Passau - Budapest
Along the Danube from Passau to Budapest.
Arrival in Passau
Take a walk through the “New Centre” of Passau, the town of three rivers, which has been completely redesigned as a pedestrian, car-free area. In the evening welcome briefing and bike fitting.
2: Passau - Schlögen (Danube bend) (approx. 40 km)
You will start your tour along the Danube, first passing Obernzell and finally arriving in Engelhartszell (the only Trappist monastery in Austria). You will then cycle through the nature reserve Donauleiten, from where you will reach the Schlögen Bend to the north. This is where granite proved to be too much of an opponent and forced the Danube to change directions by 180 degrees. While a ferry takes you to the other side of the river to your hotel you have time to look at this natural phenomenon.
Today you will cycle through the green Eferdinger basin via the market towns of Aschach, Ottensheim and Wilhering and all the way to the Upper Austrian capital of Linz. The historical Old Town of Linz has many pubs and eateries for you to discover. Other highlights of the European Capital of Culture 2009 include the magnificent views from Pöstlingberg Mountain and a stroll through the Donaulände Park.
On the fourth day you will take a little detour away from the course of the Danube to St. Florian (Augustinian monastery) and to Enns. In Enns you can go to the town square with its 60 meter town tower, the landmark of the oldest town in Austria, or you visit the archaeological collection in the municipal museum Lauriacum. Afterwards, you will return to the river, first reaching the beautiful little baroque town of Grein. Here you have the opportunity to visit the oldest municipal theatre in Austria that is still being used. Or you can visit the maritime museum or Greinburg castle.
This section of the Danube, the Strudengau, was once feared by sailors, now you can cycle along it. Where they used to fight against the Danube currents you can now take a leisurely cycle ride. In Maria Taferl, high above the Danube, you will find the magnificent pilgrimage church, which attracts thousands of pilgrims every year. You should make a little stop in Melk and look up or you will miss the beautiful Melk monastery that overlooks the Danube. Your today´s accommodation is located in the heart of the Wachau valley.
Today you will cycle through the picturesque Wachau region, where you can enjoy the charming atmosphere of the region’s typical orchards and vineyards. You will pass through the little wine towns of Weißenkirchen and Dürnstein with its Castle ruin, cycle past the 1000-year old town of Krems and finish in Traismauer or Tulln. A stay in the Wachau region means that you simply have to take part in a wine tasting, which we would pleased to organize for you!
Your bike tour will be a relaxed trip to the Danube metropolis of Vienna. As soon as you arrive you can enjoy all the amenities of the city for the rest of the day. Treat yourself to a Viennese-style Americano coffee and a piece of the famous Sachertorte cake in one of Vienna’s typical coffee houses. Take a stroll along Vienna’s Parade shopping street, along Mariahilfer Strasse, visit the St Stephen’s Cathedral or see the main sights and take a trip in one of the famous Fiaker cabs.
Your bike trip guides you through the national park Donau-Auen. There you will get to know the diversity of the flora and fauna as well as the manifold types of landscape. You pass the castle Orth and the village Eckertsau and reach Bad Deutsch Altenburg.
From Bad Deutsch Altenburg/Hainburg you can make an excursion on the Roman bike trail (Römerweg) to Carnuntum. The archaeological park is regarded as one of the most significant archaeological sites in Austria. After Hainburg you reach the border to Slovakia and it´s capital city Bratislava that is your next overnight stay. The shorter distance today allows plenty of time to visit the old part of this charming city.
You cycle a short distance in Slovak territory before you pass the Hungarian border in Rajká. Within the first few kilometers of your cycle trip in Hungary you will discover charming villages. The complete section is influenced by agriculture. Your route guides you through the so-called Szigetköz (a small Rye Island). This is characterized by numberless side arms of the Danube. After arrival in Mosonmagyaróvár, which is also called „City of 17 bridges“, your today´s cycle tour ends. We recommend a short walking tour in this charming city, before you take the train to Györ. The district capital offers many sights and a breathtaking historic center.
Györ - Komárom
approx. 55 kmSoon you reach the Hungarian Böny. From there a route version guides you to Bábolna, a well cultivated town with a beautiful inner city. The local National Stud is known far beyond its borders. Racehorses are bred in the splendid inner courtyard. The last part of the route takes you back to the Danube. Then you reach the divided town Komárom/Komárno. At night you can relax in the local spa.
Today´s route runs near riverbanks in the flat Danube valley. In the course of this you pass different villages and while cycling you can view the vineyards in the background. The sporty bikers can choose a route over Tata but there are some increases. This requires a basic level of fitness. Those interested in history should plan time for the Roman castle Kelemantia which is on the way. However, an absolute highlight today is Esztergom (also known as „Hungarian Rome“): It´s basilica is the largest church of the country. Take time for a comprehensive visit, before you will board a riverboat, which takes you to your destination Visegrád. Amazing views into the beautiful landscape of the so-called “Donauknie” will impress you.
Note: The overnight stay takes place either in Esztergom or in Visegrád (depending on availability at time of reservation). In the case of Esztergom, shipping takes place on the conscious day from Szentendre to Budapest. The different distances remain the same in both. You will receive detailed information together with your booking confirmation. Additionally, the timetable for the boat has not yet been set. It might not be possible in April, September, October, and every Monday; during these period/days you will receive a train ticket as replacement.
