Danube Cycle

Make your way to your hotel, where you will receive your travel documents. The remainder of the day is free to explore the town. Located at the junction of three rivers, the Danube, Inn and Ilz, Passau has a number of interesting sites including the Fortress “Veste Oberhaus”, built in 1219 and with an observation tower that offers a good view of the town and the river, and St Stephens Cathedral which has the world’s largest church organ. Collect your bike this afternoon (4-7 pm) or tomorrow morning. Generally we provide bikes with 21 gears – if you would like a 7 speed bike please specify this on booking.

The cycle begins directly at the bike garage where your bikes were collected, following the Danube through the Austrian border town of Engelhartszell which is home to a former Cistercian abbey (1293-1786) and since 1925 the only Trappist monastery in Austria. From here you continue to Schlögen. The famous Schlögener Blick provides a wonderful view of the surrounding Austrian countryside. Accommodation will either be in Schlögen or the nearby town of Sankt Agatha.

On the southern bank of the Danube you pass Aschach and the monastery Wilhering until you reach the capital of Upper Austria, Linz. The city has a lively arts and music culture. In 1783 Mozart wrote his Symphony No. 36 here, now known as the Linz Symphony. The modern art gallery “Lentos” is worth a look. It is situated on the Danube and illuminated at night.

The cycle continues along the Danube cycle path passing the Mauthausen concentration camp. It is possible to visit the camp which has an interesting museum, although the detour requires a steep uphill climb. Another interesting side trip is the town of Enns, the oldest city in Austria. Meandering away from the river the route takes you through fields of wheat, corn and sunflowers. This is the Strudengau region, a valley in Lower Austria. In the afternoon you arrive at Clam Castle and the town of Grein, dominated by the castle of “Greinburg”. In Grein you will find the oldest Austrian theatre which is open to visitors. Overnight in the surrounding area near Grein.

Continuing through Strudengau, you arrive in Ybbs, a former trading centre on the Danube. The route continues past the Pilgrimage Church of Maria Taferl to Melk, with its imposing Benedictine Monastery. Well before you reach the town you can see the huge monastery and there will be ample time in the afternoon to explore the museum, abbey and absorb the sweeping view from its balcony. Overnight in a surrounding town, close to Melk.

Today, you pedal through the renowned Wachau, with its truly romantic scenery of vineyards and quaint villages, enroute to Krems. You will pass several fantastic sights (abbeys, castles, ruins). Alongside the cycle path you will find the so called “Heurigen” (typical Austrian wine taverns) where you can taste wine or regional foods.

This morning you take the train to Tulln then cycle past the castle of "Greifenstein". You then continue to metropolitan Vienna, capital of Austria. The route into Vienna is mostly on a cycle path with no vehicles allowed, allowing easy access to the main centre and your hotel.