Danube River through the Wachau Valley, Lower Austria. Photo via Flickr:Tom Walk

Bratislava Castle along the Danube in Slovakia. Photo courtesy of Donau Touristik
4.6/5 (18 ratings)

Along the Danube - Passau - Vienna - Budapest aboard the Primadonna

Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia Bike + Barge Tours

Cycle along the Danube River between four countries on the famous Danube Bike Path

  • Get ready for a treat! This bike and boat tour along the mighty Danube is similar to our other Four Country Tour but is offered on a premium ship! The Primadonna is a top-class river cruiser and combines luxury with all the benefits of a typical bike and boat tour. Because we are active vacationers, yet enjoy a touch of class as well, we feel this offering satisfies even the most discerning.

    The Danube landscape is unsurpassed and remains one of the top European destinations. From the charming Bavarian "Three River City" of Passau straight into the heart of the once glorious Imperial and Royal Monarchy, you will bike along the famous Danube Cycle Path through four countries and visit three of the most enchanting European capitals: the lively Vienna, City of Music, the Slovak coronation city of Bratislava, and Budapest, the Hungarian "Danube Queen".

    Highlights:

    • Accommodations on the Deluxe class riverboat, the Primadonna
    • The Wachau wine-growing region
    • City tours of Bratislava and Budapest
    • Cycling the beautiful Danube Bike path through four countries
    • World-class cuisine with specialties of the Danube countries, especially Viennese Cuisine. Primarily prepared with organic ingredients

    You can search our complete list of bike and barge tours in Germany

  • 2020

    May 8

    Bunk bed cabin/main deck (eco-cabin): £ 698 $ 1,546 € 821 $ 1237 NOK 7731 kr 7136 $ 928

    Twin bed cabin/main deck (middle of deck): £ 808 $ 1,791 € 951 $ 1433 NOK 8955 kr 8266 $ 1,075

    Double cabin/upper deck with balcony: £ 1216 $ 2,695 € 1431 $ 2156 NOK 13475 kr 12439 $ 1,617

    Double cabin/promenade deck with balcony: £ 1301 $ 2,883 € 1531 $ 2307 NOK 14417 kr 13308 $ 1,730

    May 8 Single Prices

    Bunk bed cabin/single-use/main deck astern (eco-cabin): £ 852 $ 1,889 € 1003 $ 1511 NOK 9445 kr 8718 $ 1,133

    Twin cabin/single-use/main deck (middle of deck): £ 1173 $ 2,601 € 1381 $ 2081 NOK 13004 kr 12004 $ 1,561

    Double cabin/single-use/upper deck with balcony: £ 2069 $ 4,586 € 2435 $ 3669 NOK 22930 kr 21166 $ 2,752

    Double cabin/single-use/promenade deck with balcony: £ 2218 $ 4,916 € 2610 $ 3932 NOK 24578 kr 22687 $ 2,949

     

    All other departures

    Bunk bed cabin/main deck astern (eco-cabin): £ 825 $ 1,829 € 971 $ 1463 NOK 9144 kr 8440 $ 1,097

    Twin bed cabin/main deck (middle of deck): £ 927 $ 2,055 € 1091 $ 1644 NOK 10274 kr 9483 $ 1,233

    Double cabin/upper deck with balcony: £ 1326 $ 2,940 € 1561 $ 2352 NOK 14699 kr 13569 $ 1,764

    Double cabin/promenade deck with balcony: £ 1411 $ 3,128 € 1661 $ 2503 NOK 15641 kr 14438 $ 1,877

    Single Prices 

    Bunk bed cabin/single-use/main deck astern (eco-cabin): £ 1012 $ 2,243 € 1191 $ 1794 NOK 11215 kr 10353 $ 1,346

    Twin cabin/single-use/main deck (middle of deck): £ 1352 $ 2,996 € 1591 $ 2397 NOK 14982 kr 13829 $ 1,798

    Double cabin/single-use/upper deck with balcony: £ 2263 $ 5,015 € 2663 $ 4012 NOK 25077 kr 23148 $ 3,009

