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Bicycling the Danube Passau to Vienna

Bicycling the Danube Passau to Vienna

Join us as we ride from Passau, Germany to Vienna as you'll enjoy leisurely rides along bike paths and quiet, countryside roads. Along the way you will bicycle through historic city centers with beautiful baroque architecture and visit famous sites including Melk Abby and medieval villages of the Wachau. Taste some traditional white wines from vineyards you will pedal past and enjoy the culinary treats on your way to the dazzling city of Vienna.

If this sounds great, but you prefer a longer tour take a look at the 14-day option Cycling the Danube Plus! Czech Republic and Prague.

Tour Dates & Prices

Date
Price
Private Room Fee
Note
Jun 16-22, 2023
USD$3950
USD$550
Departure confirmed. 
Book It
Aug 18-24, 2023
USD$3950
USD$550
Departure confirmed to go!
Book It

* We are happy to match solo travelers who would like to share a room with someone of the same gender. If no match exists, due to hotel pricing, we will charge 50% of the private room charge. This charge will be collected at the time of the final payment. If a roommate assignment is available it will be refunded at the conclusion of the tour.

** For information about what your tour status means please see our FAQ page.

Tour Style: Classic Hold A Space Request Private Departure Download Itinerary Tour Map
  • Trip At-A-Glance
  • Tour Summary
  • Daily Itinerary
  • Travel Information
  • Map
  • Reviews
  • Similar Tours
Trip At-A-Glance

Trip At-A-Glance

  • Length / 7 Days
  • Total Distance / 335km (208 miles)
  • Avg. Distance / 67km (42 miles) per riding day
  • Tour Level & Tour Style / 2.0 Classic
  • Countries / Austria, Germany
  • Begin/End / Passau/Vienna
  • Price / From USD$3950
More Photos
Tour Summary

Tour Summary

  • Highlights
    Spectacular part of the Danube valley, Melk Abby, Wine tasting, Vienna.

    Keep in Mind: We work hard to maintain consistency across all of our tours, but some trips have unique differences. Here are some things to keep in mind about this tour.

    We use charming and modern hotels but A/C or fans may not always be available since they haven't been needed traditionally. Read more on the use of air conditioning in Europe here.

    Separated twin beds are rare in many places; instead there will be two mattresses together that sit on the same base.
  • Includes
    7 days, 6 nights accommodation; meals as noted in itinerary; guided visits as described in itinerary.

    Learn more about what is included and what to expect on your Classic tour at the Classic Tour Style page.
  • Arrive / Depart
    Munich Airport (MUC) or Frankfurt International Airport (FRA)/Vienna International Airport (VIE)
  • Overall Tour Level
    2.0 difficulty level 2.0
  • Daily Ride Summary

    Day

    Distance/Gain
    mi/ftkm/m

    Terrain

    Day Level

    Notes

    1
    Test ride
    2
    60km / 391m
    Mostly flat
    difficulty level 1.5
    3
    67km / 442m
    Hilly
    difficulty level 3.0
    4
    58km / 356m
    Mostly flat
    difficulty level 1.5
    5
    57km / 421m
    Mostly flat
    difficulty level 1.5
    6
    93km / 502m
    Mostly flat
    difficulty level 2.5
    Shorter optional ride available
    7
    Last day

Terrain Legend

Gentle Gentle

Rolling hills Rolling hills

Hilly Hilly

Very hilly Very hilly

Mountainous Mountainous

Daily Itinerary
Download Itinerary

DAY 1: Welcome to Passau

Highlights: Old Town Passau, a spectacular part of the Danube valley, welcome dinner.

Welcome to Passau, a beautiful German city located near the Austrian border and at the confluence of three rivers: the Danube, Inn and Ilz. Settle into your hotel and stretch your legs by walking through Old Town’s baroque architecture and paying a visit to Passau's Saint Stephan's Cathedral, home to the largest organ outside of the United States. This afternoon we will meet for a bike fitting and test ride. Then we will gather again for a welcome drink and our first dinner together.

