Travelling by bike & boat is particularly popular amongst cyclists. On this holiday, enjoy the wonderful nature along the River Danube by bike whilst being accompanied by your "floating hotel" - the MS Princess Katharina. On this bike & boat holiday, you travel from Passau, the 3 river city, via Upper and Lower Austria all the way to Vienna and back. Enjoy the impressive Danube landscape whilst treating yourself to the many regional specialities as well as the quality Wachau wine. Try the hearty dumplings or the light and sweet 'Most' (apple wine). After a leisurely cycle tour along the Danube, you will arrive in Vienna, a cosmopolitan city. In 2016 Vienna was selected for the sixth time in a row as the best city to live in worldwide.
Cosmopolitan City and a Centre of Music: In three-four time through Vienna
There are numerous attractions for you to explore on a city tour by bike. Dive into the long forgotten Habsburg Empire and visit some of the 177 palaces. Historical stately buildings like the gothic style St. Stephen's cathedral, the Imperial Palace, the art nouveau of the Secession building, the famous baroque Schönbrunn palace, town hall and the natural history and art museum are all sites where you can sense the former empire's flair.
In the global capital of music, you can expect a diverse cultural offer ranging from Waltz, light opera and opera to musicals or symphony concerts. You are sure to find somewhere to relax in one of the cosy coffee houses or at the "Wiener Prater", perhaps on its famous and huge giant wheel. Viennese food offers true culinary delights. You sure can round off your bike tour with lots of specialities.
Boat: Passau – Engelhartszell Arrival as arranged by you in Passau. The city is located on the Bavarian/Austrian border between the Inn, Ilz and Danube rivers. Embarkation between 4-5 pm. At 7pm, the boat leaves the harbour bringing you to Engelhartszell where you will arrive at about 10pm.
During the cruise we officially welcome you as guests of the cruise on the Danube and welcome you on board with a welcome cocktail and the first dinner.
Worth seeing is the monastery of Engelhartszell, known for the beautifully renovated church, but also for the "healing" herbal schnapps. You cycle downstream on the former Treppelweg. For a special change of pace, take a ride on the walnut-shell-sized longitudinal ferry (approx. € 6,- p. pers.) through the Schlögener Schlinge. From Aschach you can reach Linz by boat. Tip: Discover the city with the bright yellow City Express.
Boat trip: Linz - Mauthausen | Bike tour: Mauthausen - Grein
Early morning boat trip to Mauthausen. On your boat and bike vacation, a tour by bike and boat to Grein awaits you on this day. Before you reach the town, however, you can first visit the Mauthausen concentration camp memorial site in the morning. It commemorates the atrocities in the largest concentration camp built by the Nazis during their rule in Austria.
Insight into older history is offered by a visit to the Celtic village in the market town of Mitterkirchen. The tour continues through the wide fertile plain of the Machland. The destination of the day's stage is the charming town of Grein. Also called the pearl of the Strudengau due to its idyllic location.Worth seeing: Greinburg Castle, Austria's oldest residential castle (closed on Mondays and can only be visited as part of the optional excursion offered).
Bike tour: Grein - Melk | Boat trip: Melk - Tulln.
Today your cycling vacation starts with a tour in the fascinating landscape of the "wild Strudengau". The Strudengau is a beautiful, wooded valley of the Danube with a narrow section of the river that was once much feared by boatmen. The bike path continues to Melk with its magnificent Benedictine monastery. The impressive baroque building is considered a landmark of the Wachau and belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage as one of the most important baroque buildings in Austria.
In Melk you will board the ship again.night boat trip through the Wachau and arrival in the garden city of Tulln.
Now you have already come very close to the Austrian capital by bike and boat: Just outside the gates of Vienna, however, there is still time for a visit to Klosterneuburg Abbey. Already visible from a distance is the dome of the 900-year-old baroque magnificent building. The "Verdun Altar" inside the monastery is one of the highlights of medieval goldsmith's art.
From the wine tavern village Kahlenbergerdorf a short hike through the vineyards to the panorama terrace of the Kahlenberg is worthwhile. You will be rewarded with a beautiful view of the metropolis. During a city tour / city walk you can discover Vienna.
Today, the countless sights of the Danube metropolis are on your agenda: perhaps St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Hofburg, the magnificent boulevard Ringstrasse with the Burgtheater, State Opera House and City Hall? There are countless possibilities. Nevertheless, take enough time to stroll around or visit one of the famous Viennese cafés. At night your ship will sail to Dürnstein or Rossatz in the Wachau.
