Cyclists Welcome – FinKa is a Bett+Bike Hostel

Travelling along the Via Claudia Augusta: Why Mals has become the perfect stop between Reschen Pass and Merano for many cyclists.

First you hear the quiet click of the gear shift, then a short sigh of relief – finally done. The bicycle is leaned against the wall of the house, the helmet taken off, the water bottle long since empty. Anyone arriving at the FinKa like this has usually already had a long day behind them.

You can recognize cycle travellers immediately. Their legs are tired, their jerseys marked by a full day on the road. Sooner or later they stand at the reception desk of the FinKa – and after checking in, the same first question almost always comes up: “Where can we safely store our bikes?” Anyone travelling by bicycle quickly realizes that accommodation is not simply a bed for the night.

A bicycle needs a safe place for the night. Wet clothing needs somewhere to dry. And sometimes a small repair still waits in the evening – a tyre with too little air, a loose screw, or simply the ritual of checking the bike again after a long day on the road.

Cycle touring follows its own logic. Those travelling by bicycle move slowly – and that is precisely the difference. The landscape does not rush past; it gradually opens up. Rivers show the way, ancient trade routes lead through valleys, and somewhere on the horizon a mountain pass is always waiting. With every kilometre, not only does the distance grow, but also the awareness of everything that lies along the way. By the end of the day, you know quite precisely how many metres of elevation are in your legs.

Perhaps that is exactly the special appeal of travelling by bicycle: the world does not become faster – you simply become more attentive. Those who travel this way need places along the route where they can arrive for a night. Places that understand what a long stage means. That is exactly why the FinKa is a member of Bett+Bike.

This certification highlights accommodation that is consciously geared towards cycle travellers – with secure bike storage, tools for small repairs, places to dry clothing, and hosts who understand that after a long day on the road cyclists often need just two things: a good dinner and a bed. For the FinKa, that fits perfectly.

Cyclist-Friendly Infrastructure at FinKa

For cycle travellers, the evening often comes down to something quite simple: having everything they need. At the FinKa there is therefore a large, lockable bike garage where bicycles can be stored safely overnight. After a long day on the road, this is often the first real relief.

Equipment is also taken care of. In our laundry room with washing machine and dryer, guests can clean and dry their cycling clothes – a luxury not to be underestimated when you are travelling for several days in a row.

For smaller repairs, basic tools are available: a pump, simple tools and space to quickly check the bike. And if something more serious than a flat tyre happens, the solution is practically around the corner. The bike repair shop Sport Tenne is located only about one hundred metres from the FinKa. We work closely with the workshop, and larger repairs can usually be handled quickly.

After a long stage, however, many cyclists first head to the FinKa’s garden. A cold drink, a moment in the shade, a pizza from the oven or a plate of dumplings – in Val Venosta (Vinschgau) this is something like alpine superfood for tired cyclists.

And because many guests set off again early the next morning, breakfast at the FinKa starts already at 7:00 a.m.

Cycle Tours Around Mals

Many guests are not simply passing through. Some stay for two or three days and use Mals as a starting point for cycling in Val Venosta. The FinKa is ideally located for this – for many of these tours it serves both as the starting point and the finishing point of a ride.

A classic, of course, is the Stelvio Pass. Some cyclists ride from Mals via Glurns and Prad to Trafoi and then climb up to the pass. The 48 hairpin bends are for many riders a small life goal. Afterwards the route descends into the Val Müstair and returns via Taufers back to Mals – and thus back to the FinKa. A loop that is hard to surpass in terms of scenery.

Others choose a more international option. From the FinKa the route first leads into Val Müstair in Switzerland. From there it continues over the Ofen Pass down to Zernez and further towards Scuol. Shortly after crossing into Austria the climb up to Nauders begins again. From there the route leads back over the Reschen Pass into South Tyrol – and finally back to Mals and the FinKa. An Alpine loop across three countries.

Travelling on the Via Claudia Augusta

Many of our guests follow a route that has crossed this landscape for almost two thousand years: the Via Claudia Augusta. This historic road once connected the Danube with northern Italy. Today the cycling route usually begins in Donauwörth and runs for about 820 kilometres to Verona. Many cycle travellers leave the route earlier, however, turning from the Adige Valley towards Lake Garda, which for many has become the true destination of the journey.

For many cyclists, Mals lies exactly at the point where a long stage across the Alps suddenly turns into a relaxed ride through Val Venosta (Vinschgau). Right here, between Reschen Pass and the first orchards of the valley, lies the FinKa – for many cycle travellers a natural place to pause or spend the night.

For many of them, the FinKa therefore lies almost exactly on one of the most beautiful stages of this route.

Most guests who arrive here crossed the Fern Pass the day before and spent the night somewhere around Landeck. The following day they continue southwards – over Reschen Pass and into the upper Val Venosta. By the time they finally reach Mals, a long day is already behind them.

