CYCLING THE DANUBE - PASSAU TO BUDAPEST

15 days from GBP1,079 to GBP1,249 land only
Tripcode: LSD

Countries Visited: Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia

A relaxed two week self-guided ride exploring the history and landscape of the Hapsburg Empire

For nearly 3000km the Danube flows through the heart of Central Europe. The cycle path along the river is the perfect means to explore this beautiful area. In Austria it runs through steep-sided valleys and wide riverside woods, visiting historic towns and cities such as Linz, Melk and Krems and of course the charming city of Vienna. After a few miles in Slovakia the route continues to Hungary. Riverside woodland gives way to fields and walnut avenues, wide flat landscapes and the shady hills towards the famous Danube Bend. The end point of the trip is the beautiful city of Budapest with time to soak up the wonderful atmosphere, enjoy the stunning architecture and visit Buda Castle and the Royal Palace. You have the choice of riding the two-week route all the way from Passau to Budapest, or either of the one-week sections.

Itinerary

[detailed itinerary...]

Day 1

Start Vienna; make your own way to the railway station and on to Passau.

Day 2

Cycle to Schlogen. Free time to explore Passau, the city of three rivers. Ride to the famous Schlogener loop in Austria through forested hills via the only trappist monastery in Austria.

Day 3

Cycle to Linz. A day of river crossing and cycling along country lanes passing the beautiful castle at Ottensheim and Cistercian abbey in Wilhering en route to Linz.

Day 4

Cycle to Grein. Today's ride passes the former Nazi concentration camp at Mauthausen and into the province of Lower Austria; follow the river to Grein, historically the beginning of the river's most treacherous stretch.

Day 5

Cycle to Melk. Ride between wooded mountains, though quiet riverside towns and past one of the most striking edifices on this whole route, the Benedictine Abbey at Melk - stunning both inside and out, you can't miss it!

Day 6

Cycle to Krems. Pedal through the vineyards of the Wachau past pretty villages including Weisenkirchen and Durnstein, site of the castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned.

Day 7

Cycle to Vienna. Ride into Vienna past Greifenstein castle and Klosterneuburg. Return bikes. An evening stroll around the central Stephansplatz is recommended.

Day 8

Free day in Vienna. Plenty of time to relax and explore the numerous sights of this fabulous city.

Day 9

Cycle to Bad Deutsch Altenburg. Follow the Donauinsel, a long thin island, and continue to the Roman remains at Petronell-Carnuntum, one of Austria's most important archaeological sites.

Day 10

Cycle to Halaszi. Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, not bad for a day's ride! Visit historic Hainburg, lunch in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, then into Hungary and Halaszi. Chance to visit the attractive but unpronounceable town of Mosonmagyarovar.

Day 11

Cycle to Gyor. Continue through rural villages and a riverside track leads to the historic city of Gyor.

Day 12

Cycle to Tata. Easy rural ride to picturesque Tata, situated on two lakes.

Day 13

Cycle to Esztergom. Over the first hills of the trip towards the beginnings of the Danube Bend at historic Esztergom.

Day 14

Cycle to Budapest. Ride round the Danube Bend past Visegrad, once the corner of the Roman Empire, to the artists' town of Szentendere, and on to wonderful Budapest.

Day 15

End Budapest.

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