Experience the joy of a bike tour along the Danube between Passau and Vienna

Embark on an extraordinary bike and boat tour along the scenic Danube River! Enjoy leisurely rides through lush green riverbanks and charming villages, witness the awe-inspiring "Great Loop," and immerse yourself in the enchanting Wachau region with its vineyard terraces and captivating castles.

Arriving in Vienna, a city beyond words, you'll have the opportunity to explore iconic landmarks like St. Stephen's Cathedral and City Hall during delightful sightseeing tours by bike. Delight in a cultural and culinary adventure at the renowned Naschmarkt, unwind at cozy coffee houses, and savor the ambiance of traditional Viennese wine taverns in the suburbs.

This tour's highlights include Passau, the City of 3 rivers, the captivating Schloegen Danube Loop, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Wachau, Linz - the capital of Upper Austria - and Vienna, a cosmopolitan city teeming with treasures.

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Highlights

• Passau, 'City of Three Rivers'
• Schlögener Donauschlinge - the 'Great Loop'
• Cultural capital of Linz
• World Cultural Heritage Site of Wachau
• Vienna, 'City of Dreams'

Learn More

Learn more about self-guided tours.

Interested in adding to your itinerary? Take a look at our cycling day tours in Munich and Vienna.

Daily program

Day 1: Passau - Engelhartszell
Boarding takes place around 4 - 5 pm in the "City of Three Rivers", Passau. The boat departs at 7 pm cruising to Engelhartszell while you enjoy your first dinner on board.

Day 2: Engelhartszell - Aschach - "Great Loop" - Linz (25-28 miles/40-46 km)
Explore the Trappist monastery in Engelhartszell and indulge in their unique cordials and liqueurs, rumored to possess special healing properties. Continuing downstream, you'll encounter charming villages nestled amidst stunning natural scenery. For a delightful change of pace, you can opt for the charming little ferry boat to traverse the romantic Schlögener loop, where the river takes a sharp 180-degree turn (approximately €6 per person). From Aschach, the boat will take you to Linz. Don't miss the chance to discover Linz, the capital of Upper Austria, while riding the bright yellow City-Express.

Day 3: Linz - Mauthausen - Grein (22 - 25 miles/36 - 40 km)
This morning you'll embark on an early morning cruise to Mauthausen, where you'll have the opportunity to visit the memorial KZ-Mauthausen. As you journey on, explore the historical Celtic town of Mitterkirchen, providing a glimpse into the past. The route leads through the fertile Machland region, and the day's destination is the charming town of Grein, known as "the pearl of the Strudengau" for its picturesque setting. Don't miss the chance to visit the impressive Castle of Greinburg while in Grein (closed on Mondays - can only be visited as part of an optional excursion).

Day 4: Grein - Melk - Tulln (32 miles/51 km)
A variety of rich landscapes await. Starting with the Strudengau, a narrow section of the Danube which challeneged skippers in the past. The valley widens as you continue from Persenbeug, and the bike tour takes you to the splendid baroque monastery of the Benedictine brethren in Melk. Back onboard the ship, you can relish the sunset and the enchanting evening lights of the Wachau region. During the night, the ship cruises to Tulln, renowned for its abundant market gardens and as the birthplace of the famous Art Nouveau artist Egon Schiele.

Day 5: Tulln - Vienna-Nussdorf (20-24 miles/32-38 km)
Nestled in a stunning landscape, just at the entrance of Vienna, you'll find the magnificent Klosterneuburg monastery. Its 900-year-old baroque building, crowned by a striking cupola, can be spotted from afar. Don't miss a visit to "Kahlenbergerdorf," renowned for its charming wine taverns. Take a leisurely walk through the vineyards and treat yourself to a breathtaking panoramic view of Vienna.

Day 6: Vienna-Nussdorf (rest day)
Enjoy a rest day in Vienna. Be sure to visit St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Hofburg, along with the beautiful "Ringstraße" boulevard, showcasing attractions like the Burgtheater, State Opera House, and historic town hall. In the afternoon, take your time to wander around or indulge in one of the famous Viennese coffee bars. Later, the ship will cruise to Dürnstein or Rossatz during the night.

Day 7: Wachau - Pöchlarn (25 - 31 miles/40 - 50 km)
Your last cycling day is a special highlight! Amidst small dreamy villages, apricot trees, vineyards, castles, monasteries, and ruins, this gentle hilly landscape enchants the young and old. A powerful ruin looms above the small Baroque town of Dürnstein, while the blue tower of the monastery church is a landmark of Wachau. In the evening, farewell dinner and cocktail to close out this spectacular bike tour on the Danube.

Day 8: Departure from Passau
All good things must come to an end! The arrival in Passau is expected around 11 am, with disembarkation taking place half an hour later. We suggest arranging connecting trips/travel from 1:30 onwards.

We reserve the right to make changes to the routing and program. In case of flood or low tide, the shipping company reserves the right to bridge parts of passages by buses.

Surface and terrain

The cycle route is completely flat, at times on a gentle downhill slope, and is ideal for children and bikers with less experience.

Boats

• Prinzessin Katharina

How to get there

Tour start and end
Nearest airport Munich, Germany
Nearest train station: Passau, Germany

Tips for getting to and from your tour.

Dates

Prices

Included services

• 7 nights in selected cabin with private facilities
• Program according to the itinerary to and from Passau
• All passenger fees and port fees
• Captain greeting and Welcome-Drink
• Daily cabin cleaning (change of towels and bedding as necessary)
• 7x breakfast, 6x packed lunch for cyclists or lunch snack on board (non-cyclists), 6x afternoon coffee break, 6x three-course-dinner and 1x farewell-dinner with farewell drink
• Daily informational meeting
• Information pack with route book (one per cabin)
• GPS tracks
• Tour guide on board (does not cycle with the group)

*Please note included services may vary slightly for 2024 travel dates

Bike rentals

Bikes available to be rented (reserved at time of booking) include:

• 7-speed unisex touring bike (with handbrake and/or pedal brake, please specify at the time of booking)
• Electrically assisted bike (Pedelec)*

*More about electrically-assisted bikes

All rental bikes are equipped with:

• Panniers

You may bring your own bike upon request only!

Helmets
Helmets are not available to rent, but can be purchased on board (Brand UVEX I-VO payable upon arrival, €25). Please make a note on the booking form to reserve in advance. We recommend for health and safety that you either take your own helmet or plan to purchase one upon arrival. *Helmets are mandatory for children under 12.

Bike Protection:
Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE.

Tour Company