The Danube from Passau to Vienna, staying in charming hotels

2/5 easy to moderate
Approximately 40 to 75km per cycling day. No particular technical difficulties. 98% of the route follows cycle paths. Each day, you can shorten the stage by taking a train or boat to make the route easier. We provide information about these options with your travel pack.

You carry only a small bag with your picnic lunch and the things you need for the day. Your luggage will be waiting at your hotel in the evening (by 18:00 at the latest): it is transported by the hotelier or by taxi and is limited to one bag per person, weighing no more than 15 kg. We recommend carrying a change of clothes in your panniers, as luggage deliveries may occasionally be delayed by rare, unforeseen circumstances, such as traffic jams. Luggage may arrive as late as 18:00.

Bookings are available for 2 people or more; solo travellers can also book, but a single room supplement applies.

No 2027 departure period is confirmed in the connected catalogue. Ask our team for future operating dates before making travel arrangements.

8 days / 7 nights, 6 days of cycling

This is a self-guided holiday. There is no guide accompanying you. We will send your travel information before departure (accommodation list and joining instructions). You will receive an additional travel pack on arrival (1 per room), including a route guide with maps and vouchers, among other items. A printed pack can be sent to you for a supplement.

Rooms for 2 with a bathroom / toilet; single rooms are available for a supplement.

Very comfortable 4* hotels and 5* hotels in Vienna. Well-located properties along the Danube cycle path.

The emphasis is on charming accommodation. For example, we choose hotels in historic buildings or with an appealing wellness area. The typically Austrian hospitality and warmth that await you will make your trip unforgettable.

Examples of hotels (non-exhaustive list, subject to accommodation availability):
Schärding: Hotel Fortinger 4****
Passau: Hotel Residenz 4****
Schlögen: Hotel Donauschlinge 4****
Linz: Hotel am Domplatz 4****
Grein: Landgasthof Winter 4****
Melk: Hotel Zur Post 4****
Krems: Steigenberger Hotel & Spa 4****
Vienna: Hotel Steigenberger Herrenhof 5*****

Hotel am Domplatz in Linz

Steigenberger Hotel & Spa in Krems

Please note: accommodation photos are for illustrative purposes only. Accommodation may change. Depending on availability, we may book other hotels offering an equivalent standard and level of comfort.

In Germany and Austria, double beds with a single large mattress are generally uncommon, as are rooms with 2 separate twin beds. Usually, there is a single bed base with two 90 cm mattresses, and each person has their own duvet. Rooms for 3: these usually have an extra bed added, although the rooms are generally spacious.

Breakfast is included. Lunch and dinner are not included. You will have no difficulty finding somewhere to eat along the way at lunchtime.

You can have dinner in the hotel restaurants (where available) or in nearby restaurants.
Please note! People in Germany and Austria often eat dinner early. Be sure to check and respect restaurant serving hours.

The cycling route starts in Passau or Schärding and ends in Vienna. Arrange travel from your own departure city. Munich and Vienna airports and rail connections may be suitable; check current services, times and fares directly with the operators before booking.

Ask your hotel or local parking provider to confirm availability and current charges in Passau or Schärding. The connected catalogue lists an optional return minibus from Vienna to Passau or Schärding (€110 per person, with a €50 supplement for a personal bicycle). Confirm the service and bike space with our team when requesting a future departure. For train travel, check bike-carriage and reservation rules with the operator.

Bike hire

These are quality German bikes from KTM or an equivalent manufacturer, which should allow you to enjoy your cycling trip without any breakdowns. Although conventional handlebar-operated brakes without a coaster brake are our preferred option, please let us know when booking if you would like these.

Standard bike: unisex bike, without a coaster brake, 21/24 gears with a freewheel (for riders between 148 and 190 cm tall).

Standard hire bike

Men’s model: without a coaster brake (for riders between 165 and 205 cm tall); ask us to confirm the available gearing when booking.

