Danube Cycle Path - the easy going tour

Stroll through the pretty little baroque town of Schärding and marvel at the famous Silberzeile lane, or take a walk through the “New Centre” of Passau - the town of three rivers, which has been completely redesigned as a pedestrian, car-free area.

Hotel (example) Schärding / Passau:

Cat. A: Stadthotel Schärding / Hotel Passauer Wolf
Cat. B: Stiegenwirt / Hotel Innsento

“Upper Danube Valley”

Along the river Inn you will come to Passau, the town of three rivers. We recommend that you take a guided tour of the town, and visit the cathedral where you can enjoy the sounds of the largest church organ in the world (except Sundays and public holidays). Then you will continue along the Danube, first passing Obernzell and finally arriving in Engelhartszell (the only Trappist monastery in Austria). You will then cycle through the nature reserve Donauleiten, from where you will reach the Schlögen Bend to the north. This is where granite proved to be too much of an opponent and forced the Danube to change directions by 180 degrees. While a ferry takes you to the other side of the river to your hotel, you have plenty of time to look at this natural phenomenon.

Hotel (example):

Cat. A: Hotel Donauschlinge
Cat. B: Wesenufer

“Danube Bend”

Today you will cycle through the green Eferdinger basin via the market towns of Aschach, Ottensheim and Wilhering and all the way to the Upper Austrian capital of Linz. Linz's historical old town has many pubs and eateries for you to discover. Other highlights of the European Capital of Culture 2009 include the magnificent views from Pöstlingberg mountain and a stroll through the Donaulände park.

Hotel (example):

Cat. A: Arcotel Nike
Cat. B: Courtyard by Marriott Linz

“Through the Marchland”

On the fourth day, you will take a little detour away from the course of the Danube to St. Florian (Augustinian monastery) and to Enns. In Enns you can go to the town square with its 60 metre town tower, the landmark of the oldest town in Austria, or you visit the archaeological collection in the municipal museum Lauriacum. Afterwards, you will return to the river, first reaching the beautiful little baroque town of Grein. Here you have the opportunity to visit the oldest municipal theatre in Austria that is still being used. Or you can visit the maritime museum or Greinburg castle.

Hotel (example):

Cat. A: Aumühle
Cat. B: Schiffsmeisterhaus

“Strudengau and Nibelungengau”

This section of the Danube, the Strudengau, was once feared by sailors, now you can cycle along it. Where they used to fight against the Danube currents, you can now take a leisurely cycle ride. In Maria Taferl, high above the Danube, you will find the magnificent pilgrimage church, which attracts thousands of pilgrims every year.

Hotel (example):

Cat. A: Wachauerhof Marbach
Cat. B: Zur schönen Wienerin

In Melk, you should stop briefly and look up – otherwise you may miss the beautiful Melk abbey, which towers above the Danube. As soon as you have left the city behind you, you will cycle into the landscape of the Wachau region where you will be enchanted by the atmosphere of the typical fruit orchards and vineyards. Today, we will organise a wine tasting event for you, which is a must during a visit to the Wachau region.

Hotel (example):

Cat. A: Arte Hotel
Cat. B: Rathauskeller Melk

On the seventh day, you can relax whilst walking through the wine villages of Spitz, Weißenkirchen and/or Dürnstein. Get to know the beauty and hospitality of the Wachau, which are two of the characteristics that have made this region so famous. You can truly enjoy every moment of every day here.

Hotel (example):

Cat. A: Arte Hotel
Cat. B: Rathauskeller Melk

On the seventh day, you can relax whilst walking through the wine villages of Spitz, Weißenkirchen and/or Dürnstein. Get to know the beauty and hospitality of the Wachau, which are two of the characteristics that have made this region so famous. You can truly enjoy every moment of every day here.

Hotel (example):

Cat. A: Best Western Hotel Tulln
Cat. B: Nibelungenhof

Today, you will cycle past the 1,000-year-old city of Krems on your way to the Roman town of Tulln. Here, you can once again enjoy the tranquility and culture (e.g. with a visit to the Egon Schiele museum) of the rural area before you will get to the Danube metropolis of Vienna.

