- Overview
- Trip Outline
- Trip Includes
- Gallery
- FAQ
- Acommodation
- Pricing
- Travel
- Resources
- Feedback
- Booking
Our Passau to Vienna Safari starts in the baroque city of Scharding or Passau, the town of three rivers. The classic route along the River Danube from Passau to Vienna is one of the most popular cycle routes on the Continent and is an ideal 'starter' for cycle touring. The way is flat (but you also have the opportunity to climb out of the valley to visit sights, or for a change of pace).
The quality of the trail is excellent as you visit charming towns such as Grein, a small town with a well preserved historic centre, which is dominated by the picturesque castle of Greinburg. You cycle through the famous Wachau region, where the scenery is breathtaking, probably the most beautiful encountered anywhere on the route.
The majority of the trail is on dedicated, smooth, paved traffic-free cycleway. There is a lot to see and do when not cycling and plenty of like-minded people to meet.
We also run another tour "Danube for Kids" which starts in Linz heading to Vienna, which is suitable for children
No details found.
A downloadable version of the itinery is available from the Dossiers Tab
Itineraries
Day 1
Arrival to Schärding/Passau
Today you will have a tour briefing as well as being fitted out with your bike. But there should be plenty of time to stroll through the baroque city Schärding and visit the "Silberzeile" or enjoy the newly renovated pedestrian zone in three rivers-city Passau.
Day 2
Schärding/Passau ~ Schlögener Schlinge (40 - 55 kms)
our cycle takes you along the river Inn to the three-rivers-city Passau which is well worth visiting before you contine along the Danube via Obernzell to the beautiful monastery at Engelhartszell. The Danube, Europe’s second largest river, has to make a 180° bend here which you can enjoy during your ferry tour to the other side of the river
Day 3
Schlögener Schlinge ~ Linz (50 kms)
Today you cycle via Aschach, Ottensheim and Wilhering nestling in the pristine Danube Valley to the upper Austrian capital city Linz with it’s historic old city. Another highlight of this city is the wonderful view from the mountain Pöstlingsberg or a stroll along Donaulände
Day 4
Linz ~ Grein area (55 kms)
You cycle to Enns with its market square and 60m high city tower, the emblem of the oldest city in Austria. Afterwards you continue along the river to reach the wonderful baroque city of Grein where you can visit the oldest city theatre in Austria. A visit to Austria's oldest residential castle of Greinburg is also an option for today.
Day 5
Grein area ~ Wachau (50-60 kms)
This part of the Danube was dreaded in former times as it was hard to pass by boat, but now you can happily cycle this section in a very relaxed way!. In Maria Taferl you can visit a wonderful church where thousands of pilgrims visit yearly.
Day 6
Wachau ~ Wachau ~ Krems / Traismauer / Tulln (40-75 kms)
In Melk a visit to the Abbey is a must, after which you cycle through the Wachau region where you can enjoy the beauty of fruit orchards and vineyards en route. The cycle passes Spitz, Weißenkirchen and the ruins of Dürnstein before you reach Krems, a thousand-year-old city and Tulln where we have organised a wine tasting for you!.
Day 7
Krems / Traismauer / Tulln ~ Vienna (45-75 km)
Our destination is the magnificent city of Vienna, where you can enjoy a typical Viennese café and try a piece of Sachertorte. Stroll through Vienna’s Parade shopping street Mariahilfer Straße, visit the Stephen’s Cathedral or enjoy the most important places of interest during a trip in one of the famous Fiaker cabs.
The tour ends after breakfast the following morning.
- 7 overnights in chosen category, ensuite
- 7 Breakfasts
- Personal welcome briefing
- Detailed travel information (overview maps, route description,
tourist attractions, important phone numbers) - Luggage transfer
- 1 journey by ferry (Au-Schlogen), incl. bike
- 1 wine tasting in the Wachau region
- App for navigation and GPS data
- Service-hotline during your tour
Bike Rental is not included in the basic tour price:
All rentals come with a pannier, lock and repair equipment
€110 bike hire (unisex bikes or men's bike with 21/24 speed, freewheel)
€185 bike hire plus (men's bike/bike with crossbar, 20/27 speed, freewheel)
€285 e-bike hire
Bike rental is not included in the basic tour price
It is of course possible to rent a bike!