Men’s hire bike

PLUS bike: Higher quality (e.g. Magura HS 11 hydraulic brakes, Shimano Deore XT), with a noticeable upgrade in specification. The PLUS bike offers a sportier riding position, 20/27 gears and front fork suspension. High-quality components (for riders between 155 and 205 cm tall).

PLUS bike

Electric bike: Unisex model, 8 gears (for riders between 148 and 195 cm tall), Bosch Active Line Plus motor, removable 550 Wh battery with a portable charger, hydraulic brakes and a range of up to 120 kilometres.

Hire e-bike

The bikes come with:

• A pannier (even if you bring your own bikes)
• A map holder
• One safety kit per room
• A pump
• One bike lock per room (large enough for 2 bikes)

A number of our trips offer opportunities to swim along the way or at the end of the day. It would be a shame to miss out. However, we emphasise that it is up to you to decide whether swimming is appropriate; you therefore swim under your own responsibility and at your own risk.

Member of Agir pour un Tourisme Responsable (ATR)

Since 2012, Grand Angle has been a member of ATR, the leading association for more responsible tourism. We design our trips – on foot, by bike and on snow – to invite everyone to discover the world differently: with curiosity, respect and kindness.

As members of the board of directors since 2018, we actively help the sector develop more meaningful practices. In practical terms, we focus on:

• Transparency in our practices and prices
• Respect for our partners and local communities
• Protecting the environment on every trip

We also share the values of the Traveller’s Ethical Charter, which encourages everyone to take simple steps to protect the places they visit and make meaningful connections with the people they meet.

Travelife Partner

Since 2025, Grand Angle has been recognised as a Travelife Partner, an international label that certifies our responsible environmental, ethical and sustainable management practices, both within our company and in our work with partners and the organisation of our trips.

This label, the second level of a rigorous international certification scheme, recognises the practical steps we take to support responsible tourism. We are actively working towards the next level, Travelife Certified, in line with our sustainable development policy

For cycling

• Cycling shorts or tights, depending on the season
• Cycling gloves
• A helmet (optional but strongly recommended)
• Sunglasses (to protect against the sun, wind and midges)
• A windproof jacket
• T-shirts or cycling jerseys
• A handlebar map holder
• A water bottle

Note: synthetic technical clothing performs very well. New merino wool clothing is also available; it performs very well, is comfortable to wear and has the advantage of resisting sweat odours (brands include Icebreaker, Ruka, etc.)!
As a general rule, avoid cotton, which makes you feel cold when wet.

For your lunchtime picnic

• A plastic bowl or plate

• Cutlery (spoon, fork and knife)

For protection against sun and rain

• Sunscreen and sunglasses
• A hat, cap or bucket hat (helmet)
• A windproof jacket
• A rain poncho or Gore-Tex jacket

After the day’s activities

• A jumper or fleece
• Comfortable trousers for walking
• A pair of shorts

• Swimwear and a beach towel
• A tracksuit or a change of clothes
• A lightweight, long-sleeved cotton shirt
• A pair of running-style trainers for the evening
• Spare clothes and underwear
• A toiletry bag
• A small first-aid kit: personal medication, Elastoplast, Bio-Gaze or “2nd skin” dressings, gauze, antiseptic, arnica granules and aspirin for minor aches and injuries… (quite a list! But rest assured, the kit often comes home untouched after your week of hiking)

To carry your belongings:

• If your bike does not have a pannier, bring a small, comfortable 40-litre backpack with a hip belt to carry your personal belongings and picnic during the day. If you have a luggage rack, you can secure your bag to it with bungee cords. Rental bikes come with a pannier for your belongings. Bring a small backpack as well; this makes it easy to carry your belongings when you stop to visit somewhere along the way.

• Luggage for transfer: a backpack, suitcase or travel bag in good condition

Germany and Austria

Check the current entry documents that apply to your nationality and country of residence for Germany and Austria before departure.

Check current health guidance, insurance and healthcare arrangements for both countries before departure.

Dialling code for calling Germany: 0049
Dialling code for calling Austria: 0043

Germany and Austria are generally one hour ahead of Ireland.