Overview
An eight day, self-guided cycling holiday along the Danube Cycle Path Passau to Vienna section, one of the most popular of this iconic long-distance trail. Top and tail this 335km-long cycling adventure through Germany and Austria with two handsome, historic cities. Highlights in between include an array of medieval castles that line the river, the Wachau Wine Region, the contemporary cool city of Linz and the ancient city Melk, famous for its Baroque Benedictine monastery. In addition, you get to cycle past the Danube’s dramatic Schlögener Loop. You can rent both traditional and e-bikes on this tour.
- Schlögener Schlinge (Loop of Schlögen)
- Linz
- Mitterkirchen
- Wachau Valley
- Vienna
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Passau
Depending on your arrival time, spend the rest of the day strolling through the streets of Passau, or head to Schärding, a Baroque town only a short train journey away (13mins).
- Accommodation: Hotel Spitzberg or similar in Passau
- Upgraded accommodation: Hotel Passauer Wolf or similar in Passau
Day 2: Passau – Niederranna | 40km
Follow the route in the direction of the Upper Danube Valley. Stop in Engelhartszell along the way and visit Engelszell Abbey, known for being the last remaining Trappist monastery in Austria. Continue on your journey to the impressive Schlögener Schlinge (Loop of Schlögen), a 180-degree bend in the Danube.
- Accommodation: Gasthof Draxler or similar in Niederranna
- Upgraded accommodation: Revita Hotel Kocher or similar in St. Agatha
- Distance for the day: 40km
Day 3: Niederranna – Linz | 55km
Today’s route leads through the green area of Eferdinger Becken, passing the towns of Aschach, Ottensheim and Wilhering, before reaching Linz, the capital of Upper Austria. Explore the many restaurants and cafes in the city’s historic Old Town or visit one of the city’s museum, such as the Ars Electronica Centre or the Schlossmuseum. Alternatively, walk up Pöstlingberg, a 539m hill located on the left bank of the Danube, offering panoramic views over Linz.
- Distance for the day: 55km
- Accommodation: Hotel Prielmayerhof or similar in Linz
- Upgraded accommodation: Hotel Schwarzer Bär or similar in Linz
Day 4: Linz – Bad Kreuzen/Grein | 60km
Spend some more time exploring Linz this morning, before leaving the city behind and heading through the flat Machland region. Pass by the Celtic village of Mitterkirchen and continue on towards Strudengau, cycling past meadows and farmland on your way to Bad Kreuzen, or the Baroque town of Grein, depending on your accommodation for the evening.
- Distance for the day: 60km
- Accommodation: Hotel Gasthof Traube or similar in Grein
- Upgraded accommodation: Wellness-Oasis Aumühle or similar in Grein
Day 5: Bad Kreuzen/Grein – Wachau Valley | 70km
Today’s route leads through the landscapes of the Strudengau and Nibelungengau regions, passing the villages of St. Nikola an der Donau and Maria Taferl, on your way to the Wachau Valley. On the approach to Melk, the famous Benedictine monastery, Melk Abbey, can be spotted in the distance. The impressive monastery, with dramatic Baroque architecture, is considered a symbol of the town and is one of the largest Baroque ensembles in Europe.
- Distance for the day: 70km
- Accommodation: Hotel Wachau or similar in Melk
- Upgraded accommodation: Hotel Restaurant zur Post or similar in Melk
Day 6: Wachau Valley – Krems | 40km
A highlight of this tour is the chance to cycle through the Wachau Valley, a landscape of terraced vineyards, apricot groves, castles and monasteries. There is also the option to make a stop en route at a traditional wine tavern, to try some local products. Cycle past the towns and villages of Spitz, Weisskirchen and Durnstein before reaching Krems.
- Distance for the day: 40km
- Accommodation: Arte Hotel Krems or similar in Krems
- Upgraded accommodation: Steigenberger Hotel & Spa Krems or similar in Krems
Day 7: Krems – Vienna | 70km
Leaving Krems behind, head towards Vienna, the last stop of your trip. Today’s ride can also be shortened by taking a short section by train. Vienna is a cultural hub, with something to interest everyone, from foodies to history fanatics. Some of the must-see sights include Naschmarkt, the city’s famous international market, Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera), Schloss Schönbrunn, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Ringstrasse, the boulevard lined with many of the city’s historic buildings.
