Wachau Valley vineyards along the Danube River, Austria. Photo via Flickr:alchen_x

Schönbrunn Palace gardens in Vienna, Austria. Photo via Flickr:Anthony Greyes
4.7/5 (43 ratings)

Along the Danube - Passau to Vienna

Austria, Germany Bike + Barge Tours

Bike Austria and the Historic Cities on the Danube Cycle Path!

  • Beginning in the German town of Passau, this tour quickly crosses the Austrian border as it follows the Danube Bike Path east downstream through tucked-away villages and serene landscapes.

    You experience the mighty Danube as it meanders through the "Great Loop" and enjoy the gorgeous landscape of the legendary Wachau with its castles and fortresses.

    Vienna, rich in architecture and history, cannot be described! You have to see it and feel it! At the Naschmarkt (famous food market), a stroll will become a cultural and culinary adventure. You can also relax at any of the cozy coffee bars or at a typical Viennese wine tavern.

    Highlights:

    • Passau - The City of Three Rivers
    • The Schloegen Danube Loop
    • Wachau - World Cultural Heritage site
    • Linz - Northern Austria's Capital
    • Vienna - City of music and culture

    Want to check out more bike and barge tours in Germany or a full list of bike tours along the Danube?

  • 2019

    MS NORMANDIE

    April 22 & Oct 7

    May 6 &  
    Sept 23 

    		May 20 & Sept 9

    All other departures

    Main deck £ 653 $ 1,337 € 749 NOK 7240 kr 6683 $ 869 £ 758 $ 1,551 € 869 NOK 8400 kr 7754 $ 1,008 £ 828 $ 1,694 € 949 NOK 9174 kr 8468 $ 1,101 £ 863 $ 1,765 € 989 NOK 9560 kr 8825 $ 1,147
    Main deck/astern*    
    Upper deck £ 775 $ 1,587 € 889 NOK 8594 kr 7933 $ 1,031 £ 880 $ 1,801 € 1009 NOK 9754 kr 9003 $ 1,170 £ 950 $ 1,943 € 1089 NOK 10527 kr 9717 $ 1,263 £ 985 $ 2,015 € 1129 NOK 10914 kr 10074 $ 1,310
    Upper deck/astern* £ 688 $ 1,408 € 789 NOK 7627 kr 7040 $ 915 £ 793 $ 1,622 € 909 NOK 8787 kr 8111 $ 1,054 £ 863 $ 1,765 € 989 NOK 9560 kr 8825 $ 1,147 £ 897 $ 1,836 € 1029 NOK 9947 kr 9182 $ 1,194
    Single cabin (upper deck) £ 993 $ 2,033 € 1139 NOK 11010 kr 10163 $ 1,321 £ 1098 $ 2,247 € 1259 NOK 12170 kr 11234 $ 1,460 £ 1168 $ 2,390 € 1339 NOK 12944 kr 11948 $ 1,553 £ 1203 $ 2,461 € 1379 NOK 13330 kr 12305 $ 1,600

    *Cabins at rear of the ship; perceptive engine and generator noise (when ship is in motion and in locks)

    Twin cabin for single use: 50% supplement of base price

     

    MS Arlene II

    		May 13 and Sept 2All other departures
    Main deck £ 828 $ 1,694 € 949 NOK 9174 kr 8468 $ 1,101 £ 863 $ 1,765 € 989 NOK 9560 kr 8825 $ 1,147
    Upper deck £ 932 $ 1,908 € 1069 NOK 10334 kr 9539 $ 1,240 £ 985 $ 2,015 € 1129 NOK 10914 kr 10074 $ 1,310
    Upper deck/astern* £ 845 $ 1,729 € 969 NOK 9367 kr 8646 $ 1,124 £ 897 $ 1,836 € 1029 NOK 9947 kr 9182 $ 1,194
    Upper deck/suite £ 1124 $ 2,300 € 1289 NOK 12460 kr 11502 $ 1,495 £ 1159 $ 2,372 € 1329 NOK 12847 kr 11859 $ 1,542
    Upper deck/single £ 1168 $ 2,390 € 1339 NOK 12944 kr 11948 $ 1,553 £ 1203 $ 2,461 € 1379 NOK 13330 kr 12305 $ 1,600

