Bicycling the Danube Passau to Vienna

Highlights: Old Town Passau, a spectacular part of the Danube valley, welcome dinner.

Welcome to Passau, a beautiful German city located near the Austrian border and at the confluence of three rivers: the Danube, Inn and Ilz. Settle into your hotel and stretch your legs by walking through Old Town’s baroque architecture and paying a visit to Passau’s Saint Stephan’s Cathedral, home to the largest organ outside of the United States. This afternoon we will meet for a bike fitting and test ride. Then we will gather again for a welcome drink and our first dinner together.

Highlights: Crossing the border to Austria, the spectacular Danube valley

The Danube River and the valley it has formed shape the central transportation artery of Austria. Today and tomorrow you’ll ride through the heartland of Austria featuring impressive castles perched above the Danube river. Take time to explore the Ars Electronica Museum in Linz, also known as the museum of the future, as it tries to bridge the gap between art, science and technology.

Highlights: Diverse and stunning cycling through farmland, vineyards and Danube bike paths

You’ll leave the river valley to reach Grein. Those who wish can take time to visit the Mauthausen Concentration Camp. The experience is powerful and sobering as you walk up and down the 186 “death stairs.” Over 130,000 people were killed here including Jews, Italians, Russian POWs, criminals, and political prisoners.

Highlights: Cycling along bike path near a thick forest, 12th Century Melk Abbey

Enjoy a downhill coast on a smooth bike path into the town of Melk, home to the spectacular baroque Melk Abbey. Built at the beginning of the 12th century the abbey was a monastic school. Unpack your bags at our hotel just down the street from the abbey and stroll through the charming town to photograph the gold statuary adorning this domed Abbey Church. Venture inside the church to admire the ceiling fresco and its red marble walls before enjoying one of the suggested restaurants for dinner on your own this evening.

Highlights: Vineyards of the Danube, wine tasting

Today you pedal into the heartland of Austrian wine country. This beautiful ride leads you through the medieval villages of the Wachau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon arriving in Dürnstein you’ll visit the cellar and vineyards of one of the area’s best producers, and taste some of their traditional white wines.

Highlights: Vienna!

Enjoy an easy day along the Danube today. You’ll reach Vienna via a complex system of bicycle paths that lead directly to your hotel. Vienna is the largest city in Austria and one of Europe’s leading musical centers. It was first a Roman and Celtic settlement, but as the Austro-Hungarian Empire rose to prominence, magnificent Medieval and Baroque architecture became especially prevalent.

Highlights: Guided tour of Vienna

Vienna has been home to legendary artistic and intellectual residents including Mozart, Beethoven and Sigmund Freud. Vienna is also known for its imperial palaces as well as mix of historic and contemporary buildings. After breakfast this morning we’ll have a guided tour of this fabulous city to explore its artistic and architectural grandeur and to gain extra insight to the city’s impressive history. Your tour ends by lunchtime, but we suggest staying another day or two to explore this amazing cultural capital.