Danube Bike Path 5-nights (Active)
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A fantastic 5-night adventure along the dreamy Danube
This fabulous 5-night tour along the romantic Danube River is a super 'sporty' experience for travelers interested in covering longer cycling distances each day. The 'Active' option described here treats you to an average of 50 miles per day. If you're looking for a more leisurely cycling option, check out the Danube Bike Path 7 Nights (Classic) tour.
Explore the picturesque paths along the winding Danube River just like the Romans did, as well as the legendary Nibelungs and Europe's powerful kings and emperors. You'll get to know the beauty and historical significance of this ancient military and trading route, whilst never being far away from the cool, clear waters of the river on one of Europe's most popular and beautiful cycling routes.
Pedaling off from the baroque town of Passau, the 'City of Three Rivers', you'll cycle through the various breathtaking districts of Upper and Lower Austria, finally arriving in the Danube metropolis of iconic Vienna. You'll fall in love with the natural beauty of the verdant Danube Valley, the stunning Schlögen Bend, and the wonderful landscapes of the Machland, Strudengau, and Wachau.
In rural areas, to accompany the excellent impressions garnered from your ride, you'll enjoy many traditional Austrian delicacies, from savory dumpling specialities to the moreish wines of the Wachau region's Buschenschenken taverns. Your physical wellbeing will be well catered for!
Highlights
- The famous Danube River
- One of Europe's most popular cycle routes
- Passau, 'City of Three Rivers'
- Vienna, 'City of Dreams'
- Stunning Schlögen Bend
- Landscapes along the Danube river - Machland, Strudengau, Wachau
- Traditional Austrian specialities and wines
Learn More
Learn more about self-guided tours.
Interested in adding to your itinerary? Take a look at our cycling day tours in Vienna and Munich. -
Traveler photos
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Daily program
Day 1: Individual arrival in Passau
It is recommended to arrive early in Passau to allow yourself time to appreciate this gorgeous city. For a start, the well-known St. Stephan's Cathedral houses the world's largest church organ! In the evening, receive a personal welcome briefing and bike handover (if booked).Day 2: Passau – Aschach (40 miles/65 km)
We recommend a short city tour or a visit to the cathedral today, where you can hear the world's largest organ with your very own ears (except on Sundays and holidays)! You'll then start your cycling adventure along the Danube via Obernzell to Engelhartszell (boasting the only Trappist monastery in Austria). Ride through the wonderful nature reserve at Donauleiten and behold the breathtaking Schlögen Bend on its northern side. Here, the granite stone was too tough an opponent for the Danube River, which was forced into a 180° turn. You'll have time to gaze over this natural phenomenon during a ferry ride to the other side of the river where you'll soon reach Aschach and your hotel.Day 3: Aschach – Ardagger/Grein (52 miles/90 km)
Today, you'll glide through the glorious green of the Eferdinger Becken (basin) via Ottensheim, journeying onwards through Wilhering to the Upper Austrian capital of Linz. Following the motto 'In Liz beginnt's' ('It begins in Linz'), you'll start your city tour in one of the many restaurants that grace the historic Old Town. Further highlights of the European Cultural Capital of 2009 include the magnificent views from the Pöstlingberg or a stroll along the Danube. Later, you'll continue your trip towards Strudengau, exploring Nibelungengau, Grein, and the surrounding landscape.Day 4: Ardagger/Grein – Krems (52 miles/85 km)
From the Baroque town of Grein, home to the oldest city theater in Austria, you'll ride your bike along the lovely river once more. In Melk, we recommend briefly locking up so as not to miss the beauty of Melk Abbey, which towers above the Danube. Then, cycle onwards via the wine towns of Spitz and Weißenkirchen and past the ruins of the Dürnstein Castle to your hotel in Krems. Here, a wine tasting is highly recommended (not included in tour package).Day 5: Krems – Vienna (52 miles/85 km)
From the 1,000-year-old city of Krems, you'll cycle via Traismauer to the Roman town of Tulln. Here, you can once again enjoy the tranquility and culture (perhaps a visit to the Egon Schiele Museum) of the rural area before you arrive in the Danube metropolis of Vienna. Enjoy a cup of 'Verlängerter' coffee and a slice of the famous Sachertorte in one of the typical Viennese coffee houses. Alternatively, take a ride in one of the famous 'Fiaker' (horse-drawn carriages), or even a superb cycling day tour.Day 6: Departure or extension
If you are interested in extending your stay, we would be pleased to book extra nights for you. You could even consider a cycling day tour in Vienna, 'City of Dreams', or historical Munich.Surface and terrain
The route mostly follows dedicated bike paths (only a few sections follow minor roads), and the terrain is flat, or slightly downhill. It's paved and almost traffic-free, following an old horse path where teams of horses once struggled to tow barges upstream.