    Double cabin/single-use/promenade deck with balcony: £ 2411 $ 5,345 € 2838 $ 4276 NOK 26725 kr 24669 $ 3,207

     

    extra options

    2020

    Extra nights in Passau on request.
    Electric bike rental: £ 75 $ 166 € 88 $ 133 NOK 829 kr 765 $ 99 Beverage package (soft drinks, coffee/tea, Mosel sparkling wine, quality wine, beer): £ 144 $ 318 € 169 $ 255 NOK 1591 kr 1469 $ 191 Discounts for triple and quad cabins (available on main and upper deck).
    Main deck (bunk beds) and upper deck with sofa bed (75 x 185 cm).

    please note

    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

    The closest international airport to your tour start and end in Passau is Munich International Airport.

    Local Travel

    Munich Airport (MUC) is well connected to the city center and beyond by public transportation, taxis, and transfer services.
    Public transportation:
    To access a train to Passau, your point of embarkation, you first take a bus to Freising train station (approximately €3). It’s also possible to take a taxi from the airport to Freising Station (approximately €27). From Freising, continue by train to Passau. The train ride is approx. 2–2½ hr. (depending on connections) and costs €30 to €45 depending on type of train.
    If you are arriving by car, just ask! We can provide parking details. If your travel plans include spending some time in Munich before your bike and boat tour, you can access a train to Munich city centerdirectly at the airport at either Terminal 1 or Terminal 2.
    Private transfers:
    Transfers from Munich can be booked through us for the Carissima and Fortuna only or on all boats individually through Salzburger Mietwagen und Reise Service GmbH (SMS).
    Phone: +43 (0) 662 - 8161 - 0 
    sms@flughafentransfer.at, www.flughafentransfer.at

    Climate

    The region has a moderate maritime climate, generally experiencing pleasantly mild winters and relatively cool summers. Please check local conditions prior to your departure and remember that your tour will cover a significant distance and will stretch along the Danube from Passau to Budapest and back. A good website to use to research average high/low temperatures, average rainfall, and more is weatherbase.com.

    Remarks

    On this tour, superb cuisine will top off your day. The chef and staff pride themselves on using organic ingredients and presenting top-rated cuisine. The day begins with a breakfast buffet, which offers a healthy start to the day, ranging from vegetable juices to the organic corner. For lunch, a 3-course menu is available with multiple options and a 4-course menu is available in the evenings, always also for vegetarians. In the late afternoon, a traditional 5 o’clock tea is provided, including homemade cakes and pastries in the Primavera café. At midnight, when the cinema evening in the board theater is over, midnight refreshments await you. For cycling cruises, a packed lunch is prepared.

    DOCUMENTS

    Before you travel, please check your country's passport and visa requirements and the passport and visa requirements of the country/countries you plan to visit. For US citizens, the US Department of State website is a good source of information. The Country Information tab in the International Travel section provides details about passport validity, blank passport pages required, etc. For our other international clients, please be sure that you research your own country's travel requirements. It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure proper documentation.

    *Important note: Beginning July 1, 2021, additional documentation from the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.

Where You’ll Stay

Accommodations on the Deluxe class vessel, the Primadonna

What’s Included

  • Accommodation for 7 nights in an air-conditioned cabin with safe and minibar
  • Welcome snack on arrival day
  • Daily breakfast buffet
  • Daily 3 course lunch or packed lunch for cyclists
  • Daily afternoon coffee/tea and cake
  • Daily 4 course dinner
  • Daily midnight snack in the panoramic bar
  • 7 or 21 speed hybrid bicycle with pannier (please specify preference at time of booking)
  • All passenger and port fees
  • Daily personal route information for the following cycling day
  • On board tour representative
  • Comprehensive route description and cycling maps
  • 1 partial body massage (approx. 20 min.) or 1 hydro jet massage
  • Guided city tour by bus "Vienna by night"
  • Guided city tour by bus in Budapest
  • Guided city tour in Bratislava on foot:
  • Welcome evening with crew including a complimentary drink
  • Free parking in Passau if needed
  • GPS data available for download

