Danube: laid-back tour Passau - Vienna

With the largest baroque church organ in the world in St. Stephen's Cathedral and a charming old town, Passau is really worthwhile. Recommended is the Three Rivers Boat Tour - a comfortable city tour from the water.

Look forward to the flat Danube cycle path, which takes you quickly to the pretty Danube market Engelhartszell. Here a visit to the Trappist monastery is definitely worthwhile. The Collegiate Church with its 76 m high tower is one of the stylistically purest rococo churches in Austria! Now it is not far and you reach the Schlögener Schlinge. The Danube Cycle Path leads you through this romantic river landscape, one of the most beautiful and original sections of the Danube with small villages and cozy wine bars. Take the ferry to the other bank of the Danube over to your overnight hotel.

Today you spend the whole day on flat bike paths. Take a worthwhile break in the Baroque market Aschach, marvel at stately town houses from the Middle Ages, facades and courtyards from the Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance periods and the magnificent parish church from the heyday of the 16th century. Afterwards you cycle a few kilometers through the hinterland to the Nibelungen town of Eferding with magnificent buildings such as the mighty, late Gothic parish church and the castle Starhemberg. In the afternoon, enjoy the city center of Linz (Capital of Culture 2009) with its impressive cathedral and beautiful old town. Here, in the evening, a stroll through the light-filled streets with numerous bars and wonderful refreshments is tempting. The old town impresses with impressive facades of historical buildings.

Today you follow the Danube cycle path along Lake Pleschinger to the Abwinden running power plant, which has been generating electricity and feeding it into the public grid since 1979. Here you cross the Danube and continue to the nearby town of St. Florian. In addition to the magnificent Baroque monastery, you will find a magnificent farm museum with farm furniture from 4 centuries, its own must museum, furnished horse stables and its own bakery. Look forward to Enns, the oldest city in Austria, with an impressive 60-metre-high city tower. From up here you have a fantastic view. Over 95 stone steps you first reach the bell room with 6 bells, over another 62 wooden steps past the clockwork, climb up to the old tower room. The last cycling kilometres of the day are over quickly and you reach your stage finish.

Today your beautiful bike route leads you along the Danube to the baroque town of Grein. Plan a visit to the oldest still performed city theatre in Austria, the Maritime Museum or the Greinburg. Whatever you decide - the stage finish Maria Taferl is quickly reached and you can end the evening with the wonderful view of the Danube.

In the morning you drive to Melk. Look forward to the town, which is also known as the "Gateway to the Wachau" and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The most important attraction, the landmark of the Wachau, is perched high above the Danube: the baroque Benedictine monastery Abbey Melk. Afterwards, look forward to a cycling day through the Wachau, because hardly any other landscape on the Danube can compete with the mildness and serenity of the Wachau. Spend the whole day in the saddle of your bicycle in the enchanting ambience of the orchards and vineyards typical of the Wachau (UNESCO World Heritage Site). A centuries-old winemaking culture turned the steep southern slopes with vines into heavenly steps and thus gave this section of the valley its typical shape. Take a well-deserved break in the wine village of Spitz in the heart of the Wachau. The village around the so-called Tausendeimerberg, which is so called because its vines are supposed to yield up to 1000 buckets of wine in good wine years. Here in Spitz, the wine even grows in the middle of the village. Take a break and enjoy the colourful Renaissance and Baroque houses and the beautiful square in front of the late Gothic church from the 15th century before continuing on to Krems. A wine tasting is already organized for you today.

Today you can really relax and explore the Wachau with walks through the small wine towns. Would you like to experience the Wachau from the boat? Then take a trip with the many boats on the Danube.

After Krems you finally leave the lovely Wachau and the landscape changes completely. Today you whizz through the wide, flat plain of the Tullnerfeld to the flower city of Tulln. On the way you can take a break in the historic town of Traismauer. Take a tour of the city and marvel at stone testimonies of 2000 years of history. The Roman Gate, the Hunger Tower and the remains of the city wall as well as excavations in the lower church testify to the role of the Roman small castle Augustianis in the defence of the Danube River.

Get on your bike early in the morning and cycle quickly to Vienna, because there is a lot to discover here. Look forward to the cosmopolitan city with its very special flair. Take your time, admire St. Stephen's Cathedral and treat yourself to a slice of cake in one of the typical coffee houses.

Today your journey from Passau to Vienna ends after breakfast at the hotel. We would be happy to book additional nights in Vienna. For the return journey to Passau we recommend our return transfer service by minibus (reservation required).

You are also welcome to book this tour with a start in Schärding. Just get in touch with us if you are interested.