Along the Danube - Passau to Vienna

Day 1: Passau
Day 2: Engelhartszell - Brandstatt, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 3: Brandstatt - Linz, 16 mi. (26 km)
Day 4: Mauthausen - Grein, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 5: Vienna (day of rest)
Day 6: Wachau Valley, roundtrip, 16 to 25 mi. (25 to 40 km)
Day 7: Weißenkirchen - Pöchlarn, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 8: Passau

All distances are approximate.

Day 1: Passau
Experience Mediterranean flair in Passau, the city of three rivers. You should definitely set aside some time on the day of your arrival for a walk through the picturesque baroque city with its narrow lanes and Passau cathedral home to the largest church organ in the world. Your cycling holiday begins after embarkation (4.00 p.m.) when you sail into the sunset as Passau’s magnificent silhouette with its church towers and domes slowly fades into the horizon behind you.

Day 2: Engelhartszell - Brandstatt, 28 mi. (45 km)
Breathe in the fragrance of the dense forest and freshly mown meadows. Explore the pristine countryside of the Upper Danube valley on the former towpath as it runs past sleepy villages. Small, rustic inns at the edge of the trail invite you to linger, the aroma of fresh fish grilled according to tradition on a stick wafts through the air. The Schlögener Blick observation point offers a truly stunning view of the Schlögener Schlinge where the Danube carves its way through a gorge and doubles back on itself.

Day 3: Brandstatt - Linz, 16 mi. (26 km)
Catch some fresh country air again - at lunchtime, you’ll reach the Upper Austrian capital of Linz. Discover the European Capital of Culture 2009 on a bright yellow miniature train (optional). The cathedral is the biggest church in Austria, the Pöstlingbergbahn the steepest adhesion railway in the world. Are you curious about the future? At the ARS Electronica Museum, you can try out some of the most impressive examples of modern technology for yourself. Make sure you don’t miss it!

Day 4: Mauthausen - Grein, 22 mi. (35 km)
A beautiful and varied route lies ahead of you as you explore the idyllic hinterland of the Strudengau by bike: the Celtic Village of Mitterkirchen, the Baroque monastery of Baumgartenberg and the romantic ruins of Burg Clam castle. Then it’s time to enjoy the little medieval town of Grein with its Baroque facades, imposing castle and the oldest municipal theatre in Austria. After a romantic journey sailing past towns and villages full of twinkling lights, you arrive - just like Sisi did way back then - in the City of Waltz early in the morning.

Day 5: Vienna (day of rest)
On a city tour of Vienna, all the sights are within reach from the saddle of your bike or on the HOP ON HOP OFF bus (optional). The magnificent Ringstraße will remind you of times long past and inviting coffee houses will tempt you with delicious Viennese cakes and pastries, while the Naschmarkt market is a feast for all the senses. End the evening on a magical note with a concert of waltz and classical operetta music in Sisi’s summer residence (optional).

Day 6: Wachau Valley, roundtrip, 16 to 25 mi. (25 to 40 km)
An unforgettable day in the picturesque Wachau. Cycle through delightful wine-growing villages surrounded by terraced vineyards and apricot trees. The charming little town of Dürnstein with its narrow lanes is an absolute highlight. In Weißenkirchen – the most important wine-growing village in the World Cultural Heritage Landscape – you can discover the first-rate famous Wachau wines.

Day 7: Weißenkirchen - Pöchlarn, 22 mi. (35 km)
Enjoy this stage of your cycling holiday passing through the wild and romantic scenery along the mighty Danube with its rustic wine-growing villages set amongst the vineyards. In Spitz, situated on the “1000-Eimer Berg”, take the ferry to the sleepy southern bank of the river and after a leisurely ride reach the imposing Benedictine Abbey of Melk, one of the loveliest Baroque ensembles in Europe. Having passed the town of Pöchlarn, which featured in the Nibelungen saga, settle down to enjoy the stunning views of the rugged and romantic Nibelungengau.

Day 8: Passau
Enjoy the first rays of the sun and the early morning tranquillity one last time from the deck of the ship before you reach Passau, your heart bursting with memories. Disembarkation: approx. 9 a.m. We recommend that you do not make any arrangements for onward trains departing before 10.30 a.m. To be on the safe side, later departure times would be even better.

Language on board: German English

Land excursions:
Offered as an option with surcharge (not included in tour price), these excursions can be booked directly on board. You will receive more information with your final travel documents. Depending on the number of participants some excursions could be conducted in 2 languages (German/ English).