What’s Not Included

Along the Danube - Passau - Vienna - Budapest aboard the Primadonna Map

TourBike+Boat
TypeSelf Guided
SkillEasy
Length8 days
From€821 Rates
Tour Reviews

Share This Tour

Tour Dates

2020

Fridays: May 8, May 15, July 3, July 10, July 31, August 7, August 14, August 21, August 28, September 4, and September 11, 2020

 

Skill Level

This is an easy self-guided bike and boat tour with average daily distances between 22 to 35 miles (35 and 56 km). You will be following the mostly flat Danube Cycle path.

Tour Boats

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Along the Danube - Passau - Vienna - Budapest aboard the Primadonna Map

Day 1: Arrival in Passau at 4 pm
Day 2: Schlögen - Linz, 34 mi. (55 km)
Day 3: Tulln - Vienna,  22 mi. or 32 mi. (36 or 52 km)
Day 4: Komárom – Esztergom, 35 mi. (56 km)
Day 5: Sightseeing in Budapest and cycling tour to Margareteninsel, 14 mi. (22 km)
Day 6: Sightseeing in Bratislava and cycling Bratislava - Devin - Bratislava, 20 mi. (33 km)
Day 7: Cycling tour Krems to Pöchlarn, 30 mi. (48 km)
Day 8: Departure from Passau at 9 am

*All distances are approximate. Timetable and program are subject to changes by the captain due to regional conditions (among other things high or low water, adverse weather, storms, etc.).

Day 1: Passau - Schlögen 
Arrive at the fenced-in car park until 4 pm or arrival at Passau main station by 4.45 pm (e.g. arrival with train ICE 27). Bus transfer from the car park or from the main station to the ship is available for an additional charge. Please be on board by 7 pm! Welcome snacks are offered on board from 4 pm and this evening you will enjoy a captain’s welcome dinner with a 4-course menu. The ship will depart Passau at 8 pm and navigate to Schlögen, arriving approximately 11:30 pm.

Day 2: Schlögen - Linz,  34 mi. (55 km)
Distribution of bicycle rentals at Schlögen Bend in the morning. Your cycling itinerary today will lead through the uninhabited narrow valley near Kaiserau to Ottensheim and further on to Linz (European Capital of Culture 2009). The ship will depart from Schlögen at 12 noon and will arrive in Linz at 4:15 pm. The ship will depart from Linz at 8:30 pm, heading to Tullin, arriving at 7:30 am.

Day 3: Tulln - Vienna, 22 mi. or 32 mi. (36 or 52 km)
Plan on a visit to the Museum of Egon Schiele and garden exhibition (with 65 gardens) in Tulln, followed by a cycle tour from Tulln (“city of flowers”), with a wonderful view
of the foothills of the Viennese Wood (Wiener Wald), past Klosterneuburg (monastery – Austrian Escorial) to Vienna. Individual sightseeing in Vienna or if you prefer, a city tour by bike, 95 % of which will take place on dedicated cycle tracks!  More information will be provided onboard. After dinner, at 8:30 pm, a guided city tour is included by bus “Vienna by night”. The ship departs Tulln at 10 am, arriving in Vienna at noon. Departs Vienna at 11 pm and arrives in Komárnom at 9 am.

Day 4: Komárno - Esztergom-Štúrovo,  35 mi. (56 km)
After the ship arrives at 9 am, cyclists disembark to enjoy their cycling itinerary. You depart from Komárom, cycling on the left bank through small, dreamy places on the very beautiful, car-free causeway, sometimes pedaling directly along the Danube past Moča to Esztergom. The boat departs at 12 noon, heading to Esztergon/Štúrovo arriving at 4 pm.  Cyclists embark here for the evening. The ship navigates once again leaving at 6 pm, arriving in Budapest at 11 pm.

