Following the flow of the Danube, along the Danube Bike Path, an indescribably beautiful and varied scenery surrounds you through three countries and three capitals. Between the Austrian and Hungarian alluvial landscape and the Danube River Bend, you will experience regional art, culture, and nature. The highlights of this bicycle tour in Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia are as varied as the people and cultures.
Your tour starts in Vienna, the capital of Austria, city of music, culture, art, and history and your final destination and delight is Budapest, Hungary's capital, regarded as one of Europe's most beautiful cities. In the 8 days of exploring, you will enjoy the Danube Flood Plains National Park, Bratislava, Archaeological Park Carnuntum, and Esztergom.
Highlights included but not limited to:
3 capitals: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest
National Park Donauauen
Archaeological Park Carnuntum
Protected Area “Szigetköz”
Basilica in Esztergom – Hungary’s biggest church
Danube Bend
Artist town Szentendre
The long and mighty Danube links nations and cultures and you will experience this as you bike Europe's best-known bike path through three countries and visit three capitals. Enjoy the journey.
This tour can be taken as a 14-day tour from Passau to Budapest. Please contact us for details.
Season 1 (arrivals on Saturday only): April 18 to April 26 + September 28 to October 10, 2020 Season 2 (arrivals on Saturday and Sunday): April 27 to June 28 + August 31 to September 27, 2020 Season 3 (arrivals on Saturday and Sunday): June 29 to August 30, 2020
Due to the following events in Budapest, hotel availability here may be problematic and will incur a surcharge. UEFA: Tour starts: June 12 through June 14 and June 19 through June 21: and the following extra nights, June 12 - June 29: Supplement, per person/per night: $52£26$45€28$53kr316$32Single supplement per night: $102£50$88€55$104kr620$63NEK Pope visit: Tour starts: September 11 - September 13 and the following extra nights, September 17 - September 19: Supplement per person/per night: $52£26$45€28$53kr316$32Single supplement: $102£50$88€55$104kr620$63
extra options
Dinners included: Category A (7 dinners): $294£145$254€159$300kr1792$181Category B (6 dinners, excluding Vienna): $220£109$190€119$224kr1341$136Electric bike, with pannier: $174£86$150€94$177kr1060$107*Helmet purchase, to be paid on arrival:$54£27$46€29$55kr327$33*Bus, Budapest to Vienna: pending *Must be reserved at time of booking Buses depart daily at 11 am, 1 and 3 pm. Travel time is approx. 3 hours and stops at Vienna International Airport as well as city center (please inform at time of booking where you would like to get off and preferred time)
Extra nights incl. breakfast
Category A
Category B
Vienna 4 *
$126£62$109€68$128kr767$77
$126£62$109€68$128kr767$77
Single room
$181£90$157€98$185kr1105$112
$181£90$157€98$185kr1105$112
Budapest 4 *
$118£59$102€64$121kr721$73
$96£48$83€52$98kr586$59
Single room
$214£106$185€116$219kr1308$132
$163£80$141€88$166kr992$100
Extra night in Bratislava (Cat A&B):$91£45$78€49$92kr552$56
The night in Bratislava is only possible when you start the tour with the first night in Vienna on a Friday or Saturday.
Additional supplement for Budapest: June 12 - June 29 and September 17 - September 19: $52£26$45€28$53kr316$32Single: $102£50$88€55$104kr620$63
Children's discounts are available.
please note
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
A non-refundable admin fee of 20 Euros per person is included in the deposit amount.
Fly to Vienna (VIE) or Bratislava (BTS). Vienna International Airport is about 16 km east of the city of Vienna in Schwechat.
Local Travel
VIE:By bus: Vienna Airport lines operates two bus lines from the airport to the center. The buses leave at 30 minute intervals. One way costs €8 and tickets are purchased on board. By Taxi Bratislava Take Slovak Lines/postbus to Vienna Central Station. End of tour:Transfer Budapest - Vienna (please reserve at time of booking): Public bus: Departures every 2 hours on a daily basis, 11 am, 1 or 3 pm. Travel time is approx. 3 hours, stopping at Vienna International Airport as well as the city center (please inform at time of booking where you´d like to get off). Other departure times on request, schedule is subject to change. If you are returning to BTS (Bratislava), you can take a bus from Budapest. <br?
More details regarding travel will be provided.
Climate
Please check local conditions before your arrival, keeping in mind that you will be traveling south through three countries. A very good website to research average high/low temperatures including average rainfall is weatherbase.com. First, pick the country and then select the city. (You can select Fahrenheit or Centigrade.) For example, in Bratislava, Slovakia, midway on your tour, average high/low temperatures from April through October are April, 60/40° F, May, 69/49° F, June, 75/55° F, July, 79/58° F, August, 79/57° F, September, 71/51° F, and October, 59/42° F.