To shorten a day's riding, you can often board a train or barge along the way. Many trains have cars specifically for bicycles, and barges carry them with no problem either.
From time to time you'll cross the river, ride over dams, locks and bridges, and sometimes board small ferries that hold about a dozen cyclists.
Hotels
These are sample hotels and may vary by availability.
The accommodations on this tour are 3- and 4-star hotels.
Hotel Passauer Wolf, Passau
www.hotel-passauer-wolf.deHotel Faustschlössl, Aschach
hotelwebseite.atHotel Goldenes Kreuz, Grein
www.hotel-in-grein.atHotel Unter den Linden, Krems
www.udl.atCourtyard by Marriott, Vienna Prater
www.marriott.comPlease note if visitors tax is due, it is not included in the tour cost.
Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.
How to get there
Tour start
Nearest airport: Munich (MUC), Germany
Nearest train station: Passau, GermanyFlights into Munich
If you fly into Munich, your best bet for transportation from Munich Airport to Passau is by train from nearby Freising station. They run at least once an hour, and you can purchase tickets after you arrive in Munich (about €22-28 per person). You'll need to take a 20 minute bus ride from the airport to the Freising station (they leave at 21 after each hour), connecting with a train from Freising to Passau (about 1 hour, 45 minutes). Airport signage is excellent, leading you to the bus and station. Visit RailEurope.com for train schedules and fares or if you'd prefer to purchase tickets ahead of time.Flights into Vienna
If you fly into Vienna, we recommend taking the Vienna Airport Lines bus to Vienna's West Railway Station. Trains leave every 30 minutes, and the ride takes 45 minutes. You can purchase tickets in the terminal or from the driver. The cost is about €10. From the West Station, trains leave frequently for Passau, with the journey lasting 2.45-3.25 hours. Cost: €25-50. Visit RailEurope.com for train schedules and fares or if you'd prefer to purchase tickets ahead of time.Trains also leave the Vienna Airport station less frequently and connect via West Station for Passau. See Austrian Rail at www.oebb.at for information and tickets, which range from €25-65 depending on train and connections.
Tour end
Nearest airport and train station: Vienna (VIE), AustriaVienna City Center to Vienna Airport
There are a number of convenient and inexpensive ways to get from Vienna City Center to Vienna Airport (about 15 miles away). Depending on which hotel you stay in and what time your flight is, one option may be better than another. All hotels used in Vienna are happy to provide detailed information. Taxis are also available.Vienna City Center to Munich Airport
If you are returning to Munich to fly out, trains leave often from Vienna's West Station and Main Station to Munich Main Station or East Station, from which you take local rail (SBahn) number 8 to the airport. Figure on about 5-5.25 hours.Tips on getting to and from your tour.
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Dates
Daily: Mar 30 - Oct 12, 2024
Prices
Tour package
Per person, double occupancy €749 Single use room (1 person/1 room) €978 Bike Rentals
Standard touring bike, 21-speed unisex frame €99 Standard touring bike, 21-speed men's frame €99 Touring bike, 27-speed, upgrade €159 Road bike €239 Electrically assisted bike €239 Helmet (for purchase) €49 Additional Services
Dinner package €149 Extra Nights, Passau
Per person, double occupancy €79 Single use room (1 person/1 room) €119 Extra Nights, Vienna
Per person, double occupancy €89 Single use room (1 person/1 room) €159 Discounts
Child, ages 0-5 sharing a room with two full-paying adults (on base package price) 100% Child, ages 6-11 sharing a room with two full-paying adults (on base package price) 50% Child, ages 12-14 sharing a room with two full-paying adults (on base package price) 25% Child, 15 -17 sharing a room with two full-paying adults (on base package price) 10% Included services
- 5 nights in rooms with private facilities in 3- and 4-star hotels
- Daily breakfast from buffet
- Daily luggage transfer from hotel to hotel (no limit on pieces of luggage, max. 20 kg per piece)
- Route description and card material (1 per room)
- 7 day service hotline in case of emergencies
- Personal welcome meeting and bike fitting
- Rental bike insurance
- Navigational app (GPS tracks available upon request)
*If dinner package is booked: 4 dinners (not possible in Vienna)
Please note if visitors tax is due, it is not included in the tour cost. You will pay these small fees at hotel reception.
