone is much more difficult.

The first thing we thought about was where we wanted to go on our holiday - Lido di Jesolo. Once that was clear, we asked ourselves what was possible for us, how long we wanted to take and how many days of holiday we needed - 80 to 100 km a day, 2 to 3 days relaxing in Jesolo. So it was clear that we would be travelling from Saturday to the following Sunday and would need 5 days' holiday.

This allowed us to start planning the route in detail. We used the App Komoot. I can recommend Komoot to anyone for planning running routes, cycling tours or hikes. Of course, in my own experience, Komoot also has some minor weaknesses, but more on that in the conclusion. As we wanted to challenge ourselves a little, we decided on a cycle tour over the Grossglockner and then, as a highlight, we crossed the bridge to Venice before cycling to Jesolo on the last day.

And what about the catering, you might ask?

For us, it looked like this - a good breakfast to give you enough energy for the first few kilometres, a water bottle with water, magnesium or whatever else you like to have to quench your thirst and always a few chocolate/protein bars in your luggage and, for us, a small bottle of cola. Everything else was done spontaneously during the day - something „warm“ to eat in between, a coffee break, etc.

Yes, what are we missing now?

Right, the accommodation. Again, the larger the group, the more difficult it is to find accommodation. If the group consists of 4 or more people, I would recommend booking the accommodation in advance. There were only two of us, so we only booked the accommodation for our stay in Jesolo and for our first day's destination. The following days we always decided how far to cycle after 50/60 km and our physical condition and then spontaneously booked a hotel. So the route was set, we had a plan, now we just had to get the weather right.

What requirements should you have and what do you need for a cycle tour lasting several days?

The most important thing is to be able to assess yourself - it sounds easier than it often is. How fit are you really, what can you manage so that you still enjoy it and when have you reached your limits? You should be aware of this before embarking on such a bike tour. For me, this was clearly the most difficult factor on our tour to Jesolo. On the one hand, I like to overestimate myself and take it lightly, which often leads to my good mood dwindling as I realise that I'm slowly reaching my limit and I don't want to admit it to myself. On the other hand, I sometimes get down on myself, tell myself that I can't do it and get too involved in the situation, which in retrospect only causes me unnecessary stress.

You should also have a certain basic level of fitness, as a bike tour from Salzburg to Jesolo means travelling over 500 km, several thousand metres in altitude and 5-6 days on a bike. Personally, I'm not a professional athlete or above-average fit, but I prepared myself as best I could and tested what was possible for me and what I could manage.

How can you prepare for this?

That means: get on your bike, start with small laps and test out for yourself how much you can do in a day, after all, you have to do it a few days in a row. For me, it was a few hundred kilometres, 2000-3000 metres in altitude and 2-3 longer laps that showed me where I currently stand and what progress I'm making.

You now have a route, you know how far the journey will take you on the day, now it would just be interesting to know what equipment you need and what you should take with you. After all, you only have a limited amount of space and the lighter you are, the better.

Equipment - what do you need if you're travelling to Italy by bike?

In a nutshell: a pannier rack, 2x saddlebags, a cup holder, front and rear lights and a bell. In my opinion, these items of equipment are a MUST. I personally have a small bag for my mobile phone, wallet, ... attached to the frame, a handlebar extension where I have mounted a GoPro and as I am a hobby photographer, I have a small bag for my camera and lens on the front of the handlebars.

I can only share my personal experience with you here; each individual must decide for themselves what they really need. How much do you want to pack for the journey, how big should the saddlebags be and do you perhaps need a rucksack on top? - You will receive a checklist from me containing the most important items, items of clothing and other things. You can use this as a little help and support and add your personal items to it.

My personal checklist

• Passport
• Money
• Mobile phone
• Cosmetic bag (toothbrush & toothpaste, shower gel, deodorant, etc.)
• Bicycle helmet
• Gloves
• 2x cycling outfit (shirt, sports shorts, cycling shorts)
• Sports shoes
• Drinking bottle + magnesium
• Sunglasses
• Sleeves & leg warmers
• Rain jacket
• Bicycle pump
• Repair and first aid kit
• Spare tube and cover
• 2x T-shirt
• Shorts
• 3-4 pants
• 3-4 pairs of socks
• Bath slippers

The days of our cycle tour to Italy in detail

Here I would like to tell you in detail how far we travelled to Lido di Jesolo each day and how many metres in altitude we had to overcome, what the condition of the road was like and how lucky we were with the weather. I will also inform you about our „pure“ travelling time, the clock was not stopped during short breaks (drinking, breathing deeply). I took this data from my sports watch and not from the Komoot app; I will explain why in the conclusion.

Day1: Salzburg Airport - Fusch an der Glocknerstraße

• Route: On gravel and tarmac, almost exclusively cycle path, one very steep section - where the bike had to be pushed.
• Distance: 103.54 km
• Altitude metres: 1075 m ⬆️ & 695 m ⬇️
• Journey time: 7h 22min
• Average speed: 14.0 km/h
• Weather: slightly cloudy, on arrival at the hotel - rain

Day 2: Fusch an der Glocknerstraße - Lienz

• Route: Except for the great descent from the Großglockner, approx. 20 km long, only uphill and asphalt
• Distance: 81.79 m
• Altitude metres: 2180 m ⬆️ & 2320 m ⬇️
• Journey time: 7h 44min
• Average speed: 10.5 km/h
• Weather: cloudy, 2x 15 min rain, strong headwind at the end