DAY 2: Passau, Germany to Linz, Austria

Highlights: Crossing the border to Austria, the spectacular Danube valley

The Danube River and the valley it has formed shape the central transportation artery of Austria. Today and tomorrow you'll ride through the heartland of Austria featuring impressive castles perched above the Danube river. Take time to explore the Ars Electronica Museum in Linz, also known as the museum of the future, as it tries to bridge the gap between art, science and technology.

  • Distance: 60km (38mi)
  • Gain: 391m (1282ft)
  • Terrain: Mostly flat
  • Day Level: difficulty level 1.5
  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Lodging:

DAY 3: Linz to Bad Kreuzen

Highlights: Diverse and stunning cycling through farmland, vineyards and Danube bike paths

You'll leave the river valley to reach Bad Kreuzen. Those who wish can take time to visit the Mauthausen Concentration Camp. The experience is powerful and sobering as you walk up and down the 186 "death stairs." Over 130,000 people were killed here including Jews, Italians, Russian POWs, criminals, and political prisoners.

  • Distance: 67km (42mi)
  • Gain: 442m (1450ft)
  • Terrain: Hilly
  • Day Level: difficulty level 3.0
  • Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
  • Lodging:

DAY 4: Bad Kreuzen to Melk

Highlights: Cycling along bike path near a thick forest, 12th Century Melk Abbey

Enjoy a downhill coast on a smooth bike path into the town of Melk, home to the spectacular baroque Melk Abbey. Built at the beginning of the 12th century the abbey was a monastic school. Unpack your bags at our hotel just down the street from the abbey and stroll through the charming town to photograph the gold statuary adorning this domed Abbey Church. Venture inside the church to admire the ceiling fresco and its red marble walls before enjoying one of the suggested restaurants for dinner on your own this evening.

  • Distance: 58km (36mi)
  • Gain: 356m (1168ft)
  • Terrain: Mostly flat
  • Day Level: difficulty level 1.5
  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Lodging:

DAY 5: Melk to Dürnstein

Highlights: Vineyards of the Danube, wine tasting

Today you pedal into the heartland of Austrian wine country. This beautiful ride leads you through the medieval villages of the Wachau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon arriving in Dürnstein you'll visit the cellar and vineyards of one of the area's best producers, and taste some of their traditional white wines.

  • Distance: 57km (36mi)
  • Gain: 421m (1381ft)
  • Terrain: Mostly flat
  • Day Level: difficulty level 1.5
  • Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
  • Lodging:

DAY 6: Dürnstein to Vienna

Highlights: Vienna!

Enjoy an easy day along the Danube today. You'll reach Vienna via a complex system of bicycle paths that lead directly to your hotel. Vienna is the largest city in Austria and one of Europe's leading musical centers. It was first a Roman and Celtic settlement, but as the Austro-Hungarian Empire rose to prominence, magnificent Medieval and Baroque architecture became especially prevalent.

DAY 7: Farewell!

Highlights: Guided tour of Vienna

Vienna has been home to legendary artistic and intellectual residents including Mozart, Beethoven and Sigmund Freud. Vienna is also known for its imperial palaces as well as mix of historic and contemporary buildings. After breakfast this morning we’ll have a guided tour of this fabulous city to explore its artistic and architectural grandeur and to gain extra insight to the city's impressive history. Your tour ends by lunchtime, but we suggest staying another day or two to explore this amazing cultural capital.

  • Meals: Breakfast
Travel Information

Travel Information

Day 1: Arrival Information

Welcome to Passau

Meeting time 2 p.m. - on Day 1, meet your fellow cyclists and Tour Leaders at the Day 1 Hotel specified on the itinerary.

Note:

As you are planning, remember that the hotels listed in our itineraries are our primary hotels and are - in rare cases - subject to change. Before you make arrangements, check with us if your tour departure is guaranteed. If your tour departure is out further than 6 months, please also check with us as there might be slight changes to the itinerary.

The below information will help you plan your arrival. For more tips or other routes, you might like Rome2Rio. The fare and timing information listed below is approximate.

We recommend flying into the Munich Airport (MUC). You can also fly into the Frankfurt Airport (FRA).


