The Danube Cycle Route from Passau to Vienna

The most popular cycle path in Europe!

Passau

Passau

The loop of Schlögen

The loop of Schlögen

Grein

Grein

Ybbs

Ybbs

Wachau

Break on the Danube Cycle Route

Melk Abbey

Melk Abbey

Weißenkirchen in the Wachau

Weißenkirchen in the Wachau

Dürnstein

Dürnstein

Krems

Krems

Krems

Krems

Vienna, Prater

Vienna, Prater

Vienna, St. Stephen's Cathedral

St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna

If you start whistling Johann Strauss' Danube Waltz on your way along the Danube Cycle Route between Passau and Vienna, we wouldn't be surprised: The well-maintained cycle path leads through a truly varied landscape with the Schlögener Loop, the Wachau, and the Tulln Basin. It is garnished with the right dose of culture: modernity speaks in Linz, a masterpiece of baroque can be found with the abbey in Melk. As a crowning finale, the multi-faceted Vienna awaits you on the Danube Cycle Route from Passau: with cafés, the Museum Quarter, and the Naschmarkt, there is no rush here either.

On this page, you will now find everything you need to know about the most popular section on the Danube Cycle Route. And if you would rather concentrate entirely on cycling, simply leave the organization to us: you are sure to find your next tour along the Danube among our cycling tours between Passau and Vienna!

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Danube cycle path from Passau to Vienna
The Danube cycle path from Passau to Vienna

Short and sweet: The Danube Cycle Path from Passau to Vienna

  • Length
    approx. 320 km
  • Topography
    Altitude profile ●○○○○
    The Danube Cycle Route between Passau and Vienna has hardly any gradients. If you cycle with the river, i.e. from west to east, you will roll downhill, albeit barely noticeably, around 100 meters in altitude.
  • Signposting
    The Danube Cycle Route is almost completely signposted between Passau and Vienna. The signposts sometimes give you information on how and where you can change banks next time and whether the route ahead is also suitable for racing bikes, for example.
  • Path quality
    The cycle path is almost entirely asphalted and, with a few exceptions, leads away from busy roads.
Danube cycle path signposts
Danube cycle path signage

Travel time

You should plan around a week to get to know the Danube between Passau and Vienna in its entirety. Whether you prefer to spend more time on the bike, in Vienna, or, in the case of a bike and boat trip, on the boat, is ultimately up to you. Fast cyclists cover the route in four stages, leisurely cyclists take a whole ten days.

 

Out and about on the Danube cycle path in Spitz
In Spitz

Arrival and departure

Passau and Vienna are well connected to the local and long-distance rail network. You can therefore reach your arrival and departure points easily by train.

The fact that both cities are connected by an ICE line is particularly advantageous if you have arrived in your own car and need to return at the end of your tour. However, remember to find out in advance about the possibility of taking bicycles on the trains.

Linz
Linz

Short cuts

Whether by train, boat, or bicycle taxi - between Passau and Vienna you can shorten almost every section. Due to the large number of cycle tourists, numerous possibilities have also been created to take the bike along, but not to cover the distance on the bike. The best thing to do is to find out on the spot which is the best way to get to your next stage destination.

Danube ferry in Spitz
Danube ferry in Spitz

Bike and boat

From Passau, the Danube is already a mighty river. And is now also navigable! That's why we offer bike and boat holidays on the Danube from Passau in addition to the classic cycling tours: You cycle the most beautiful sections of the Danube Cycle Route while your floating hotel accompanies you. The best thing: you don't have to get on your bike every day, you can simply enjoy the landscape from onboard. So you combine a Danube cruise with a Danube cycle tour and enjoy the best of everything. No wonder these tours are among the first to be fully booked every year.

Bike and boat on the Danube cycle path
On the road by bike & boat