01 - Overview
The Mürztalradweg R5 follows the river Mürz for around 68 km downstream - from the forested quiet of the Naturpark Mürzer Oberland to the confluence of the Mürz and the Mur at Bruck an der Mur. Tracing a former railway trackbed, passing a gothic monastery, Brahms memories and Rosegger country, the route descends almost continuously through the green heart of Styria.
The Mürztalradweg R5 is one of the most satisfying valley cycle routes in Styria - and one of the most logical: from Mürzsteg at around 784 m above sea level, you follow the river Mürz almost continuously downhill to Bruck an der Mur at 468 m, where the Mürz joins the Mur and the long-distance Murradweg R2 begins. The starting point of Mürzsteg, framed by the Mürzsteger Alpen, is reachable by car or by bus from Mürzzuschlag - there is no railway station here. Arriving by train, the most elegant option is to begin at Mürzzuschlag: the Semmeringbahn - a UNESCO World Heritage railway since 1998 - crosses the Semmering from Vienna and brings you directly to the head of the valley. The first third of the route - around 20 km from Mürzsteg to Mürzzuschlag - ranks among the finest rail-trail cycling in Styria. The Neuberger Bahn, closed in 2000 and converted to a cycle path in 2011, runs almost entirely traffic-free through the Naturpark Mürzer Oberland. The former trackbed keeps gradients minimal; the surface is paved, and the landscape shifts between spruce forest, open meadows and the murmuring Mürz. In Neuberg an der Mürz, a brief detour to Stift Neuberg rewards handsomely - a former Cistercian monastery founded in 1327, preserving the only fully intact gothic cloister in Styria. Mürzzuschlag is more than a staging post. As the terminus of the Semmeringbahn, the town carries a distinct railway heritage. The Südbahnmuseum chronicles the age of steam; the Brahms Museum recalls that Johannes Brahms spent the summers of 1884 and 1885 here, completing his Fourth Symphony in E minor. Beyond Mürzzuschlag the valley gradually opens out; the route passes through Langenwang and on to Krieglach, home town of the Styrian writer Peter Rosegger. The Rosegger Museum stands near the station, down in the valley - his birthplace in Alpl is a steep climb above the village and well off the cycling route. From Kindberg onwards the Mürztal broadens noticeably; the route stays close to the river and remains easy-going. Through Kapfenberg - overlooked by the medieval Burg Oberkapfenberg high on the hillside - you roll into Bruck an der Mur. The historic town greets arrivals with the Venetian-gothic Kornmesserhaus from the 15th century, the ornate Eisenbrunnen on the main square, and the meeting of two rivers and two cycle routes: the R5 ends here; the R2 begins. A note of honesty: the lower section from Kindberg runs in stretches alongside the Südbahn railway and the B306 main road, which gives it a rather different feel from the tranquil upper valley. Riders seeking unspoiled scenery will enjoy the northern third most. Those who want the full picture of the Mürztal ride all 68 km - and take the S1 or a regional train home.
- Regions
- Styria
- Start
- Mürzsteg
- Finish
- Bruck an der Mur
- Surface
- Paved
- Network
- Regional
- Best season
- April - October
- Signposting
- fully signposted
- Families
- well suited
- Road-bike friendly
- Yes · Fully pavedwell documented
99 % paved, effectively paved throughout.
02 - Stages
4 stages · 68 km
01Mürzsteg - MürzzuschlagMürzsteg · Neuberg an der Mürz · Kapellen · Mürzzuschlag20 km
The finest section of the Mürztalradweg begins in the quiet high valley of Mürzsteg, framed by the Mürzsteger Alpen. On the former trackbed of the Neuberger Bahn - closed in 2000, converted to a cycle path in 2011 - you roll almost effortlessly downhill through the Naturpark Mürzer Oberland. The paved surface is smooth, the soundscape minimal: birdsong, water, the occasional breeze through the spruce. In Neuberg an der Mürz, a rewarding detour interrupts the ride: Stift Neuberg, founded in 1327 by Duke Otto the Merry as a Cistercian monastery, preserves the only fully intact gothic cloister in Styria. The stage ends in Mürzzuschlag, gateway to the lower Mürztal and the southern terminus of the legendary Semmeringbahn.
