Dolomiti Bike Day 2025: Peaks, Pedals, and Personal Recharge
Exploring the Dolomites by bike, combining my love for cycling with some much-needed relaxation.
Day 1: From Munich to Corvara via Brixen | Strava
I kicked things off early, leaving my place west of Munich at 8 AM for an easy ride to Munich Main Station. The weather was perfect, and I arrived with plenty of time to spare, easily finding my bike spot and seat on Railjet 83. The train left right on schedule.
The 3.5-hour train ride was super comfortable. I listened to my favorite podcast, "Lage der Nation", and grabbed some snacks from the onboard restaurant—couldn't have been more relaxed.
My cycling trip to Corvara started right after I arrived in Brixen. The first half of the ride, until San Lorenzo, was beautiful with lots of dedicated bike paths. After that, heading down to Corvara, the roads were mostly shared with cars, and there were tunnels. I'll admit, those tunnels were a bit scary! My bike radar and bright yellow shirt helped me stay visible. After a few, I realized sometimes you can bypass them on older, pre-tunnel roads. That worked a few times, but then I hit a completely blocked old road, forcing me back into a tunnel.
I made a great stop at a small organic supermarket to refuel with ice cream, fruit bars, and plenty of juice.
I finally rolled into Corvara around 5 PM. First order of business: washing my bike clothes and hanging them up for drying. Then it was straight to the hotel's spa area—wow! It's incredible, I definitely need to come back. Two saunas, a steam bath, three cold water basins, a whirlpool, and heated comfy chairs. This hotel is a real find; I'm already thinking about staying here for snowboarding in winter.
Later, I met up with my colleague and friend Anja for pizza. We even managed to fix her deflated tire afterward—thankfully, it all went smoothly.
I was really tired, but it was an excellent first day.
Day 2: Dolomiti Bike Day in Corvara | Strava
At 6:45 AM, I couldn't resist. I took a short early morning walk, heading over to the gondolas in Corvara that I know well from winter. It's amazing to see Corvara so quiet and without snow.
Then, I had a long and excellent breakfast at the hotel. I grabbed sunscreen from my bike bag and put on an extra layer.
We started our ride at 8:30 AM when it was still cool outside.
For Dolomiti Bike Day, we covered the Campolongo, Falzarego, and Valparola passes, reaching a high point of about 2192 meters. It wasn't overly tough, and the stunning views, ice cream breaks, and the company of other cyclists made the time fly by. We finished around 12:05 PM, grabbed a break at a pizzeria nearby, and then decided to head up to Jimmy's Hut for a final drink before Anja drove back to Munich.
I walked the 7 km down the hiking track back to Corvara, then enjoyed the spa/sauna again. After a burger at a nearby restaurant, I headed to bed early.
Since I was dining alone, the restaurant paired me with another single guest, a motorcyclist from Munich. We shared some great stories and might even see each other at the B2Run running event in Munich soon.
This was an unforgettable day: so much sport, amazing views, and great conversations. The atmosphere on the road with all the other cyclists was incredible. I really hope to be back next year.
Day 3: From Corvara to Munich via Brixen | Strava
After another great breakfast and checking out, I tried an alternative route back to Brixen. It added some extra meters of climbing, but it was totally worth it. I skipped all but one of the scary tunnels, and the route itself was very scenic.
I reached Brixen just before noon and decided to visit the “Acquarena” Sauna, which I know well from many past visits. I had a light lunch, plenty of water and non-alcoholic wheat beer (hey, it’s isotonic!) and enjoyed two great "Aufguss" sessions.
Then I changed into my regular clothes and cycled the five minutes from the sauna to the train station. The train was on time, but unfortunately, some e-biker had taken my reserved bike spot. So, I had to stay near my bike for 3.5 hours, hoping the conductor would sort it out.
Final Thoughts
Overall, it was another fantastic experience! The only thing that could have been smoother was the logistics on the way back from Brixen to Munich. Adding an extra day would probably help, as return travel wouldn't then be on such a heavy traffic day. Luckily, I made it back to Munich safely and more or less on time.
Looking back, the stunning views and the feeling of being one of 9,000 cyclists on the roads of Dolomiti Bike Day are what truly stand out for me.
It seems the Dolomites region has definitely found a spot in my heart, both in winter and in summer.