Wachau: radial tour

Paradise on the Danube.

Discover the UNESCO World Heritage Site Wachau with all its many facets in a leisurely way on this radial tour by bike. Whether through the beautiful landscape, through the wonderful wine or through culinary delicacies, this enchanting region will inspire you in no time. In a fantastic location with a view of the Danube, the Steigenberger Hotel and Spa Krems is an ideal starting point. Explore the beautiful old town of Krems or the surrounding vineyards in just a few steps from the hotel and enjoy the well-marked cycle paths along the Danube. A visit to the numerous winegrowers in the area and a boat trip on the Danube are a must.

Your hotel: Steigenberger 4-star Superior Hotel Krems (Premium)

The ultra-modern hotel is nestled harmoniously in the Krems vineyards and offers a total of 112 comfortably furnished rooms and 29 suites. Your room has a stylish bathroom with shower or bathtub, toilet and a bath basket with a fluffy bathrobe. In the room you will find a minibar, a flat-screen TV with radio, free high-speed internet access and a safe for your personal valuables. The hotel also has a lot to offer in culinary terms. According to the motto "only the best comes to our table", the award-winning kitchen uses only high-quality food. Enjoy high-quality food in the Gault Millau-honored Weinbergrestaurant. The wines from the Wachau are correspondingly exquisite. In the dignified atmosphere of the Cuvée Club, rare wines and coffee specialties are served in front of an open fireplace. Enjoy an extensive breakfast or dinner with candlelight and soft music on the vineyard terrace, a panorama that is simply fantastic. Round off your eventful days either with a cocktail in the country house bar or with a glass of good wine in the vinotheque. On hot days, from June to September, cool drinks and cocktails, ice cream, coffee and cake, snacks and grilled specialties are served on the panorama terrace. Wellness fans will also get their money's worth. The hotel offers an extraordinary spa and wellness experience on 1,200 m². Relaxation is guaranteed here. Look forward to an outdoor pool with a panorama pool bar, an indoor pool, 2 saunas, a brine steam bath and a relaxation room with a fireplace. Cosmetic treatments and massages are also available.
Steigenberger Hotel und Spa Krems

Your hotel: ad vineas Gästehaus Nikolaihof (Comfort)

Newly built in the Wachau style, this guest house with 15 large, classically furnished rooms is only a few steps away from the Nikolaihof. The surrounding wine and apricot garden has a swimming pond with a large wooden deck, a sunbathing area and a children's playground. The rich breakfast buffet offers regional specialties from organic farming. All rooms are equipped with shower / WC and satellite TV.
ad vineas Gästehaus Nikolaihof

1. day Arrival Krems/Mautern

The pretty twin town of Krems-Mautern on the Danube is located about 400 km east of Munich and can be easily reached via the A8 and A1 autobahns, as well as by train (travel time from Munich 4-5 hours). Depending on what time you arrive at the hotel, you can stroll through the old town or simply end your day of arrival in the hotel with a good glass of Wachau wine.

2. day Donau Cycle Path to Tulln 43 km + train ride (Monday)

Look forward to this centerpiece of the classic Danube Cycle Path, which you should definitely not miss. Especially not with the flower city of Tulln as a highlight. On the way, take a break in the historic town of Traismauer. Marvel at stone testimonies of 2000 years of history during a tour of the town. The Roman Gate, the Hunger Tower and the remains of the city wall as well as excavations in the lower church bear witness to the role of the Roman small fort Augustianis in the defense of the Danube Limes. In Tulln, a visit to the extraordinary garden fair "Die Garten Tulln" (early April to early October) is worthwhile. The strictly ecological care of the site has become an example for many other similar garden shows at home and abroad.

3. day Traisentalradweg St. Pölten - Krems/Mautern, ca. 40 km + train (Tuesday)

Take the train to the Lower Austrian capital St. Pölten in the morning (Tuesday). Stroll through the baroque city center and enjoy a coffee in the second oldest pedestrian zone in the country. Visit the town hall and cathedral square, both evidence of a long Roman past. Modern highlights of the city are certainly the festival hall, the Landtag ship and the Lower Austrian Provincial Museum. Along the Traisental cycle path you cycle back to the Danube via Herzogenburg with its impressive Augustinian monastery and Traismauer.