- Ascent
- 48 m
- Descent
- 170 m
- Duration
- approx. 1 h 20 min
- Surface
- Paved, former railway embankment, almost entirely traffic-free
Surface (measured): paved
02Mürzzuschlag - KrieglachMürzzuschlag · Langenwang · Krieglach12 km
Mürzzuschlag is not just a transit point but a place of surprising cultural depth. As the southern terminus of the Semmeringbahn - a UNESCO World Heritage railway since 1998 - the town has railway heritage woven into its identity: the Südbahnmuseum preserves locomotives and memorabilia from the steam era. The Brahms Museum tells a different story: Johannes Brahms spent the summers of 1884 and 1885 here, completing his Fourth Symphony in E minor - an unexpected echo of Viennese musical culture in the Styrian Alps. Beyond Mürzzuschlag the valley levels out; via Langenwang you reach Krieglach, home town of the Styrian writer and folk philosopher Peter Rosegger. The Rosegger Museum sits near the railway station, easily accessible in the valley - his birthplace in Alpl is high on the hillside above the village and reached only by a steep climb well off the cycling route.
- Ascent
- 18 m
- Descent
- 72 m
- Duration
- approx. 50 min
- Surface
- Paved and compacted tracks, occasional road sections
Surface (measured): paved
03Krieglach - KindbergKrieglach · Mürzhofen · Kindberg14 km
Between Krieglach and Kindberg the Mürztal noticeably widens. The hillsides step back, the riverside meadows gain space, and the cycle path follows the Mürz in a pleasantly unhurried way. Mürzhofen passes almost unnoticed; Kindberg welcomes with a compact town centre and good options for refreshment. This middle stage is the quietest of the entire R5 - free of major landmarks, but rich in the understated charm that distinguishes the best Styrian valley routes. It is the ideal stretch for settling into the saddle and letting the pace of the river set the rhythm.
- Ascent
- 44 m
- Descent
- 86 m
- Duration
- approx. 55 min
- Surface
- Paved, flat valley path with gentle undulations
Surface (measured): paved
04Kindberg - Bruck an der MurKindberg · Wartberg im Mürztal · Kapfenberg · Bruck an der Mur23 km
The longest stage is also the most varied - and the most candid. From Kindberg the route continues through Wartberg im Mürztal to Kapfenberg, where Burg Oberkapfenberg crowns the hillside above town - a 12th-century fortress and one of the most striking medieval sites in the region, open today as a museum and events venue. Worth knowing: a portion of this stage runs alongside the Südbahn railway and the B306 main road, giving it a rather less tranquil character than the upper valley. But the destination more than compensates: Bruck an der Mur, at the confluence of the Mürz and the Mur, is one of the finest historic towns in Styria. The Kornmesserhaus, with its 15th-century Venetian-gothic facade, dominates the main square, where the ornate wrought-iron Eisenbrunnen stands as one of the most beautiful wrought-iron well screens in Austria. Here too the Mürztalradweg R5 meets the Murradweg R2.
- Ascent
- 132 m
- Descent
- 211 m
- Duration
- approx. 1 h 35 min
- Surface
- Paved, in sections alongside the B306 road and railway
Surface (measured): paved
03 - Elevation
Elevation across the full distance - move the cursor to read altitude and kilometre.
Elevation profile over 68 km. Ascent 242 m, descent 539 m. Lowest point 483 m, highest point 782 m.
Elevation from OSM geometry + Digital Terrain Model (DGM) Austria (10 m).
Hover the profile to see the point on the map - and vice versa.
04 - POIs & Services
- Naturpark Mürzer Oberland
- Münster Neuberg - gothic cloister
- Südbahnmuseum (Southern Railway Museum)
- Brahms Museum (4th Symphony)
- Rosegger Museum in the valley
- Burg Oberkapfenberg castle
- Kornmesserhaus & main square with the Eisenbrunnen
- Mürzsteger Alpen - backdrop of the upper valley
Services along the route
- Bike service & e-bikeCycle shops and e-bike hire are available in the larger valley towns - Mürzzuschlag, Kindberg, Kapfenberg and Bruck an der Mur. Before riding up to the upper valley it is worth checking battery levels in Mürzzuschlag.