Day 3: Lienz - San Vito di Cadore

• Route: mostly side roads or cycle path, 2/3 of the route slightly uphill, approx. 40 km on gravel and the rest on tarmac.
• Distance: 91.44 km
• Altitude metres: 890 m ⬆️ & 600 m ⬇️
• Journey time: 6h 15min
• Average speed: 14.6 km/h
• Weather: cloudy - 45min rain - sunshine

Day 4: San Vito di Cadore - Conegliano

• Trail: mostly tarmac, little uphill, great descents and generally always slightly downhill.
• Distance: 101.18 km
• Altitude metres: 450 m ⬆️ & 1360 m ⬇️
• Journey time: 5h 20min
• Average speed: 18.9 km/h
• Weather: approx. 25 degrees, slightly cloudy & mostly sunny

Day 5: Conegliano - Venice

• Route: tackle the last few metres in altitude, a few gravel paths, a lot on the cycle path and roads with little traffic.
• Distance: 96.73 km
• Altitude metres: 80 m ⬆️ & 105 m ⬇️
• Journey time: 5h 44min
• Average speed: 16.8 km/h
• Weather: approx. 30 degrees, bright sunshine

Day 6: Venice - Lido di Jesolo

• Route: mostly on tarmac, a few sections on dual carriageways, beautiful cycle paths on gravel along the sea.
• Distance: 45.81 km
• Altitude metres: 0 m ⬆️ & 0 m ⬇️
• Journey time: 2h 39min
• Average speed: 17.2 km/h
• Weather: approx. 28 degrees, sunshine - very hot

From Salzburg to Jesolo, you cycle past many wonderful places, but there were still two very special highlights for me on our cycle tour.

The Großglockner, the passage I was most afraid of, and not without good reason. I had no previous experience of this mountain and had absolutely no idea what to expect. Was it an advantage or a disadvantage? - I still can't tell you today. With the bike and the extra weight, it was just a 3-hour hellish ride uphill. But it was an indescribable feeling when I reached the finish line and conquered the mountain. I was just proud of myself for what I had achieved and knew that the worst was over for the week. Will I ever cycle up this mountain again? - I don't know. But I can put a tick behind it and I will never forget the feeling.

The bridge to Venice, something very special for me. A route to savour. Along the sea, the city in the distance, getting closer and closer. The view was indescribable. 

Your interest is piqued, but you're wondering „How much is this fun going to cost me now?“ - I'll tell you roughly how much the cycle tour to Jesolo cost me

Equipment

The costs for the equipment are largely one-off. I didn't have to buy anything for this year as I bought everything last year for the first tour.

• Luggage carrier: 40€
• Bicycle bags: 60€
• Bicycle light: 15€
• Bell: 5€
• Bicycle pump: 45€
• Bicycle inner tube: from €15
• Bicycle cover: from 40€
• Repair kit: 15€
• First aid kit: approx. 10€

Total equipment: approx. 250€

Accommodation

It has to be said that the accommodation this year was €10-20 more expensive than in 2021 on our cycle tour to Grado. We always had a shared double room with breakfast.

• Day 1: Hotel Post: 70€/person
• Day 2: Hotel Falkenstein: 70€/person
• Day 3: Hotel Locanda Montana: 60€/person
• Day 4: Hotel Eurorest: 55€/person
• Day 5: Hotel Russott: 60€/person

Total: approx. 320€

Catering 

This can vary greatly from person to person, I can only tell you roughly what my daily routine was like and how much I needed for what.

Breakfast: We always booked accommodation with breakfast.

• Drinks for on the go: €5
• Snacks for on the go: €5
• Food in between + drinks: 15€
• Coffee break: 5€
• Dinner: 20-25€
• per day: 50-60€ 

Total: approx. 300-350€

For a cycling holiday of 5-6 days, the costs are around €900.

Conclusion

The weaknesses of Komoot and why I prefer to rely on my sports watch.

1) According to Komoot, our route should have covered 531 km, 5850 metres uphill and 6290 metres downhill. My sports watch (Polar Vantage V) and also my mate's bike computer recorded 520.5 km, 4675 m uphill and 5080 m downhill. 

2) And what I still miss a bit with Komoot, or what I would improve, if you could also see and mark food, accommodation etc. while riding. 

Apart from these 2 points, Komoot is a very good app for me to be able to put together such routes myself.

And how was the cycle tour for me, would I do it again and would I recommend a tour to Jesolo to you?

Was it exhausting? - Ohhjaa

Was it a challenge? - Maybe not for everyone, but I often reached my limits.

Was it another indescribable experience? - After my first tour, I thought it couldn't get any better. This year I was proved wrong, it was an indescribably awesome feeling day after day.

Will there be another bike tour next year? - Last year I thought it would be a one-off experience, but after the 2022 bike tour I'm sure I'll want to go on a multi-day bike tour once a year for as long as I can.

There were highs and lows, I cycled through beautiful places and got to places that I would never have reached by car, I reached my limits and just thought „fuck you“, I had feelings of happiness that you can't describe, there were days when I was in pain and didn't want to get back on my bike, but when you get to the finish line, have done all that and pushed yourself beyond your limits, then you realise why you did it all.

I can only recommend and urge everyone to go through this experience once in their life. You now know what to expect, what you need and what to look out for. So don't wait too long, start planning, look forward to your tour and then get on your bike and enjoy the few days.

If you have now planned a tour or maybe even want to do our cycle tour from Salzburg to Jesolo, please let me know if I was able to help, share your experiences with me and give me a little feedback.