Bike rentals
Bikes available to be rented (in advance at the time of booking) include:
- Standard touring bike, 21-speed, unisex
- Standard touring bike, 21-speed, men's frames, crossbar
- Touring bike, 27-speed, upgrade
- Electrically assisted bike, Pedelec, unisex*
- Tandem bikes are available (upon request only)
*More about electrically-assisted bikes >
All above bike rentals will be equipped with the following at no additional charge:
- Saddlebag (water-repellent), rear
- Handlebar bag (water-repellent), with clear cover on top for easy map viewing
- Tools
- Repair kit (with extra bicycle tube)
- Pump
- Combination lock
Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals. Toe cages are not available to rent.Seats:
If you plan to bring your own seat, please make sure it will be compatible with a 27.2 to 31.4 mm seat post. If necessary, you may also need to bring your own adapter. The tour company will assist in switching the seat post for you.Helmets:
Helmets are not included with the bike rentals. You can buy a helmet (not rent) from the tour company for €49. It will be a high quality, brand new helmet. You must let us know your helmet preference upon booking. If you do not buy a helmet through the tour company, we recommend you bring your own.Specifications on standard touring bikes
- Modern, high-resistant aluminum frame
- V-brakes
- Aluminium-rims
- Reliable tires, which ensure high duration
- Shimano Alivio derailleur on 21-speed
- Selle Royal Saddles
*Posture for 21-speed standard bikes will be upright for comfort
Upgraded components on 27-speed standard bikes
- Hydraulic Magura HS 11 brakes
- Shimano Deore XT derailleur on 27-speed
- High-quality Suntour suspension fork
*Posture for 27-speed upgraded standard bikes will be upright and forward
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Route Map
Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.
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Reviews
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★★★★★ John Vasicek 3 months ago
great trip aided by perfect weather
It was a great trip, very well organized. Did not get lost once in a 250 mile journey. I went in late fall and the weather was perfect each day. I was on the bike an average of 4 to 4.5 hours a day, but was able to break that up by stopping for lunch, a beer or site seeing. I am 59 YO but an active runner. I used an eBike which helped with the headwinds, but I was still pretty tired / sore by the end of the trip. I saw lots of other 'mature' couples that were doing a similar trip as well. Even though the route is labeled as moderate, you are still doing 50 miles a day. I think you need to be in at least average to above average shape to enjoy the trip.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Francisco Castro 5 months ago
Trip of my dreams, will never forget this extraordinary experience!!
The best way to travel around Europe!! This tour is one of the most beautiful we have done, the places, towns, museums, are simply like getting into a dream like no one could ever imagine!!
The people are very friendly, the organization is excellent, we never had any problems and when we had to go to the organizers, they responded diligently. This tour is highly recommended, I recommend that if you have booked dinner, arrive early or ask if there is a maximum time for dinner, because on several occasions we had problems with the time we got to eat. Otherwise, highly recommended!!- What was the date of your tour?
- July 12, 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Cathy September 23, 2022
I've wanted to do this for years!
Way back in 2005 I took a river boat cruise down the Danube and saw people cycling along the bank. Finally, after retiring and after covid, my dream ride happened. We weren't sure about the distance from Passau to Vienna, so we chose to take the ferry from Passau to Linz and start from there. We rode ebikes. This was a difficult choice for us because we ride quite a bit weekly in the States, but we were glad to have the ebikes. The bikes are a little heavy so riding on the econo mode gave us the feel of a regular weight bike. That detail aside, the ride, the hotels, the meals, and of course the people, were all fantastic. We planned to dress in layers and that served us well; mornings would start cool and afternoons could warm to the low 70's in early September. The scenery was amazing. Each hotel was lovely and if not directly on the trail, quite easy to find in the town/city. Because we rode through small towns, we saw a part of Austria that you cannot see from a boat or bus tour. The route was mostly well marked and when we did get off the beaten path, there was always someone who could point us in the right direction even if we don't speak the native language. We ate in our hotels, in small pubs, and a grocery store on Marback where we had a freshly made sandwich eaten on the deck at the edge of the river. It was all delicious. The beautifully refurbished family home in Mitterkirchen was lovely as was Stephanie, the owner, who greeted us. We sampled local wines as we traveled through the towns and Wachau Valley and had a fabulous dinner at the Hotel Schloss in Durnstein, while overlooking the Danube. We met people young and older from vairous parts of Germany, the UK, Canada, and local Austrians. I was a little worried about getting to the hotel in Vienna as we had to go down a main road and around a rotary, but Austria is such a bike friendly country that designated bike routes took us from the bridge to our hotel. An added bonus, when we did have to leave, the hotel was about 300 yards from the train station that took us directly to the airport. We won't wait years for the next bike trip, we're already looking at Vienna to Budapest!
