Passau to Budapest Bike & Boat

Day 1: Passau (embarkation)
You will board your ship in Passau in the late afternoon. Before you cast off, use your free time to wander the cobblestoned old town, where the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers meet. Listen to the bells of the Gothic town hall and admire the great organ of Passau's cathedral before the city slips away behind you.

Day 2: Engelhartszell – Aschach (approx. 43 km) — the Great Loop
Your first ride follows the classic scenery of the Schlögen Great Loop, one of the loveliest bends of the Danube. You will pass tiny villages and cosy cider taverns, and at Austria's only Trappist monastery in Engelhartszell you can taste the monks' liqueurs and cheese. From the famous Schlögen viewpoint a wide panorama opens over the countryside before you re-embark in the boatmen's town of Aschach.

Day 3: Devín – Bratislava (approx. 45 km)
You will pedal along the former Iron Curtain, cross the green border and reach the imposing terraced gardens of Schloss Hof. The path leads through Austria's "vegetable garden" to the coronation city of Bratislava, at the foot of the Little Carpathians, where hidden lanes and landmarks await on an optional city tour.

Day 4: Budapest – optional ride to Szentendre (approx. 45 km)
The approach to Budapest is spectacular. You can explore the Hungarian capital on an optional coach or guided bike tour, or cycle to the charming artists' town of Szentendre with its Mediterranean air. Those who prefer can enjoy a restful day on board. In the evening the lively Jewish Quarter is well worth a visit.

Day 5: Danube Bend – Esztergom (approx. 50 km)
Steep slopes frame the gently rolling "Hungarian Wachau." At the farmers' market in Vác you can stock up on regional specialities before riding on to Esztergom, where the mighty basilica, Hungary's largest church, rises high above the castle district.

Day 6: Vienna (day of rest)
A restful day in the Austrian capital. By bike or by bus you can join an optional city tour: the grand Ringstrasse, venerable coffee houses and the splendour of Schönbrunn Palace, perhaps rounded off with a waltz and operetta concert. Overnight the ship cruises towards the Wachau.

Day 7: Wachau – Krems to Melk/Pöchlarn (approx. 37–45 km)
Your final riding day is a highlight. Above the baroque town of Dürnstein looms a ruined castle, while the blue spire of the abbey church marks the heart of the Wachau. Between dreamy villages, apricot orchards, vineyards and castles you will reach the Benedictine abbey of Melk, perched grandly above the river. Traditional wine taverns invite an optional tasting along the way.

Day 8: Passau (disembarkation)
As the ship cruises back up the Danube, enjoy the early-morning light on your way to Passau, where you will disembark at around 11.00 a.m. Onward travel should be arranged from 12.00 p.m.