    *Cabins at rear of the ship; perceptive engine and generator noise (when ship is in motion and in locks)
    Twin cabin for single use: 50% supplement of base price

    extra options

    2019:
    Additional Charges: 
    Electric bike rental (E-Bike protection included):  £ 83 $ 170 € 95 NOK 918 kr 848 $ 110 Helmet purchase (limited numbers,payable on board):  £ 35 $ 71 € 40 NOK 387 kr 357 $ 46

    Extra nights:
    Please contact us.

    20% discount available for children under 13 sharing cabin with one adult

    We recommend to wear a bike helmet (mandatory use for helmets: In Austria for children till 12 years)

    please note

    If you want to purchase a helmet, please let us know when you submit your reservation. 

    Rates are per person based on double occupancy.

    Information to read before you book.

    We recommend purchasing bike trip insurance.

    Please see our FAQ.

  • Travel

    Fly to Munich or Salzburg.

    Local Travel

    Train to Passau. From Munich airport, ride is approximately 2½ hr. From Salzburg airport, ride is approximately 3½-4 hr.

    Climate

    Check local weather prior to departure. Average high/low temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit: April, 57°/41°; May, 67°/49°; June, 72°/55°; July, 77°/59°; August, 77°/59°; September, 69°/53°; and October, 57°/43°

Tour Dates

2019

MS Normandie: Monday departures: April 22, May 6, May 20, June 3, June 17, July 1, July 15, July 29, August 12, August 26, September 9, September 23, and October 7, 2019

MS Arlene II: Monday departures:

Season A: May 13, Sept 2, 2019

Season B: May 27, June 10, June 24, July 8, July 22, Aug 5, Aug 19, 2019

Where You’ll Stay

Accommodations aboard the comfort vessels, the MS Normandie or the MS Arkona

What’s Included

  • Accommodation for 7 nights on board
  • Welcome cocktail
  • Full meals (breakfast, on board light lunch for noncyclists / packed lunch for cyclists, and dinner)
  • Afternoon coffee break
  • Daily cabin cleaning
  • Farewell dinner on last night including cocktail
  • Daily live music
  • Tour leader on board (does not cycle with the group)
  • 7-speed unisex bicycle with coaster breaking hubs or freewheel hubs. Please indicate your preference at booking.
  • Bicycle protection
  • Information packet with route book (one per cabin)
  • Daily informational meeting
  • Port fees

What’s Not Included

Extra Stay

Extra nights can be arranged in Passau!

Along the Danube - Passau to Vienna Map

TourBike+Boat
TypeSelf Guided
SkillEasy
Length8 days
From€749 Rates
Client Reviews

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Skill Level

Relatively easy tour following the flow of the Danube. Route is mostly flat but there are some rolling hills especially coming out of the Danube valley. It takes place on good, asphalt bike paths very suitable for beginners and children. Daily distances can be adjusted.

Tour Boats

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Along the Danube - Passau to Vienna Map

Please note:
We are updating for 2019. Itinerary below is for 2018. Excusions mentioned in each day to day are for 2018.  We expect only slight variations in the itinerary in 2019.

MS Normandie & MS Arlene II

Day 1: Passau - Engelhartszell, boarding time at 4:30 p.m. Departure at 7 p.m.  (2019: you can begin boarding at 4 pm)
Day 2: Engelhartszell - Untermühl - "Great Loop" - Linz, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 3: Linz - Mauthausen - Grein, 22-26 mi. (36-42 km)
Day 4: Grein - Melk - Tulln, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 5: Tulln - Vienna, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 6: Rest day in Vienna, city tour otional, Waltz and Operetta concert optional
Day 7: Wachau - Dürnstein - Pöchlarn, wine tasting optional, 24 mi. (39 km)
Day 8: Passau, departure

Day 1: Arrival in Passau, Passau - Engelhartszell
The Episcopal city of Passau, close to the Bavarian/Austrian border is also known as the "City of three Rivers." Boarding time is at 4:30 p.m. and departure around 7 p.m. Enjoy your first dinner on board and an evening cruise to Engelhartszell.  

