Overview
The 8 Day Danube Cycle Path Classic is for those who want to experience Europe's most popular cycle path and do it in the way that's most popular. The entire trail is very flat with fantastic infrastructure, meaning it's perfectly suited for those with moderate cycling fitness as well as families.
Starting in the city of Passau, Bavaria (a short train ride from Munich) you'll begin your journey straight away following the course of the Danube. It's quiet and tranquil as you hug the river and in no time at all, you'll have seamlessly crossed the border from Germany to Austria. You'll brush passed wood lands brimming with wildlife enroute as a. You'll stop in the city of Linz for a bit of culture before getting back into the rural lands of Upper Austria.
There is no shortage of monasteries, forts and castles to stop at during your cycle. The most famous of which is the simply breathtaking Melk Abbey which will leave an impression you won't soon forget. Continuing on from Melk, you will enter the heart of the Wachau Valley. Home to internationally acclaimed vineyards as well as it's own local specialty, Apricot brandy. We'll be stopping here for a wine tasting and vineyard tour included in your tour.
After a short train ride, we begin the home stretch to Vienna. A city often voted top in the world for quality of life, it's immediately clear why. Steeped in history, there seems to be a new palace to marvel at on every street. Finish off the evening with a Wiener Schnitzel in a traditional Austrian eatery.
With 285 kms covered in 6 cycling days and relatively flat, this is about an easy a bike tour available. If you're looking to conserve energy for sightseeing, we recommend an e-bike.
If you feel you want to cycle the entire stretch without the train transfer, check out our 9 Day full cycle Danube path tour. If you want some extra time to take a rest day, have a look at the rest of our Danube cycle path tours.
Itinerary
After disembarking the train from Munich or Vienna, you’ll enter into the enchanting city of Passau, Bavaria. Laying on the Austrian border and the meeting point of the Inn, Ilz and of course Danube rivers, Passau is a smorgasbord of different influences.
Having been largely destroyed by a fire in 1662, Passau was rebuilt in the post-renaissance Baroque style. The most famous example of this is St. Stephen’s Cathedral. A religious site since 730 AD, its current form was completed 1693 AD after the Passau fire. In the cathedral you’ll find the largest organ in Europe and was the largest in the world until 1993. Overlooking the city, you’ll spot the old fortress of Veste Oberhaus. Built into the hill of St. Georgsberg, today it hosts a museum and restaurant.
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