Classic Danube Cycling Tour from Passau to Vienna

Day 1: Arrival in Passau
You will arrive in the enchanting three-river city of Passau, where the Danube, Inn and Ilz converge beneath baroque towers and pastel facades. After settling into your hotel, you will receive your travel documents and collect your rental bikes nearby. The rest of the day is yours to explore this captivating border town.

Day 2: Passau – Schlögener Schlinge (approx. 40 km)
Your journey begins with a gentle stage along the Upper Austrian Danube. The path winds through the wildly romantic Upper Danube Valley, past the Engelszell Abbey — famous for its Trappist liqueurs and well worth a visit. The day’s destination is the breathtaking Schlögener Schlinge, a dramatic horseshoe bend where the river loops back on itself in a unique natural spectacle.

Day 3: Schlögener Schlinge – Linz (approx. 55 km)
After a restful night, you will cycle through wooded hills and the fertile Eferdinger Basin towards Linz. Austria’s third-largest city greets you with a vibrant blend of old-town charm and bold modern architecture along the Danube waterfront.

Day 4: Linz – Grein (approx. 60 km)
Take time in the morning for a stroll through Linz before setting off into the Strudengau. This classic stage leads through quiet floodplains and riverside meadows. By afternoon you will reach picturesque Grein, with its historic town centre and Austria’s oldest municipal theatre.

Day 5: Grein – Wachau (approx. 70 km)
You will continue to follow the Danube past castles and sleepy villages. Soon the imposing silhouette of Melk Abbey rises above the river — a masterpiece of Baroque architecture and an unmissable cultural highlight. Beyond Melk, you will enter the legendary Wachau wine region.

Day 6: Through the Wachau to Krems (approx. 40 km)
A day for connoisseurs. The route threads through the Wachau’s most celebrated villages — Spitz, Weißenkirchen and Dürnstein, where a ruined castle perches above blue-towered rooftops. In Krems, rustic wine taverns invite you to linger over a regional snack with vineyard views.

Day 7: Krems – Vienna (approx. 70 km)
The final stage carries you along the Danube to the Austrian capital. If you prefer a shorter ride, part of the route can be covered by train. Once in Vienna, world-famous landmarks await — St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Schönbrunn Palace and the legendary coffee-house culture.

Day 8: Departure
After an eventful week, your return journey to Passau is included. In seasons A and B, you will travel comfortably by train. In season C, a bus with bike transport brings you back. Alternatively, extend your stay in Vienna to savour the imperial capital at leisure.