Day 2: Engelhartszell – Untermühl – "Great Loop" – Linz, 22 mi. (35 km) 
Try some of the special cordials and liqueurs in the Trappist monastery in Engelhartszell. It is said that they have special healing power. Downstream, the route leads you to pretty villages amid natural landscape. For a change, take the little ferry boat through the romantic Schlögener loop, where the river makes a very abrupt 180-degree turn. (approx. €3 per person.) The boat takes you from Untermühl to Linz. After dinner, ride on the bright yellow City-Express (optional, not included) and discover Linz, the capital of upper Austria.

Day 3: Linz – Mauthausen – Grein, 22-26 mi. (36-42 km)
In the early morning, the boat cruises to Mauthausen. Here you have the opportunity to visit the Mauthausen Memorial. The Celtic town of Mitterkirchen gives you an insight of the past. Cyclists that would like to take the easy route can ride along the Danube. The alternative route leads through the beautiful back country of the "Strudengau". It is slightly hilly, but the landscape is fantastic. In Grein, the impressive Castle of Greinburg is worth a visit (optional, not included).

Day 4: Grein – Melk – Tulln, 31 mi. (50 km)
Today you'll cycle through 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, you 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), 35 km | city tour (optional)
The monastery of Klosterneuburg is situated at the entrance of Vienna. You can see the cupola of this 900-year-old baroque structure from a distance. "Kahlenbergerdorf" with it's wine taverns is definitely worth a visit. After a stroll through the vineyards, you can enjoy the panoramic view over Vienna. During the city tour by bus and by foot (optional, not included) in the afternoon, you will pass most of the famous sights of the beautiful city.

Day 6: Vienna (day of rest) | city tour (opt.) | Waltz and Operetta concert (opt.)
You should be sure to see the most famous places of interest like the Prater, the St. Stephen's Cathedral, and the Hofburg. You can take a city tour by bike (optional, not included). The gorgeous boulevard "Ringstraβe" with the Burgtheater, the State Opera House, and the town hall are all historic structures that take you back in time. There is enough time in the afternoon to stroll or visit one of the famous Viennese coffee bars. The evening ends impressively with a Waltz and Operetta concert (optional, not included). In the evening, the boat takes you to Dürnstein or Rossatz.

Day 7: Wachau | Dürnstein – 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 Weißenkirchen (possibility for a wine-tasting – optional) you will find comfy wine taverns right along the bike path. You owe it to yourself to take a break! In the evening farewell dinner and cocktail.   In Spitz, possibility for a wine-tasting – optional 

Day 8: Engelhartszell/Passau
Disembarkation in Engelhartszell. At 8:30 AM there will be shuttles waiting at the pier to take you to Passau. Please do not make any ongoing travel arrangements until at least 11:00 AM.

Language on board: German and 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)>

 

MS Arlene II - 2019

Day 1: Passau - Obernzell, boarding time between. 4 - 5 p.m. Departure at 7 p.m.  (you can begin boarding at 4 pm)
Day 2: Obernzell - Obermühl - "Great Loop" - Linz, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 3: Linz - Mauthausen - Grein, 22-26 mi. (36-42 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 - Emmersdorf, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 8: Passau, departure

Day 1: Passau - Obernzell, boarding time between. 4 - 5 p.m. Departure at 7 p.m.  (you can begin boarding at 4 pm)
The Episcopal city close to the Bavarian/Austrian border is also known as the "City of three Rivers." Boarding time is at approx. 4-5 pm, departure around 7 pm Enjoy your first dinner on board and an evening sail to Obernzell.