4. day Melk - Spitz - Dürnstein 37 km + boat trip (Wednesday)

The day begins with an idyllic boat trip to Melk. Look forward to the small town of Melk, which is also called the "Gateway to the Wachau" and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The most important sight the landmark of the Wachau is enthroned high above the Danube: the baroque Benedictine monastery Stift Melk. Take enough time for an extended visit to the monastery before you slowly cycle back to Krems. Marvel at the "Venus of Willendorf" in Willendorf, a clay figure created 25,000 BC, and take a well-deserved break in the wine village of Spitz in the heart of the Wachau. With its 2000 inhabitants, the village stretches around the so-called 1000 Bucket Mountain, so named because its vines are said 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 at Dürnstein Castle and enjoy the colorful Renaissance and Baroque houses and the wonderful square in front of the late Gothic church from the 15th century before you continue cycling to Krems.

5. day Kamptal Cycle Path Rosenburg Castle 42 km + train ride (Thursday)

A train ride at the beginning of the day will take you to Rosenburg (Wednesdays). Marvel here at the Renaissance castle of the same name (open from May). The former castle complex was founded in 1150 and rebuilt into a castle in the 16th century. In the course of its history, Rosenburg Castle was printed on banknotes of the municipality in 1920, and in 1934 it even adorned Austria's 8-Groschen postage stamp as a motif. Today, Rosenburg Castle houses a castle museum worth seeing, a castle restaurant and a historic falconry. Marvel at the free flight demonstrations of noble falcons, vultures and eagles during a bird of prey show. After an extensive break, you will cycle back to Krems along the Kamptal cycle path. On the way, a stopover in Gars am Kamp is worthwhile. Discover the listed town center, stroll over the worth seeing main square, the Dreifaltigkeitsplatz and through the small pedestrian zone or relax in the old spa park, which was laid out in 1908 in the historical style of a town park. There is one more stop you should definitely make, as you pass the wine town of Langenlois on your bike. Here, wine reigns supreme. Characterized by the ideal climate, the optimal soil and the skills of the winegrowers, Langenlois has been considered a center of excellence in white wine for decades. Taste a glass or simply stroll through the magnificent gardens, whose quality and diversity is unique in Austria. In recent decades, Langenlois and especially the garden village of Schiltern have become a true showcase in terms of garden tourism.

6. day Krems Departure

Way too fast the time passed. After breakfast you have to set off to your return trip. We wish you a great journey back home.

Further Route Proposals

The route mentioned above is a suggestion. With this tour we offer you different day tours to choose from. You are free to decide on a daily basis which of these tours you would like to undertake and can thus choose for yourself whether you prefer shorter or longer stages, choose demanding or easier daily stages or allow your bike to take a break. Please note, however, that some excursions include train rides. Rail journeys are only possible on the days mentioned in the itinerary (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays). Further recommended excursion tips can be found under Interesting facts.

Worth knowing about your Wachau-Bike-Trip

Below please find more information about your bike trip. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact us by phone: 0049 - (0)6421-886890.

Arrival by train

Krems is easily accessible from all major cities in Germany by train. Current schedule information and price information can be found at: www.bahn.de

Train schedule information

Parking facilities at the hotel

The Steigenberger Hotel & Spa offers a hotel garage. The cost per day and parking space about 14.00 €. Costs payable locally. Reservation is not possible. Gästehaus Nikolaihof offers free parking for the duration of the trip.

Condition of cycle paths

The routes run on a completely developed, flat bike path directly along the banks of the Danube. Also very suitable for cycling beginners and children. The Kamptal bike path has slight gradients and is not paved throughout. Partly expect gravel and forest trails. At the Göttweig Rundtour a steep climb to the monastery is to be mastered.

Available rental bikes

You can choose between unisex bicycles either with 7-speed gear shift and coaster brake or 27-speed gear shift and freewheel or electric bikes. All rental bikes are equipped with a pannier and odometer (except electric bike). You simply specify your wishes at time of booking.

Cycling in Austria

For children up to 12 years helmet is mandatory in Austria. A helmet can be bought for € 29.- payable in advance, must be announced when booking.

