About Drava Bike
Drava Bike – Your Guide to the Slovenian and Croatian Sections of the International Drava Cycling Route
Drava Bike is the official platform for planning cycling adventures along the approximately 210-kilometre Slovenian and Croatian sections of the International Drava Cycling Route.
Here you'll find everything you need to plan your cycling trip in one place – from stage descriptions, GPX tracks and accommodation to transfers, local experiences and practical travel tips.
Whether you're planning a one-day ride or a multi-day cycling holiday, Drava Bike helps you discover the highlights of the route while connecting you with trusted local service providers and authentic experiences.
Drava Bike as Part of the International Drava Cycling Route
The Drava River flows through Italy, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia, creating one of the most scenic cross-border cycling routes in this part of Europe. Following the river, the International Drava Cycling Route offers visitors the opportunity to discover the diverse landscapes, cultural heritage and local traditions of all four countries.
The Austrian section of the route is developed and promoted by Austrian partners under the Drauradweg brand. Drava Bike represents the approximately 210-kilometre Slovenian and Croatian section, stretching from Dravograd to the confluence of the Drava and Mura rivers near Legrad.
The tourism product Drava Bike is developed, managed and promoted by RRA Podravje – Maribor in cooperation with the partners of the Drava Cycling Route Partnership. Together, we are committed to creating a high-quality cycling experience by connecting local tourism providers, developing the route and offering reliable information and support for planning your journey.
Plan Your Cycling Adventure
On the Drava Bike website, you'll find everything you need to plan your trip:
detailed stage descriptions
GPX tracks
accommodation
places to eat and drink
natural and cultural attractions
bicycle rental
transfers for cyclists, bicycles and luggage
suggested trips and experiences
up-to-date route information
practical travel tips
How Can We Help?
Most visitors explore Drava Bike independently. Our role is to provide reliable information and make planning your cycling holiday as easy as possible.
If you need help choosing the right stages, arranging transfers or finding accommodation, we're happy to advise you and connect you with trusted local service providers.
For groups or travellers with specific requests, we can also help create a tailor-made cycling experience together with our local partners.
Contact: info@dravabike.si
Drava Bike – An Experience Around Every Bend
Drava Bike takes you from the point where the route enters Slovenia to the confluence of the Mura and Drava rivers near Legrad in Croatia. The route is divided into six stages and is ideal for families and leisure cyclists looking for more than just kilometres in the saddle. As you cycle through Koroška and Štajerska, you will enjoy views of river landscapes, forests, vineyard-covered hills, and towns and villages with a rich cultural heritage. Along the way, you can discover natural attractions, local stories, regional wines and cuisine, and authentic experiences by the Drava River.
Cycling along Drava Bike can be combined with traditional timber rafting, paddling, swimming, gold panning, exploring nature, visiting castles, museums and historic towns, and tasting local wines and food. Drava Bike truly offers an experience around every bend.
Drava Bike is also the region’s main cycling route, connecting a wider network of local cycling trails, towns, villages and tourism services. At the same time, it remains part of the international cycling route that follows the Drava River through four countries. In this way, it brings together authentic local experiences, diverse landscapes and a true cross-border cycling adventure.
Drava Bike Map
Whether you are planning a one-day trip or a multi-day cycling journey, the Drava Bike map will help you plan your route.
The map provides an overview of all six stages, key attractions, tourist information, accommodation, transfer options and other useful information for exploring the approximately 210-kilometre cycling route along the Drava River in Slovenia and Croatia.
Download the Drava Bike map below (PDF)
Would you prefer a printed copy?
Order a free Drava Bike cycling map and make planning your cycling adventure even easier
Drava Cycling Route in Austria
Drauradweg or Drava Cycling Route in Carinthia is a very popular distance cycling route.Dravska kolesarska pot v AvstrijiADFC (German Cyclist’s Association), the most important international organisation for classification of cycling routes, marked the Drava Cycling Route in Austria with five stars, the highest possible grade for an individual route in Europe, making this route one of only four cycling routes in Europe with the highest grade.
Drava Cycling Route in Slovenia and Croatia
Drava Bike Through Slovenia and Croatia
The Slovenian and Croatian sections of the International Drava Cycling Route take visitors through two diverse regions – Koroška and Štajerska – and across northern Croatia to the confluence of the Mura and Drava rivers near Legrad. The approximately 210-kilometre route is divided into six stages, linking river landscapes, vineyard-covered hills, historic towns, and numerous natural and cultural attractions.
The route mostly follows quiet local roads, designated cycling paths and sections close to the river. Due to the varied terrain, a trekking or mountain bike is recommended for certain sections. The more demanding climb between Podvelka and Lovrenc na Pohorju can also be easily avoided by taking the train between Podvelka and Fala.
Along the way, you will visit Dravograd, Radlje ob Dravi, Maribor, Ptuj, Ormož, Varaždin and Legrad, as well as many smaller places, each telling its own story of the Drava River. The route leads through the Drava Valley between Pohorje and Kozjak, past river lakes, historic towns, and the fertile plains and vineyard landscapes of Štajerska, before continuing into northern Croatia and ending at the confluence of the Mura and Drava rivers near Legrad. Along the route, you will discover castles, museums, historic town centres, local cuisine, excellent wines and many authentic experiences by the river.
For more detailed information about individual sections, difficulty levels, attractions and tourism services, visit the page for each stage.
Climb by sections in Slovenia and Croatia
| Dravograd–Radlje ob Dravi/Vuhred: | 626 m |
| Vuhred/Radlje ob Dravi–Maribor: | 963 m |
| Maribor–Ptuj via Duplek: | 228 m |
| Maribor–Ptuj via Starše: | 45 m |
| Ptuj–Ormož: | 93 m |
| Ormož–Varaždin: | 91 m |
| Varaždin–Legrad: | 38 m |
Percentage of unpaved and paved roads in Slovenia and Croatia
| Razmerje skupaj: | 28,6 % makadama, 71,4 % asfaltirano |
| Dravograd–Radlje ob Dravi/Vuhred: | 10 % makadama, 90 % asfaltirano |
| Vuhred/Radlje ob Dravi–Maribor: | 20 % makadama, 80 % asfaltirano |
| Maribor–Ptuj via Duplek: | 0 % makadama, 100 % asfaltirano |
| Maribor–Ptuj via Starše: | 45 % makadama, 55 % asfaltirano |
| Ptuj–Ormož: | 26 % makadama, 74 % asfaltirano |
| Ormož–Varaždin: | 45 % makadama, 55 % asfaltirano |
| Varaždin–Legrad: | 9 % makadama, 91 % asfaltirano |
Total distance by section in Slovenia and Croatia
| Skupaj: | 208 km |
| Dravograd–Radlje ob Dravi/Vuhred: | 26 km |
| Vuhred/Radlje ob Dravi–Maribor: | 42 km |
| Maribor–Ptuj via Duplek: | 30 km |
| Maribor–Ptuj via Starše: | 30 km |
| Ptuj–Ormož: | 28 km |
| Ormož–Varaždin: | 30 km |
| Varaždin–Legrad: | 52 km |
Bicycle route marking
The Drava Cycling Route is marked all the way from the source of Drava to the confluence of Mura and Drava. Markings are green in Austria, red in Slovenia, and blue in Croatia. All signboards use the common logo of the Drava Cycling Route, with an additional marking R1 in Austria and Croatia. In Austria, the logo is only included in larger signs.