Hotel (example):

Cat. A: Arcotel Kaiserwasser
Cat. B: Roomz Prater

Stroll through the pretty little baroque town of Schärding and marvel at the famous Silberzeile lane, or take a walk through the “New Centre” of Passau - the town of three rivers, which has been completely redesigned as a pedestrian, car-free area.

Hotel (example) Schärding / Passau:

Cat. A: Stadthotel Schärding / Hotel Passauer Wolf
Cat. B: Stiegenwirt / Hotel Innsento

Today, you will cycle from Schärding along the river Inn to Passau, where the Inn joins the Danube. On the Danube cycle path, you will cross the upper Danube valley and pass the town Engelhartszell with its impressive abbey church of the monastery Engelszell. Then, you will cycle via Niederranna and approach today’s destination, the “Schlögener Schlinge“ (river bend). Here, the second largest river in Europe is forced by the granite of the Bohemian Massif into a unique 180 degrees turn. You will have time to watch this natural phenomenon during a ferry ride to the other side of the river, where you will find your hotel.

Hotel (example):

Cat. A and Cat.B: Hotel Donauschlinge

Today you will cycle through the green Eferdinger basin via the market towns of Aschach, Ottensheim and Wilhering and all the way to the Upper Austrian capital of Linz. Linz's historical old town has many pubs and eateries for you to discover. Other highlights of the European Capital of Culture 2009 include the magnificent views from Pöstlingberg mountain and a stroll through the Donaulände park.

Hotel (example):

Cat. A: Leonardo Boutique Linz
Cat. B: Courtyard by Marriott Linz

On the fourth day, you will take a little detour away from the course of the Danube to St. Florian (Augustinian monastery) and to Enns. In Enns you can go to the town square with its 60 metre town tower, the landmark of the oldest town in Austria, or you visit the archaeological collection in the municipal museum Lauriacum. Afterwards, you will return to the river, first reaching the beautiful little baroque town of Grein. Here you have the opportunity to visit the oldest municipal theatre in Austria that is still being used. Or you can visit the maritime museum or Greinburg castle.

Hotel (example):

Cat. A: Landgasthof Winter
Cat. B: Pension Martha

Today, you will again cycle along the Danube and get to the beautiful baroque town, Grein. Here, you will have the opportunity to get an impression of the oldest still performing city theatre in Austria. Additionally, you can visit the maritime museum or the castle Greinburg. From today’s destination Maria Taferl, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the beautiful blue Danube!

Hotel (example):

Cat. A: Hotel Rose
Cat. B: Wachauerhof Marbach

In Melk, you should stop briefly and look up – otherwise you may miss the beauty of the abbey Melk, which towers above the Danube. As soon as you have left the city behind you, you will cycle into the landscape of the Wachau region, where you will be enchanted by the atmosphere of the typical fruit orchards and vineyards. Today, we will organise a wine tasting event for you – which is a must during a visit to the Wachau region.

Hotel (example):

Cat. A: Arte Hotel
Cat. B: Gasthof Klinglhuber

On the seventh day, you can relax whilst walking through the wine villages of Spitz, Weißenkirchen and/or Dürnstein. Get to know the beauty and hospitality of the Wachau, which are two of the characteristics that have made this region so famous. You can truly enjoy every moment of every day here.

Hotel (example):

Cat. A: Arte Hotel
Cat. B: Gasthof Klinglhuber

On the seventh day, you can relax whilst walking through the wine villages of Spitz, Weißenkirchen and/or Dürnstein. Get to know the beauty and hospitality of the Wachau, which are two of the characteristics that have made this region so famous. You can truly enjoy every moment of every day here.

Hotel (example):

Cat. A : Best Western Hotel Tulln
Cat. B: Nibelungenhof Tulln
 

The final kilometres of your bike tour will be a relaxed trip to the Danube metropolis of Vienna. As soon as you arrive, you can occupy your room and then enjoy all the amenities of the city for the rest of the day. Treat yourself to a Viennese-style Americano coffee and a piece of the famous Sachertorte cake in one of Vienna’s typical coffee houses. Take a stroll along Vienna’s Parade shopping street, along Mariahilferstraße, visit St Stephen’s Cathedral or see the main sights and take a trip in one of the famous Fiaker cabs.

Hotel (example):

Cat. A: MAXX by Steigenberger
Cat. B: Roomz Prater