Recommended
Extra nights in Vienna and Budapest are highly recommended.
Remarks
In Austria, it is mandatory for children under the age of 12 to wear a bike helmet when on a bike. Please protect your little ones and bring their helmet. Reflective vests are not obligatory, but advised. In Slovakia, it is obligatory to wear a bike helmet outside of villages and for children under 15 years, mandatory at all times. Reflective vests are mandatory during times of low visibility. In Hungary, it is mandatory to wear safety vests during times of low visibility. It is not obligatory to wear a helmet but we advised to never cycle without one!
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. We recommend that you make copies of your important documents and papers (insurance cards, etc.). Leave a copy at home and have a copy with you. In the unfortunate situation that you lose your original documents, having copies facilitates the replacement process.
*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.
Tour Dates
2020
Season 1 (arrivals on Saturday only): April 18 to April 26 + September 28 to October 10, 2020 Season 2 (arrivals on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday): April 27 to June 28 + August 31 to September 27, 2020 Season 3 (arrivals on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday): June 29 to August 30, 2020
Due to the following events in Budapest, hotel availability in Budapest may be problematic and will incur a surcharge.
Formula I Grand Prix: Tour starts: July 24 through July 26 not possible. UEFA: Tour starts: June 12 through June 14 and June 19 through June 21 and Extra Nights: June 12 through June 29. A supplement will apply. See pricing. NEK pope visit: Tour starts:September 11 through the 13 and Extra Nights: September 17 through September 19. A supplement will apply. See pricing.
Where You’ll Stay
Category A: 4-star hotels, centrally located Category B: In Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest, 4-star hotels. In all other cities, 3-star hotels/inns
What’s Included
Hotel accommodation for 7 nights according to booked category
Breakfasts
21 gear unisex touring bike with handlebar bag, pannier, and odometer
Luggage transfer (max. 2 pieces of luggage, max. 20 kg for one piece and no more than 30 kg/person)
Route descriptions, tour information, and maps - one set per room
GPS tracks (on request)
1 train trip Mosonmagyarovar - Györ (incl. bike)
1 ship transfer Szentendre - Budapest*
Service hotline
*Train transfers are provided on dates that ship transfer is not possible.
What’s Not Included
Individual arrival to Vienna
Lunches
Dinners (Can be included for a supplement. See pricing.)
Relatively easy hotel tour along the Danube River bike path with rolling hills that at times can be steep. The Austrian section follows well-maintained cycling paths. In Hungary, you will often cycle on country roads. Upon entering and leaving the cities, you will encounter traffic.
Day-To-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Vienna Day 2: Vienna - Region Bad Deutsch Altenburg/surroundings, 26 mi. (42 km) Day 3: Region Bad Deutsch Altenburg/surroundings - Bratislava, 16 mi. (26 km) Day 4: Bratislava - Györ, 31 mi. (50 km) + train ride Mosonmagyarovar - Györ Day 5: Györ - Komarno/ surroundings, 35 mi. (57 km) Day 6: Komarno/surroundings - Danube Bend, 31 mi. (52 km) Day 7: Danube Bend - Budapest, 39 mi. (62 km) + ship Day 8: Departure from Budapest
*All distances in this bicycle tour in Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria are approximate and vary according to details of accommodations.
DAY 1: Vienna Individual arrival to the capital of Austria and overnight in the city. Opportunity to explore this city of music. you could visit a typical Viennese tavern to experience local cuisine.
Excursions possible (ask us for details):
City Tour by bike
Historical City Tour with Schönbrunn Palace
Waltz and Operetta concert at a Viennese palace
Vienna Hop on and Hop off bus tour
Vienna Pass
DAY 2: Vienna - Region Bad Deutsch Altenburg area, 26 mi. (42 km) Not far from Vienna, begins an untouched alluvial landscape and Nature Reserve with stunning and diverse flora and fauna. The silence is interrupted only by the sounds of the birds. You will have an opportunity to visit the Archaeological Park of Carnuntum which was once a Roman Army camp. Emperor-to-be Tiberius founded the settlement; he erected a fortified winter camp in the Carnuntum area in the year 6 AD which evolved into one of the most important cities within the Roman Empire. You will find detailed reconstructions of Roman buildings, entertaining stories, and plenty of interesting information regarding Roman traditions, customs, and celebrations.
