What is included in the Vienna to Budapest cycling tour and how much does it cost?

The package includes 7 nights with breakfast, daily luggage transfer from Vienna to Budapest, one boat or train transfer in the Danube Bend area, a service hotline and a handlebar bag with route book, maps and a tour app with GPS data. Prices depend on the season and the hotel category you choose. Bike rental is extra: from €99, or €239 for an e-bike.

When can I cycle the Danube from Vienna to Budapest?

The tour runs from 24 April to 15 October 2027, with arrivals every Saturday and Sunday. Late April, May and October are quieter and cooler for cycling, while July and August bring long, warm days along the river. Arrivals on both weekend days make it easy to fit the tour into your holiday plans.

How difficult is the Danube cycle route from Vienna to Budapest?

The tour is rated level 1-2: mostly flat, occasionally slightly hilly. Daily stages range from about 26 to 82 km, and the longest day can be cut to about 44 km with a short train ride. Austria has well-maintained cycle paths, while in Hungary you sometimes ride on country back roads, and city entries need attention to traffic.

Can I rent a bike for the Vienna to Budapest Danube tour?

Yes, you can rent a 21/24-speed unisex trekking bike for €99 or an e-bike for €239 for the whole tour. Rental bikes come with a pannier, and trekking bikes also with an odometer. Children's bikes and child equipment are available on request. A rental helmet can be reserved when you book the tour.

Is the Danube cycling tour from Vienna to Budapest suitable for families?

Yes, the mostly flat route works well for families with some cycling experience, and children sharing a room with two adults receive reduced rates. In Austria, children under 12 must wear a helmet, and in Slovakia helmets are compulsory outside built-up areas. Children's bikes and special child equipment can be requested in advance.

What kind of accommodation is used between Vienna and Budapest?

In category A you stay in selected 4-star hotels in every overnight location. In category B you stay in 4-star hotels in Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, and in comfortable hotels, typical local inns and guesthouses in the smaller towns. All rooms have private facilities, and extra nights in Vienna or Budapest can be added.

How do I get back from Budapest to Vienna after the cycling tour?

Direct trains run from Budapest to Vienna every hour and take about three hours, so the return is easy to organise on your own. If you cycle on your own bike, a return transfer of bikes to Vienna runs on Saturdays for an extra fee and arrives the following morning, so an extra night in Vienna is recommended.

Vienna to Budapest Cycling Tour

Danube Cycle Path – Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest

See all the photos

from€879

Trekking bikeE-bike8 days / 7 nights290 km2/5Medium-EasyLinear

Short Description

Cycling the Danube from Vienna to Budapest links three capitals in eight days, with Bratislava in between. You will glide through quiet floodplain forests, cross the island maze of the Szigetköz and roll into Budapest past the hills of the Danube Bend.

Tour Program

Day 1: Vienna
You arrive in Vienna at your own pace, and the evening is yours. Stroll through the imperial city centre, or settle into a traditional Heuriger wine tavern for hearty local food. The City of Waltz is the perfect warm-up for the week ahead.

Day 2: Vienna – Bad Deutsch Altenburg (approx. 42 km)
Just beyond the city, the Danube slips into a wild floodplain landscape. You will cycle through the Danube Floodplains National Park, where the only sound is often birdsong. Near Bad Deutsch Altenburg, the Romans once bathed in warm springs, and the Archaeological Park Carnuntum invites you on a journey back into antiquity.

Day 3: Bad Deutsch Altenburg – Bratislava (approx. 26 km)
A short stage today. Between the Hainburg hills and the first foothills of the Carpathians, you will ride on to Bratislava, the Slovak capital. Its sleepy old town sits side by side with bold modern architecture, and you will have plenty of time to explore both.

Day 4: Bratislava – Györ (approx. 82 km, or approx. 44 km with the recommended train section)
Today you enter the Szigetköz, a marshy lowland of more than 500 small islands, side channels and creeks, alive with birds and fish. Farming villages dot the route. To shorten the day, you can take the train between Mosonmagyaróvár and Györ, with tickets available from the station machines. Györ, where three rivers meet, welcomes you with its baroque old town.

Day 5: Györ – Komarno (approx. 57 km)
Lush, gently rolling hills carry you towards Komárom, the favourite town of the famous King Matthias. Tonight you will stay in the Komarno area.

Day 6: Komarno – Danube Bend (approx. 52 km)
You will follow the Slovak bank of the Danube on small, quiet roads through traditional villages, passing the Roman fort of Kelemantia. Ahead lies Esztergom, the royal city once called the "Hungarian Rome", where the first Hungarian king was born and crowned. Its basilica, the largest church in Hungary, rises high above the river.

