Gravel to Sopron – Forest Trails, Hidden Roads & a Journey Across Borders

There are plenty of ways to cycle from Austria to Hungary. You could follow the main roads, stay on familiar cycle paths and reach Sopron without much trouble. But where’s the adventure in that?

For this tour, we take a different approach.

Starting in Guntramsdorf, just south of Vienna, we’ll make our way through the open countryside of Lower Austria, cross the Leitha region, climb into the forests of the Leithagebirge and continue south through Burgenland towards the Hungarian border.

Our destination is Sopron, a lovely old Hungarian town with medieval streets, centuries of history and plenty of places to enjoy a well-earned meal or coffee after a long day on the bike.

Most of the ride follows gravel tracks, farm roads, forest paths and quiet backroads. There will be some asphalt, of course, but the route has been chosen to keep busy roads to a minimum.

This is a full-day guided adventure for cyclists who enjoy discovering places that aren’t necessarily marked on the usual tourist maps.

The Route – What We’ll Discover

Across the plains of Lower Austria

We leave Guntramsdorf behind and head southeast through a landscape of farmland, small villages and open fields.

The first part of the day takes us towards Trumau and the countryside around Ebreichsdorf. Long stretches of gravel and agricultural tracks give us room to find a comfortable rhythm, with the distant hills gradually getting closer.

Trumau has an interesting history of its own. Back in 1138, the village became part of the lands belonging to Heiligenkreuz Abbey, one of Austria’s best-known Cistercian monasteries. Almost nine centuries later, agriculture is still a defining feature of the surrounding landscape.

There are no major climbs yet. This is a chance to settle into the bike, enjoy the quiet roads and save some energy for what comes next.

The Leitha countryside – where old borders meet

As we approach Wimpassing an der Leitha and the area around Leithaprodersdorf, the landscape begins to change.

The open fields give way to small river valleys, vineyards and rolling hills. The roads become more varied, and the first proper climbs appear on the horizon.

The Leitha River has a place in European history. During the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the names Cisleithania and Transleithania referred to the Austrian and Hungarian halves of the monarchy, using the river as a historical geographical reference.

Nearby is Loretto, a small pilgrimage village famous for its 17th-century basilica. The church is not directly on our GPX route, but it is one of the historical landmarks of this part of Burgenland.

Into the Leithagebirge – the adventure begins

This is where the ride starts to feel quite different.

We leave the flatter countryside behind and climb into the wooded slopes of the Leithagebirge, a low mountain range between the Vienna Basin and the Lake Neusiedl region.

The climb takes us along forest roads and gravel tracks. Some sections are gentle, others demand a bit more effort. The route rises to approximately 400 metres above sea level before turning downhill towards Eisenstadt.

The forests are mainly oak, beech and hornbeam, and on quieter stretches you can almost forget how close you are to Vienna.

It’s a lovely change of scenery: cool woodland, winding tracks, a little climbing, and then a rewarding descent.

We’ll take our time here. This is a gravel adventure, not a race.

Eisenstadt – a little music, a little history

After the forest section, we descend towards Eisenstadt, the capital of Burgenland.

Despite being a regional capital, Eisenstadt has the atmosphere of a small town. Its history is closely connected with the Esterházy family and the composer Joseph Haydn, who began working at their court in 1761.

The magnificent Esterházy Palace stands near the historic centre, and much of the town still reflects its Baroque past.

Our main route passes through the eastern side of Eisenstadt. Depending on our timing, we can make a short detour towards the historic centre before continuing south.

This is also a good place for a longer break, some lunch or a coffee.

South through Burgenland – towards the old Iron Curtain

Leaving Eisenstadt, we return to quieter roads and tracks across the countryside.

The landscape opens up again. Fields, small settlements and gentle hills lead us towards Klingenbach, close to the Hungarian border.

Today, crossing between Austria and Hungary on a bicycle feels completely ordinary. A few decades ago, it was a very different story.

For much of the Cold War, this border formed part of the Iron Curtain, separating Eastern and Western Europe.

On 27 June 1989, Austrian Foreign Minister Alois Mock and Hungarian Foreign Minister Gyula Horn symbolically cut the border fence at Klingenbach. It became one of the memorable images of the end of Europe’s division.

We ride through the same border region, now connected by local roads and cycling routes.