Today, your last day of cycling, is a special highlight! Amidst small dreamy villages, apricot treet, vineyards, castles, monastries and ruins, this slightly hilly landscape enchants everybody. A powerful ruin looms above the small Baroque town of Dürnstein, while the blue tower of the monastery church is a landmark of Wachau. In Spitz (possibility for a wine-tasting – optional), you will find comfy wine taverns right along the bike path. You have earnt yourself a break! In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner and cocktail.
Enjoy the sun on deck and the silence of the Danube valley for the last time. Take in the last opportunity for a view of the Danube loop before you arrive in Passau at around 11am. This is where your trip ends.
We recommend booking train connections from about 13:30 p.m.
Tour character
Flat and slightly downhill, for relaxed cycling, suitable for beginners and children.
Program as mentioned in the tour course from/to Passau
7 overnights in cabins with shower/toilet in the booked cabin category
Full board: 7x breakfast, 6x packed lunch for bike tours or small lunch, 6x coffee and cake in the afternoon, 6x 3-course dinner as well as 1x farewell dinner with farewell drink
Captain's reception with welcome drink
Musicians on board
Daily cabin cleaning, change of bed linen and towels as needed
Port fees included
Daily bike tour briefing
1x route book for self-guided tours per cabin
GPS data is available
Board tour guidance
Optional:
Bring your own bike/electric bike: €29 (only on request, limited)
Info
Arrival / Parking / Departure
Passau mains station is about 5 km away from the pier
Parking space (fenced area) incl. transfer parking space – boat – parking space € 78 per week Park garage incl. transfer park garage – boat – park garage € 92 per week (Registration form in the travel documents)
Notes:
Further important information according to the package travel law and additional information about your bike and boat trip can be found here!
On board the premium ship, you can expect classic elegance, a friendly crew and dignified furnishings. Enjoy the special ambience and let yourself be spoiled by the good cuisine.
On board the premium ship, you can expect classic elegance, a friendly crew and dignified furnishings. Enjoy the special ambience and let yourself be spoiled by the good cuisine. Spread over two passenger decks are a panoramic restaurant, a cosy lounge, two bars and an inviting foyer. A book corner, a small shop and a hairdresser's complete the offer. On the spacious, partly covered sun deck, there are enough deck chairs available for you.
All 71 cabins are outside cabins and comfortably and tastefully furnished. They are equipped with shower/WC, hairdryer, air conditioning, TV, radio, telephone and a small fridge.
Upper deck: 29 twin, one triple and two single cabins; all approx. 11 m² in size and with French balcony (= floor-to-ceiling windows to open). Twin cabins with a sofa bed as well as a Pullman bed (stows away during the day for added comfort). In the 3-bed cabin, a 3rd person is added. Bed folded down from the wall (max. 80 kg)
Main deck: 38 twin cabins, 1 single cabin, all approx. 11 m2 in size, two sofa beds (standing across the corner), panorama window (cannot be opened
Abwechslungsreiche schöne Gegend, einfache Touren, Schiff und Personal top, Zimmerservice sehr gut Reinigung morgens und abends. Würde ich wieder buchen.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
4 stars
Gerd Lang |05.08.2022
ein sehr schönes Rad/Schiff-Urlaubserlebnis - einzige kleine Einschränkung: etwas zu wenig Rad, d.h. im Gegenzug etwas zu viel Schiff
von der Organisation her nicht besser zu machen - Reiseleitung perfekt - Info vor den Touren: mehr als gut und präzise Essen: überdurchschnittlich gut - Service an Bord: Klasse - Rad-und Gepäckservice: nicht ein Grund zur Beanstandung
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
5 stars
Gerhard Fässler |28.06.2022
Schön war's
Das Schiff, die fahrräder, das Essen , die Kabinen und die reiseleitung waren rundum perfekt und wir werden diese reise in bester Erinnerung behalten. Besten Dank dafür.
Julia Bannanswered:
Es freut mich zu hören, dass Ihnen die Rad & Schiff Passau-Wien - MS Prinzessin Katharina gefallen hat. Wir würden uns sehr freuen, Sie bald wieder auf einer unserer Radtouren begrüßen zu dürfen.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
5 stars
Annette Kornell |12.05.2022
A great way to travel
Loved the daily bike rides. A fantastic experience.