Four days of vineyards, peaceful country roads, delicious local food and one of Austria’s most relaxing cycling regions.
Route at a Glance
Location | South Styria (Steiermark), Austria |
Distance | 198 km |
Suggested Duration | 4 Days |
Average Daily Distance | 50 km |
Difficulty | Easy to Medium |
Total Elevation | 2,670 m |
Surface | Mainly paved cycle paths and quiet country roads with a short gravel section |
Traffic Free | Approximately 70% |
Suitable For | Intermediate e-bike riders |
Route Type | Circular |
Best Time to Ride | Spring and late summer into autumn |
Navigation | GPX available via my Komoot Collection |
Overall Rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5) |
My Verdict
If you’re looking for dramatic Alpine scenery and famous mountain passes, South Styria probably isn’t the first place that springs to mind.
However, if your idea of the perfect cycling holiday is quiet country roads, vineyard-covered hills, welcoming villages, fantastic local food and the chance to slow down and enjoy every kilometre, then this region is an absolute delight.
Over four days we cycled almost 200 kilometres through one of Austria’s quieter corners, exploring vineyards, pumpkin fields, orchards, riverside paths and rolling farmland. We discovered a crop we’d never seen before, sorghum, stopped at friendly cafés, sampled Schilcher wine and filled the car with bottles of the region’s famous pumpkin seed oil before heading home.
What stayed with me most wasn’t one spectacular viewpoint or famous attraction.
Instead was the feeling.
Everything seemed more relaxed. Villages were beautifully cared for, gardens overflowed with flowers and people were genuinely happy to chat about their area.
South Styria isn’t about rushing from one tourist attraction to another.
Ultimately, it’s about slowing down.
Cycling through vineyards, breathing in the smell of freshly pressed pumpkin seed oil, enjoying lunch at a Buschenschank and taking time to appreciate a landscape that reveals something different around every corner.
For me, this is slow travel at its very best.
Who Is This Route Perfect For?
This route is ideal for riders who enjoy:
- Quiet roads and peaceful countryside
- Vineyards and wine regions
- Local food and traditional Austrian culture
- Photography
- Wildlife and farmland
- Riders over 50
- Couples
- Riders who enjoy stopping frequently rather than chasing kilometres
Why Ride This Route?
South Styria constantly surprises you.
One moment you’re riding through vast fields of maize, pumpkins and peaches. The next you’re climbing vineyard-covered hillsides with panoramic views stretching across the countryside.
Pretty rivers wind gently through peaceful valleys while forests provide welcome shade on warmer afternoons.
Unlike the busier wine region around Gamlitz, the Deutschlandsberg area feels wonderfully authentic. Even during summer, it never felt crowded, and there was always another quiet road waiting to be explored.
As well as the scenery, food is also a huge part of the experience.
This is the home of Schilcher wine and Styrian pumpkin seed oil, both of which deserve to be enjoyed where they are produced.
Stop at a Buschenschank for a traditional Brettljause, visit one of the local pumpkin oil mills for a tasting and don’t leave without taking a bottle of pumpkin seed oil home.
Perhaps best of all, this region is almost designed for e-bikes.
The climbs are enough to make the assistance worthwhile without becoming intimidating, and the quieter roads allow you to relax and simply enjoy the ride.
Route Overview
This four-day circular holiday combines four officially signposted cycling routes based around Deutschlandsberg, Schwanberg and Kitzeck.
Together they cover 198 kilometres with approximately 2,670 metres of climbing.
The majority of the riding is on quiet tarmac roads and dedicated cycle paths, with only a few short gravel sections that are easily manageable on a touring or trekking e-bike.
What’s more, each day feels different.
The Schilcher South route introduces you to vineyards and orchards.
Two Rivers Tour offers gentler riding through farmland and villages.
The Schilcher North Tour provides the biggest challenge with longer climbs and forests before rewarding you with wonderful views around St. Stefan ob Stainz.
Finally, the Sausaltal Tour finishes the holiday perfectly with vineyard scenery, Buschenschänken, pumpkin oil mills and one of the prettiest wine-growing areas in Austria.
Daily Route Breakdown
Day One – Schilcher Tour South
Distance: 64 km
Elevation: 650 m
Highlights
- The perfect introduction to South Styria.
- Fruit trees heavy with peaches and apples.
- Beautiful vineyard scenery.
- Quiet roads.
Lindsey’s Tip
We carried a picnic and found a bench overlooking the vineyards for lunch.
Sometimes those simple moments become the best memories of the whole holiday.
Day Two – Two Rivers Tour
Distance: 51 km
Elevation: 450 m
Coffee Stop
Without doubt our favourite café of the trip.
Excellent coffee, fantastic cakes and a genuinely warm welcome.
Highlights
- Gentler riding.
- Lovely riverside sections.
- Pretty villages.
- Farmland.
- Plenty of shade.
- Excellent wildlife.
Lindsey’s Tip
Don’t rush today.
Take time to notice what’s growing in the fields and enjoy the slower pace.
One of our favourite discoveries was the Klapotetz, the traditional wooden windmills used to scare birds away from ripening grapes.
Another unexpected discovery was fields of sorghum, a drought-resistant crop becoming increasingly important across Europe because it copes much better with hot, dry summers than maize.
Day Three – Schilcher Tour North
Distance: 47 km
Elevation: Approximately 900 metres
Highlights
- Beautiful scenery around St. Stefan ob Stainz.