Day 2: Obernzell - Obermühl - "Great Loop" - Linz, 22 mi. (35 km)
Downstream, the way leads you to pretty villages amid natural landscape. Need a boost? Try some of the spe-cial cordials and liqueurs in the Trappist monastery in Engelhartszell. Supposedly, they have "special healing power." For a change take the little ferry boat through the romantic Schlögener loop, where the river makes a very abrupt 180 degree turn (approx. € 3.- per pers.). Shipping from Obermühl to Linz. Tip: discover Linz, the capital of upper Austria while riding on the bright yellow City-Express.

Day 3: Linz - Mauthausen - Grein, 22-26 mi. (36-42 km)
In the early morning shipping to Mauthausen. You have the possibility to visit the memorial-place KZ-Mauthausen. The Celtic town Mitterkirchen gives you an insight of the past. For easy cyclists the tour leads along the Danube, the alternative route, "Clam Castle," through the beautiful back country of the "Strudengau" is slightly hilly, but a fantastic landscape. Worth a visit in Grein: 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, you 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. You can already see the cupola of this 900 year old baroque building from a distance. "Kahlenberger-dorf" with it's wine taverns is definitely worth a visit. After a stroll through the vineyards, you can enjoy the pano-ramic view over Vienna. 

Day 6: Vienna - Nussdorf / Korneuburg (day of rest)
You should be sure to see the most famous places of interest like the St. Stephens 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. In the night shipping to Krems

Day 7: Wachau - Emmersdorf, 22 mi. (35 km)
Your last biking day is a special highlight! Amidst small dreamy villages, apricot trees, vineyards, castles, mon-asteries and ruins, this gentle hilly landscape enchants everybody. A powerful ruin looms above the small Ba-roque town of Dürnstein, while the blue tower of the monastery church is a landmark of Wachau. In Emmersdorf you embark MS ARLENE II. In the evening 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 sight at the Schlögener Schlinge ("Great Loop") before you arrive relaxed at Passau. Arrival is about 10 am, disembarkation half an hour later. We recommend to arrange connecting trips from noon onwards

*Important Information:

In case of flood or low tide, the shipping company reserves the right to change the route and/or bridge parts of passages with buses.  Bicycle touring routes may also be affected. In extreme situations, the shipping company reserves the right to cancel the journey on short notice. No legal right shall be constituted of both situations. (Water level is force majeure). The same applies for officially ordered - previously not announced - repair work on locks or bridges or in case of unexpected breakdown of engine or power unit. 

Please be aware that these ships, like all other ships on the Danube, are not just your "floating hotels" but also a machine, running engines,  also during the night. Especially crossing locks and bridges - and the preparation work - may cause noise. If you are sensitive to noises, please bring your own ear plugs.

All our tours have a minimum passenger/departure (please refer to our programs) and we reserve the right to make changes of routing or programs if needed.

Be sure to check out all of our featured bike and boat tours, or our full list of bicycle tours.

Email or Call 800-951-4384 +1 570-965-2064

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Customer Feedback

  • Lynn F. 2 months ago

    Our second trip ( the Danube to Vienna) was different, but equally as nice. This time the “barge” was a huge river boat (a la Viking), but that was OK. The scenery was lovely, the little towns quaint, they could have done better with the information about our route, but I guess it was OK. A bit different in that the boat traveled at night and moved us up the river to our next starting point. Again, the food was great, the passengers friendly... only one rainy day that time... not bad! I’ve told friends about this company and I look forward to our next trip with Tripsite!

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • Martin K. 2 months ago

    Most memorable part? Biking the Danube with castles on the hills

     Reply

  • Brent F. 3 months ago

    Bikes were in terrible condition. My while broke down with 10 miles left on the first day. My wife’s bike had a flat that the crew was just going to fill with air. My sister-in-laws bike broke down 5 miles out on the third day. Food was poor. Very few English speakers among the crew. Directions and maps for the rides were poor or non existent. When we complained we were told. “Well you made it back didn’t you?”

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • Allison B. 3 months ago

    Most Memorable Part? Quaint towns, lovely countryside, old world charm. Our trip will linger in our minds.