DAY 3: Region Bad Deutsch Altenburg - Bratislava, 16 mi. (26 km) Nestled in the hills of Hainburg and the Carpathian Mountains, you start your day's journey with cycling to Europe's youngest capital, Bratislava, a contrast between old and new. You will find cobblestoned roads, pedestrian plazas, pastel 18th-century rococo buildings and street cafés galore. Expand your gaze and you can’t miss the institutional housing blocks and bizarre communist construction beyond. An age-old castle shares the skyline with a modern and unusual bridge.
DAY 4: Bratislava - Szigetköz - Györ, 31 mi. (50 km) + train The marshy landscape of the Szigetköz is a paradise for birds, fish, and more. In the midst of these wild and untouched lowlands with more than 500 tiny islands, there are quaint farming villages and a labyrinth of countless Danube canals and creeks. After a relaxing train ride, the day's final destination awaits, Györ, with its gorgeous Baroque-style old town square. Győr, Hungary's second richest town in historic buildings outside Budapest has won Europe-award for the protection of the historic buildings, in acknowledgment of the reconstruction of the Baroque center of the town. Churches, palaces, museums, characteristic corner balconies and narrow lanes, all reminders of a historic past, invite visitors to take a walk in the center of the town
DAY 5: Györ - Komarno/surroundings, 35 mi. (57 km) The route leads through the outskirts of Györ through the suburbs and continues on through the lowlands of the hill country of Transdanubian. In Babolna, you will want to visit the world-famous stud farm, known for its Arabian horse breeding. Afterward, through lush rolling hills of the village of Komarom, you reach the final destination of the day.
DAY 6: Komarno - Danube Bend, 31 mi. (52 km) Today you will cycle along the banks of the Slovakian Danube on low traffic roads through quaint and quintessential villages. On the way to the "Town of Bishops and Kings", Esztergom, also known as the "Hungarian Rome" or "Royal City", you will pass the Roman fort of Kelemantia. The small town of Esztergom in Hungary played an important role in the establishment of the Hungarian state 1000 years ago. As a royal seat for two centuries and as a center for the Roman Catholic religion for 1000 years it abounds with history and culture. The Basilica of Esztergom, the largest Catholic Church in Hungary, is a highlight.
DAY 7: Danube Bend - Budapest, 39 mi. (62 km) + boat or train transfer Amidst the hilly landscape, the Danube River divides itself into parts creating the Szentendre Island. Here, you cycle through typical Hungarian villages. Szentendre is famous for its numerous handicraft boutiques and the Open - Air Museum, Skanzen. Depending on the time of year you travel, the itinerary today features either a boat ride into the city or a train ride.
Free Budapest App
Budapest City tour by bike
Budapest Hop on and Hop-off bus tour
DAY 8: Budapest Today is at your leisure to enjoy the Hungarian capital. It is bustling but peaceful, a friendly metropolis and a place where old treasures blend with the modern. Long gone is its communist shadow. Today, Budapest is embracing its role as an important 21st-century city. If you want to return to Vienna, there are daily departures every 2 hours by bus. Duration of trip is approximately 3 hours. You can even request that you be dropped off at the Vienna International Airport. Return by train is also possible. Boat transfers are seasonal, usually operated from mid-April to the end of June (except Monday) and July through end of August, daily. Departure is at 4:30 to 5 pm, with check-in required one-half hour early.
Each city or town visited was a treasure. Lot's to explore. The hotels were good, many in excellent locations. Breakfast was large. The bike riding was pleasant.
We very much enjoyed this trip but it was a real adventure. At times I felt we were filming an episode for the Amazing Race! The maps we were provided with were very confusing. For example, we were not made aware that we had to make a detour as portions of the National Park were closed. Google Maps wasn't much help as they do not provide bicycle routes for Slovakia and Hungary. Fortunately, other cyclists told us to download the MAPS.ME app and this was a real life saver. I would advise anyone doing this trip to use this app or have some sort of GPS. We encountered other cyclists that were travelling with other companies that were provided with far more detailed maps, yet they too had difficulty. A GPS is a must.
We were dismayed that on a couple of occasions our luggage left unattended in the lobby area of hotels. I feel the luggage should always be stored in a secure area.
Hi Paula! Thanks so much for sharing this feedback. Using GPS tracks is a great option and we recommend Maps.me...we even wrote a blog about it. As for your luggage, we agree luggage should be secured or monitored at all times and we will pass this on to our local partners. Glad you had a good trip!
I loved the convenience of all the planning and coordinating by Tripsite which allowed my party to really enjoy the biking, hotels and experience of the trip. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality and care of the bikes which could make or break of this trip. Working with Tripsite was easy and pleasant.