Day 1: Passau, boarding time between 4 and 5 pm.  Departure by ship at 7 pm to Engelhartszell.
Day 2: Engelhartszell - Untermühl - Great Loop - Linz, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 3: Linz - Mauthausen - Grein, 22 to 26 mi. (36 to 42 km)
Day 4: Grein - Melk - Tulln, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 5: Tulln - Vienna - Nussdorf/ (Korneuburg may also be possible), 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 6: Vienna - Nussdorf / Korneuburg (day of rest)
Day 7: Wachau - Pöchlarn, 24 mi. (39 km)
Day 8: Passau, departure

All distances are approximate. 

Day 1: Passau, boarding time between 4 and 5 pm.  Departure by ship at 7 pm to Engelhartszell
The Episcopal city close to the Bavarian/Austrian border is also known as the "City of Three Rivers." Boarding time begins at 4 pm. Enjoy your first dinner on board and an evening sail toEngelhartszell.

Day 2: Engelhartszell - Untermühl - Great Loop - Linz, 22 mi. (35 km)
Downstream, the route leads to pretty villages amid a natural landscape. Need a boost? Try some of the special cordials and liqueurs in the Trappist monastery in Engelhartszell, which are said to have "special healing power." If you’d like to take a break from cycling, you can take the little ferry boat through the romantic Schlögener loop, where the river makes a very abrupt 180-degree turn (approx. € 3.- per pers.). In Untermühl, you’ll board the boat and cruise to Linz. Tip: discover Linz, the capital of upper Austria while riding on the bright yellow City-Express.

Day 3: Linz - Mauthausen - Grein, 22 to 26 mi. (36 to 42 km)
In the early morning, the boat takes you to Mauthausen. You have the possibility to visit the memorial place, KZ-Mauthausen. The Celtic town, Mitterkirchen, gives you a look into the past. Today you have the option between two routes. For easy cycling,  the tour leads along the Danube. Alternatively, you can take a more difficult route to the "Clam Castle," through the beautiful backcountry of the "Strudengau". It is slightly hilly, but a fantastic landscape. Worth a visit in Grein is the impressive Castle of Greinburg.

Day 4: Grein - Melk - Tulln, 31 mi. (50 km)
Today's stage is marked by a diverse landscape. At the beginning, there is the Strudengau – a narrow point of the Danube, which used to be notorious amongst skippers. The valley expands from Persenbeug and the bike tour leads you further to Melk with its gorgeous baroque monastery of the Benedictine brethren. On deck, enjoy the sunset and the beautiful evening illumination of the Wachau. Today's final destination is Tulln, famous for its numerous market gardens where the famous Art Nouveau artist Egon Schiele was born.

Day 5: Tulln - Vienna - Nussdorf/ (Korneuburg may also be possible), 22 mi. (35 km)
Right in front of Vienna's entrance, embedded in a breathtaking landscape, the monastery of Klosterneuburg is situated. From a distance, you can see the cupola of this 900-year-old baroque building. "Kahlenbergerdorf" and its wine taverns are definitely worth a visit. After a stroll through the vineyards, you can enjoy the panoramic view over Vienna.

Day 6: Vienna - Nussdorf / Korneuburg (day of rest)
In Vienna, you should be sure to see the most famous places of interest like the St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Hofburg, the gorgeous boulevard "Ringstraβe" with the Burgtheater, the State Opera House, or the town hall that takes you back to the past. Take your time in the afternoon to stroll or visit one of the famous Viennese coffee bars. Later in the evening the boat cruises to Krems.  

Day 7: Wachau - Pöchlarn, 24 mi. (39 km)
Your last biking day is a special highlight! Amidst small dreamy villages, apricot trees, vineyards, castles, monasteries, and ruins, this gentle hilly landscape enchants everybody. A powerful ruin looms above the small Baroque town of Dürnstein, while the blue tower of the monastery church is a landmark of Wachau. In the evening, you will celebrate your tour and new-found friends with a  farewell dinner and cocktail.

Day 8: Passau, departure
Every journey draws to an end. Once again you enjoy on deck the first sunbeams and the peaceful silence of the Danube Valley. Take a last look at the Schlögener Schlinge ("Great Loop") before you arrive in Passau. Arrival in Passau is at approximately 10 am and disembarkation is at 10:30 am. We recommend arranging connecting trips from noon onwards.