If you arrive at Munich and continue to Passau

  1. *Public bus No. 635 from Munich Airport to Freising Bahnhof (20 min/Eur 2.90), or taxi (15 min/EUR 16)
  2. *Train from Freising to Passau Hbf (2 hours/fares vary), no pre-booking necessary.
  3. Taxi (see point 2 under Frankfurt arrival below)

*Note: For the above train trip, we suggest purchasing a regional day ticket  valid on the bus and regional trains. You can purchase it at one of the vending machines or at the desk from a person, both run cooperatively by the German Railway and the MVV (Munich transit company). This ticket is also a great option for your train trip from Munich to Passau if you plan to stop over in Munich.


If you arrive at Frankfurt and continue to Passau

  1. **Train from Frankfurt am Main Flughafen to Passau Hbf (4.5 hours/fares vary)
  2. Taxi or walk from Passau central station to the Day 1 Hotel (5 min/EUR 7)

**Note: Depart from the AIRail Terminal, next to Terminal 1. Frankfurt Airport is a very busy transportation hub and it is advisable to purchase train tickets with a seat reservation in advance. If you buy a flexible ticket in advance and miss your intended train, it still means that you will have to purchase a new seat reservation separately upon arrival. Purchasing your ticket and seat reservations upon arrival does offer the most flexibility. However, if trains are full, you will have to wait.

Look up German train schedules at Bahn.de or Trainline.eu. Questions? See our information on taking trains in Europe here or ask us.

Day 7: Departure Information

Farewell!

Your trip ends on the final day around 12 noon back at the hotel.

The below information will help you plan your departure. For more tips or other routes, you might like Rome2Rio. 

We recommend flying out of the Vienna Airport (VIE).

From the Ending Hotel to the Vienna Airport

Keep in Mind

We work hard to maintain consistency across all of our tours, but some trips have unique differences. Here are some things to keep in mind about this tour.

We use charming and modern hotels but A/C or fans may not always be available since they haven't been needed traditionally. Read more on the use of air conditioning in Europe here.

Separated twin beds are rare in many places; instead there will be two mattresses together that sit on the same base.

Pre-Trip Planning Checklist

To do right after you booked!

6 to 3 Months Prior to Tour Start Date

  • Refer to your Tour Packet/Itinerary to see step-by-step arrival and departure information for your tour, meeting place and time, if a reservation on a complimentary ExperiencePlus! Shuttle (if applicable) is required, and other important information to help you plan your arrival and departure.
  • Reserve your flights after you know you have a confirmed tour departure. Please check with our office if you do not know if your trip is confirmed.
  • Book your pre and post-tour hotel nights.
  • Begin your chosen training program.
  • Final payment is due 90 days (120 days for Bike &Barge/Boat tours) prior to the tour start. Please refer to your Invoice and the Final Payment Reminder e-mail we send 10 days prior to the due date for detailed instructions.

6 to 2 Weeks Prior to Tour Start Date

  • Start reading one of the books or watching one of the movies from our Reading and Movie Lists: https://www.experienceplus.com/blog/travel-planning/
  • Plan what you are going to pack and start packing! Refer to the Packing Lists on our website at https://www.experienceplus.com/blog/travel-planning/packing/.
  • We'll email you your access code to Digital Daysheets, Hotel Itinerary, Participant Roster, names and contact information of your Tour Leaders, emergency phone numbers, and other important departure information about 2 weeks prior to your tour start date. All this will be provided to you via a feature called Experiences via the RideWithGPS App (tracks available but not necessary for navigation on Classic, Expedition and Bike & Boat tours).

Day of Your Flight

Get as much sleep on the plane as you can. Pack your one day of cycling gear in your carry-on. See you soon!

What to Expect on Tour

Classic Tour Style

Learn more about what is included and what to expect on your Classic tour at the Classic page.

Map

Map

Reviews

Reviews

  • Amazing, loved every minute!

    Tara G., Orakei, New Zealand - August 2019

  • Amazing, loved every minute!

    Tara G., Orakei, New Zealand - August 2019
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