My favorite portion was the path from Vienna to Bratislava (and both cities were awesome to visit). We were mostly on the Danube and there were interesting sites along the way. My one suggestion is to let people know that most of the ride through Hungary is not along the river but includes long flat stretches of farmland. The final day going into Budapest was great with 3 ferry rides and a boat trip into the city.
One of the most memorable parts of the trip were all of the absolutely gorgeous roses we saw growing everywhere! It was a fairly easy ride although wish more of the route had been along the Danube! In a couple of spots, the signage was poor or nonexistent so that was a little challenging but overall it was delightful!
The trip was awesome. The bike trails were excellent and we were so much in contact with nature that we couldn't believe it. Everything was very well organized and the villages and cities we visited were great. No complaints except for the Flamenco Hotel in Budapest, which was not as expected. We had to have our breakfast in the lobby sitting on a sofa because there weren't enough tables for all the guests. They didn't refill the breakfast buffet and no one took care of the spills on the tables. Besides the rooms were old and smelly. But it was just a hotel and we will definitely do more of these trips in the near future because it was a great adventure and a memorable experience! I really recommend Tripsite.
Favorite Part: A short cycling day through quiet, autumnal countryside, took us to Bratislava leaving us with oodles of time to spend exploring colorful backstreets and the rise to the impressive castle.
A great adventure... We found the trail well marked throughout the journey; several times, at moments of confusion, we found discreet signs or stickers from a biking organization pointing the way. Budapest was exotic. Vienna was ultra-clean and organized. Bratislava had quaint, old-European, windy roads to explore. But my favorite parts of the trip were smaller towns and villages of Gyor, Bad Deutsch, the castle at Hainburg, the Hotel Bow Garden in Komarno, Slovakia (it is an old synagogue with a bowling lane at the reception desk!), and the jewels in the basilica in Esztergom. This is my third trip with Tripsite in 6 years; I am already seeking ideas for the fourth.
We enjoyed the trip very much and are planning another. We enquired about the the free shirts for repeat customers but haven't gotten them. The website is not clear about ordering them.
The bike route and description was really good except on 2 occasions. First, riding out of bratislava is confusing. There is trail construction and NO sign saying where to turn for detour. The second poor section was the last 5 ish miles riding into Budapest. Route poorly marked. We ended up just asking how to get to our hotel since we couldn't find any signs.
Ja conheco Budapeste e Praga.Em Budapeste(cidade linda e agradavel)fiz um tour de bike e agora gostaria de conhecer tmbem Viena,entao,gostaria de informaco sobre preco completo saindo de salvador,porem me deixando livre quanto a aida e retorno
Along the Danube - Four Country TourAustria, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary4.6/5 (326 reviews)Deluxe Class Boats PRIMADONNA FRIDAYS: May 8, May 15, …This bike and boat tour along the Danube River has proven to be one of our most popular bike tours and with good reason. Between the Austrian and Hungarian …
Along the Danube - Passau to ViennaAustria, Germany4.6/5 (57 reviews)2020 Deluxe Class Arlene II: Sunday departures …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 …
Lake Balaton Family Bike TourHungary2020 Arrivals possible daily from April 1 to …This bicycle tour in Hungary was designed with the whole family in mind. Balaton offers everything for a cycling vacation suitable for both children and …
Bike & Wine in HungaryHungary5/5 (1 review)2020 Self Guided: Daily from April 1 to September …Bike and wine in Hungary? Yes! The Balaton Uplands National Park is one of the youngest national parks in Hungary. However, its rich history dates back …
Tour Reviews
Hugonette M. 4 months ago Verified Reviewer
Biking along the Danube river is very beautiful and visiting all the small towns we never heard of before is very special.
Reply
Juan Pablo B. 4 months ago Verified Reviewer
Excellent bikes maps and coordination including luggage transfers
Reply
Ed D. 4 months ago Verified Reviewer
Each city or town visited was a treasure. Lot's to explore. The hotels were good, many in excellent locations. Breakfast was large. The bike riding was pleasant.
Reply
Paula P. 5 months ago Verified Reviewer
We very much enjoyed this trip but it was a real adventure. At times I felt we were filming an episode for the Amazing Race! The maps we were provided with were very confusing. For example, we were not made aware that we had to make a detour as portions of the National Park were closed. Google Maps wasn't much help as they do not provide bicycle routes for Slovakia and Hungary. Fortunately, other cyclists told us to download the MAPS.ME app and this was a real life saver. I would advise anyone doing this trip to use this app or have some sort of GPS. We encountered other cyclists that were travelling with other companies that were provided with far more detailed maps, yet they too had difficulty. A GPS is a must.