On this tour the standard rental bike is what is called a "unisex" bike or a step though frame, see our tour dossier for an image. It is possible to rent a more typical gents frame for taller men but this is on request only. It is also possible to rent an e-bike
Bike rental includes:
● 21 speed unisex bike (gents bike on request only/limited availability)
● Saddle bag (water-resistant)
● Handlebar bag (water-resistant)
● Tools / Repair kit / Pump
● Combination lock
PASSAU
DAY 1 Hotel Passauer Wolf ****
(Also possible to start from Scharding Stadthotel ****)
SCHLÖGEN / SURROUNDINGS
DAY 2 Hotel Donauschlinge ****
LINZ
DAY 3 Arcotel Nike ****
GREIN
DAY 4 Hotel Goldenes Kreuz ****
WACHAU
DAY 5 Donauhof Emmersdorf****
KREMS
DAY 6 Hotel Gastof Zum Schwan***
VIENNA
DAY 7 Arcotel Kaiserwasser****
PASSAU TO VIENNA SELF GUIDED TOUR 2025
Season 1: 29th March - 11th April, 27th Sep - 12th Oct
Season 2: 12th April - 2nd May, 6th - 26th Sept
Season 3: 3rd May - 5th September
Category A (4* hotels and hotels on 4* level)
€1010 per person sharing (Season 1)
€1100 per person sharing (Season 2)
€1170 per person sharing (Season 3)
€345 single supplement
Category B (4* and 3* hotels)
€890 per person sharing (Season 1)
€990 per person sharing (Season 2)
€1060 per person sharing (Season 3)
€335 single supplement
Category C (3* hotels and inns, at Linz and Vienna 4* hotels)
€780 per person sharing (Season 1)
€860 per person sharing (Season 2)
€920 per person sharing (Season 3)
€325 single supplement
Bike Rental 7 Night Tour
€110 21/24 speed unisex or crossbar touring bike
€185 20/28 speed touring bike with crossbar
€285 E-bike, unisex
Self Guided Tour Information
Daily departures from 29th March - 12th October 2025
Flying to Passau
Munich Airport (MUC)
The closest airport to Passau is Munich Airport (München Flughafen / MUC) with its huge number of cheap flights to mostly German and European destinations.
Passau is around 160 km (100 miles) from Munich Airport. Driving time is around 90 minutes. From the airport, take Autobahn A92 towards Deggendorf and turn southeast onto Autobahn A3 when reaching the Danube.
Public transportation is slightly more complicated. From the airport, take bus 635 to Freising (18 minutes). Direct trains run from Freising to Passau every two hours. Alternatives require transfers in either Plattling or Regensburg. Total journey time varies from 2h20 to three hours.
Frankfurt International Airport (FRA)
Many international, and especially intercontinental, passengers will enter Germany at Frankfurt International Airport (FRA). It will often be both faster and cheaper to take the ICE train from Frankfurt to Passau rather than taking a connection flight to Munich. Many direct trains are available with more options requiring an easy transfer at Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof. Total journey time is just over four hours.
The following websites will help you with train connections between Vienna and Passau. www.bahn.de or www.oebb.at
High-Speed Inter-City-Express Trains to Passau
Passau is on the high-speed railway line that links Frankfurt am Main and Vienna. Luxury, high-speed Inter-City Express (ICE) trains run on this route roughly every two hours.
The ICE trains to Frankfurt am Main Hauptbahnhof (Main Station) take around four hours and stop en route in Plattling (30 minutes), Regensburg (1h), Nürnberg / Nuremberg (2h), and Würzburg (3h). Many trains continue to Frankfurt International Airport and on to Cologne (Köln) and further destinations.
From Passau to Vienna on the ICE train is three hours with a stop en route in Linz (1h10).
• Passau station (Bahnhof) is at the edge of the old town in Donaustadt. From the station to the heart of the old town is an easy fifteen-minute walk through pleasant shopping streets.
Regional Trains to Passau
Many regional trains also pass through Passau. Although slower than the ICE, regional trains can be significantly cheaper and on short distances, the time differences can be negligible. In addition, discount tickets such as the Bayern Ticket and Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket may be used on regional trains only.
The regional trains are available amongst others to Plattling (36 min) and Regensburg (1h40). Only regional trains are available to München / Munich (2h15) and run mostly every two hours – more frequent connections require transfers at either Plattling or Regensburg.
German discount tickets are not valid on regional trains into Austria but the slower trains are cheaper than the ICE. Regional trains run to Linz (90 min to 2h) and Vienna (5h).
Daily return transfer by bus from Vienna at the end of the tour – pick up at the hotel between 3 – 3.30pm, duration approx. 3,5 – 4 hours. Cost per person €75, cost for bringing own bike €29. Reservation necessary, payable on the spot.
Our cycling holiday went really brilliantly - I have been recommending it to everyone!
All the travel arrangements worked perfectly - bags went ahead like clockwork and the trip is very manageable with children. Food was good - classic local cuisine. The accommodation was very comfortable and all the staff in the hotels extremely friendly.
Caroline M.