Day 5: Budapest, 14 mi. (22 km)
In the morning, you will enjoy a city tour by bus of Budapest which will leave directly from the boat landing station. The tour will take about 3.5 hours, with a stay in the city center of about 1.5 hours. From here you will be transferred back to the ship. In the afternoon, there is a possibility for a round trip tour by bike on the 8 km long car-free Margareten Island in Budapest. The ship departs from Budapest at 5 pm and arrives in Bratislava at 9 am.

Day 6:  Bratislava - Devin - Bratislava, 20 mi. (33 km)
You will enjoy a guided city tour through the historical center of Bratislava. Afterward, on the Danube cycling route, you will pedal to Devin and the Bratislava Castle, one of the landmarks of the city – a National Cultural Monument. It is situated on a rocky hill of the Little Carpathians in the center of the city and is overlooking the river Danube. It also provides an excellent view of Bratislava and Austria. Afterwards, cross the new cycling bridge, you arrive in Austria, to the magnificent palace of the Empress Maria Theresia, Castle Hof with its impressive Baroque gardens, staterooms, etc.). You will return to Bratislava to board the ship and enjoy a sailing dinner.  The ship departs Bratislava at 4 pm arriving in Krems at 9 am. 

Day 7: Krems - Pöchlarn, 30 mi. (48 km)
You will enjoy the cycling this day on the Danube cycling path in the Wachau from Krems (UNESCO world cultural heritage) via Dürnstein to Melk (monastery) and further on to Pöchlarn. After arriving at 9 am in Krems, the ship will depart at 11:30 am for Pöchlarn, arriving at 3:30 pm. Departs once again at 5 pm, heading to Passau.

Day 8: Passau
The ship is scheduled to arrive in Passau at 8 am.  Disembarkation at 10.00 am. Transfer to the parking spot or train station, if reserved.

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

*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 earplugs.

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

Share This Tour

Tour Reviews

  • Debra N. 3 weeks ago     Verified Reviewer

    We loved the arrival by night in Budapest! It was unexpectedly gorgeous with all the lighted bridges and buildings. Truly amazing. Fireworks were an unexpected highlight of the evening in Linz which just happened to have a celebration. Our third highlight was the last biking day through the Wachau Valley--such beautiful vineyards and small villages! One tip: bring a multi USB plug and more than one adaptor for use in the room.

    Boat: Primadonna

     Reply

  • Cindy T. 2 months ago     Verified Reviewer

    This was our first bike & boat trip and we loved it. Each day was a treat with amazing cathedrals, quaint towns, and Budapest at night was gorgeous! The ship was just as pictured, the crew was very attentive and helpful, and we enjoyed our balcony room on the top level. We were slightly concerned that we'd be the only English speaking passengers, but were up for the adventure. However, most of the crew spoke both English and German and at dinner they placed us among about 8 tables of Canadians, Americans, and others who preferred speaking English to German. Each evening, about 80% of the passengers preferred the bike tour information in German, but they provided a slide show and directions in both languages. The directions were good, an there was only one day we all were a bit lost, but it was fun. With everyone on the boat having distinctive blue panniers, it was easy to follow each other and laugh at our attempts to navigate. We still had plenty of time to see everything Read more… and get to the ship.

    As far as the bike routes, I prefer dedicated bicycle paths (not "sharrows") and loved every ride. Most were on dedicated paved paths, but some traversed through villages on very quiet roads. A few tips: Breakfast was the best meal of the day. Check your packed lunch at breakfast, which typically contained a veggie (cheese) sandwich, a cold cut sandwich, fruit, sparkling water, and a pastry. From the breakfast buffet, you can exchange the fruit and add a slice of meat to your veggie sandwich. If you don't like sparkling water, they will exchange that for bottled water at the reception desk. Dinner was good and I thought the portion size was reasonable given the four course meals (the soups were yummy!). Watch the tightness of the breaks on the bikes (the front break can launch you if you're not careful) but the bikes were in great condition. Plan ahead for your massage (which was fantastic). One came with the room and we purchased a second. We chose to skip one day of biking along the Danube, and we're pleased that we had plenty of time to bike around the town in the morning before the ship left port, get lunch, a massage, and a nap, and then bike around the new port we arrived in that afternoon.