It’s a small moment in the day, but one worth thinking about.

Sopron – the perfect finish

The final kilometres bring us into Hungary and towards Sopron, known in German as Ödenburg.

We finish our ride in its historic centre, surrounded by medieval streets, colourful old buildings and the famous Fire Tower.

Sopron has an unusual place in Austrian and Hungarian history. When much of western Hungary became the Austrian province of Burgenland in 1921, Sopron and several neighbouring villages voted to remain part of Hungary.

That decision is commemorated by the Gate of Loyalty beneath the Fire Tower.

After approximately 71 kilometres of riding, we’ll have some time to explore the old town, take a few photos or sit down for a well-deserved drink.

From here, we’ll make our way to Sopron railway station, where the cycling tour ends and you can take a train back towards Vienna.

Day Itinerary

09:00 – Meeting in Guntramsdorf

Meet your personal guide, receive your gravel bike and helmet, adjust the bike to your riding position and go through a short route briefing.

09:15–10:45 – Gravel roads through Lower Austria

Our first kilometres take us across farmland and quiet tracks towards Trumau and Ebreichsdorf. Mostly easy riding with gentle terrain and a few short breaks.

10:45–12:15 – Leitha countryside and the forest climb

We continue through the countryside around Wimpassing and Leithaprodersdorf before entering the Leithagebirge. The main climbing section of the day takes us along woodland tracks towards the highest point of our route.

12:15–13:15 – Through the forest towards Eisenstadt

After the climb, we enjoy the descent towards Eisenstadt, with time for short photo stops along the way.

13:15–14:00 – Lunch break in Eisenstadt

A longer stop to rest and get something to eat. If the schedule allows, we can also make a short detour towards the historic centre.

14:00–15:45 – Quiet backroads towards Hungary

We head south across Burgenland on rural roads and gravel sections towards Klingenbach, passing through the historic border region of the former Iron Curtain.

15:45–16:30 – Arrival in Sopron and the Old Town

We reach Sopron, explore the streets around the Fire Tower and enjoy a final break.

16:30–17:00 – End of the tour at Sopron railway station

We make our way to the railway station, where the guided ride finishes. Return rail travel to Vienna is arranged separately.

All times are approximate. The actual schedule depends on riding pace, trail conditions, weather and the number of stops.

Trip Highlights

• Ride from Austria to Hungary in a single day on a carefully selected cross-border gravel route.
• Explore quiet farm tracks, country lanes and forest roads away from busy traffic.
• Climb the wooded Leithagebirge and enjoy the descent towards Eisenstadt.
• Discover the history of the Leitha region, the Esterházy family and the former Iron Curtain.
• Visit Sopron’s historic old town and its famous Fire Tower.
• Travel with a personal local guide who stays with you throughout the ride.

Is This Tour for You?

This ride is best suited to cyclists with reasonable fitness and some experience riding on gravel.

The distance is approximately 71 km, with around 550–600 metres of climbing. The route includes loose surfaces, uneven forest tracks, a sustained uphill section and some faster descents.

You don’t need to be a professional cyclist, but you should feel comfortable spending several hours in the saddle and riding on unpaved roads.

The pace is flexible, with stops for photos, water, food and sightseeing. This is an adventure-focused ride rather than a competitive sporting event.

Practical Information

Starting point: Guntramsdorf, Lower Austria

Finish: Sopron, Hungary

Distance: Approximately 71 km

Elevation gain: Approximately 550–600 m

Duration: Full day, approximately 8 hours including breaks

Difficulty: Moderate to challenging

Terrain: Predominantly gravel, farm tracks, forest roads and quiet paved connections

Bike type: Gravel bike

Recommended for: Regular cyclists with good basic fitness and confidence on unpaved surfaces

What’s Included

• Personal cycling guide throughout the day
• Gravel bike rental
• Cycling helmet

What’s Not Included

• Meals, snacks and drinks
• Return train ticket from Sopron to Vienna
• Personal expenses along the route

Important to Know

This is a cross-border cycling tour, so please bring a valid passport or national identity card accepted for travel between Austria and Hungary.

Some sections may be adjusted by your guide due to weather, forestry work, trail access restrictions or other local conditions.

If you enjoy gravel riding, quiet countryside, a few proper climbs and discovering places along the way, this is a rather good way to spend a day outside Vienna.