- Rail trail (upper valley)The first 20 km on the former Neuberger Bahn trackbed are completely traffic-free, paved and ideal for families. In winter the trackbed serves as a cross-country ski loipe - it is open to cyclists from April to October.
- Refreshments & Styrian cuisineInns and Buschenschenken (farm wine taverns) are found in all the valley towns along the route. Styrian specialities such as Käferbohnensalat (scarlet-runner-bean salad) with pumpkin-seed oil and Backhendl are widely available. Neuberg an der Mürz and Mürzzuschlag also offer cafes with cake and cold-cut platters.
- Drinking water & suppliesPublic fountains and drinking water points are available in towns along the full route; supermarkets in Mürzzuschlag, Krieglach, Kapfenberg and Bruck an der Mur. The nature park section between Mürzsteg and Mürzzuschlag has no supply infrastructure - carry provisions.
Service points along the route
- Drinking water24
- Repair station1
- Bike shop7
- Charging station49
Service points from OpenStreetMap. Coverage may be incomplete, some fountains are seasonal - verify before you rely on them.
05 - Impressions
The former Cistercian monastery of Neuberg an der Mürz with its gothic minster - in the upper Mürztal, beside the traffic-free rail-trail.Photo: Stift Neuberg an der Mürz · Niki.L · CC BY-SA 4.0 View from the Große Scheibe over Mürzzuschlag and the green Mürz valley, framed by the wooded heights of the Mürzsteger and Fischbacher Alpen.Photo: Mürztal bei Mürzzuschlag · Andrzej Otrębski · CC BY-SA 4.0 The 15th-century Venetian-gothic Kornmesserhaus on the main square of Bruck an der Mur - the goal of the valley ride at the confluence of the Mürz and the Mur.Photo: Kornmesserhaus, Bruck an der Mur · Hans A. Rosbach · CC BY-SA 3.0
06 - Public transit
- S1 (S-Bahn Steiermark)The S1 links Mürzzuschlag - Langenwang - Krieglach - Kindberg - Kapfenberg - Bruck an der Mur - Graz - Spielfeld-Straß, serving the whole lower Mürztal. Bikes travel with a Radticket (included in the KlimaTicket Steiermark; free Mon-Fri 09:00-15:00 and from 18:30).
- Semmeringbahn (main line / ÖBB)The UNESCO World Heritage railway connects Vienna with Mürzzuschlag via the Semmering pass - the classic approach for cyclists from Vienna and the Wiener Becken. Bike reservation required on long-distance services.
- Bus Mürzzuschlag - MürzstegMürzsteg has no railway station. Regional buses run from Mürzzuschlag station up the valley to Neuberg an der Mürz and Mürzsteg. Check with the operator in advance regarding bicycle carriage on the bus.
- ÖBB long-distance (Bruck an der Mur)Bruck an der Mur is a major Südbahn junction with fast connections towards Vienna (via the Semmering), Graz and Leoben. Returning home by train from here is straightforward at any time of day.
The ideal logistics: arrive by Semmeringbahn at Mürzzuschlag, unpack the bike, and take the bus up to Mürzsteg to start the R5 from the top. Alternatively, begin directly from Mürzzuschlag and enjoy the 20 km rail trail first. At the finish in Bruck an der Mur, the S1 or an ÖBB long-distance service connects back to Graz or Vienna. The frequent S1 service means the route can be broken at any station and resumed the next day - making a two-day ride with an overnight in Mürzzuschlag or Krieglach a natural option.
07 - GPX & TCX download
Download for GPS devices & apps
Clean track with elevation - imports as a single tour, compatible with Komoot, Garmin, Wahoo, Strava, RideWithGPS, OsmAnd.
Download stages individually (4)
Route derived from OpenStreetMap geometry - may differ slightly from on-the-ground signage. © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0) · Elevation © DGM Austria (CC BY 3.0 AT). Redistribute with attribution.