    Thanks to all the crew on the MS Primadonna, who learned our names and favorite drinks by the second day! We miss you already.

    Boat: Primadonna

     Reply

  • Terry C. 2 months ago     Verified Reviewer

    This is the only way to do a river cruise. You are able to see and enjoy the country and at the same time stay active and get exercise. The bike paths were mostly flat, very few hills. The boat was very nice with good food and service. The highlight of the trip was entering Budapest at 10 pm. It was more than amazing. The bike guide really tried to prepare us each day for the following day bike ride, but it is easy to get lost and the maps we were given were not very clear.

    Boat: Primadonna

     Reply

  • Winifred T. 2 months ago     Verified Reviewer

    Our most memorable part of the trip was riding with several other cyclists who had better directions, and hence did not get lost!!! We rode through rain and sun, cold wind and steep hills, chic coffee shops and picturesque towns together. This is a wonderful first time experience for our family.
    I'd suggest to get to know other cyclists as soon as possible and try to arrange riding together. This would make the journey more fun.

    Boat: Primadonna

     Reply

    • tom 4 weeks ago     Verified Reviewer

      What time of year did toy take your trip? It appears you had some bad weather We are shooting for September in the hopes we will find good weather

       Reply

  • Patricia C. 3 months ago     Verified Reviewer

    Sailing down the Danube at night under the full moon we witnessed the beautiful lighted bridges and magnificent buildings of Vienna. It was magical!

    Boat: Primadonna

     Reply

  • Anna A. 9 months ago     Verified Reviewer

    Most Memorable Part? Cycling the afternoon around Vienna

    Boat: Primadonna

     Reply

  • Jeanne D. 10 months ago     Verified Reviewer

    The serene beauty of the country side of Germany, Austria and Hungry. Riding a bike through these wonderful countries was very special. The barge ride was very relaxing after a day of riding.

    Boat: Primadonna

     Reply

  • Laney B. 10 months ago     Verified Reviewer

    The scenery was beautiful and the accommodations were great. The riding was a pleasure start to finish. We loved it all and would do it again in a heartbeat!

    Boat: Primadonna

     Reply

  • Ken S. 10 months ago     Verified Reviewer

    We really enjoyed the Abbey in Melk, Tulln Gardens and the short walk about tour in Bratislavia

    Boat: Primadonna

     Reply

  • Mary B. 10 months ago     Verified Reviewer

    The most memorable part of the trip was sitting on the top deck in the evening, wrapped in a blanket, watching the clouds sail past the moon as the barge moved on to our next city on the Danube.
    Ensure you respond to the call to choose a table for meals on the barge if you wish to sit with or close to friends.
    Stay an extra night in Passau if you have the time...there is a lot to see and do.
    If possible, do some cycling before your trip to prepare you for the daily tours.
    If you would prefer to cycle with a guide let your agent know and they may be able to arrange it. It may be an option and worth an extra cost if it would make your trip more enjoyable.

    Boat: Primadonna

     Reply

  • Jeanne D. 11 months ago     Verified Reviewer

    The serene beauty of the country side of Germany, Austria and Hungry. Riding a bike through these wonderful countries was very special. The barge ride was very relaxing after a day of riding.

    Boat: Primadonna

     Reply

  • David F. 12 months ago     Verified Reviewer

    Breakfast good. Bagged lunches okay but not great and they only had sparkling water which I don't like and can't drink. No option to get still water without paying extra. Dinners good but not great. Only one meal very good. Most upset about not being able to drink the water from the room sink (which was announced over the PA system just before dinner after we had been onboard for a few hours)and then having to pay for still safe water for the cabin, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
    Bike barge nightly talk about the following day was always the second talk of the evening (made for later evenings or no room in the bar). Would have liked to share the first time slot for half of the evenings.
    Concierge staff outstanding and serving staff in the dinning room good.

    Boat: Primadonna

     Reply

  • Linda T. 2 years ago     Verified Reviewer

    Most Memorable Part? Cruising into Budapest at night. It was breath taking!!

