Danube cycle tour: from Passau to Vienna

  • 7 days / 5 days riding
  •  / ref. PV1
  • / Difficulty Moderate
  •  / Linear trip
from 720 €
per person
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Your cycling trip along the Danube:

Explore the paths along the blue Danube River just like the Romans, the legendary Nibelungs, and even some of Europe’s powerful kings and emperors did before you. You will get to know the beauty and historical significance of this ancient military and trading route. Never far away from the cool, clear water of the Danube, you will enjoy one of Europe’s most beautiful and popular cycle routes.
You can either start your trip in the baroque town of Schärding  or Passau, the town of three rivers. You will cycle through various districts of Upper and Lower Austria and finally to the Danube metropolis of Vienna. You will love the breathtaking natural beauty of the Danube valley and the Schlögen bend  or perhaps you will fall in love with the landscapes along the Danube river such as the Machland, the Strudengau,  or the famous Wachau. In the rural areas, to accompany these wonderful impressions, you can enjoy many traditional Austrian delicacies. Your physical wellbeing will be well catered for, from savoury dumpling specialities and moreish must all the way to the wines of the Buschenschenken taverns in the Wachau region.  This cycle tour is a true classic and is ideally suited as a first cycling holiday with the whole family.

 

Tour highlights

  • The nice region of the Wachau and its vineyards
  • Small villages’ Baroque architecture and numerous monasteries
  • A safe and marked-out itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Passau


Take a walk through the “New Centre” of Passau, the town of three rivers, which has been completely redesigned as a pedestrian, car-free area.

Day 2 Passau - Bend of the Danube | 40-55 km


Along the river Inn you will come to Passau, the town of three rivers. We recommend that you take a guided tour of the town, and visit the cathedral where you can enjoy the sounds of the largest church organ in the world (except Sundays and public holidays). Then you will continue along the Danube, first passing Obernzell and finally arriving in Engelhartszell (the only Trappist monastery in Austria). You will then cycle through the nature reserve Donauleiten, from where you will reach the Schlögen Bend to the north. This is where granite proved to be too much of an opponent and forced the Danube to change directions by 180 degrees. While a ferry takes you to the other side of the river to your hotel you have time to look at this natural phenomenon.

Day 3 Bend of the Danube - Linz | 50 km


Today you will cycle through the green Eferdinger basin via the market towns of Aschach, Ottensheim and Wilhering and all the way to the Upper Austrian capital of Linz. The historical Old Town of Linz has many pubs and eateries for you to discover. Other highlights of the European Capital of Culture 2009 include the magnificent views from Pöstlingberg mountain and a stroll through the Donaulände park.

Day 4 Linz - Marbach | 75 km


On the fourth day you will take a little detour away from the course of the Danube to St. Florian (Augustinian monastery) and to Enns. In Enns you can go to the town square with its 60 metre town tower, the landmark of the oldest town in Austria, or you visit the archaeological collection in the municipal museum Lauriacum. Afterwards, you will return to the river, first reaching the beautiful little baroque town of Grein. Here you have the opportunity to visit the oldest municipal theatre in Austria that is still being used. Or you can visit the maritime museum or Greinburg castle.

Day 5 Marbach- Krems / Traismauer / Tulln | 55-75 km


You should make a little stop in Melk and look up or you will miss the beautiful Stift Melk monastery that overlooks the Danube. As soon as you leave the town you will get into the picturesque Wachau region, where you can enjoy the charming atmosphere of the region’s typical orchards and vineyards. You will pass through the little wine towns of Spitz and Weißenkirchen, cycle past the Dürnstein Castle ruin and finish your journey in the 1000-year old town of Krems or in Tulln. A stay in the Wachau region means that you simply have to take part in a wine tasting, which we have organised for you.

Day 6 Krems / Traismauer / Tulln - Vienna | 45-65 km


The final kilometres of your bike tour will be a relaxed trip to the Danube metropolis of Vienna. As soon as you arrive you can occupy your room and then enjoy all the amenities of the city for the rest of the day. Treat yourself to a Viennese-style Americano coffee and a piece of the famous Sachertorte cake in one of Vienna’s typical coffee houses. Take a stroll along Vienna’s Parade shopping street, along Mariahilfer Strasse, visit the St Stephen’s Cathedral or see the main sights and take a trip in one of the famous Fiaker cabs.