The reward usually comes the next morning. The section from Reschen Pass through Mals down towards Merano or Bolzano is considered one of the most beautiful stretches of the entire route. The cycle path follows the Adige River through orchards and villages, the Alps slowly open up, and the route runs mostly gently downhill. Many travellers later say: it was one of the most beautiful days of their entire journey.

Some Travel Much Further

For some cycle travellers, the Via Claudia Augusta is only one section of a much longer journey.

Guests from the Netherlands in particular – a country with a strong cycling culture – often start directly from home and ride for several weeks across Europe, sometimes with a destination much further south: Rome.

Others follow the Adige Cycle Path. This route also begins at Reschen Pass and follows the Adige River for long stretches all the way to the Adriatic Sea. Many cyclists leave the route near Verona, while others stay close to the river and continue all the way to its mouth.

The Adige River finally reaches the Adriatic Sea near Porto Fossone in the province of Rovigo, where it forms the northern boundary of the Po Delta. Anyone who rides that far has completed one of the longest continuous cycling routes in Italy.

Stories from the Bike Garage

Sometimes, however, guests arrive at the FinKa whose journeys have an entirely different dimension. One cyclist who stayed with us had already been travelling for several months. His journey had not started somewhere in Europe, but in South Africa. From there he rode his bicycle across Africa and Europe – all the way back home to Switzerland. For him, too, the FinKa was simply one stop along this long road.

And then there was a young man from the Netherlands. He had set himself the goal of cycling from Holland all the way to the Great Wall of China. I followed his journey for months on Polarsteps. By the time he finally arrived in Val Venosta (Vinschgau), he already had almost a thousand kilometres in his legs – and yet the largest part of his journey still lay ahead of him. He stayed with us at the FinKa for two days to rest a little after many long stages. Then he climbed back onto his bicycle and continued riding eastward – towards his destination.

In the Evening and in the Morning

When the evening becomes quiet, sometimes twenty or thirty bicycles stand in our courtyard. Some lean against the wall of the house, others are already stored in the garage. Helmets hang over the handlebars, panniers rest on the benches in the garden.

Some guests still sit together – in the garden, in the dining room or in the Salone. They drink an aperitivo, wait for a pizza from the oven or a plate of dumplings, and talk about headwinds, mountain passes or a particularly beautiful moment from the day’s ride.

The next morning the journey continues. The next stage is waiting. Some ride only as far as Merano, others continue to Bolzano or even further. And yet every morning there is a certain sense of departure around the FinKa. Those of us who stay behind and work here sometimes watch them a little wistfully as they disappear around the next bend.

For one night, however, the FinKa was a small stop along their journey. Sometimes that is all it takes.

FAQ – Cycling and Staying at FinKa

Is FinKa a cyclist-friendly accommodation?

Yes. FinKa is a member of Bett+Bike and is specifically set up for cycle travellers. This includes secure bike storage, laundry facilities for cycling clothes and support for small repairs.

Is there a safe place to store bicycles?

Yes. FinKa has a large lockable bike garage where bicycles can be stored safely overnight.

Can cyclists wash their clothes?

Yes. Guests can use our laundry room with washing machine and dryer. For longer cycling trips this is a very practical way to wash and dry clothes along the journey.

Is there equipment for bicycle repairs?

Basic tools and a bike pump are available for small repairs. If a larger repair is needed, the bike workshop Sport Tenne is located only about 100 metres from FinKa.

Is FinKa located on the Via Claudia Augusta?

Yes. FinKa in Mals (Val Venosta / Vinschgau) lies directly on the historic Via Claudia Augusta, one of the most famous long-distance cycling routes across the Alps. Many cyclists stay here during their stage between Reschen Pass and Merano.

Which cycling routes start from FinKa?

Several well-known cycling routes can be reached directly from FinKa, including:

• the Via Claudia Augusta towards Merano, Verona or Lake Garda
• the Adige Cycle Path towards the Adriatic Sea
• the Stelvio Pass loop via Trafoi and Val Müstair
• the three-country loop via Ofen Pass, Zernez, Scuol and Nauders

Where can cyclists stay on the Via Claudia Augusta?

Many cyclists travelling on the Via Claudia Augusta stay in Mals in Val Venosta (Vinschgau), just south of the Reschen Pass. FinKa Kulturhostel is located directly on the route and offers cyclist-friendly facilities such as secure bike storage, laundry facilities and repair tools.

Is Mals a good stop for cycling the Via Claudia Augusta?

Yes. Mals is one of the most convenient overnight stops on the Via Claudia Augusta. After crossing the Alps via the Fernpass and Reschen Pass, cyclists reach Mals before continuing the beautiful downhill section through the Val Venosta towards Merano and Bolzano.

How far is FinKa from Reschen Pass on the Via Claudia Augusta?

FinKa in Mals is located about 20 kilometres south of Reschen Pass on the Via Claudia Augusta cycle route. This makes it an ideal stop for cyclists travelling between Landeck, Reschen Pass and Merano.

Experience FinKa

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