Helmets worldwide

Route suggestions

Day Trip to Vienna:

When the need to get to know a bustling metropolis gets your taste, there is a possibility to take a train to Vienna (train journey about 1 hour, not included). Spend a day between Sissi, St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Giant Ferris and do not miss the opportunity to eat a real Wiener Schnitzel. Look forward to the cosmopolitan city of Vienna with its own special flair. Take some time to admire the old town and treat yourself to a piece of cake in one of the so typical coffee houses.

Old Town Stroll in Krems:

Today is completely dedicated to the city Krems. After the included wine tasting at the winegrowers Krems (Sandgrube 13), you should take a stroll through the city. The old town of Krems belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Cultural Landscape Wachau, which was recognized in the year 2000. The landmark of the city of Krems is the Steiner Tor, a preserved city gate which was extensively restored in 2005. Both in the district of Krems and the district of Stein the old town area is absolutely worth seeing. From the Danube, stroll through the town square past the John of Nepomuk Monument and the Baroque town hall Steiner Landstrasse, past the Kunsthalle Krems and the Caricature Museum until Steiner Tor. This only surviving of the four gates of Krems is decorated with inscriptions and coats of arms. Here, the old town of Krems begins with the Upper and Lower Country Road that is the main axis of the city since the Middle Ages. Your short tour will take you to Gozzoburg, the churches and the town hall from the 16th century, to Göglhaus the daily market, the Simandlbrunnen, where every year in June there is a wine festival, and the Dominican Church. In the pedestrian area you can buy Austrian souvenirs for your loved one. Who does not want to renounce the physical activity even today, can additionally take a little vineyard hike.

Krems/Mautern - Furth - Göttweig - Angern ca. 25 km: 

Today you cycle past the wine village of Mautern, Furth and Palt with its different cultures. Enjoy a varied bike course through the vast vineyards of the Wachau, you will enjoy the scent of the corn fields and the depth of the shady forests. Who wants to visit the interesting monastery Göttweig, has to master the steep ascent before, but is rewarded by a breathtaking view over the Danube-Krems valley from the sunny outdoor terrace of the restaurant. The monastery itself was founded already in 1083 and appointed a World Heritage Site in 2001. Today it is not only an attraction for visitors from around the world, but also a spiritual center in the heart of Lower Austria, supported by a community of about 45 monks.

Half board

Half board is only available in the Premium category at extra charge.

Extra costs which are not included in the price

A possibly applicable city tax is not part of the travel price and therefore has to be paid at the hotel locally.

7 day hotline service

Just in case the bike chain breaks, flooding makes it impossible to continue your tour or any other nasty surprise: You can reach us seven days a week and we will do anything to help you as fast as possible.

Passport and visa requirements, health regulations

For EU citizens, there are no special passport or visa requirements and no health formalities to be considered for this trip.

Corona travel information:
Before booking your trip, please inform yourself about the measures in place to contain the Corona pandemic.

An up-to-date overview of applicable measures and travel and safety advice regarding Covid-19 for all countries in the EU and Switzerland can be found here:
https://reopen.europa.eu/en/

You can also find more information on our website at:
Corona virus and holiday planning

Travel insurance

The tour price already includes the statutory insolvency insurance. In addition, we recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance upon receipt of your travel confirmation in order to protect yourself against financial disadvantages in the event of travel cancellation, interruption of travel, illness or accident.

Rosenburg Castle

Visible from afar, the Renaissance Schloss Rosenburg is located high on a mighty cliff, towering above the Kamp Valley. The impressive castle complex features a hideaway with an extraordinary atmosphere. Rosenburg is one of the most frequently visited attractions in Lower Austria with more than 65.000 visitors a year.

Rosenburg Castle

Dürnstein

The ancient Kuenringer City is an absolutely essential destination on the bank of the Danube River where tradition and beauty meet in an unparalleled manner. The landscape is characterized by the natural beauty of the ancient vineyards, the pleasant climate and the numerous cultural landmarks. Enjoy the wine from the Wachau during your stay in a charming wine tavern or in the shady garden of one of our restaurants. 