    Boat: MS Arkona

     Reply

  • Jeanne L. 4 months ago

    Great family reunion and scenic vacation. E-bikes made it easy for less experienced bicyclists to keep up with trained cyclists. Nice to hear all 8 of us laughing while riding!

    Boat: Primadonna

     Reply

  • David R. 4 months ago

    Hard to pick one part...The cycling and scenery each day was stunning. Vienna must be experienced. The staff and the food on the Arkona was outstanding.

    Boat: MS Arkona

     Reply

  • Mok L. 4 months ago

    The Danube / bike path was wonderful , My bike was a red girls bike that clunked “hate it”, my wife’s ebike was great, the food was good except the hair in couple of dishes, the tour dir and the hotel mgr were friggen rude (not just us to about 14 others ) would Never take a SE tour again. The people we met on board were great, Austria was very nice. Omg Austria wine was fantastic. thx Mik

    Ps
    Still like Tripsite’s

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • Michael S. 5 months ago

    There were so many great memories, but I really loved the town of Melk and all the little towns in the Wachau area that we passed through our last day. It was like biking through fairy land. Fall is the perfect time for sampling the local new wines. And our guide, Regina, was tops!! Can’t imagine a better tour guide!

    Boat: MS Arkona

     Reply

  • Cheryl H. 5 months ago

    Wonderful trip. Beautiful scenery and the boat staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful.

    Boat: MS Arkona

     Reply

  • Phyllis C. 5 months ago

    Very pleasant trip. The route included portions along the river as well as through picturesque villages, farmland, and vineyards. Daily mileage was perfect for us casual riders. The last day of riding through the Wachau area was the most enjoyable; we wish there would have been more time to explore the tasting rooms and shops in Dürnstein.
    There was only a minor problem in communication with the tour director over the the time of an optional paid activity that several members of the group did not get to attend. I didn't feel the problem was addressed well.

    Boat: MS Arkona

     Reply

  • Deirdre R. 5 months ago

    Most Memorable Part? The biking, totally. It’s ok if your friend chooses not to ride, there are others en route who make it pleasant. The staff were overly attentive! So helpful

    Boat: MS Arkona

     Reply

  • Lois K. 6 months ago

    The entire trip was greater than expected! The staff bent over backwards to accommodate. The gorgeous Danube!

    Boat: MS Arkona

     Reply

  • Lynn F. 1 year ago

    Our trip was along the Danube to Vienna. It was a wonderful trip, the scenery was lovely, and we were lucky with the weather... it only drizzled one afternoon! The little towns we went through were really cute & charming. We felt the tour guide could have done a better job by telling us the distances between start and finish in terms of time & kilometers. We managed quite well, but it would have been nice to know. Otherwise, the whole trip was fantastic!

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • Barbara H. 1 year ago

    The most memorable part of our trip was getting on our bikes daily and biking next to the river with lovely towns and countryside. Quite free!
    Our meals were just wonderful! We requested vegan meals and were delighted with each and every meal! This whole trip was special!

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • Robert L. 1 year ago

    We loved this trip! The best way to experience Europe’s beautiful rivers and countryside is over the handlebars!

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • Mari H. 1 year ago

    We thoroughly enjoyed our Danube Bike and Boat trip. It was a perfect balance of freedom and guided travel. The pace was perfect and the crew and staff on the ship were great. We can’t wait to book another bike trip through you.

     Reply

  • Pauline L. 1 year ago

    We really loved going through the locks on the Danube and the rides everyday were fabulous with the detailed instructions. There was a castle, ruin, vineyard or cafe around every bend!

    Boat: Theodor Körner

     Reply

  • Doug N. 1 year ago

    It was a great trip. We traveled with another couple and they also very much enjoyed the trip. Room on the boat was comfortable, food was good, bikes were good. A nice combination of fresh air, exercise and comfort. Have already recommended to others.

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • John J. 1 year ago

    Most Memorable Part? The people I met on board - staff and guests - and the scenery.