    Boat: Primadonna

     Reply

  • Susan W. 2 years ago     Verified Reviewer

    The cruise was wonderful supported by a fantastic crew on the ship who went out of their way to provide a very positive experience.
    I had left my phone at a restaurant on the bike route and it was returned to me within 3 hours...I was so grateful.
    Having a tour guide would have been very helpful on certain days of the trip...ie Vienna.
    I was very disappointed with the fact that the biking portion of the Wachau valley that was in the itinerary had been eliminated without our knowing until the night before.
    it was to have been a highlight for our group and the cruise company said that it was Never a part of the biking route.!
    We rented e bikes at an extra cost for the 4 of us because of the distance to be covered that day and otherwise would not have.

    All of the cycling group received the same information from Tripsite about the Wachau valley and we were all disappointed.

    Otherwise I would highly recommend this trip but do feel that you should update Read more… your itinerary so that people aren't disappointed.

    Boat: Primadonna

     Reply

    • Jehiel from Tripsite 2 years ago     Staff

      Hi Susan,
      I wanted to apologize that a portion of the Wachau Valley had to be eliminated from the itinerary. This was because of the low tides and the impossibility of docking at this location.
      For 2018 we solved this problem. Only habours running the whole year will be part of the itinerary.
      Glad you still had a time!

       Reply

  • York C. 2 years ago     Verified Reviewer

    Great trip. Boat and river cruise portion of the trip was more than expected. Service and the crew on the boat were excellent, including the food.
    Quality of bicycles was excellent. They were mechanically perfect. The only down side of the entire trip were the nightly route planning meetings and the quality of the maps and route guides. It was obvious that the tour leader giving the route agenda had never ridden the bike paths. Her English was not very good which made it even more difficult to understand the route(s). We had to fend for ourselves (asking people on the street for directions) numerous times because the routes were just not made clear. Also, the route was not what was not the same as what was spelled out on the website.
    Overall, we were very satisfied with the trip.

    Boat: Primadonna

     Reply

    • Carla from Tripsite 2 years ago     Staff

      Hi York,
      Thanks so much for your feedback! We have good news.... the route guides & maps are currently being updated for the 2018 season. We hope to avoid any confusion in the upcoming tours.
      Unfortunately the guide on board was a replacement and not as knowledgable as our usual guides. On rare occasions there is sickness or other factors that prevent our normal guides from being on board.
      So glad to hear you still had a great tour!
      Sincerely,
      Carla

       Reply

  • Carolyn H. 2 years ago     Verified Reviewer

    We had a a great time . The only feedback I would give is that most of the passengers were German and there was very little information given in English.

    Boat: Primadonna

     Reply

  • Linda T. 2 years ago     Verified Reviewer

    We really enjoyed our experience on the Primadonna! Food was delicious and staff were very attentive. Biking the countryside was a definite highlight! Our most spectacular and memorable part of the trip would be cruising into Budapest at night! It was breath taking!!
    We really had a great time and look forward to doing another bike trip soon.

    Boat: Primadonna

     Reply

  • Antonina G. 2 years ago     Verified Reviewer

    Loved the ship-the Primadonna. We liked it that the servings were not big and that you could ask for seconds. Appreciated the lunches they prepared. It was a great trip. Staff was helpful and efficient.

     Reply

Biked This Tour? Post Your Feedback

Read reviews for all bike tours

Along the Danube - Passau - Vienna - Budapest aboard the Primadonna Boats + Barges

Primadonna Photo

Primadonna Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary Deluxe Class Boat Experience the elegance of the MS Primadonna, with spacious decks, spa facilities, restaurant, bar, atrium and much more, on a cycling holiday without having to pack and unpack each day. Your boat will await you at your destination every day. You can also feel free to spend some of your time on board where you can enjoy the Jacuzzi on the outdoor deck or the spa area, which is equipped with Jacuzzi, sauna, Kneip basin, etc. All meals on this Austrian cruise line are freshly cooked and have a particular emphasis on regional and organic products.

Find Your Perfect Bike Tour

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

PWPC