Language on board: German/English

Land excursions:
Offered as an option with surcharge (not included in tour price), these excursions can be booked directly on board. You will receive more information with your final travel documents. Depending on the number of participants some excursions could be conducted in 2 languages (German/ English).

This tour is offered in two directions: 

Passau to Vienna

Day 1: Passau - Engelhartszell
Day 2: Engelhartszell - Schlögen - Brandstatt - Linz, 19 to 34 mi. (30 to 55 km) 
Day 3: Linz - Mauthausen - Grein, 3 to 28 mi. (5 to 45 km)
Day 4: Grein - Marbach, 19 to 30 mi. (30 to 48 km)
Day 5: Marbach - Weissenkirchen, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 6: Weissenkirchen - Tulln, 36 mi. (58 km)
Day 7: Tulln - Korneuburg - Vienna, 15 to 25 mi. (24 to 40 km)
Day 8: Vienna

Day 1: Passau - Engelhartszell
Boarding time begins at 3:30 PM. At 5:00 PM, the Merlijn sets sail for Engelhartszell. As you enjoy your complimentary welcome beverage, the crew will be introduced and you will have a briefing regarding your upcoming tour, the ship, and safety protocols for the week ahead. After departing from Passau, the Merlijn sails the amazing Blue Danube, which forms the border between Germany and Austria on this stretch. Just before Engelhartszell, the boat crosses the border completely to spend the rest of the week in Austria. Dinner is served during the cruise. In the evening, there is an opportunity for a late stroll in this lovely little town, which is famous for its ‘Stift Engelszell’, a Trappist monastery

Day 2: Engelhartszell - Schlögen - Brandstatt - Linz, 19 to 34 mi. (30 to 55 km) 
Breakfast is served while sailing further down the Danube. The Merlijn arrives in Schlögen, where your first cycle tour begins. A most interesting tour along the ‘Schlögener-schlinge’ awaits you, where the Danube makes several bends that have been sculpted through the mountains. Cycle skills permitting, you can first bike up to the ‘Schlogener-Blick’ viewpoint, from where you can see the sharpest bend which locals have named, "The natural wonder of Upper Austria".

The Danube cycle path leads further along the Danube to Aschach, a typical Austrian town where you might want to stop for a short visit – if only to try the Austrian ‘Kaiserschmarrn’ dessert, which goes exceptionally well with coffee It takes its name from the Austrian emperor (Kaiser) Franz Joseph I, who was very fond of this fluffy shredded pancake. Afterwards, it’s just a short distance before you reach Brandstatt, where Merlijn awaits you. If you still have a few more miles left in you, cycle on to Linz where the boat stays overnight.

“It all begins in Linz”, the Austrian saying goes, which is spot on, as Linz is a city on the move, with its finger firmly on the pulse of the nation’s tech industry. Around the main square are many historical and architecturally fascinating houses, such as the old Town Hall. West of the main square, there is the old quarter with many other historic buildings, such as Renaissance houses, or older houses with a baroque facade. At night, take an after-dinner stroll through the city, or a ride with the ‘Pöstlingbergbahn’, a little tram that runs on one of the steepest tracks up the hill, from where you’ll have a magnificent view over the city.

Day 3: Linz - Mauthausen - Grein, 3 to 28 mi. (5 to 45 km)
During breakfast, the captain navigates the Merlijn towards Mauthausen, where your bike tour begins. Mauthausen is notorious for its WWII Nazi concentration camp situated just a few kilometers from the city. It’s an additional 5 km ride there and back. Choose from two different cycle routes: the shorter tour that goes along the Danube, or a longer route that leads you through the backcountry of the ‘Strudengau’ area. Either route leads to Grein, a picturesque town situated in a small bay at the entrance to ‘Strudengau’, a narrow 25km valley along the Danube. Today or tomorrow morning, a tour of ‘Schloss Greinburg’ palace with its stone theatre is offered. Dinner is served on board.

Day 4: Grein - Marbach, 19 to 30 mi. (30 to 48 km)
The cycle tour begins in Grein, following the meandering Danube through the Struden bends. Don’t forget to take a picture when Merlijn, your luxurious home for the week, sails by. On the way to Persenbeug, there’s a possibility to extend today’s bike tour by making an extra loop along the stunning ‘Yspertal’: a cycle path following the Ysper rivulet through the mountains. Persenbeug is an old shipping town strategically situated next to the river, with a castle overlooking it, and certainly worth a short visit. It is also home to a shipping lock and hydroelectric power plant. This plant is the oldest power station in Austria, and almost supplied the entire nation when it was built in 1950. The day ends with an overnight stay in Marbach. Enjoy this peaceful area and the calm Danube with a drink in the spacious lounge, or on the comfy terrace. This evening, a wine-tasting session with local wines is possible.

