What is the difficulty level of this tour?

This tour covers 40 to 70 km per day on mostly flat terrain along the Danube Cycle Path. It follows well-maintained, signposted paths with very little elevation change. A reasonable level of fitness is recommended, though e-bikes are available for rent.

What type of accommodation is provided?

You will stay in 3 and 4-star hotels selected for comfort and location along the route. All nights include a rich breakfast buffet. Hotel examples include properties in Passau, Linz, Grein, Melk, Krems and Vienna.

Is luggage transfer included?

Yes, your luggage is transported from hotel to hotel all the way to Vienna. Each person may check one piece of luggage weighing up to 23 kg.

How does the return journey from Vienna to Passau work?

The return transfer is included in the tour price. In early and late season (seasons A and B), you travel by train. In peak season (season C), a dedicated bus with bike transport takes you back. Own bikes are not transported on the train option.

What bikes are available for rent?

You can rent 21-speed touring bikes or electric bikes. Both include repair service.

What is the best time to do this tour?

The tour runs from late March to early October. Peak season from late April to mid-September offers the warmest weather and longest days. Shoulder season departures in March-April and September-October are quieter and more affordable.

Can I shorten any of the daily stages?

Yes. On Day 7 from Krems to Vienna, part of the route can be covered by train if you prefer a shorter ride. The well-connected rail network along the Danube makes it easy to adjust distances.

Classic Danube Cycling Tour from Passau to Vienna

Danube Cycle Path

classic-danube-cycling-tour-passau-vienna

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E-bikeTrekking bike8 days / 7 nights335 km2/5Medium-EasyLinear

Short Description

Ride Europe's most beloved cycle path from Passau to Vienna on this 8-day self-guided tour. Follow the Danube downstream through the Upper Danube Valley, the Wachau wine region and on to the imperial capital, with comfortable 3 and 4-star hotels and daily luggage transfers throughout.

Tour Program

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.

Tour details

LinearSelfguidedCouplesFamiliesMinimum 2 people

✅ What is included in the trip?

🏨 Overnight stay and breakfast
💼 Luggage transfer
📲 GPS or navigation APP
🗺️ Maps
📞 Local telephone assistance 7/7
🚇 Return journey Vienna–Passau by bus or train

❌ What is not included?

✈️ Journey to/from the starting point
🍽️ Meals and drinks not listed as Included
🖼️ Entrance fees and extras not listed
🛡️ Travel insurance
🌎 Tourist taxes
🚎 Transfers not listed as Included

🙋 Common questions

What is the difficulty level of this tour?
This tour covers 40 to 70 km per day on mostly flat terrain along the Danube Cycle Path. It follows well-maintained, signposted paths with very little elevation change. A reasonable level of fitness is recommended, though e-bikes are available for rent.
What type of accommodation is provided?
You will stay in 3 and 4-star hotels selected for comfort and location along the route. All nights include a rich breakfast buffet. Hotel examples include properties in Passau, Linz, Grein, Melk, Krems and Vienna.
Is luggage transfer included?
Yes, your luggage is transported from hotel to hotel all the way to Vienna. Each person may check one piece of luggage weighing up to 23 kg.
How does the return journey from Vienna to Passau work?
The return transfer is included in the tour price. In early and late season (seasons A and B), you travel by train. In peak season (season C), a dedicated bus with bike transport takes you back. Own bikes are not transported on the train option.
What bikes are available for rent?
You can rent 21-speed touring bikes or electric bikes. Both include repair service.