A five-day motorbike trip through Italy, Slovenia and Austria: three countries, each with their own unique charm. In this blog, we take you along our route, with highlights, challenges and tips for anyone dreaming of a motorbike trip through the Alps and the Julian Alps.

What should you take with you on a motorbike trip?

Good preparation will make your motorbike holiday a lot more relaxing. In addition to the standard items such as clothing, wallet and documents, these are our absolute recommendations to take with you:

• Protective motorcycle clothing: Invest in a good motorcycle suit with protection. Supplement this with thermal clothing for colder days and rainwear for unexpected showers.

• Motorcycle bags or cases: Brands such as SW-Motech and Givi have proven themselves with sturdy and spacious luggage solutions. Ideal for carrying your belongings in an organised and safe manner.

• Navigation: We rely on our smartphone in a Quad Lock case and a holder on the motorbike. The OsmAnd app is recommended for navigation.

• Tie-down straps: Compact and lightweight, but indispensable when you need to secure your luggage.

• Visor cleaner + microfibre cloth: Always ensure clear visibility while riding by keeping your visor clean.

• Handy tool kit: For minor repairs on the road, a basic tool kit is worth its weight in gold.

• Tyre repair kit with pump: A flat tyre doesn't have to ruin your trip if you can quickly arrange a temporary solution yourself.

• Earplugs or hearing protection: Especially on long stretches of motorway, they reduce the constant wind and engine noise and prevent hearing damage.

• Communication system with charger: Stay in touch with your motorbike buddy(ies), receive navigation instructions or listen to music.

• Sturdy motorbike lock: Park your motorbike with peace of mind, even if you have to leave it somewhere temporarily in case of a breakdown.

Outward journey: Leiden (Netherlands) to Bolzano (Italy)

As we wanted to ride our motorbikes in Slovenia, we decided to load them onto a trailer and drive to our starting point in Italy (Bolzano) by car. This allowed us to start our motorbike trip directly from Italy, full of energy and without a long journey beforehand.

We divided the outward journey into two parts. We spent the night in Germany, close to the Austrian border. This meant that we didn't have to cover too many kilometres on the second day of our journey, so we arrived at our final destination on time and still had time for an (unexpected) stop at Neuschwanstein Castle.

Once we arrived at our final destination, we were able to unload the motorbikes at our leisure and get everything ready to leave on time the next day. When choosing our accommodation, we deliberately took into account the need for a good parking space for our trailer, car and motorbikes. During our motorbike trip, we were also able to leave our car and trailer here for a small fee.

We stayed at Unterpfaffstall Hof, a traditional farm high up in the mountains near Ritten with views of the mountains, cuddly farm animals and fresh produce from their own farm. This was also a great base for our walks in the Dolomites during the last few days of our trip.

Day 1: Bolzano to Ampezzo (Italy)

Distance: 270 km

GPX route:

We started in Bolzano, and it felt like the trip was off to a great start. The sky was blue and our first route was the famous Sella Ronda. This loop route connects four mountain passes and takes you through impressive scenery of steep rock faces and panoramic views.

Only... today there was also a cycling marathon taking place. Around 8,000 cyclists shared the road with us. That meant a lot of traffic jams and, unfortunately, some less pleasant things: empty bottles and snack wrappers thrown into the countryside. We drove behind the safety car for the first part of the journey, so slowly that taking hairpin bends became almost dangerous. We therefore decided to take an early break and eat the (cold) pizza we had brought with us the night before.

After that stop, we could finally continue our journey on a normal pace. What a difference: smooth bends, breathtaking views and a lunch stop in a cosy mountain hut called “Col de Cuk”. But after the delicious pasta, the weather changed. The rain started softly, but soon turned into a downpour. We took shelter on the Giau Pass for a while, but then had to continue. The drive to our overnight accommodation was not exactly relaxing; in addition to the rain, it also started to thunder. After a few extra stops along the way to take shelter, hoping that the bad weather would pass, we arrived in Ampezzo at around eight o'clock in the evening, soaking wet. As we entered the town, the streets were flooded and the church bells were ringing loudly to warn of the storm, all very ominous. So the first day started as a real adventure.

When we arrived at our hotel, we hung up our motorcycle gear and put on dry clothes. Because it was already quite late, most restaurants were closed. Stubborn as we were, we thought our raincoats would be enough for the walk to a restaurant. This turned out not to be the case, and after running for 10 minutes, we arrived (once again) soaked to the skin. After a hot meal, there was still little change in the weather. Fortunately, one of the waitresses was going in the same direction as us, so we could hitch a ride and avoid getting washed away for a third time.

Day 2: Ampezzo (Italy) to Boveç (Slovenia)

Distance: 270 km

GPX-route:

We woke up to rain and thunderstorms. Not exactly the start you hope for, but we decided to just wait it out. And it worked: halfway through the morning, the skies cleared. First, we put the motorbikes through a car wash (they were covered in mud and had never been so dirty before; a clean motorbike rides better, after all) and then we set off for Slovenia.

