München Venezia

The München Venezia runs from Munich to Venice, crossing the Alps through Germany, Austria and Italy. It follows the Isar out of Bavaria, climbs through Tyrol to the Brenner Pass, continues through South Tyrol and the Dolomites World Heritage area, and finishes across the Venetian plain at the Adriatic. The route is assembled from existing cycleways, including parts of the Innradweg, connected by smaller side roads.

Along the way it links three Olympic host cities: Munich (1972), Innsbruck (1976) and Cortina d'Ampezzo (1956, and again in 2026 together with Milan). The route operator divides the crossing into five themed sections, from the Bavarian lakes to the canals of Venice, and the route can be ridden in either direction.

Essential route information

• Countries: Germany, Austria, Italy
• Start and end: Zenneck Bridge in Munich (behind the Deutsches Museum) to Venice; rideable in reverse
• Elevation profile: a full Alpine crossing; the high point lies in the Dolomites World Heritage area of South Tyrol, and the final section through the Venetian plain is flat
• Route type: a mix of cycle paths and smaller side roads; some sections run in mixed traffic with cars
• Waymarking: a consistent signage system is under development, funded by the European Regional Development Fund
• Shortened variant: an "Olympic" start in Cortina d'Ampezzo, finishing in Munich or Venice
• Family suitability: the route is not traffic-free throughout; official information does not specify which sections carry car traffic, so no whole-route family verdict is possible

Where does the München Venezia start and end?

The official start is the Zenneck Bridge, directly behind the Deutsches Museum in Munich — not Marienplatz, which has been a pedestrian-only zone for several years. From there the route runs south through Bavaria and Tyrol, over the Brenner Pass and through the Dolomites to Venice. Ridden from Venice, the Zenneck Bridge becomes the official finish.

For a shorter trip with an Olympic theme at both ends, the operator suggests starting in Cortina d'Ampezzo: Cortina hosted the Winter Games in 1956 and co-hosts again with Milan in 2026, so a Cortina–Munich ride begins and ends at Olympic venues.

Is the München Venezia a cycle path or a cycle route?

The operator is explicit on this point: the München Venezia is a cycle route, not a continuous purpose-built cycle path. It uses existing cycleways where they exist and side roads where they don't, which means mixed traffic with motor vehicles occurs on some sections. Ride with foresight and expect cars on the connecting roads.

Route marking and navigation

Unified signage along the whole route is still being rolled out as part of an EU-funded project, so don't rely on waymarks alone. The project also publishes an overview map and a cycling map at 1:75,000 scale. The GPX track is available directly on the München Venezia route page in VeloPlanner, where you can also adjust the route before exporting it.

The five sections of the München Venezia

The operator presents the route as five themed sections. VeloPlanner shows the full route on one map, so you can split it into daily stages your own way; the sections below are useful orientation points.

Munich – Bad Tölz – Tegernsee – Achensee ("Water Experience"). Water is the constant companion on the Bavarian leg: the Isar, Tegernsee, the Sylvensteinspeicher reservoir and, across the Tyrolean border, the Achensee. Lakeside stops and beer gardens set the tone.

Jenbach – Schwaz – Hall – Innsbruck – Brenner ("Treasure Chest of Tyrol"). From the Inn valley the route climbs into the Wipptal towards the Italian border. The theme here is Tyrol's mining tradition, alongside the cultural sights of Schwaz, Hall-Wattens and Innsbruck.

Brenner – Sterzing – Brixen – Pustertal ("Alpine-Mediterranean Lifestyle"). Beyond the Brenner Pass, South Tyrol combines Alpine scenery with a Mediterranean feel. Sterzing and Brixen carry the mix in their townscapes; the Kronplatz and the Messner Mountain Museum Ripa in Bruneck are the section's landmarks.

Val Cadore – Cortina d'Ampezzo – Lago di Santa Croce – Belluno ("UNESCO Dolomites"). The fourth section runs through the Dolomites World Heritage area. Names like Schlern, Seiser Alm, Rosengarten and above all the Drei Zinnen define the skyline; the Cadore valley and Lago di Santa Croce lead the route down towards the plain.

Treviso – Venice ("Gardens of Venice and Art Cities"). The final leg is mountain-free. Vittorio Veneto, Conegliano and Treviso make rewarding stops on the way to the lagoon, and riders who want a swim can continue to the sea near Jesolo.

Olympic venues along the route

The München Venezia is, per its operator, the only cycle route in the world passing through three Olympic host cities, and the venues are worth building into your itinerary:

• Cortina d'Ampezzo (1956, 2026 with Milan): the Stadio della Neve, the Cortina Sliding Centre and the "Trampolino Olimpico Italia" ski jump, set against the Tofana group
• Antholz: reachable via a short detour near Olang in the Pustertal
• Innsbruck (1976): Axamer Lizum, Patscherkofel and Igls on the approach; the Bergisel ski jump, the Olympic ice stadium and the exhibition hall in the city
• Munich (1972 Summer Games): the Olympic Stadium and Olympic Hall in the Olympic Park, venues in the English Garden and Oberschleißheim, the equestrian stadium in Trudering-Riem, and the memorial to 1972 in the Olympic Village

Key attractions along the route

Beyond the Olympic sites, the route's highlights split into natural and cultural:

• Natural: Tegernsee and the Sylvensteinspeicher, the Isar, the Achensee, the Wipptal, the Dolomites with the Drei Zinnen, the Cadore valley, Lago di Santa Croce, the Adriatic near Jesolo
• Cultural: the mining heritage of Schwaz, the old towns of Sterzing and Brixen, the Messner Mountain Museum Ripa in Bruneck, castles and palaces along the whole route, and in Venice the Doge's Palace and the canals of the UNESCO-listed lagoon city

Getting there, back and along the route

According to the route operator, bus and train connections are ensured along the entire route, which makes it realistic to ride single sections, shorten a stage, or return by rail after finishing. Many hosts along the way are cycling-oriented and provide services for riders passing through.

Final tips

Treat the five sections as orientation, not obligation: open the München Venezia in the VeloPlanner planner, split it into stages that match your pace, and export the GPX from the route page. Keep the mixed-traffic character in mind when planning days with children or heavy luggage.

However you divide it, the shape of the ride stays the same: out of Munich along the water, over the Alps at their most famous, and down onto the plain until the lagoon appears.