Passau to Vienna - Danube cycle (self-guided)
Trip Length |
Trip Code |
| 8 days | PEDP |
Minimum Passengers |
|
| 2 people | |
Countries Visited |
|
| Austria, Germany | |
Start City |
End City |
| Passau | Vienna |
Cycle your way along Central Europe’s mighty Danube River. As you pedal along this leisurely and flat cycling trail, you’ll come across meandering river valleys, charming villages, superb churches and ancient castles.
Day to Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Passau
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Your trip starts today with your arrival in Passau, located in Lower Bavaria, Germany and known as the ‘Three River City’, sitting at the confluence of the Danube, the Inn and the Ilz rivers. Passau is easily accessible from other cities in Germany and Austria. We recommend arriving/departing by train where possible within Europe due to this method of transports minimal carbon emissions. There are no activities planned for today so you may arrive at any time but we recommend arriving earlier enough to explore the treasures of the city including the impressive Dom St Stephan Cathedral with its distinct green domes and its huge organ, the largest church organ in the world with 17,388 pipes. This evening is spent in Passau.
Day 2: Passau – Schlögen
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Today you will ride from Germany into Austria. Your first stage of cycling begins with a scenic ride along a densely wooded granite river valley through the Sauwalk to Schlögen where the hard, impermeable granite rock forces the Danube to flow back on itself in a hairpin turn, creating an interesting natural feature; this is known as the famous Schlögener Loop. On your ride today, you will encounter the Engelszell monastery; the building was a Cistercian monastery from 1293 until 1786 and today is a Trappist monastery, the only one of its kind in Austria. Tonight is spent in the town of Schlögen. (Cycling distance – 44 kilometres)
Day 3: Schlögen – Linz
Meals included: 1 breakfast
The cycling route today takes you along the widening Danube river valley between Schlögen and Linz. You will have a few river crossings today and will cycle along some quiet country paths through fertile green pastures, encountering delightful central European scenery. You will reach the historic Wilhering monastery, home to a stunning church, before we continue on to the town of Linz. Linz has many museums and churches to explore including the Museum of Modern Art and the Church of St. Martin, which is the oldest church in Austria to have survived in its original form. This evening is spent in the city of Linz. (Cycling distance – 53 kilometres)
Day 4: Linz – Grein
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Your ride today brings you to the Roman settlement site of Lauriocum at the town of Enns, one of Austria’s oldest towns with a magnificent Renaissance design. Another stop along the way is the riverside town Mauthausen, the chilling site of a concentration camp in World War II, paradoxically set in a pristine location. A visit here is a sobering experience but an important history lesson about the death of over 150,000 innocent people. After a visit here, you continue your ride through the lush meadows of the Machland River plain to the Strudenau River valley. Your final destination today is the city of Grein, a riverside town with a wonderful 15th century castle that awaits your discovery. (Cycling distance – 65 kilometres)
Day 5: Grein – Melk
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Today you will pedal your way from Grein to Melk. After Grein, the Danube starts to become narrow and craggy as you ride through the beautiful landscapes of the Strudenau; here you encounter ancient castle ruins and quaint Austrian villages liberally dotted along the river. After the villages of Marbach, you will pass the Maria Taferl, a small town set on a hilltop which was once a place of pilgrimage. As you continue on to Melk you will come across the historical landscapes of the Nibelungengau. Melk is the town that marks the beginning of the stunning Wachau Valley and in your sight will soon appear one of the most spectacular buildings of the region, the Benedictine Monastery of Melk; equally as stunning both inside and out and a must to visit. This evening is spent in Melk. (Cycling distance – 51km)
Day 6: Melk - Tulln
Meals included: 1 breakfast
The route today travels along the Danube through the beautiful, UNESCO World Heritage protected Wachau Valley region with its picturesque landscape of vineyards and orchards. En route you will come across Dürnstein, a charming town of narrow winding streets, lively town squares and cute shops. It’s then on to the historic town of Krems; home to a prominent 17th century town hall and a myriad of beautiful churches. After visiting the town, you cross the Danube and looking back, can enjoy great views of the town. Cycling on, you will pass through Traismauer and past the Gottweig monastery, set atop the Gottweig Mountain and surrounded by lush forest. Your final destination for today and stopping point is the medieval town of Tulln, known as the Flower City. (Cycling distance – 45km)
Day 7: Tulln – Vienna
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Today is your final day of cycling and the shortest cycling stage. The route takes you through the Wienerwald, a stunning forest of pines, firs, oaks and beeches, to Klosterneuburg, which has an imposing Augustine Church dating back to 1108. The final stretch of the ride sees you approach the metropolis of Vienna, the vibrant and grand capital of Austria and a fitting end point to a rewarding week of cycling. You will hand your bikes back on arrival at your hotel in Vienna and the rest of the day is free to explore Vienna. (Cycling distance – 38km)
Day 8: End Vienna
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Your tour ends after breakfast in Vienna. With so much to see and do in Vienna we recommend booking extra nights to make the most of your time here – enquire at time of booking.
