Nuremberg to Passau

Nuremberg to Passau

Day 1: Nuremberg - Roth
Day 2: Roth - Berching, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 3: Berching - Riedenburg. 26 mi. (41 km)
Day 4: Riedenburg - Essing - Regensburg, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 5: Regensburg - Pondorf - Straubing 25 mi. (40 km) or extend to 33 mi. (53 km)
Day 6: Straubing - Deggendorf, 24 mi. (39 km) or extend to 31 mi. (49 km) 
Day 7: Deggendorf - Vilshofen - Passau north - Passau, 24 mi. (38 km) or extend to 38 mi. (60 km)
Day 8: Passau 

All distances are approximate. The itinerary is subject to change sometimes without prior notice.  Some waterways may be subject to occasional closures due to drought, storms, floods, canal or lock repairs, or other unforeseen circumstances that make navigation unsafe or impossible. The captain reserves the right to make any changes deemed necessary.

Day 1: Nuremberg - Roth
Check-in onboard begins at 3:30 pm. Be prompt because at 5 pm the Merlijn will set sail for Roth where there is an overnight stay. As you enjoy a complimentary welcome beverage, the crew will be introduced and you will be provided information on the tour, the ship, and have a safety briefing. After departing from Nuremberg, your bike and barge cruise will really begin, so settle in the lounge or on the outside terrace with a drink, and let the Main-Danube canal amaze you! A meal will be served during the cruise and in the evening there will be time for an after-dinner stroll ashore.

Day 2: Roth - Berching, 25 mi. (40 km)
After breakfast and a bike introduction, your cycle tour to the Rothsee will start, where bathing and sailing enthusiasts and surfers relax all year round. After your first coffee stop at a traditional German bakery, you will continue cycling, passing by the picturesque Bavarian towns of Allersberg and Freystadt.

The last stretch of today’s tour will lead you along the abandoned old Ludwig-Donau-Main Canal, which at one time linked the Rhine with the Danube at Kelheim. The canal was named after King Ludwig I of Bavaria, and built between 1836 and 1846. Construction of the roughly parallel, but much larger Rhine-Main–Danube Canal that we know today was started in 1921, but wasn’t completed until 1992. You’ll board the Merlijn in the city of Berching for the overnight stay at the highest point on this trip, 406 meters above sea level. From Nuremberg, you will have sailed upstream away from the Rhine, and now you will sail downstream towards the Danube River.

Day 3: Berching - Riedenburg. 26 mi. (41 km)
Your cycling itinerary will lead you to the village of Plankstetten where the iconic Benedictine monastery on the edge of the forest, founded in 1129, dominates the surroundings. You then continue along the Main-Danube canal to Beilngries, in the heart of the Altmühltal. After a short break, you carry on through the Altmühl Valley to today’s destination, Riedenburg. In this stunning medieval town, you might want to visit the St. John Baptist Church or the Church of Our Lady, which may look like a proper Baroque church today, but is a medieval one at heart, dating back to the 12th century. At the Farmer’s Market, you can browse local specialties.

Day 4: Riedenburg - Essing - Regensburg, 28 mi. (45 km )
The Merlijn will continue its journey and as Essing nears, its technically unique wooden bridge will come into view. Measuring 193 meters in length, this work of art is the longest wooden bridge in Europe. This is the starting point for today’s bike tour. At first, you will mainly follow the towpath along the canal. The last section before the Kelheim lock is dammed and looks like a lake. You cross the lock by a bridge and climb up the mountain to the Befreiungshalle. This Hall of Liberation was commissioned by King Ludwig I of Bavaria to commemorate the victories against Napoleon. What is particularly interesting is the view, where you can see the confluence of the Main Danube Canal and the Danube. 

After a visit to Kelheim, you carry on to Regensburg, where the  Altmühl bike route connects with the Danube bike route, leading to Regensburg. You will ride through the Winzer vineyards and also visit Bad Abbach, popular for its sulfur and mud baths. The destination today is Regensburg, a fascinatingly well-preserved medieval town. Highlights include the cathedral dating back to the 8th century, the collegiate church, and the stone imperial bridge. At the end of the day, there is an opportunity for a guided city tour by a local guide. At night you can enjoy some local Bavarian cuisine as dinner is on your own this evening.

Day 5: Regensburg - Pondorf - Straubing 25 mi. (40 km) or extend to 33 mi. (53 km)
This morning, you leave the bustling German town by bike to cycle along the popular classic Danube Cycle Path to Pondorf. Here you can join the Merlijn for an afternoon cruise or cycle on to Straubing. After the first stretch, you can make an interesting pit stop at the Walhalla near Donaustauf, which King Ludwig I had built as a temple to honor notable Germans, entrance and audio tour included. You continue along the beautiful Danube to Castle  Wörth, where you will have a view of the Gäuboden Plain of Bavaria, also called ‘the granary of Bavaria’. Follow the Danube path on to Pondorf, where the Merlijn will be moored. If you haven't clocked up enough miles yet, you can cycle on to the ducal city of Straubing. Straubing has Celtic and Roman roots and is known for its unmistakable green spired tower in the city center, its picturesque town square, the baroque townhouses, and the Graubünden Museum, which is always worth a visit.

Day 6: Straubing - Deggendorf, 24 mi. (39 km) or extend to 31 mi. (49 km) 
You will cycle from Straubing to Deggendorf, admiring the famous ‘blue’ Danube from your bike, as you follow its banks turn by turn. The first stop is Bogen, located at the foot of the steep Bogen mountain. Next up is Pfelling, a small village but one with nautical significance, as it registers the water level in this shallow section of the Danube. In Metten, you can enjoy the beautiful abbey and Prälaten garden. From here you can extend the tour by 10 km by cycling on to the stunning Castle Egg or continue directly to Deggendorf, also known as the gateway to the Bavarian Forest. Upon arrival, you might think you’ve cycled a loop because the center of the town is very much like Straubing! The old town, characterized by Gothic and Baroque styles, is definitely worth a visit.

Day 7: Deggendorf - Vilshofen - Passau north - Passau, 24 mi. (38 km) or extend to 38 mi. (60 km)
The last stage of your bicycle tour on the Danube cycle path first leads you via Niederalteich, home to one of the oldest Benedictine monasteries in Bavaria, to Vilshofen, where the Merlijn awaits you for an afternoon cruise. You can also extend your bike tour to the vicinity of Passau. Whichever option you choose, you can spend the last part of your bike and barge cruise the same way you started it, cruising on board with a drink on the terrace as the boat navigates into the three-river city of Passau. Here the Inn, Ilz, and Danube meet and merge. In the evening, a captain’s dinner will be served on board.

Day 8: Passau 
After breakfast, it will be time to say goodbye! If you choose to continue your holiday, Passau is a good place to spend a few more days. Explore the three rivers by boat and enjoy the evening with a walk through the old town or a visit to Veste Oberhaus opposite. From 1867, the castle served as a penal institution, but today, it is home to the town museum, which has numerous permanent and special exhibitions. From the terrace, you have a wonderful view of the old town of Passau and the confluence of the three rivers.

Passau to Nuremberg

Day 1: Passau - Vilshofen
Day 2: Vilshofen - Deggendorf, 24 mi. (38 km)
Day 3: Deggendorf - Straubing, 24 mi. (39 km) or extend to 31 mi. (49 km)
Day 4: Straubing - Pondorf - Refensburg, 40 km
Day 5: Regensburg - Essing - Riedenburg, 45 km or extend to 55 km
Day 6: Riedenburg - Berching, 41 km
Day 7: Berching - Roth -  Nuremberg, 45 km
Day 8: Nuremberg

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