Danube Route, European Cycling Trips

European Cycling Trips, Danube Bike Trail

European cycling trips along the Danube bicycle route. The Danube Bike Route is an easy one week cycle relatively flat, 326 km (203 mile) scenic journey and you travel along a bike trail or quiet roads with no traffic which makes it one of the most popular bicycle touring routes in the world.

It is impossible to get lost with route signs or maps posted at all turns. Best of all this Austrian cycling route is paved for the entire distance, frequently on both sides of the romantic blue Danube.

On this Europe cycling Trips route you will not be alone as Austrians, Germans and international cyclists travel along a route that has emerged as one of Europe’s most popular bicycle touring routes. Bring your own bicycle or use one of the rentals available from the train station in Passau. Do take a copy of The Danube Cycleway: Donaueschingen to Budapest for while the Austrian section is well signed there are few (if any) signs on the Hungarian section.

European Cycling Trips, Danube Bike Route

Starting in Passau

Your Danube River cycling adventure begins in Passau, city of the three rivers, which may easily be reached by trains from Munich or Vienna. Passau itself is where three major rivers meet and has a quaint old quarter that is dominated by St. Stephens cathedral, known for having the largest pipe organ in the world. The first section along the north shore is on a paved trail through forests and a few small towns.

Passau to Schlogen Bend and beyond

This famous bend where the river makes a sharp turn and for several hundred meters flow back towards its source you need to take one of the three bicycle ferries to the south shore. A great place to stop for the first night is Aschach, a pretty town with many cafes along the waterfront.

The second day continue along the Danube Bike Route passing through a park in the the large industrial city of Linz so you miss the traffic. Continue on to Enns, the oldest town in Austria dating from Roman times, and a slight detour off the Danube Bike Route.

Day three takes you across the longest wooden bridge in Europe, through the Austrian countryside and baroque Grein. Our destination today is Persenbeug with the bicycle route going right by the front door of the Gasthof Bohm with a wonderful patio to enjoy a beer and talk with the other cyclists.

Scenic Wachau Wine Region

Day four continue your European Cycling Trips by heading to Melk, home of the famous Benedictine church and well worth a visit. Just past Melk take the bike lane crossing to the north shore for the best views of the entire trip in the scenic Wachau Region. This is center of the Austrian wine region with many cafes, wineries. Durnstein where Richard the Lion Heart was imprisoned in medieval times offers charming shops but take care on the cobblestone streets. Continue to the university town of Krems. Many cafes are located inside the city walls on the pedestrian only main street. This area is worth a two night stop.

To the gates of Vienna

On the next day continue along the south shore Danube Bike Route to Tulln passing plantations of elderberry trees. Then is on to Vienna itself with one route heading to the West Bahnhof Train Station and the other heading to the city center. In Vienna be sure to cycle the bike route along the ring road passing many of the cities major sights. Vienna is worth a 2 or 3 night stay with many hotels catering to cyclists.

From Vienna you can continue your European cycling trips route on the Danube Bike Route to Budapest and the Black Sea or connect with a route heading to Prague in the Czech Republic.

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