Your Trip
What's Included
Luggage transfers, detailed itinerary, route notes & maps, bike hire, bike helmet, GPS Console.
Summary of accommodation, transport & meals
Accommodation
- 7 nights Pensions
Meals
- 8 breakfasts
Meals
For meals not included you should allow between €20-€25 for a full menu including house wine; with €5 you can buy a packed lunch, with €10-15 will buy you a simple lunch in a restaurant. In addition you should allow for drinks and any personal shopping.
What to know
VaccinationsVaccinations may be required for this trip. Talk to your doctor about the up-to-date information for this region.
Visas and PermitsIt is your responsibility to ensure you have all required visas for your trip. Rules and regulations governing the issuance of visas are constantly changing, and vary for different nationalities and you should check visa requirements with your travel agent or relevant consular authority well before travel.
Austria
Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians, USA and British citizens, do not require a visa to visit Austria for a maximum stay of 3 months. Other nationalities should check with the Austrian Embassy or Consulate in their country for up to date visa information.
Germany
Visas are currently not required for Australian, New Zealand, US, Canadian or UK/EU passport holders wishing to visit Germany.
You are required to have travel insurance before heading off on a Peregrine trip. Insurance can be organised by your Peregrine representative or your travel agent.
Responsible Travel
Our Responsible Travel ethos is at the heart of everything we do, from getting the basics right like respecting local cultures and the environment, to initiating projects that make positive contributions to communities, to our staff’s fundraising efforts and offsetting our carbon emissions.
Please visit our Responsible Travel (http://www.peregrineadventures.com/rt) page for more information.
Our Pre Departure Information or Travel Dossier (provided upon booking a trip) provides tips on how you can show respect for the local customs and culture in the country you are travelling in.
The information listed above is a brief description of some things you may need to consider when booking a trip. Once a tour is booked you will be provided with a link to your Travel Dossier which will contain detailed Pre Departure information.
Further Reading
AustriaInsight Guide Austria
This guide is noted for its wonderful photography, superb production and informative short essays. It is a highly recommended introduction to Austrian history and culture.
Andrew Wheatcroft
The Habsburgs: Embodying Empire
Of Europe’s empires, the Habsburgs ruled over more diverse peoples and cultures than any other since the Romans. The history of the family and its eccentric monarchs is fully revealed.
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The Austrians: A Thousand-Year Odyssey
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Cathedrals and Castles: Building in the Middle Ages
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Baroque and Rococo Art
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Michel Parouty
Mozart: From Child Prodigy to Tragic Hero
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Isabel Fonseca
Bury Me Standing
The Roma, as the Gypsies call themselves, have a long tradition in Eastern European culture—influencing the music, foods, religious and folk traditions. This is an excellent book about them.
One of the best way to learn about a country's culture is a good book:
-Im Western Nichts Neues (All Quiet on the Western Front; 1929) Erich Maria Remarque
- Kindheitsmuster (Patterns of Childhood; 1976) Christa Wolf
-Grimms Marchen (Grimm's Fairy Tales; 1812)
- Der Vorleser (The Reader; 2002) Bernhard Schlink
About this Information
The information provided here is given in good faith and has been compiled with all reasonable care. However, things change and some of the information may become out of date. Please keep this in mind when you read it and check with us if you want to be sure about something. The document was correct at time of printing, but you can check online for the most up to date version. If you have any queries, please contact your travel agent or our staff in Australia. We are here to help you!
Last Updated
20 September 2012