Self-guided cycling
10 nights,
hotel-to-hotel
Level: 1
Leisurely
Flights
available
9.0Kg CO2e
Navigation App
Optional
e-bike hire
Optional
tandem hire
The route from Passau, on Germany's eastern border, to Vienna is one of the most popular cycle paths in Europe, and it's no wonder! This stretch of the Danube carves its way through a thousand years of history; 60 dramatic castles and palaces lie along the river and the ever-changing landscape is a kaleidoscope of fertile plains, narrow gorges, lowland forests, bird-rich marshland and acres of picturesque vines.
Much of the cycling is on the old river towpath which is now lovely, flat and surfaced; previously up to 60 horses strained to drag heavy cargo boats upstream against the powerful current! Today, dozens of farms and cafes offer waterfront lunch stops as you cycle between sun-baked villages and wayside stalls piled high with apples, peaches and plums. Most cycling days are completely flexible, as local boat and train services are excellent, cheap and cater brilliantly to cyclists.
Highlights of the route include the bustling medieval centre of Linz, the immense 11th century Baroque abbey at Melk, and UNESCO-celebrated Krems. As the river meanders down to the Viennese woods you'll be met by Vienna, the waltz capital of Europe, which rises like a vision from the plain.
Our hotels are all individually charming with those at Passau, Schlogen and Tulln on the riverbank, and range from a quirky 15th century convent in Linz, to magnificent 4 star luxury in Krems, with two pools and a world-class spa! We have included two nights in Melk and Krems to allow time to explore at leisure. It's easy to add nights before or after the tour to enjoy time in Passau and Vienna, and you're looked after throughout by our expert local agent Radreisefreunde.
Much of the cycling is on the old river towpath which is now lovely, flat and surfaced; previously up to 60 horses strained to drag heavy cargo boats upstream against the powerful current! Today, dozens of farms and cafes offer waterfront lunch stops as you cycle between sun-baked villages and wayside stalls piled high with apples, peaches and plums. Most cycling days are completely flexible, as local boat and train services are excellent, cheap and cater brilliantly to cyclists.
Read more about this holiday in Timeless Travels Magazine.
Arrive at your riverfront hotel and then enjoy dinner in the heart of the old town tonight.
You stay at Hotel Residenz.
The Hotel Residenz is on the waterfront in Passau facing the Danube River. The Hotel is a renovated merchant's house and is over 400 years old, although today you would never guess as it has been decorated in an attractive contemporary style, while keeping some original features like the barrel vaulted ceilings and tile floors.
There is a guest lounge and library for relaxing in as well as an outdoor breakfast terrace, from where you can watch the Danube passenger boats come and go by the dock below you. Should this accommodation not be available, an alternative of the same standard will be used.
Room upgrades: Premium and deluxe rooms
Premium rooms have a more classic style and come with tea and coffee making faciltiies.
Deluxe rooms come with bath (including slippers and bathrobe).
After receiving your bike and welcome brief, pedal east to Obernzell, famous for pottery, before popping into the Keramicmuseum in a riverside castle. The scent of wood smoke and grilled trout may tempt you into lunch as you cross into Austria where the valley is steeper and cloaked with oak woods. On reaching the hotel, relax in the pool before dinner on the terrace watching passenger boats sparkling with fairy lights cruise past.
You stay at Hotel Donauschlinge.
The Hotel Donauschlinge and the Gugler Family have cornered the market on this stretch of the River Danube and have become a favourite pit stop on the way between Passau and Vienna for almost every cyclist making the trip.
The Schlogen meander bend is a famous landmark on the river and this attractive waterfront hotel is perched right on the corner with wonderful panoramic views, especially from the hotel's terrace.
Should this accommodation not be available, an alternative of the same standard will be used.
Spot kingfishers today in the Donauschlinge Nature Reserve. Stop and enjoy the views at the picnic tables that dot the waterfront before you reach Aschach's frescoed waterfront. Follow the towpath through reed marshes to Ottensheim beach for a swim. Hop on the train here and in no time you'll arrive at your hotel, an ancient convent, in Linz's extravagant town square.
You stay at Hotel Wolfinger.
In the centre of Linz's spectacular town square the Wolfinger Hotel blends in perfectly. From the outside it looks like a townhouse with its grand facade and historical charm. Inside the design is very curious.
The building used to be a convent in the old days, and it has now been tastefully converted into a cosy and quirky city centre hotel. The public rooms include a lounge and reception area where you can access the internet, and a lovely breakfast room overlooking the Hauptplatz outside. There decor is equally as grand, with antique furniture, carved chairs and cabinets overhung by chandeliers.