Dürnstein

Weißenkirchen

Surrounded by sunny vineyard hills and narrowed between the silverband of the Danube and green forests rises the mighty Gothic parish church of Weißenkirchen in the Wachau. Together with the winemaker villages of Joching, Wösendorf and St. Michael, Weißenkirchen is the largest winegrowing community in the Wachau region. Our place is (as a legend says) the origin of the Rieslingrebe.

Weißenkirchen

Furth

At the foot of the Göttweiger hill with the famous Benedictine monastery Göttweig, the "Austrian Montecassino", lies the wine-growing community Furth. The market town of Furth covers an area of 12.37 km² and houses about 3000 inhabitants. As a gateway to the world cultural heritage site of Wachau, it is an ideal starting point for excursions through the region's rich cultural and artistic offer.

Furth

Aggstein Fortress

Presumably founded at the beginning of the twelfth century by the Kuenringern, it received its form, which has been preserved until today, three centuries later. Their changing owners allowed them to control the transit traffic on the Danube. From the boldly placed, spacious room, which can be reached comfortably by car or via the St. James Way from Maria Langegg, a fantastic view of the Wachau opens.

Aggstein Fortress

Carthusian Monastary of Aggsbach

The charterhouse of Aggsbach is a former Carthusian monastery. It was founded in 1380 by Heidenreich von Maissau. In 1782, it was dissolved it by Emperor Joseph II and converted into a castle. Parts of the monastery were integrated into the rooms of the rectory whereas the Carthusian cells and the large cloisters were razed. A church tower was added to the Carthusian church adjoining the altar area; the church became a parish church. 

Carthusian Monastary of Aggsbach

Mautern

The town of Mautern is located at the entrance of the Wachau, directly on the Danube. A city with a long history, characterized by the attractive climate and the offer of culture and leisure activities. Mautern was first known as "civitas mutarensis" for the first time in 899.

Mautern

Spitz

Grave finds dating back to the Neolithic period date back more than 4,000 years of settlement history in the municipality of Spitz. The first documentary mention comes from 830 from the gift certificate of Ludwig the German. In this area an area is called Wachowia or Wachove and given to the monastery of Niederaltaich. In 1347, Spitz acquires the market right.

Spitz

Shipping Museum Spitz

There was ship and boat traffic on the Danube back in prehistoric times. For the Ancient Romans the Danube served as the frontier between the Roman Empire and the peoples of the north; in medieval times it was the center of east-west trade in the Austro-Bavarian Danubian region. 
Ships and rafts were built solely of wood prior to the advent of steamships in the middle of the 19th century. The Shipping Museum in Spitz offers visitors diverse insights into the technology and history of historical Danube shipping.

Shipping Museum Spitz

Göttweig Abbey

Göttweig Abbey is a baroque Benedictine monastery and often referred to as Austria's Monte Cassino because of its fantastic location. Austria's Monte Cassino watches over the southern entry to the Wachau south of Krems like a sacred fortress. Göttweig Abbey was founded in 1083 as a proprietary monastery and became a Benedictine monastery in 1094. It was newly built in its current baroque form in the early 18th century according to plans by J.-L. von Hildebrandt. As part of the Wachau, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape since 2001, the abbey is a magnet today for guests from around the world. It serves as a spiritual center in the heart of Lower Austria and is run by a community of about 45 monks.

Göttweig Abbey

Krems

At the exit of the Wachau, one of the most beautiful parts of the Danube Valley, lies the charming twin town of Krems-Stein. Krems on the Danube is worth a visit in every season! Immerse yourself in the country at the Nibelungenstrom: The Wachau - World Cultural Heritage and Natural Heritage of UNESCO! There are not many cities in Austria that offer such a variety of cultural, historical and culinary offerings, as the twin town of Krems-Stein.

Krems

Tulln

Tulln is one of the oldest cities in Austria. The name Tulln probably comes from the Celtic, but this theory can not be confirmed. Settled in pre-Roman times, the Roman cavalry, Comagena, or Comagenis, was also the base for the Roman Donauflotille in the first half of the 1st century AD.

The Karner is undoubtedly a jewel of late-Roman architecture throughout Europe, which is also highly valued in the history of art history.