- Excellent viewpoints after the climbs.
Lindsey’s Honest Opinion
This was my least favourite of the four rides.
Although, there are some lovely sections, much of the climbing passes through forest without many views, and it didn’t have the vineyard atmosphere I expected from a Schilcher route.
Therefore, if you’re limited on time, I’d look at one of the alternative route options shown on the tourist office map.
Day Four – Sausaltal Tour
Distance: 57 km
Elevation: 570 m
Highlights
- One of the most enjoyable rides of the trip.
- Kitzeck.
- Panoramic vineyard views.
- Pumpkin oil mills.
- Wonderful Buschenschänken.
Lindsey’s Tip
Don’t simply follow the route around Kitzeck.
Istead, take the short detour into the village itself.
The views are spectacular and well worth the extra climbing.
Afterwards, visit one of the pumpkin oil mills for a tasting and finish the day with a Brettljause and a small glass of Schilcher overlooking the vineyards.
Route Highlights
Don’t miss:
- Kitzeck viewpoints
- Burg Deutschlandsberg
- Pumpkin oil mills
- Buschenschänken
- Klapotetz windmills
- Riverside riding on the Two Rivers Tour
- Vineyards around St. Stefan ob Stainz
- The peaceful farmland throughout the region
Things You Should Know
- The vineyard climbs can be surprisingly steep.
- Use your e-bike wisely and don’t be afraid to stop and admire the scenery.
- Also carry cash.
- Many smaller cafés and Buschenschänken still prefer it.
- In addition, summer temperatures can climb well above 30°C.
- Carry more water than you think you’ll need.
- The wind can also become quite strong once you leave the shelter of the cornfields after harvest.
- Finally, there is one grassy gravel section on the Sausaltal Tour. It’s short and perfectly manageable if taken steadily.
Navigation
- We used GPX files from Komoot together with the excellent paper maps from the local tourist office.
- Overall, most routes are well signposted.
- Only the Schilcher North Tour became slightly confusing in places, making the paper map a useful backup.
- Fortunately mobile reception was good throughout the region.
- If you’re using your phone for navigation all day, take a power bank.
Accommodation
We stayed at Seewaldhof near Bad Schwanberg.
The cottage is around seven kilometres uphill from the town, so having a car is recommended.
If you’re looking for peace, privacy and magnificent views, I can thoroughly recommend it.
In the evenings, we cooked using local produce bought in nearby villages while watching the sun set across the hills towards Leibnitz.
The owner, Sonja, is incredibly welcoming and knows the area inside out.
Food and Drink
Best Coffee
- Kathinka’s Café without question.
- Warm, friendly and home to the best cinnamon bun of the trip.
Favourite Lunch
- A traditional Brettljause at a Buschenschank.
- One platter between two people was more than enough, leaving room later for coffee and cake.
Local Specialities
- Schilcher Wine
- Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil
- Steirisches Backhendl
- Puntigamer Beer
Don’t Leave Without Trying Pumpkin Seed Oil
Styrian pumpkin seed oil is one of the region’s greatest treasures.
Made from specially grown Styrian oil pumpkins, it has a rich, nutty flavour and is protected by a European PGI designation.
Locals drizzle it over salads, soups, roasted vegetables and even vanilla ice cream.
Needless to say, I always bring a bottle home.
Practical Information
Free parking is available in many towns.
Graz Airport is the nearest international airport.
Local trains connect many of the surrounding towns.
Water fountains can be found in several villages.
The local tourist offices are extremely helpful and provide excellent cycling maps.
Who Will Love This Route?
Perfect for:
✔ Couples
✔ Riders over 50
✔ Intermediate e-bike riders
✔ Food lovers
✔ Wine lovers
✔ Photography enthusiasts
✔ Anyone looking for quieter cycling holidays
Who Might Not Enjoy It?
✘ Complete beginners with little hill experience
✘ Riders looking for big Alpine mountain climbs
✘ Families with very young children
Lindsey’s Tips
☕ Best Coffee Stop
Kathinka’s Café. Friendly owners, fantastic coffee and excellent cakes.
📷 Best Photo Spot
The viewpoints around Kitzeck. Every direction seems to reveal another postcard scene.
❤️ Don’t Miss
Lunch at a Buschenschank with vineyard views.
If you’re planning to sample the local wine, make use of the local Wine Taxi service rather than cycling afterwards.
🤓 Something I Learned
Before this trip, I’d never heard of sorghum.
Seeing it growing alongside maize made me curious, and I discovered it’s becoming increasingly important because it tolerates hot, dry summers far better than many traditional crops.
Could this become one of Europe’s crops of the future? Time will tell.
Lindsey’s Final Comment
South Styria quietly won me over.
It isn’t loud or dramatic, and that’s exactly why I enjoyed it so much.
Four days of peaceful cycling through vineyards, farmland and welcoming villages reminded me that some of the best cycling holidays aren’t about famous landmarks. They’re about slowing down, enjoying local food, chatting to the people you meet and appreciating the little things along the way.
The smell of freshly pressed pumpkin seed oil drifting through the countryside is something I’ll always associate with this region.
Next time, I’d spend longer here.
There are plenty more routes to explore, more Buschenschänken to discover and perhaps I’ll finally be brave enough to try the local carp that appeared on so many menus.
Ultimately, if you enjoy cycling for the scenery, the food and the experience rather than simply the kilometres, I think you’ll fall in love with South Styria just as I did.
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