Danube Bike Path - Regensburg to Vienna

Day 1: Regensburg
Day 2: Regensburg - Straubing, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 3: Straubing - Deggendorf, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 4: Deggendorf - Passau, 37 mi. (60 km)
Day 5: Passau - Danube Bend/surroundings, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 6: Danube Bend/surroundings - Linz, 34 mi. (55 km)
Day 7: Linz - Ardagger/Grein, 37 mi. (60 km)
Day 8: Ardagger/Grein - Wachau Valley, 40 mi. (65 km)
Day 9: Wachau Valley - Tulln, 37 mi. (60 km)
Day 10: Tulln - Vienna, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 11: Vienna departure or extension of trip

All distances are approximate. Do note that the routes are checked yearly but due to roadwork, or other situations beyond control, sometimes the route may have changed. In this case, please follow local detours/directions.

Day 1: Regensburg
Individual arrival to Regensburg. This medieval town is the perfect place to begin your bike tour along the Danube. It contains many buildings of exceptional quality that testify to its history as a trading center and to its influence on the region from the 9th century.  Be sure to visit the market, city hall, and cathedral! 

Sample accommodation:
Hotel Münchner Hof Regensburg

Day 2: Regensburg - Straubing, 31 mi. (approx. 50 km)
After passing the Bridge of the Nibelungs and the “Walhalla-Allee”, you will reach the marked bike route “Tour de Baroque”, which takes you to Donaustauf. The ruins of a medieval castle, presumably erected between 914 and 930, tower above the small town. Visible from afar, the famous Walhalla, “Temple of German Honour”, rises above the Danube Valley. You continue on the Danube levy, past the Geilsing step, and through the area around the Old Danube to Straubing.

Sample accommodation:
Hotel Theresientor Straubing

Day 3: Straubing - Deggendorf, 25 mi. (approx. 40 km)
Today you continue to bike through Danube Valley and soon you'll arrive to Bogen beneath the steep Bogen Mountain. This quiet little town is one of the gates to the Bavarian Forest, where nature abounds. You will continue to Metten, where in good weather the twin towers of the church are visible. Be sure to visit the library in the Benedictine Convent and the church with its fabulous Asam paintings. You will spend the night in Deggendorf. This city is not only known for its scenic beauty; Deggendorf is home to many impressive monuments which are sure to surprise you!

Sample accommodation:
Hotel Höttl Deggendorf

Day 4: Deggendorf - Passau, 37 mi. (approx. 60 km)
The route leads you to the historic little town of Vilshofen. The cobblestoned Old Town sits right on the water and is a perfect place for a stroll. In no time at all, you will reach your final destination, the three-river city and former diocesan town of Passau. Be sure to visit the jewel of the city: Saint Stephen’s Cathedral. This Italian Baroque-style building is home to the largest organ outside of the United States. It's also worthwhile to visit the Höllgasse, the artists' mile in Passau's Old Town, where the beautiful old buildings are full of studios, workshops, & galleries. 

Sample accommodation:
Hotel Passauer Wolf

Day 5: Passau - Danube Bend, 25 mi. (approx. 40 km)
Via Obernzell, you pedal through the Sauwald region with lush forests and abundant farmland to Engelhartszell. Stift Engelszell or Engelszell Abbey, founded in 1293, is the only Trappist monastery in Austria and is also home to the only Trappist brewery in the country (and only one of eight total outside of Belgium). The ride continues through the Donauleiten nature reserve, from where you reach the Schlögen Bend. This is where you'll see the mighty Danube river change directions by 180 degrees, an incredible natural spectacle! 

Sample accommodation:
River Resort Donauschlinge Schlögen

Day 6: Danube Bend - Linz/surroundings, 34 mi. (approx. 55 km)
At Aschach, the valley stretches before you. You'll cycle through Eferdinger Becken, before reaching Linz. Named a UNESCO City of Media Arts, Linz has plenty to offer. There are lots of Baroque buildings to explore including the former town hall, Altes Rathaus and the old cathedral or Alter Dom. The riverside Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz has a major modern art collection. Across the river, the striking Ars Electronica Center focuses on society, technology, & life in the future.

Sample accommodation:
COURTYARD by Marriott Hotel Linz

Day 7: Linz - Ardagger/Grein, 37 mi. (approx. 60 km)
You will pedal away from the course of the Danube for a change, via St. Florian (Augustinian monastery) to Enns, the oldest town in Austria. In Enns, you can view the town square with its 60-meter-high tower, or visit the archaeological collection in the municipal museum Lauriacum. You'll eventually pedal back to the Danube until reaching the beautiful baroque town of Grein. Here you have the opportunity to visit the oldest municipal theater in Austria that is still being used today. Additionally, you can visit the Greinburg Castle; possibly Grein's most popular attraction and one of the first castles in this region.

Sample accommodation:
Hotel Goldenes Kreuz Grein

Day 8: Ardagger/Grein - Wachau Valley, 40 mi. (approx. 65 km)
This section of the Danube, the Strudengau, was once feared by sailors due to the strong currents, but now you can cycle along it peacefully. In Maria Taferl, high above the Danube, you will find the magnificent pilgrimage church, which attracts thousands of pilgrims every year. Be sure to make a stop in Melk and admire the beautiful monastery that overlooks the Danube. As soon as you leave Melk, you will cycle into the picturesque Wachau region, where you can enjoy the charming atmosphere of the region’s typical orchards and vineyards. A wine tasting is almost a must in this area!

Sample accommodation:
Gasthof Goldenes Schiff Spitz

Day 9: Wachau Valley - Tulln, 37 mi. (approx. 60 km)
Today you get to enjoy one of the most beautiful stretches of the entire tour. Natural beauty has created a picturesque cultural landscape. You will bike past lush vineyards on rolling, terraced hills and through extensive apricot orchards. The small wine towns beside the Danube are particularly charming. You will continue pedaling along until reaching the 1000-year-old town of Krems, before finishing your day in Tulln. The city is also known as the "city of flowers". The local Egon-Schiele-museum is worth a visit. 

Sample accommodation:
Hotel Nibelungenhof Tulln

Day 10: Tulln - Vienna, 25 mi. (approx. 40 km)
You will spend your last cycling morning biking through the foothills of the Viennese Forest before reaching the gorgeous city of Vienna. This city's artistic and intellectual legacy was shaped by residents including Mozart, Beethoven, and Sigmund Freud. The city is also known for its Imperial palaces, including Schönbrunn, the Habsburgs’ summer residence. In the MuseumsQuartier district, historic and contemporary buildings display works by Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, & other artists.

Sample accommodation:
ROOMZ Hotel Prater Vienna

Day 11: Vienna departure or extension of trip
Your tour comes to an end, consider booking extra nights in this amazing city!

The hotels used for this bike tour are good quality 3 and 4-star accommodations, all rooms have private facilities. A sample hotel list can be found in the day-to-day description.