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • Rachel J 1 year ago

    An Amazing Adventure! I enjoyed every minute of this trip. The staff was courteous and accommodating, the food was delicious and the biking and sites were extraordinary. I'll recommend this to all my friends and family.

     Reply

  • Barbara H. 1 year ago

    Fabulous bike/barge adventure in Germany/Austria! We'll be back! The cycling was on beautiful paths along the Danube. The food and service onboard were extraordinary.

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • Mari H. 2 years ago

    The new friends we made! We absolutely enjoyed the other travelers we ate with every meal! They became great friends despite language differences. It was a fantastic trip. We blogged our trip!

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • Kimberly W. 2 years ago

    The scenery along the Danube was outstanding and riding thru the vineyards on our last day was beautiful. Would do it all over again!!

     Reply

  • Kimberly W. 2 years ago

    The MS Normandie took us on a fabulous adventure down the Danube from Passau to Vienna. The last day of biking was the most memorable as we rode thru some gently rolling hillsides and were enveloped by vineyards and orchards. The quiet and the beauty of the scenery was breathtaking!
    Because it was all so beautiful we would on a daily basis become distracted and veer off the designated route (or maybe we were lacking in the map-reading skills). Therefore, after the second day we decided to each rent an e-bike so that it wouldn't be a huge deal if we got off the beaten path and put on extra miles. Best decision we made all week! Our new equipment helped us to keep up with some new found(older) friends who were rocking the routes every day.
    The evenings were mostly composed of a nice slow 4-course meal (stellar offerings) and catching up with friends and family via the sketchy internet service. I would suggest you bring along a game or two and some books.
    Read more… >Couldn't have imagined a more complete and perfect vacation. We just had to get ourselves to and from the launch and dock sites and the staff of the MS Normandie took care of the rest!

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • Patricia L. 2 years ago

    The majority of the Danube cycling routes are truly beautiful. We were worried about the bikes only having 7 speeds, however it was only an issue when we made the climb to the Mauthausen Concentration Camp. Otherwise, they were fine. The staff on the Normandie were fabulous, as was the food. I esp. want to thank Ani and Mikki who were a huge help to us prior to the trip. We had lots of questions and they always answered them quickly and thoroughly. I plan on continuing to book my trips with Tripsite. What a great company!

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

    • Cheryl 1 year ago

      Pat, how was the "doing your own navigation? " my friend is afraid to go w/o a guide. Are you literally following the Danube? We're looking at may.

       Reply

      • Patricia Leonard 1 year ago

        Hi Cheryl, the tour guide will review routes every evening, so you can bring your tour book to the meetings and take notes. We only got confused once when a route was poorly marked, but even then we ended up on the correct path. Also, most young people in Austria speak perfect English, plus there are always other cyclists around for clarification. This was our first "self-guided" tour too, and it was fabulous!

         Reply

  • Robert W. 2 years ago

    The entire trip was memorable for me. I took lots of video and still shots. My plan is to create some YouTube videos to share the experience. I have wanted to do the ride along the Danube for several years and I finally got my chance. It was everything I expected and more. I am now looking at the choices for my next cycling adventure in Europe.

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • Margaret M. 2 years ago

    Walking and biking around Vienna. It is a beautifully restored city with so many historic buildings and places to take your breath away. Our bike guide Bernd added to the experience by translating for us all the history and important information as we were the only English speakers on the trip.

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • Jim and Margaret Molineux 2 years ago

    We have just returned from our boat/bike adventure and enjoyed it immensely. Being the only English speaking passengers on the trip, we were in the care of the multilingual SE bike tour guides; Bernd, Andreas and Wolfgang. And look after us they did. With all the tours and information in German, we would have missed so much if it hadn't been for Bernd showing up everywhere to translate for us. The staff on board were helpful, courteous and efficient. Food was gourmet and even with cool and often wet weather, tours were interesting and biking was exhilarating. Bikes were brand new, maps were clear and information given beforehand made navigating easy. Ebikes are the way to go if climbing hills is difficult; although it is mostly flat.
    We would absolutely do this again with Trip Site or SE Tours.

