Danube: Passau to Budapest and back

Boarding time from 4.00-5.00 p.m. Located at the confluence of Danube, Inn and Ilz, Passau has numerous interesting sites to visit. Use your free time and stroll through the cobblestoned old town center, listen to the bells of Passau’s Gothic Town Hall or have a look at the world’s largest Catholic Church organ in the Passau Cathedral. At 6.00 p.m. we cast off! Slowly, the dreamlike backdrop of Passau’s old town disappears on the horizon.

Your first day’s tour begins with a ride through the classic scenery of the ‘Great Loop’ Donauschlinge – one of the most beautiful sections of the Danube. Along the way you will encounter tiny villages and cozy cider taverns. In Austria’s only Trappist monastery at Engelhartszell you can taste their delicious liquors and cheese. The famous ‘Schlogener View’ provides a wonderful panorama of the surrounding Austrian countryside. The boat welcomes all cyclists back on board in the charming market town of Aschach.

You pedal along the former ‘Iron Curtain’, cross the green line and reach the imposing Imperial Schlosshof Palace with its beautifully terraced gardens. Follow the bike path through Austria’s ‘vegetable garden’ to the coronation town Bratislava and the slopes of the Little Carpathians and discover the hidden alleyways and sights of Bratislava on an optional city tour.

The entrance to Budapest, Hungary’s capital is stunning. Savor the beauty of Budapest during a coach tour or a guided bike tour (optional) to discover many of the highlights of this beautiful city. You can also choose to cycle to the charming town of Szentendre with its Mediterranean atmosphere and lively art scene. In the evening it is definitely worth visiting the Jewish Quarter.

Steep mountain slopes frame the picturesque, gently rolling landscape of the “Hungarian Wachau.” At the farmer’s market in Vác, you can stock up on regional specialties, while history, folklore, and Hungarian joy of life accompany you during your bike tour to  Esztergom, where the mighty Basilica (Hungary’s largest church) towers high above the castle district into the sky.

Discover Vienna’s most beautiful attractions. During a city tour by bike or bus (optional) you will experience Vienna’s most famous examples of architecture: the imperial Hofburg, St. Stephens Cathedral, the gorgeous ‘Ring’-boulevard and the State Opera House, the Burgtheater and town hall, and of course the colorful “Hundertwasserhaus”. Take time to relax in one or more of Vienna’s famous cafés, while the evening ends impressively at a classical concert (optional) at a famous Viennese Palace. Night cruise to the Wachau.

Your last biking day is a special highlight! A powerful ruin looms above the small Baroque town of Durnstein, while the blue spire of the monastery church is a landmark of the renowned Wachau Valley. Amidst dreamy towns, apricot trees, vineyards and castles, this hilly landscape enchants everybody who visits. Traditional wine taverns along the bike path invite to savor local wines (wine tasting optional). The Benedictine Abbey of Melk, perched on a hill, overlooking the Danube, is a true architectural marvel.

As you cruise back up the Danube enjoy the early morning sunshine as you wind your way to Passau, where you’ll disembark at approx. 11.00 a.m. Connecting travel should be booked for 12.00 a.m. onwards.