Passau to Vienna 2023

In Passau, you are awaited by the stylish Hotel Residenz****. We will meet up in the hotel lobby at 5pm and will then take a guided city round tour through the old town, which is worth a visit, with its narrow alleys and the imposing St. Stephan cathedral. You will then have the rest of the evening to your own disposal. One can linger and relax in one of the numerous restaurants.

After the adjustment of our bikes, we will leave awakening Passau through the old town with its impressive historical houses. Our route always leads downstream of the river Danube. At noon, we will reach Engelhartszell with its renowned Engelszell Abbey. After paying this a visit and enjoying a midday break, we will cross the Danube on a small wooden ferry and then cycle on the northern shore up to shortly before Schlögen We will then travel by ferry once more to today’s stage destination, the beautifully located Riverresort Donauschlinge****. In the late afternoon, your travel guides will take you on a hike to a viewing point, from which one can enjoy an enchanting view of the natural spectacle Donauschlinge (Danube loop). We will end our first cycling day over an enjoyable dinner.

Our route this morning leads us through an idyllic landscape through the still narrow Danube valley. Upon reaching the Eferdinger basin at Aschach, the landscape then opens out. At noon, we will reach the art-historical highlight of the day, the Wilhering Abbey. This monastery church is considered a rococo masterpiece. In the nearby Ottensheim, we will board a train, in order to avoid a less appealing cycling route to Linz. Here we will be welcomed by the Boutiquehotel am Domplatz****. We will enjoy dinner at a restaurant which is popular with the locals.

We will leave awakening Linz and follow the Danube for a while before we take our first side-trip into the hinterland, to pay a visit to Enns, the oldest city in Austria. Its landmark - the 60 m high city tower - stands in the centre of the old town, from which one can enjoy a splendid view of the surrounding area. In the afternoon, we will reach the Danube valley once again, which we will follow, partly directly at the riverbank, and partly through meadow landscapes, before we leave the river valley once again for today, and travel through the scenic Mühlviertel, past medieval fortresses to our daily destination, Burg Kreuzen. Here we will be welcomed by the beautifully located Hotel Schatz. Kammer***(Travel date 4: Gasthof zur Zugbrücke***). We will enjoy dinner in a restaurant of unique and special ambience.

After a short journey, we will reach Grein. Here we will visit an art-historical jewel, the oldest municipal theatre in Austria, still used for regular performances. Shortly after Grein, the Strudengau region opens out, which received its name from the many „Strudeln“(swirls), which made this passage of the Danube so dangerous for shipping. The current now flows along leisurely. We will be able to catch a glimpse of today’s destination, Maria Taferl, from afar and will be rewarded for our efforts during the ascent with a remarkable view of the Danube valley. Today we will be welcomed by the stylish Hotel Schachner Krone und Kaiserhof****. Before enjoying dinner together, we will pay a visit to the pilgrimage church with its frescoes.

We will cycle back down to the Danube and will soon arrive at Melk, with its famous abbey. We will be able to admire this artistic treasure during a tour. Hardly any other monastery represents the magnificence and splendour of the Baroque period. From the 60 m high rocks, on which the Benedictine abbey was constructed, we will enjoy a wonderful view of the Wachau, in which we will soon cycle into. Apricot trees and vineyards accompany us along the way, and idyllic places such as Spitz invite one to relax and linger. At today’s destination, we are awaited by the Hotel Kirchenwirt****, where we will also be treated to its culinary delights.

While travelling on idyllic cycle paths, we will soon reach Dürnstein. Declared a world cultural heritage site as a landscape ensemble, this is considered one of the loveliest places along our entire route. The blue church tower of the Dürnstein Abbey as well as the castle ruins above the town, in which, according to legend, the imprisoned Richard the Lionheart was found by his loyal minnesinger Blondel, are among the most photographed motives in the Wachau. From Dürnstein, it is not a long journey to Krems, with its lovely old town. Here we will travel by train up to Korneuburg, to avoid a somewhat monotonous route section. Back on our bicycles, we will glide along the old Danube to Vienna. The excellent cycle path network enables us after passing numerous sights worth seeing, to reach our destination, the Hotel Rathaus Wein & Design****. We will enjoy dinner in a typical Viennese restaurant.

After breakfast, it is time to say farewell. As there is nothing on today’s programme, one can arrange one’s departure individually. The main train station can be reached from our hotel with public transport.

All prices are on request. We would like to point out that it might be cheaper if you book directly with the hotel due to daily rates.