8-day Danube Cycling Tour with Charm (Level 1)

Overview

You can either start your trip in the baroque town of Scharding 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 Schlogen bendSchlogen bend (river 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. The well-known Danube cycle path winds past Baroque cities, orchards and modern cultural hotspots. And an idyllic water landscape is always by your side. A particularly beautiful section awaits you in the Wachau wine region. The majestic Melk Abbey typifies the uniqueness of this section of the route. Travelling through the wine towns of Spitz, Weißenkirchen and past the castle ruins of Durnstein you will experience the Wachau in all its splendour. 7 nights accomodation in charming 4* hotels, Breakfast, Welcome briefing, Luggage transfer, Digital travel documents incl. navigation app, GPS-data, route book, 1 ferry ride (Au-Schlogen) incl. bike, 1 wine tasting in the Wachau region, Service hotline. Arrival by train to Passau or Scharding. Linz, Vienna or Munich airport. Parking in Scharding: Free private parking lot on the Eurobike premises. Parking in Passau: Public Garage, costs approx. EUR 5 per day. Departure by train from Vienna to Passau, duration approx. 3 hours, possibly with 1 change in Linz or Passau. Departure daily. Rental bike PLUS - 189 EUR. Due to the late arrival of the return transfer in Scharding or Passau, we recommend booking an extra night. Stroll through the pretty little baroque town of Schärding and marvel at the famous Silberzeile lane, or 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. By cycling along the river you will come to Passau, the town of the 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 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. Whilst on a ferry that takes you to the other side of the river to your hotel you have time to look at and enjoy this natural phenomenon. Today 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. On the fourth day 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 60m town tower, the landmark of the oldest town in Austria. Alternatively you could visit the archaeological collection in the municipal museum Lauriacum. Afterwards, return to the river 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. This section of the Danube, the Strudengau was once feared by sailors! Nowadays you can cycle along it. Where they used to fight against the Danube currents you can now take a leisurely bike ride. In Maria Taferl high above the Danube you will find the magnificent pilgrimage church which attracts thousands of pilgrims every year. 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 are in the picturesque Wachau region where you can enjoy the charming atmosphere of the region’s typical orchards and vineyards. Passing through the little wine towns of Spitz and Weißenkirchen cycle past the Dürnstein Castle ruins and finish your journey in the 1000-year old town of Krems. The final kilometres of your bike tour will be a relaxed trip to the Danube metropolis of Vienna. According to the selected variant part of this stage is covered by train. As soon as you arrive you can check-in 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.

Daily Ride Schedule

Accommodation & Services

Accommodation

Hotel

What's Included