Danube Cycle Path highlights

Stroll through the pretty little baroque town of Schärding and marvel at the famous Silberzeile lane or take a walk through the “New Centre” of Passau, the three rivers town , which has been completely redesigned as a pedestrian, car-free area.

Hotel (example) Schärding / Passau:

Cat. A: Stadhotel / Passauer Wolf
Cat. B: Stiegenwirt / Hotel Spitzberg
Cat. C: Biedermeier Hof / Hotel Atrium

Today, you will start your bike tour from Schärding by cycling along the river Inn to Passau, where the Inn joins the Danube. On the Danube cycle path you will cross the upper Danube valley and pass the town Engelhartszell with its impressive abbey church belonging to the Engelszell monastery. Then, you will cycle via Niederranna and approach today’s highlight, the “Schlögen bend“. Here, the second largest river in Europe is forced by the granite of the Bohemian Massif into a unique 180° turn. You will have time to watch this natural phenomenon whilst taking a ferry ride to the other side of the river.

Hotel (example):

Cat. A: Hotel Donauschlinge
Cat. B: Hotel Wesenufer
Cat. C: Gasthof Draxler

Today you cycle through the green area of the Eferdinger Becken (basin) via Aschach, Ottensheim, and Wilhering to the Upper Austrian capital Linz. Following the motto, “In Linz beginnt’s” (“It starts in Linz”) you can begin your city tour in one of the many restaurants in the historic old town. Further highlights of the European culture capital of 2009 are the magnificent views that you get from the Pöstlingberg or a stroll along the Danube.

Hotel (example):

Cat. A: Zum goldenen Schiff
Cat. B: Zum goldenen Schiff
Cat. C: Lauriacum

Mixing things up a bit today, you will not cycle along the Danube. This is because you will be cycling to St. Florian (Augustinian Canons) and Enns. In Enns you will visit the town square with its 60 meter high city tower, the landmark of Austria’s oldest cit. Alternatively, you could visit the city's archaeological collection at the Lauriacum museum. Later on, you will cycle along the Danube once again and get to the beautiful baroque town, Grein. Here, you will have the opportunity to get an impression of the oldest still performing city theatre in Austria. Additionally, you can visit the maritime museum or the Greinburg castle. Afterwards, you will leave Upper Austria and cycle through the Weinviertel region to Marbach.

Hotel (example):

Cat. A: Schachner Krone
Cat. B: Wachauerhof Marbach
Cat. C: Zur schönen Wienerin

In Melk, you should stop briefly to take a look upwards. Otherwise you might miss out on seeing the beautiful Melk abbey, which towers above the Danube. As soon as you have left the city behind you, you will cycle into the landscape of the Wachau region where you will be enchanted by the atmosphere of the typical fruit orchards and vineyards. Then, you will cycle via the wine towns of Spitz and Weißenkirchen and past the ruins of Dürnstein castle and the 1,000-year-old town of Krems until you finish your stage. Today, we will organise wine tasting for you, which is a must-do activity when visiting the Wachau region.

Hotel (example):

Cat. A: Gasthof zum Schwan, Diamondcity Tulln
Cat. B: Gasthof zum Schwan
Cat. C: Hotel Nibelungehof Tulln

The last few kilometres of your bike journey will take you to the Danube's metropolis, Vienna. After your arrival, you can check into your room and use the rest of your day to immerse yourself in the city of Vienna. Enjoy a cup of “Verlängerter” coffee and a piece of the famous 'Sachertorte' cake in one of the typical Viennese coffee houses. Stroll through Vienna’s shopping street Mariahilferstraße, visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral or get to know the main attractions of the city during a ride with one of the famous “Fiaker” (horse-drawn carriages).

Hotel (example):

Cat. A: Arcotel Kaiserwasser
Cat. B: Roomz Prater
Cat. C: Hotel Simm´s