We were dismayed that on a couple of occasions our luggage left unattended in the lobby area of hotels. I feel the luggage should always be stored in a secure area.
Reply
Jehiel from Tripsite 5 months ago Staff
Hi Paula!
Thanks so much for sharing this feedback. Using GPS tracks is a great option and we recommend Maps.me...we even wrote a blog about it.
As for your luggage, we agree luggage should be secured or monitored at all times and we will pass this on to our local partners.
Glad you had a good trip!
Reply
Patrice W. 6 months ago Verified Reviewer
I loved the convenience of all the planning and coordinating by Tripsite which allowed my party to really enjoy the biking, hotels and experience of the trip. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality and care of the bikes which could make or break of this trip. Working with Tripsite was easy and pleasant.
Reply
Claudia B. 8 months ago Verified Reviewer
My favorite portion was the path from Vienna to Bratislava (and both cities were awesome to visit). We were mostly on the Danube and there were interesting sites along the way. My one suggestion is to let people know that most of the ride through Hungary is not along the river but includes long flat stretches of farmland. The final day going into Budapest was great with 3 ferry rides and a boat trip into the city.
Reply
Alana B. 9 months ago Verified Reviewer
One of the most memorable parts of the trip were all of the absolutely gorgeous roses we saw growing everywhere! It was a fairly easy ride although wish more of the route had been along the Danube! In a couple of spots, the signage was poor or nonexistent so that was a little challenging but overall it was delightful!
Reply
Marisa C. 1 year ago Verified Reviewer
The trip was awesome. The bike trails were excellent and we were so much in contact with nature that we couldn't believe it. Everything was very well organized and the villages and cities we visited were great. No complaints except for the Flamenco Hotel in Budapest, which was not as expected. We had to have our breakfast in the lobby sitting on a sofa because there weren't enough tables for all the guests. They didn't refill the breakfast buffet and no one took care of the spills on the tables. Besides the rooms were old and smelly.
But it was just a hotel and we will definitely do more of these trips in the near future because it was a great adventure and a memorable experience! I really recommend Tripsite.
Reply
Terence W. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
Favorite Part: A short cycling day through quiet, autumnal countryside, took us to Bratislava leaving us with oodles of time to spend exploring colorful backstreets and the rise to the impressive castle.
Reply
Ron Zauski 4 years ago Verified Reviewer
A great adventure... We found the trail well marked throughout the journey; several times, at moments of confusion, we found discreet signs or stickers from a biking organization pointing the way. Budapest was exotic. Vienna was ultra-clean and organized. Bratislava had quaint, old-European, windy roads to explore. But my favorite parts of the trip were smaller towns and villages of Gyor, Bad Deutsch, the castle at Hainburg, the Hotel Bow Garden in Komarno, Slovakia (it is an old synagogue with a bowling lane at the reception desk!), and the jewels in the basilica in Esztergom. This is my third trip with Tripsite in 6 years; I am already seeking ideas for the fourth.
Reply
Michael Jenks 4 years ago Verified Reviewer
WOW!!!!
Everything was outstanding. All my fears were for naught...
Hotels knew to expect us, knew where to store our bikes, and knew our names!
Bratislava, as someone mentioned, was under construction, but should be ok by summer 2016.
18 thumbs up! Will do this exact trip again and again if I could!
Reply
Michael Jenks 2 years ago
2 years later, I'm back on this site dreaming of doing the trip again. We have a new baby, so it'll be another 2 years. This trip was amazing.
Reply
Mary Sandra Duggan 4 years ago Verified Reviewer
We enjoyed the trip very much and are planning another. We enquired about the the free shirts for repeat customers but haven't gotten them. The website is not clear about ordering them.
Reply
Lee Ann Gee 4 years ago Verified Reviewer
The bike route and description was really good except on 2 occasions. First, riding out of bratislava is confusing. There is trail construction and NO sign saying where to turn for detour. The second poor section was the last 5 ish miles riding into Budapest. Route poorly marked. We ended up just asking how to get to our hotel since we couldn't find any signs.
Reply
Nilton Araujo Alves 5 years ago Verified Reviewer
Ja conheco Budapeste e Praga.Em Budapeste(cidade linda e agradavel)fiz um tour de bike e agora gostaria de conhecer tmbem Viena,entao,gostaria de informaco sobre preco completo saindo de salvador,porem me deixando livre quanto a aida e retorno
Reply
Diane Knight 7 years ago Verified Reviewer
What a great tour! Beautiful scenery, easy riding, wonderful accommodations
Reply
Biked This Tour? Post Your Feedback
Read reviews for all bike tours