The Royal Palace and the castle of Visegrád will delight you and the open air museum as well as the baroque old town of Szentendre invites you to stay. The first part of today will guide you again through the “Donauknie”, probably the most attractive section of the Danube bike trail at all. Soon you will arrive in Budapest, where you can review all impressions of this wonderful bike trip during a walk through the city.
In the Hungarian capital city there are many things to discover. If you are interested in we would be pleased to book some extra nights for you.
Tour character
On the first part flat or slightly downhill along the Danube; well-built cycling path almost all the way without motor vehicles; Minor roads make up only very short sections of this route - the Danube cycle path up to Vienna is a perfect example of a cycle route.
On the second part you cycle on bike trails, ways alongside a dam and partly on relatively quiet side roads. Busy roads are of short-term duration. You cycle on unmade paths only for 3 short distances otherwise you will find asphalted roads. On the whole the route is signed very well with a few exceptions in the Slovakian part. Altogether the tour is relatively easy with slightly increases in some sections.
| Season 1 31.03.2024 - 12.04.2024 29.09.2024 - 06.10.2024 Arrival Sunday | Season 2 13.04.2024 - 24.05.2024 07.09.2024 - 28.09.2024 Arrival Saturday, Sunday and Monday | Season 3 25.05.2024 - 06.09.2024 Arrival daily | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danube-Bike-Path, Passau-Budapest, 14 days, cat: B, arrival Passau, AT-DORPB-14B | |||
| Base price | 1,449.00 | 1,649.00 | 1,749.00 |
| Surcharge half board | 339.00 | 339.00 | 339.00 |
| Surcharge single room | 479.00 | 479.00 | 479.00 |
| Danube-Bike-Path, Passau-Budapest, 14 days, cat: A, arrival Passau, AT-DORPB-14A | |||
| Base price | 1,699.00 | 1,899.00 | 1,999.00 |
| Surcharge half-board | 399.00 | 399.00 | 399.00 |
| Surcharge single room | 679.00 | 679.00 | 679.00 |
Category A: Accommodation in well selected hotels **** (partly *** but best hotel on place)
Category B: Accommodation in chosen guest houses, hotels, and inns ***
| Season 1 Mar 31, 2024 - Apr 12, 2024 Sep 29, 2024 - Oct 6, 2024 Arrival Sunday | Season 2 Apr 13, 2024 - May 24, 2024 Sep 7, 2024 - Sep 28, 2024 Arrival Saturday, Sunday and Monday | Season 3 May 25, 2024 - Sep 6, 2024 Arrival daily | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passau | |||
| Double room p. P. Cat. B | 75.00 | 75.00 | 75.00 |
| Single room | 119.00 | 119.00 | 119.00 |
| Vienna | |||
| Double room p. P. Cat. B | 75.00 | 75.00 | 75.00 |
| Single room | 119.00 | 119.00 | 119.00 |
| Bratislava | |||
| Double room p. P. Cat. B | 59.00 | 59.00 | 59.00 |
| Single room | 109.00 | 109.00 | 109.00 |
| Budapest | |||
| Double room p. P. Cat. B | 75.00 | 75.00 | 75.00 |
| Single room | 139.00 | 139.00 | 139.00 |
| Passau | |||
| Double room p. p. cat.A | 79.00 | 79.00 | 79.00 |
| Single room | 129.00 | 129.00 | 129.00 |
| Vienna | |||
| Double room p. p. Cat. A | 89.00 | 89.00 | 89.00 |
| Single room | 159.00 | 159.00 | 159.00 |
| Bratislava | |||
| Double room p. p. cat. A | 89.00 | 89.00 | 89.00 |
| Single room | 159.00 | 159.00 | 159.00 |
| Budapest | |||
| Double room p. p. Cat. A | 89.00 | 89.00 | 89.00 |
| Single room | 169.00 | 169.00 | 169.00 |
- Overnight stays in chosen category
- Breakfast (buffet style)
- If half board: 11 x 3-course dinner (in Vienna and Budapest B&B only)
- Luggage transport from hotel to hotel
- 7-day Service Hotline
- Well-planned route guidance
- Detailed travel documents
- Personal welcome meeting and bike fitting
- Train ticket from Mosonmagyaróvár to Györ (incl. transfer of bikes)
- Boat ticket from Esztergom to Visegrád or from Szentendre to Budapest incl. transfer of bikes (probably every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from the beginning of May to the middle of September; outside this seasonal period or on other days of the week there is a train ticket as a substitute)
- Rental bikes insurance
- Navigation-app and GPS Tracks
Arrival / Parking / Departure
- Arrival by car or train to Passau. Next airports: Linz, Munich, Vienna, Bratislava or Budapest.
- There are public parking spaces with obligatory parking fees. No reservation possible, payable on spot; price: about 5 €/day;
- Transfer from Budapest to Vienna by bus: bookable each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (in season 1 and 2), and daily in season 3, departure at approx. 3.30 PM; pick-up service directly at the hotel, duration approx. 3.5 hours, price 79 € per person and 39 € for own bikes (only possible together with people), reservation required; subject to availability at time of application; alternatively there are excellent rail connections available (without changing the train, several times daily). Special transfers available with at least 4 participants upon request.
- Daily transfer from Vienna to Passau: duration: about 3.5 to 4 hours; departure at approx. 2 PM; price: 79 € per person and 39 € for own bikes; reservation required.
Please note:
- Where visitor´s tax is due, it is not included in the tour price.