Tulln

Museum of Roman History in Mautern

Run by the Town of Mautern, the museum documents life as it was in the then Roman fort of Favianis-Mautern and the surrounding civilian settlement, using striking exhibits and descriptions.

The clearly presented main collection displays finds from archaeological digs during the last decade.  The exhibits of civilian and military life date from the Bronze Age to the later part of the Post-Antiquity Era.  Among the most important items are a Roman military diploma, clay masks, a curse tablet (love spell) and a glazed figurine vase.

The museum also seeks to cover thoroughly the life and work of St Severin who ran a monastery nearby in the Post-Antiquity Era and who was present during the turmoil surrounding the migration of the Roman population.

Museum of Roman History

Melk

The Gate to the Wachau. The small and exquisite little town of Melk lies in the beautiful Lower Austria right on the banks of the blue Danube and forms the gateway to the Wachau. Famous has been the municipality, which belonged to just over 5,000 inhabitants and belonged to the oldest written settlements in Austria, long before the construction of the baroque monastery, which was incorporated into the world cultural heritage together with parts of the old town. The cityscape is characterized by a medieval building structure and street fronts from all eras. The neat old town offers the visitor an architecturally extremely exciting side-line of Late Gothic, Biedermeier, Gründerzeit and Jugendstil. Situated on the border between Mostviertel and Mühlviertel, a wonderful landscape invites you to go on long excursions.

Melk

Melk

Melk Abbey

The Benedictine Monastery of Melk lies in Lower Austria near the town of Melk on the right bank of the Danube. The present (Baroque) building was built in the years 1702-1746 by Jakob Prandtauer. As a landmark of the Wachau, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It has been described as the "most emblematic and dominant baroque building." It also houses the Stiftsgymnasium Melk, the oldest still existing school in Austria. Abbot of the monastery is Georg Wilfinger.

Melk Abbey

Vienna

Austria’s capital offers a unique blend of imperial traditions and stunning modern architecture. It is famous for its cultural events, imperial sights, coffee houses, cozy wine taverns, and the very special Viennese charm. Vienna’s history dates back to the first post-Christian century when the Romans established the military camp Vindobona. Today’s cityscape is characterised by the abundance of baroque buildings created mostly under the rule of Empress Maria Theresia and Emperor Franz Joseph who was largely responsible for the monumental architecture round the Ringstraße. To experience Vienna at its fullest we have created some things to do in Vienna.

Vienna

Demel, Vienna

Centuries of history. Even today the Demel salons are presented in the beautiful rococo style of the architects Portois and fix, one of the most distinguished and solid establishment companies of the monarchy. Even Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife, Empress Elisabeth, were able to supply the delicacies to the Hofburg, and from time immemorial the Demel was a popular meeting place for the aristocracy and the Viennese middle class.

Demel

Natural History Museum, Vienna

Opened in 1889, the Natural History Museum of Vienna is home to about 30 million collection objects and more than 750,000 visitors a year in one of the world's most important science museums. Its earliest collections are over 250 years old, famous and unique exhibits, such as the 25,000-year-old Venus of Willendorf, the Stellersche manatee, huge giant dinosaur skeletons and the world's largest and oldest meteorite collection with the latest spectacular new growth, the Marsmeteorite " Tissint ", and the new anthropological permanent exhibition on the subject of" man (s) "are among the highlights of a tour through 39 hallways. In the research departments of the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, about 60 scientists are carrying out current basic research in various fields of earth, bio- and human sciences. This makes the museum an important competence center for public affairs and one of the largest non-university research institutes in Austria.

Natural History Museum, Vienna

Volksgarten

The Volksgarten is situated on an area which used to be primarily fortifications. From 1596 to 1597 a courtesan was built on the eastern side of today's park, on the southern side of the Burgschanze in 1639. This was blown up by the French in 1809 and later removed. By the construction of the Hornwerkskurtine from 1817 to 1821 on the side of today's Ringstrasse the area within the city lay. A park, originally intended as a private garden for the Archdukes, was built, but on the recommendation of the Hofgartenverwaltung the first public accessible park in Hofbesitz was officially opened on March 1.

Volksgarten