The bedrooms are decorated in the same style, although some rooms have been given a more modern feel with smart new wooden flooring and Persian style rugs. All have phones, satellite TV and hairdryers. Should this accommodation not be available, an alternative of the same standard will be used.
The route leads you away from the Danube to 12th Century Enns. Austria's oldest city, before returning to the Danube and an onward ride to the beautiful little village of Ardagger.
You stay at Hotel Schiffmeisterhaus.
Just a short pedal from the Danube, in the centre of the pretty village of Ardagger, the Schiffmeisterhaus Hotel dates back to the 16th century, but has been sympathetically renovated to the modern and comfortable accommodation of today. The hotel comes with an atmospheric restaurant - complete with vaulted ceilings - as well as a very charming inner courtyard which is perfect for a post cycling beer! Should this accommodation not be available, an alternative of the same standard will be used.
Explore the small baroque town of Grein before cycling through the fertile Danube Valley for a lunch stop in Ybbs, home to a quirky collection of penny-farthings bicycles. The hilltop twin towers of Maria Taferl appear and Melk's monastery looms high above as you pedal towards Margaret Ebner's welcoming family hotel in Melk.
You stay at Hotel Zur Post.
Offering captivating views of Melk Abbey, the four-star Hotel Zur Post stands proudly in the center of Melk. This charming hotel provides a sauna, complimentary Wi-Fi, and free bike rentals for guests to explore the scenic surroundings. Delight your taste buds with seasonal Austrian dishes made from local produce at the hotel's restaurant, where traditional flavours are given a modern twist, showcasing the essence of the Wachau region. The hotel also features a wine cellar with an impressive collection and an ice cream parlour. With a focus on individual needs and a warm family atmosphere. Free parking adds to the convenience of your stay, making it a perfect base for your adventures in Melk.
Should this accommodation not be available, an alternative of the same standard will be used.
Melk's massive Benedictine monastery was rebuilt in 1683, and the interior abbey is as breathtaking as the countryside views from the rooftop terrace. For a day trip, cycle to Schloss Schallaburg (8km return), one of the finest Renaissance castles north of the Alps, where you can stroll in the magnificent rose gardens and enjoy acclaimed cultural exhibitions.
You stay at Hotel Zur Post.
Offering captivating views of Melk Abbey, the four-star Hotel Zur Post stands proudly in the center of Melk. This charming hotel provides a sauna, complimentary Wi-Fi, and free bike rentals for guests to explore the scenic surroundings. Delight your taste buds with seasonal Austrian dishes made from local produce at the hotel's restaurant, where traditional flavours are given a modern twist, showcasing the essence of the Wachau region. The hotel also features a wine cellar with an impressive collection and an ice cream parlour. With a focus on individual needs and a warm family atmosphere. Free parking adds to the convenience of your stay, making it a perfect base for your adventures in Melk.
Should this accommodation not be available, an alternative of the same standard will be used.
Today you coast along the UNESCO Wachau Valley, a necklace of villages and vineyards, anchored by pretty churches along the north bank. Each is charming, especially Durnstein where Richard the Lionheart was held for ransom in the craggy hilltop castle. Admire the statuette, Venus of Willendorf, dating back to 23,000BC, before arriving in Krems for a splash in the pool, and candlelit dinner on the terrace overlooking the valley.
You stay at The Steigenberger Hotel and Spa.
The Steigenberger in Krems is a real treat. Once you have negotiated the short, steep hill up to the front door you really can relax.
Apart from the many bedrooms, the hotel has one of the most luxurious spa facilities we have ever seen, with both an outdoor and an indoor pool.
The dining room is gorgeous, spilling out onto a panoramic terrace with views of the surrounding vineyards and over the spires of the old city of Krems.
Bedrooms are modern and beautifully presented with lots of wood and high quality fabrics so everything feels very luxurious.
Please note that twin rooms are not available at this hotel.
Should this accommodation not be available, an alternative of the same standard will be used.
Krems has one of the most beautiful historic centres in Europe and is packed with interest, from the Wine Museum housed in a restored Dominican monastery to the 13th century abbey that exhibits paintings of Martin Johann Schmidt. You can cycle out to Schloss Grafenegg (14km away), a gargoyle-encrusted Gothic castle set in 85 acres of parkland, perfect for picnics, or just relax in the fabulous hotel spa and pool.
You stay at The Steigenberger Hotel and Spa.
The Steigenberger in Krems is a real treat. Once you have negotiated the short, steep hill up to the front door you really can relax.
Apart from the many bedrooms, the hotel has one of the most luxurious spa facilities we have ever seen, with both an outdoor and an indoor pool.
The dining room is gorgeous, spilling out onto a panoramic terrace with views of the surrounding vineyards and over the spires of the old city of Krems.