Day 7: Danube Bend – Budapest (approx. 69 km)
The hills of the Danube Bend frame your final cycling day. You will pass small villages and reach Szentendre, the artists' town with its nearby open-air farm museum. Budapest's landmarks come into view as you approach, and the stage ends with a boat ride into the city; outside the boat season, a train ticket replaces it.

Day 8: Budapest
Your tour ends after breakfast. Stay on to enjoy Budapest, or take one of the hourly direct trains back to Vienna, a journey of about three hours.

Tour details

LinearSelfguidedCouplesFriendsFamiliesMinimum 2 people

✅ What is included in the trip?

🏨 Overnight stay and breakfast
💼 Luggage transfer
📞 Local telephone assistance 7/7
🗺️ Maps
📲 GPS or navigation APP
🚢 1 x ship or train transfer in Danube Bend area

❌ What is not included?

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

🙋 Common questions

What is included in the Vienna to Budapest cycling tour and how much does it cost?
The package includes 7 nights with breakfast, daily luggage transfer from Vienna to Budapest, one boat or train transfer in the Danube Bend area, a service hotline and a handlebar bag with route book, maps and a tour app with GPS data. Prices depend on the season and the hotel category you choose. Bike rental is extra: from €99, or €239 for an e-bike.
When can I cycle the Danube from Vienna to Budapest?
The tour runs from 24 April to 15 October 2027, with arrivals every Saturday and Sunday. Late April, May and October are quieter and cooler for cycling, while July and August bring long, warm days along the river. Arrivals on both weekend days make it easy to fit the tour into your holiday plans.
How difficult is the Danube cycle route from Vienna to Budapest?
The tour is rated level 1-2: mostly flat, occasionally slightly hilly. Daily stages range from about 26 to 82 km, and the longest day can be cut to about 44 km with a short train ride. Austria has well-maintained cycle paths, while in Hungary you sometimes ride on country back roads, and city entries need attention to traffic.
Can I rent a bike for the Vienna to Budapest Danube tour?
Yes, you can rent a 21/24-speed unisex trekking bike for €99 or an e-bike for €239 for the whole tour. Rental bikes come with a pannier, and trekking bikes also with an odometer. Children's bikes and child equipment are available on request. A rental helmet can be reserved when you book the tour.
Is the Danube cycling tour from Vienna to Budapest suitable for families?
Yes, the mostly flat route works well for families with some cycling experience, and children sharing a room with two adults receive reduced rates. In Austria, children under 12 must wear a helmet, and in Slovakia helmets are compulsory outside built-up areas. Children's bikes and special child equipment can be requested in advance.
What kind of accommodation is used between Vienna and Budapest?
In category A you stay in selected 4-star hotels in every overnight location. In category B you stay in 4-star hotels in Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, and in comfortable hotels, typical local inns and guesthouses in the smaller towns. All rooms have private facilities, and extra nights in Vienna or Budapest can be added.
How do I get back from Budapest to Vienna after the cycling tour?
Direct trains run from Budapest to Vienna every hour and take about three hours, so the return is easy to organise on your own. If you cycle on your own bike, a return transfer of bikes to Vienna runs on Saturdays for an extra fee and arrives the following morning, so an extra night in Vienna is recommended.

📋💸 Cancellation fees

The Customer may withdraw from the contract (cancel) at any time prior to commencement of the tour. Cancellation must be effected in writing. In the event of cancellation or no-show the following cancellation fees shall become due in relation to the tour price:

Up to the 28th day prior to departure 20%, however at least 50.- euros per person.

From the 27th day until the 14th day prior to departure 30%.

From the 13th day until the 8th day prior to departure 50%.

From the 7th until the 4th day prior to departure 70%.

From the 3rd day or with no-show for the tour 90%.

Insurance is not included in our tour prices. Separate terms and conditions apply to ALL COMBINED CYCLE AND BOAT TOURS:

Up to the 84th day prior to departure 20%, however at least 50.- euros per person.

From the 83rd day until the 42nd day prior to departure 30%

From the 41st day until the 28th day prior to departure 60%

From the 27th until the 4th day prior to departure 80%

From the 3rd day or with no-show for the tour 90%

Starting from

€879/ person

or €932

Available

24 Apr 2027 – 15 Oct 2027

Departures

Saturday, Sunday

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Organized by

RAD + REISEN Eurocycle

This tour is provided by RAD + REISEN Eurocycle. Life on a Bike acts as an intermediary platform connecting you with independent tour operators. Learn more