Welcome to Hooked on Cycling Holidays and our cycling holidays in Austria. Our biking vacation along the River Danube takes you from Passau in Germany to Vienna in Austria. This is a fabulous cycling holiday for untrained cyclists, families and also for experienced cyclists. This River Danube biking vacation is available as a 7 or 9 night self guided cycle tour moving on from hotel to hotel each day, however you can take extra nights along the route to provide rest days. This is a very enjoyable cycling holiday for families or as a first cycling holiday as the route is flat, it is over 90% on cycle ways and on some sections you can take the train or boat. The route from Passau to Vienna along the River Danube is one if not the most popular cycle way in Europe. You can experience these delights on our cycling holiday. We have graded this cycle tour as a 1-2 cycle tour. The scenery along the route is breathtaking and extremely varied such as rich forests, wine and fruit cultivation making each day a visual delight. Along the River Danube cycleway you will see typical Austrian towns and villages with many historical sites to allow for a cultural, scenic and enjoyable biking vacation.
Day 1 – Arrival to Passau
Arrive in the three rivers city of Passau and collect your rental bikes. Once in your hotel visit the old town of Passau.
Day 2 – Passau to Wesenufer/Kramesau 20 miles (31km)
Today you will cycle passing Obernzell and Engelhartszell through deep gorges which have been cut out of the Bavarian woodland, passing many castles and pretty villages towards Kramesau on the German/Austria border. Most of this area is the Donouleiten nature preserve which runs mostly on the left bank. Its south facing direction has created an environment which is loved by wildlife and fauna.
Day 3 – Wesenufer/Kramesau to Linz 28 miles (45 km) + train ride
Today you cycle past the famous part of the Danube the “ Schogener Schlinge” , where you cross the Danube on a ferry. Here the Danube does the unusual, with a massive granite rock in its path it loops around it. Then cycling through an area of outstanding natural beauty to Eferding. From here you can take the train ride to Linz (or cycle along the cycle way into Linz). If you want a short detour turn off for 3km and head for Goldworth, surprisingly many years ago this town used to be the centre for Gold panning on the Danube! Linz has many Museums, a castle and a great medieval main square. A recommendation is too take the cable car ride to Postlingberg a baroque pilgrimage church, a fairy land and grotto which is great for young and old alike.
Extra nights in Linz are possible
Day 4 – Linz to Perg 26 miles (42km)
Now east of Linz the Danube cycle trail returns to the green and fertile Austrian countryside. A short detour today to St Florian Monastery and pilgrimage site where Anton Bruckner is buried beneath the famous Bruckner Organ. Afterwards continue along the route via Enns the oldest town in Austria. Enns boasts not only Roman but also Baroque and Renaissance heritage within the towns architecture. As you pass through Mauthasusen if you wish visit the old German concentration camp from the second world war. Then onto Mauthausen and Perg for your over night stop.
Day 5 – Perg to Maria Taferi 36 miles (58km)
Today you cycle through woodland and orchards towards Grein. The approach to this wonderful town takes you cycle through the “eye of the needle” a narrow stretch of valley once feared by sailors. After this you then pass the imposing Greinburg Castle. Here the Danube churns and races through the narrows before then easing off to a wider path. Then you cycle pass the Habsburg Castle, Persenbeug and onto Marbach where a transfer will take you uphill to the hotel above the Danube or if you wish to can decide to test your legs and cycle the uphill stretch!
Day 6 – Maria Taferi to Krems 28 miles (46km) + 20km on ship
Today you pass Strudengau to Melk where there is a famous Abbey. Then a short boat ride to Spitz and cycle through the vineyards of the “ Wachau “ wine region of Austria. The white wines of this region are exported worldwide, best known being Rheinsiesling, Green Veltliner and Neuburger. Why not try some local wine with your dinner tonight. Soon you will cycle past a 12th century castle and a very romantic town and onto Krems. In Krems why not visit the Grafenegg Palace which many think is the most significant Romanesque palace in Austria.
Day 7 – Krems to Vienna 24 miles (40km) + train ride
Today you cycle via Mautern through a very green valley which is famous for its vegetable growing for Austria and onto Tulln. Here you hand back your rental cycles and continue to Vienna by train. For those with your own cycles you can either take your cycles on the train or cycle into Vienna. Bike cost is not included on this train ride.
Extra nights are possible in Vienna to allow you to explore this wonderful city. If you are feeling fit why not continue you cycle tour with our Vienna to Budapest cycle tour.
Day 8 Tour Complete
Your tour is complete after breakfast where you can have a free coach transfer back to Passau which will arrive around 13.30.
9 night tour schedule in brief.
Day 1 Arrive Passau
Day 2 Passau-Schlogen (26miles 43km)
Day 3 Schlogen-Linz ( 18miles 30km + train )
Day 4 Linz-Enns (18 miles 30km)
Day 5 Enns-Grein/Ardagger ( 26miles 43km)
Day 6 Grein/Ardagger – Melk(30miles 48km)
Day 7 Melk-Krems (26miles 42km)
Day 8 Wachau – Ride + boat back to Krems (16miles 25km + boat)
Day 9 Krems-Vienna (28miles 44km + train)
Day 10 Departure
MAP