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • H. Hausch 3 years ago

    Really liked our trip director Andreas. The Theodor Koerner excellent boat with superb staff.

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • E. Heide 3 years ago

    We would have like more written details of the areas we were seeing. We also would have liked a stronger wifi connection. Food and service was excellent.

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • E. Correll 3 years ago

    Bicycling Passau to Vienna with the MS Normandie was a great experience. The bicycle route was mostly flat and in top condition. The views along the way were scenic and enjoyable. The small villages were charming and the larger cities were very beautiful. Our accommodations and meals on the boat were wonderful. One of my favorite experiences of the week was the optional trip to the opera house in Vienna. I am especially glad I didn't miss it. This was my third Tripsite tour and overall this adventure was everything and more that I had hoped for. I would highly recommend it to anyone that loves cycling. I think it is suitable for all skill levels. I will say that on this tour the guides daily instructions were minimal. His input was very basic and quite a disappointment compared to past guides. No photo slide show with instructions such as, "when you see this landmark or sign be sure to turn here." The guide books with maps that were provided were of great Read more… assistance, however, and we were able to compensate for the most part by carefully following these written instructions. There was also a small tourist guide book in each room from which you could read about points of interest in each city and village along the way. As I said, overall this was a fantastic week and my friend and I loved every minute!

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • J Lillis 3 years ago

    Wonderful trip. Our room smelled really bad when we arrived. Mentioned it to the cleaning staff and they said it was the air conditioner. They were on the problem immediately and made sure we had no further problem. Bit of confusion with bike insurance, but on contacting Tripsite on our return this was dealt with immediately (thank you!). Might want to consider having a basic first aid kit onboard I fell in Vienna and badly sprained my ankle - no breaks fortunately. Had to get ice from he bar as there was nothing else available they couldn't give me much as it was needed for the drinks.

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Susan Dawood 3 years ago

    Never brought it up to the bike staff, but gears on my bike were difficult to manage. I attributed it to my having small hands, but I also thought the gears should be replaced soon, for the next "small handed" guest.

    It was a wonderful experience and we were fortunate to have beautiful weather the entire week.

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • David Pomfret 3 years ago

    We had a fantastic time it was a highlight of the trip; can't say about the bikes as we had our own.

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Brent McLean 3 years ago

    Would be nice to sit with other people at meals. Everyone was great and it felt like we were on a camping trip.

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Hong Gao 3 years ago

    It was a great trip, thank you.

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Sharon Cratsenberg 3 years ago

    Perfect weather, gorgeous scenery, wonderful riding--loved every minute of the trip.

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Corinne Bauer 3 years ago

    Fabulous guides, wonderful scenery, food, very helpful Tripsite staff. Will be taking another trip as soon as I can!

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • John Bowyer 3 years ago

    Wonderful trip along the Danube. If you are biker you will find the bikes lacking. My wife with her spinal cord injury used an electric assist which worked very well.

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Susan Knight 3 years ago

    Amazing scenery, great company, delicious food, kind staff and somewhere comfy to sleep - with no unpacking! However,the crux of these trips stems from the quality of the guides. Our first trip, to Vienna, Had a guide that knew the route well, but smoked at every stop, and wanted to always eat dinner at somewhere he could buy alcohol; we preferred to eat our rolls in the fresh air, which sometimes was tricky. He tended to ride off without checking we were all ready, leaving riders behind until someone caught him. Our second trip (Merzig to Koblenz) had a lady guide who was not at all familiar with the area, but used her GPS to locate landmarks and routes (sometimes taking the shortest, not the most scenic). She didn't give an initial safety talk, she changed the route from the easy one offered to a more scenic but quite difficult one, causing one older, inexperienced lady to fall (end of trip for her and her husband,, hospitalisation for almost a fortnight, skingraft). Read more… Our replacement guide tried hard, but couldn't seem to match the route to the one we'd booked, so we missed seeing things we'd looked forward to. So our last trip, Koblenz to Amsterdam, was not one we would recommend unless they sorted the route out. Apart from the above, we'd recommend this mode of travel.