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 10, 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- First bike tour
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Goherd September 2, 2019
Flawless......
Everything was excellent. Hotels exceeded our expectations. Bikes were great. Liz was very patient with our changes and special requests. We did the 4 day Danube. Very easy ride.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 8/13/19
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ vacationsmakemehappy May 16, 2019
Nice LONG ride
Disclaimer - I loved the vacation pedaling along in pretty much isolation, just my husband and I, and peaceful time in beautiful scenery. We loved the hotels we stayed at along the trail. For the average Joe though, the sport version isn't for you. That's why I wouldn't recommend this sporty trip to most people.
See below for more detailsThe sporty ride was just that. Long days in the saddle, which we expected since my husband wanted to do the short (meaning less days not miles) due to work obligations. The 45-50 mile days seemed fine, but the 57 mile day was long.
The sporty version left little time for sight seeing along the way. We had to strategically plan out where we were going to spend our 2-2.5 hours of sightseeing time each day, because there was no possible way to see everything. We were on the bikes riding each day by 7:45-8:15, typically had a picnic lunch somewhere along the way with food we either carried with us or picked up along the way at a grocery store. (One of our picnics was standing by a rock waiting for the taxi to pick us up at the Mauthausen Concentration Camp to take us back to the taxi station downtown - would highly recommend the taxi unless you are VERY sporty or have an e-bike-info said there was a longer more gentle route, but we were having difficulty following some of the directions included.)
If going early in the season or on days with poor weather, I highly recommend taking some food and WATER with you. Only on the first ride day and the last ride day were any of the 'trail magic' stops open for an unexpected cup of coffee, beer, or food. Most things were shut down tight. It was in the low 40s when we started out 3 mornings and also raining 2 of those. Make sure you have GOOD rain gear -not water resistant - and waterproof gloves. Wringing out your cycling gloves and then having to put them back on isn't really very comfortable. Luckily our rain gear (except gloves was superb) Make sure your rain coat has a hood to put up under your helmet or take a waterproof helmet cover.
There were many places where we had detours (even on the bike path) due to various construction projects which made parts of the trip seem a bit harder navigating than they would otherwise have been. This seemed to happen both long ride days which made those days even longer.
Take toilet paper with you and be prepared to take a squat ladies - and men. There were long stretches with nothing in sight at times, and when you have to go...! I kind of expected this, so we were prepared.
The bikes we had didn't have cages to hold water bottles, so we had to carry the water in the pouches included on the bike. But to get a drink you had to stop unhook snaps, drink, rehook or roll down waterproof bags, and start again. I can't imagine we would have been able to or wanted to carry that much water (heavy) for warmer weather. Without easy access to water, the trip was extended about 5 minutes for every drink stop. Not that long but over 50+ miles, it adds up and takes away from time you could be doing more interesting touring. SHOW MORE
The bikes in general were heavy. We didn't get the road bikes though, because we knew we would have to be carrying supplies and the road bikes didn't offer that.
We LOVED our hotel room in Feldkirchen an der Donau -- Faustschlössl Hotel-Restaurant. The food was FABULOUS! Salmon with pesto and asparagus
We also LOVED our hotel room in Gasthof „Zur Donaubrücke“ and eating in the dining room - NOT lounge. The only thing we didn't like about this hotel was that reception/lobby was in the bar which is smoking permitted. On the day we checked in, it was so smoking I waited in the hallway. I wasn't willing to duck under the smoke cloud to get checked in. I'm not a smoker and have asthma. It was NOT happening.
We'd been to Melk Abbey before so didn't do that. But we did go into town. There is a great little bakery coffee shop on the left side of the left fork (probably main shopping street) kind of across from the butcher store which would be in the center of that fork mentioned when you go into town from the bike path. Great espresso and desserts. And they had GLUTEN FREE CAKES which made this GF necessary girl extremely happy!!!
Make sure you take an extra day in the Wachau/Krems/Durnstein area. It is FABULOUS!!!!!
The luggage transfers went off without a hitch - thank goodness!!!
SHOW LESS
Be prepared to carry your luggage up to the top floor of every hotel.- What was the date of your tour?
- April 28 (1st ride day), 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- No
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