Bedrooms are modern and beautifully presented with lots of wood and high quality fabrics so everything feels very luxurious.
Please note that twin rooms are not available at this hotel.
Should this accommodation not be available, an alternative of the same standard will be used.
Freewheel down river to Tulln, known as the 'Town of Roses'. Pop into the Roman museum, which is packed with artefacts, and dine out tonight amid the fountains, statues and ornate buildings that crowd the pretty centre before returning to your waterfront hotel.
You stay at Hotel Nibelungenhof.
The pretty riverfront town of Tulln is your last stop before you reach Vienna. Originally a Roman settlement, the waterfront has been preserved as a series of attractive parks and gardens; the two storey hotel is slightly set back from the riverside.
Inside it is attractively decorated in a homely style, with the reception and lounge area decorated with a full wall of books either side of a central fireplace, with comfortable sofas to relax on.
The bedrooms are all individually decorated; most have wooden floors, repro antiques, satellite TV and hairdryers.
The hotel is just a short walk from the centre of Tulln, where there are several grand churches, museums and restaurants to explore.
Should this accommodation not be available, an alternative of the same standard will be used.
Coast along the last stretch and relax over lunch in imperial Klosterneuburg. Then cycle along Danube Island before continuing to your hotel, right in the heart of the city. Enjoy dinner out in Vienna's lively centre which is breathtakingly floodlit at night!
You stay at Hotel Austria.
The location of the Hotel Austria could not be more central in Vienna. The Fleischmarkt is within walking distance of all the city centre attractions, and the opportunities for dining out are plentiful in the evenings.
The hotel is squirreled away up a small alleyway so looks quite unassuming. It is an enormous traditional building with a grand spiral central staircase. The public rooms on the ground floor are all very high with an atmosphere of faded and comfortable rather than modern grandeur. Ancient maps of the city hang behind reception and reds and crimsons form much of the decor, with antique furnishings dotting the lounge from where you can access the internet.
Bedrooms upstairs are off long corridors, and have high windows and dark wooden furnishings and velvet chairs. All come with satellite TV, minibars and tea and coffee making facilities.
Should this accommodation not be available, an alternative of the same standard will be used.
Room upgrades: Comfort Room.
Comfort double rooms are larger than the standard double rooms, with chairs or a sofa provided.
Please note that cycling helmets are compulsory in Austria for all customers under 12 yrs. As we are unable to provide these, we strongly recommend that you bring your own.
Please see our Planning you holiday page for full details.
If you'd like to extend your trip with extra hotel nights we recommend: Hotel Opera, Munich.
The Hotel Opera is situated in the Lehel district of Munich, the area has a village feel to it, but is just a 15 minute walk to the main centre of Munich and a 20 minute walk to the Englischer Garten, Munich's huge leafy park.
The hotel has a wonderful Romanesque facade, and the building itself dates back to the 19th century, damaged in the war the building was bought in 1968 by the present owners who took 8 years to painstakingly restore and renovate the building.
Today's hotel is a nice mix of modern and old, with lovely airy rooms and and a relaxing tranquil garden patio. Rooms have all mod cons and some come with balconies, the hotel also owns a couple of superb restaurants close by.
Breakfast is served at your table with a choice of cold meats and cheeses or croissants and fruit and the option to order freshly cooked eggs.
Please call for prices and details
These tour only prices are based on two people sharing. Single supplement from £300.
We can book your flights, protected by ATOL and ABTA. Please ask at time of enquiry.
Half Board can be included at a supplement of £230 per person (8 evening meals included; not included in Linz and Vienna). Twin-bedded rooms in Austrian resorts are normally one large base with two mattresses/duvets. These are also known as 'Austrian Twins' and are regarded as two beds. Separate twin beds are rare, and cannot be guaranteed as available.
If you choose a flight inclusive package with us, you will fly into Munich airport, with onward rail included. We can also provide transfers from the station to your hotel, please contact us for details and prices.
We hold an ATOL License and are fully ABTA bonded, so you can book your flights with us in confidence. We can book most airlines and will advise you of your most convenient airport and flight options.
Flight prices vary massively and change quickly. At Headwater we will sell you your flights at the same price you can buy them yourself. We simply add £35 per person to cover your flight protection, to learn more please click here.
Subject to availability and dependent on service provider, please ask at time of enquiry and book early to avoid disappointment. *Unfortunately, due to the airline themselves we are unable to book Ryanair.
Self-guided cycling
10 nights,
hotel-to-hotel
Level: 1
Leisurely
Flights
available
9.0Kg CO2e
Navigation App
Optional
e-bike hire
Optional
tandem hire