 

Day 7 Departure during the day



Select your category

category Standard

Your accommodation

These hotels offer all the comfort and well-earned rest after a cycling day (private bathroom). A perfect place to enjoy all the centres of interest around.
Pictures for indicative purposes. Depending on the availability.
Including :

• 6 nights in comfortable pension, guest houses or 3-star cat. hotels and 4-star hotels in Linz and Vienna, with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
• Luggage transport during the bike stages
• Equipped cycle rental for 5 days
• 1 ferry ride (Au-Schlögen) incl. bike
• 1 wine tasting in the Wachau region
• 1 travel folder (per room) including colour maps, detailed route directions in French or English and tourist brochures
• Hotline 7 days a week

Not including :

• Dinners /  Lunches / Drinks
• Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
• Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
• Single room supplement (6 nights included)
• Transfer from Vienne to Passau and personal bike repatriation
• City taxes

Including :

• 6 nights in guest houses and very comfortable hotels (3-star or 4-star cat.), with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
• Luggage transport during the bike stages
• Equipped cycle rental for 5 days
• 1 ferry ride (Au-Schlögen) incl. bike
• 1 wine tasting in the Wachau region
• 1 travel folder (per room) including colour maps, detailed route directions in French or English and tourist brochures
• Hotline 7 days a week

Not including :

• Dinners /  Lunches / Drinks
• Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
• Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
• Single room supplement (6 nights included)
• Transfer from Vienne to Passau and personal bike repatriation
• City taxes

Including :

• 6 nights in the best hotel facilities along the Danube river, with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
• Luggage transport during the bike stages
• Equipped cycle rental for 5 days
• 1 ferry ride (Au-Schlögen) incl. bike
• 1 wine tasting in the Wachau region
• 1 travel folder (per room) including colour maps, detailed route directions in French or English and tourist brochures
• Hotline 7 days a week

Not including :

• Dinners /  Lunches / Drinks
• Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
• Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
• Single room supplement (6 nights included)
• Transfer from Vienne to Passau and personal bike repatriation
• City taxes

Children discount :from 0 to 6 years old : free
from 6 to 12 years old : - 50%
from 12 to 15 years old : - 25%
from 15 to 18 years old : - 10%

(Children's discounts only apply when triple or quadruple rooms are occupied by at least 2 people paying the full rate)

VTC KTM 21 speed gears

Man or Lady frame

  • 1 rear pannier (saddlebag)
  • 1 front pannier
  • 1 repair kit
  • 1 pump
  • 1 lock

Helmets are not provided.
We suggest to bring yours.

VTC KTM 27 speed gears

High frame

  • Hydraulic Magura breaks HS 11 Shimano Deore XT
  • Suntour suspension fork
  • 1 rear pannier (saddlebag)
  • 1 front pannier
  • 1 repair kit
  • 1 pump
  • 1 lock

With extra cost

PEDELEC E-bikes

Universal frame

  • 1 rear pannier (saddlebag)
  • 1 front pannier
  • 1 repair kit
  • 1 pump
  • 1 lock

Helmets are not provided.
We suggest to bring yours.

Your journeyHow to arrive in PassauReturn

Your journey

Always along the Danube, it is nearly always flat or slightly downhill with well-built cycling path almost all the way without motor vehicles. Minor roads make up only very short sections of this route – the Danube cycle path is a perfect example of a cycle route.
Total Distance: approx. 325 km

How to arrive in Passau

By car :
From A3 highway >> Exit n° 116-Passau-Mitte on B12 direction « Fürstenzell/Engelhartszell/Donau ». Then continue on ST2110.

Please note that it is mandatory to have a vignette on motorways in Austria.
A sticker costs around €10 for 10 days and €30 for 2 months.

 By train :
PASSAU HBF train station
www.voyages-sncf.com
http://fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/query.exe/en?

By plane :
From Munich airport : München Flughafen Terminal train station >> München Hbf (tief) train station >>  Passau Hbf train station
http://fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/query.exe/en?

Return

If you have to come back to the start point:

  • This return can be carry out by RandoVelo/Biking France : see tabs “options”.
  • A return transfer by train is possible and organised on your own. Please visit:
    http://fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/query.exe/en?
    Plan to go to the train station with your luggage (and your potential own bike)
    (Personal bike return costs are on your responsibility.)
    – Wien Westbahnhof train station >> Passau Hbf train station
    About €52(booking on spot only).
    (2nd class – departure approximately every hour – between 2h45 and 3h15 duration).


Trip overall rating : 5 *****/ 17 testimonials