We entered Slovenia through a small border crossing and wound our way into the country along a narrow mountain road. Slovenia immediately proved to be a good choice: mountains covered in deep green pine trees, rivers with crystal blue water and roads that gently undulated through the landscape. We had lunch at a restaurant along the river where they specialise in freshly caught trout (with lots of garlic).

The highlight of the day was Lake Bled. Yes, it's touristy, but still magical: a clear blue glacial lake with a small island in the middle, a church and a view of a castle on a cliff. People were paddleboarding and kayaking, and the sun made the water sparkle.

In the evening, the Vršič Pass awaited us: the highest paved mountain pass in Slovenia (1,611 m). On the way to this pass, we saw dark clouds gathering around the peaks. Hoping that the showers would pass, we decided to grab a bite to eat in the area first. This led us to the traditional restaurant Kotnik.

With its 50 hairpin bends, cobblestones in the curves and history as a WWI route, the Vršič Pass was a special drive. We were glad it was dry – this is one you really want to drive without skidding. Just before dark, we arrived in Boveč at Soča Home, our base for the next two days.

Day 3: Mangartska cesta (Slovenia)

No GPX route, as it is a round trip

It was raining again, but since we hadn't planned a long drive, we took it easy. Towards the end of the morning, we drove to Mangart, Slovenia's highest paved road (2,055 m). The route there was an adventure in itself, with dark tunnels and countless hairpin bends.

After paying the toll (€10 per person), we parked just below the summit. From the car park, the last section of the road was closed to traffic due to the risk of falling rocks (we were told that this is almost always the case). To enjoy the view, we had to climb a little further – in full motorcycle gear, which immediately felt like a new sport. The rain showers earlier in the day didn't make it any easier due to the mud. Our sporty motorcycle boots are not made for this type of surface (who would have thought...), so a minor slip was inevitable. See the last photo below for the result. But it was definitely worth it! At the top, we were treated to rugged rock peaks, patches of snow and endless views. It was chilly, only 8 degrees, but the atmosphere up there was magical.

We ate our lunch on the mountain and then quickly descended to find some warmth again. In the afternoon, we visited Slap Boka, a 144-metre-high waterfall. Again, it was a short but (largely due to our motorcycle gear) strenuous climb to the viewpoint.

Day 4: Boveç (Slovenia) to Zell am See (Austria)

Distance: 306 km

GPX-route:

Our plan for today: the Großglockner Pass. However, the day before, it had been widely reported in the news that certain passes in Italy and Austria would be closed due to snowfall, even though it is the middle of summer. This just goes to show how unpredictable the weather can be in the mountains. We could see on the webcams that the Großglockner was also covered in white, and a warning on the website confirmed our suspicion: ‘closed to cyclists and motorcyclists’.

But that didn't spoil the fun, because we started the day (finally) without rain. With the sun on our visors, we rode out of Slovenia via the Predil Pass, past Lago del Predil, a beautiful lake at the foot of the Julian Alps.

We continued our journey via a lower route, which meant we could see the white peaks of the Großglockner, but remained on dry asphalt ourselves – until mid-afternoon. Then it started raining again and became quite cold.

For a good lunch and Kaiserschmarrn, we stopped at Restaurant Lärchenstadl on the way. Towards evening, we arrived at Casa Montana in Zell am See, where Jolanda from the Netherlands welcomed us. On her recommendation, we ate at Die Libelle, after which we quickly jumped into a hot shower to warm up.

Day 5: Zell am See (Austria) to Bolzano (Italy)

Afstand: 361 km

GPX-route:

We had two options for today's route: the Großglockner or the Timmelsjoch. After checking the webcams and the website, it became clear that the Großglockner would remain closed again today. So we opted for the Timmelsjoch (Passo del Rombo), at an altitude of 2,509 metres. To get there, we first drove for 3.5 hours on N roads – a bit boring, but with music and communication sets it was quite enjoyable.

Just before the pass, we had lunch at “Poleposition”, a classic among motorcyclists. Then we stopped at the Top Mountain Motorcycle Museum. After a fire in 2021 in which 200 motorcycles were lost, the museum has been completely rebuilt – and how. With 450 motorcycles from more than 100 brands, it is a paradise for enthusiasts.

The Timmelsjoch itself was a delight: smooth bends, sunshine on our faces, beautiful views and hardly any traffic.

After the descent, we arrived in Merano, where palm trees and cypresses grow against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. A unique blend of Alpine and Mediterranean atmosphere. After dinner at Trattoria Al Boia, we drove back to Bolzano via a panoramic road. The last part of the journey was in the dark, but surprisingly mild in temperature.

In conclusion

After five intense days and over 1,500 kilometres of winding roads, mountain peaks and new memories, we returned to Bolzano. Whether you want to plan a similar route yourself or are simply looking for inspiration for your next motorbike trip, Italy, Slovenia and Austria are highly recommended. We are already looking forward to our next adventure on two wheels.