Day 5: Marbach - Weissenkirchen, 26 mi. (42 km)
The next two days are jam-packed with highlights! Today’s tour begins after another delicious breakfast on board. The route follows the peacefully flowing Danube. After cycling for approximately an hour, you arrive at ‘Stift Melk’, set high above the Danube. Enjoy an included guided tour to learn more about this blockbuster abbey fortress. Then it's a few more minutes to the stunning city of Melk, which together with the fortress, are undoubtedly the high point of any visit to the region, as well as a popular stop-off.

Follow the Danube further downstream, where the calm river transforms into a narrow and wild fast-flowing swathe of water, and arrive at the ‘Wachau’. This area (German pronunciation: va-xau), is an Austrian valley with a picturesque landscape formed by the River Danube. Overladen with castles and ruins, as well as urban architecture and vineyards, it is one of the most prominent tourist destinations of Lower Austria, appealing to ‘connoisseurs and epicureans’ due to its high-quality wines. The Wachau was inscribed as ‘Wachau Cultural Landscape’ in the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites in December 2000, in recognition of its architectural and agricultural history.

Day 6: Weissenkirchen - Tulln, 36 mi. (58 km)
There is a longer ride planned for today. Leave Weissenkirchen behind you, and bike to the last pearl of the Wachau valley, Dürnstein. Cycling towards it, the unmistakable blue tower appears from behind a sharp curve. Take the small roofed stairs at the water's edge and you arrive in the heart of the town. Dürnstein is not only known for its beautiful buildings, but also for the castle above the town where Richard I of England, also known as the Lionheart, was once imprisoned.

After visiting this beautiful historic town, the rest of the tour will lead mostly along the peacefully flowing Danube, which you can admire perfectly from your bicycle. Just before arriving at the Merlijn in Tulln, you can visit the ‘Garten Tulln’, an attraction for gardening enthusiasts. The city is often referred to as "city of flowers” because of this botanical garden and the abundance of parks. It’s also the hometown of the influential painter, Egon Schiele. In the evening, explore more of Austria’s culture and kitchen with dinner in town. You might want to try the traditional ‘Schweinsbraten’ (roasted pork) dish.

Day 7: Tulln - Korneuburg - Vienna, 15 to 25 mi. (24 to 40 km)
Leaving Tulln behind you, cycle your last stretch along the popular classic ‘Donau Radweg’. It will lead you through mostly rural areas which is a dream for every cyclist. Arriving at the city of Korneuburg, there are two options: board the Merlijn, or extend your bike tour to Vienna. If you choose to board the Merlijn, you will cruise into the bustling city of Vienna on your last afternoon. There might be still time for a city walk before the captain’s dinner is served on board. If you take the extended cycle route, you shouldn’t bike to Vienna without visiting the ‘Stift Klosterneuburg’ along the way. This monastery, founded in 1114, was remodeled in the baroque style in the 17th century. After your visit, cycle on to Vienna where Merlijn awaits you at the edge of the city center.

Day 8: Vienna
After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye! If you choose to continue your holiday, Vienna is the most obvious option to spend a few days. Baroque streetscapes and imperial palaces set the stage for Vienna's artistic and musical masterpieces alongside its coffee house culture and vibrant epicurean and creative scene. Don’t forget to eat a traditional ‘Sacher-Torte’ before you leave.

Also recommended is a day trip to the Slovakian city of Bratislava!

Vienna to Passau 

Day 1: Arrival in Vienna 
Day 2: Vienna - Korneuburg - Tulln, 15 to 25 mi. (24 to 40 km)
Day 3: Tulln - Weissenkirchen, 36 mi. (58 km)
Day 4: Weissnkirchen - Marbach, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 5: Marbach - Grein, 19 to 30 mi. (30 to 48 km)
Day 6: Grein - Mauthausen - Linz, 3 to 28 mi. (36 to 45 km) + 5 km
Day 7: Linz - Brandstatt - Schlögen - Engelhartzell - Passau, 19 to 28 mi. (30 to 45 km)
Day 8: Departure from Passau