- Distance for the day: 70km (or 45km if taking the train)
- Accommodation: Hotel Roomz Prater or similar in Vienna
- Upgraded accommodation: Elaya Hotel Vienna City Center or similar in Vienna
Day 8: Vienna | Departure
Departure after breakfast. Extra nights in Vienna are available upon request.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms. Please note that, in Austria, it is common practice for hotels and other accommodations to join twin beds together to make a double, with separate linen for each person. If you prefer to opt for twin beds, we will happily request this at time of booking, however they can’t always be guaranteed.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Spitzberg (Passau)
- Gasthof Draxler (Niederranna)
- Hotel Prielmayerhof (Linz)
- Hotel Gasthof Traube (Grein)
- Hotel Wachau (Melk)
- Arte Hotel Krems (Krems)
- Hotel Roomz Prater (Vienna)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Click to view upgraded hotels
There is the option to upgrade your accommodation to selected 3-star and 4-star hotels. Please note that the itinerary will change slightly as per the location of your accommodation.
- Hotel Passauer Wolf (Passau)
- Revita Hotel Kocher (St. Agatha)
- Hotel Schwarzer Bär (Linz)
- Wellness-Oasis Aumühle (Grein)
- Hotel Restaurant zur Post (Melk)
- Steigenberger Hotel & Spa Krems (Krems)
- Elaya Hotel Vienna City Center (Vienna)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated easy to moderate, with an average daily cycling distance of 56km. The route is flat, or slightly downhill at points, and it follows a cycle path almost all the way, with minor roads used only on very short sections of the route. The path is well-maintained, as the Danube Cycle Path is considered one of the best cycling routes in Europe (read more about difficulty grades).
We will provide you with detailed route descriptions and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from the end of March until October. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, meaning you can start your trip on any date during the season.
For more information, please visit our blogs Best time to go to Austria and Best time to go to Germany
Getting there
FCO up-to-date travel advice on Germany and Austria.
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airports for this holiday are Munich International Airport (MUC) and Vienna International Airport (VIE).
By train or bus
If you are able to travel to Germany and back from Austria without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with railway stations in Passau and Vienna. For more details, see the national rail operators DB and ÖOB or use the Omio planner above.
Arrival in Passau
- From Munich Airport there are train services to Passau (2h 20mins). These services are not direct and involve a change at Landshut
- From Vienna Airport there are direct train services to Passau (2h 20mins)
- For more details, see the national rail operators DB (Germany) and ÖOB (Austria), or use the Omio planner above
Departure from Vienna
- From Vienna there are direct train services to Vienna Airport (20mins). Alternatively, bus services depart from Vienna Central Station (Vienna Hbf) (20mins)
- From Vienna to Munich there are direct train services (3h 50mins) and other indirect train services, which involve a change in Salzburg (4h 13mins)
- For more details, see the national rail operator ÖOB, or use the Omio planner above
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights accommodation
- 7 breakfasts
- Daily luggage transport (one piece up to 23kg per person)
- Access to a navigation app with a road book and additional information (GPX tracks also available)
- 24/7 phone support
- For upgraded accommodation option only: one train ticket from Krems to Tulln (including bike transportation) is included
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Bike and helmet rental
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable locally)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Extra nights in Passau or Vienna
- Hotel upgrades
- Half-board upgrade (to include an evening meal on days 1-6, mostly multi-course, sometimes outside the property and payable with voucher). Rates are calculated for default accommodations, a supplement will be applied for upgraded hotels
- Bike rental
- Helmet purchase
Bike rental
Both hybrid and e-bikes are available to rent on this tour.
Sample pictures attached below, note that the exact models may differ depending on availability, but the standard will be the same.
Women’s trekking bike 21-speed
- Model: KTM touring bike
- Frame: Aluminium women’s frame
- Gear change: 21-speed derailleur with freewheel, Shimano Altus
- Brakes: 2-rim brakes, Shimano V-Brakes
- Wheel/tyre: 28-inch hollow chamber rim/robust tyres, Schwalbe Marathon
- Saddle: high-quality gel saddle, Selle Royal
Men’s trekking bike 21-speed
- Model: KTM touring bike
- Frame: Aluminium men’s frame
- Gear change: 21-speed derailleur with freewheel, Shimano Altus
- Brakes: 2-rim brakes, Shimano V-Brakes
- Wheel/tyre: 28-inch hollow chamber rim/robust tyres, Schwalbe Marathon
- Saddle: high-quality gel saddle, Selle Royal
Unisex e-bike
- Model: KTM Macina Fun
- Frame: Aluminum unisex
- Motor: Bosch Performance or Panasonic
- Battery: 500 Wh
- Gearshift: 8-speed hub gear Shimano Nexus or 9-speed derailleur Shimano Altus
- Brakes: 2 disc or rim brakes, Shimano
- Wheel/tire: 28-inch hollow rim/rugged tires, Schwalbe Marathon
- Saddle: high-quality gel saddle, Selle Royal
