Schärding/Passau - Vienna

It is recommended to arrive early because Passau has much to offer. The well-known cathedral houses the world´s biggest church organ. In the evening: personal welcome briefing and handover of the bikes (if booked).

You will soon reach Austrian territory. First you cycle through the Sauwald region to Engelhartszell, where the only trappist monastery of Austria invites you to a liqueur tasting. Then the route guides you through the nature reserve Donauleiten, from where you reach the Schlögen Bend. This is where granite proved to be too much of an opponent and forced the Danube to change directions by 180 degrees. This natural spectacle will inspire you!

Today you cycle through the green Eferdinger Basin via the market towns of Aschach, Ottensheim and Wilhering to the Upper Austrian capital of Linz. The historic old town 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 walk through the Donaulände Park.

For a change the route guides you away from the course of the Danube via St. Florian (Augustinian monastery) to Enns. There you can view the town square with its 60 meter high town tower, the landmark of the oldest town in Austria, or you visit the archaeological collection in the municipal museum Lauriacum. Back on the Danube you cycle alongside and reach the beautiful little baroque town of Grein. Here you have the opportunity to visit the oldest municipal theater in Austria that is still being used. Additionally 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 many pilgrims every year. In Melk you should definitely make sure you look upwards, otherwise you miss the beauty of the Melk abbey.

As soon as you leave Melk you get into the picturesque Wachau region, where you can enjoy the charming atmosphere of the region’s typical orchards and vineyards. You pass through the little wine towns of Spitz and Weißenkirchen, cycle past the Dürnstein castle ruin, and finish your journey in the 1000-year old town of Krems. A wine tasting is highly recommended (and included in the package)!

Today you start with a train ride from Krems to Tulln. In the Roman town you still can enjoy the silence and culture of the rural region over again. Sight to visit: Egon-Schiele-museum. From Tulln you cycle over Greinfenstein and Klosterneuburg into Vienna. As soon as you arrive you can enjoy all the amenities of the city for the rest of the day. Enjoy a cup of coffee and the typical Vienna cake „Sachertorte“ in one of the numerous coffee houses or treat yourself to a roundtrip with the horse-drawn cab „Fiaker“. Walk along Vienna’s famous shopping street (along Mariahilfer Straße), or visit the St Stephen’s Cathedral.

If you are interested in we would be pleased to book some extra nights for you.