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Margaret Knode 3 years ago

    Staff was incredible. Only change I would make is in the dining room. To be allocated to a table with the same people for every meal was restrictive. We go on trips to meet people from different countries and to make new friends. On speaking with other travellers they mentioned that open seating would have made the whole experience that much more enjoyable. We thoroughly enjoyed our dining companions, but what if you didn't you were stuck all week.

    Can't say enough about how accommodating the staff were, especially in the dining room. Many thanks! Want to do the trip again next year add bring my siblings.

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Brett McGillivray 3 years ago

    Besides information on the bike routes, I enjoyed the information on side trips.

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Harvey & Sharon Rishe 4 years ago

    Although we are seasoned travelers and fairly fit cyclists, we were new to bike & boat touring, and as a result we probably drove TripSite's Carla crazy! But her patience never faltered; she was generous and gracious with answers to our interminable questions and we arrived in Passau well informed and ready to have a great time.

    Our expectations were met and exceeded. Not only had Carla prepared us well, but Rad & Reisen proved to be a world class organization. The accommodations were lovely, the gourmet meals splendid, the route information excellent, the professionalism and friendliness of the crew impeccable, and the camaraderie among fellow travelers delightful. Not to mention the gorgeous Danube scenery, the interesting villages, and beautiful Vienna!

    We were so happy with TripSite and Rad & Reisen that we are already researching our next bike and boat trip with them! Thank you for a lifetime of wonderful memories.

    Harvey & Sharon Read more… Rishe
    Salt Lake City, Utah

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • K. Augustyn 4 years ago

    I will say that this Danube barge/bike trip was probably one of the best vacations I have ever taken. My friends who took the trip with me feel the same way and we are considering doing another one next year. We will definitely consider the barge/bike cruises that you have to offer. Again, thank you very much!

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Joanne MacRae 4 years ago

    This was our best trip to Europe as it involved lots of fresh air and exercise in a dream like setting. We sang "the Sound of Music" as we cycled across the German border into Austria.

    The bicycles were top notch. The food on board was fabulous and the customer service was excellent. We were so pleased with the Pack and Pedal Europe organization for giving us lots of valuable information before we arrived on board. We felt we were well prepared for the bike and boat adventure. The whole experience exceeded our expectations! I would definitely advise anyone to take the "Comfort Relaxed Tour" as it identified us with a group of fellow cyclers on journey with an experienced guide who introduced us to the culture and cuisine of local villages in Austria. We appreciate all of the travelling tips and advice we received from Pack and Pedal as all of our inquiries were answered promptly. I highly recommend this tour to anyone. The bicycles were in top Read more… working order and cycling on the paved pathways along the Danube was a breeze for anyone in decent physical shape. We can't wait to return and take another trip!

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Emily Hull-Parsons 5 years ago

    We just returned from our trip and wanted you to know how much we enjoyed it! Thanks for your help.

    The shirt and shorts were a big hit!

    Boat: MS Normandie

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Along the Danube - Passau to Vienna Boats + Barges

MS Normandie Photo

MS Normandie Austria, Hungary, Germany, Slovakia Comfort Class Boat Last refurbished in 2011, the MS Normandie has a total of forty-nine 2-bed cabins and two single cabins with one bed. The cabins are equipped with two lower beds, shower / toilet, shampoo and soap, TV, safe, hairdryer, central air conditioning and panoramic windows. The windows on the upper deck can be opened. The beds during the day turn into sofas. The 1-bed cabins have a lower bed. On the upper deck you will find the cozy Panorama Lounge with bar and on the main deck, a lovely restaurant.

MS Arlene II Photo

MS Arlene II France, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary Comfort Plus Class Boat The MS Arlene II, formerly the Arlene, was upgraded before the 2018 season. All cabins on the vessel are outside featuring en-suite facilities with shower and hair dryer, TV, safe, and individually controlled air-conditioning.

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