The Danube from Vienna to Budapest

Easy to moderate
35 to 65km per cycling day. There are no particular technical difficulties, and the route is relatively easy, with gentle climbs on some sections. 98% of the route follows cycle paths. Sections on busy roads are brief. Overall, the route is very well signposted, with a few exceptions in the Slovak section. 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 only carry a small bag with your picnic lunch and the things you need for the day. Your luggage will be waiting for you at the hotel in the evening: it is transported by the hotelier or by taxi, with a maximum weight of 20 kg per bag. We recommend carrying a change of clothes in your panniers, as luggage deliveries can occasionally be delayed by rare, unforeseen circumstances, such as traffic jams.

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

8 days / 7 nights / 6 days of cycling

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

We will email you a digital travel pack containing:

• access to our smartphone navigation app,

• the list of your accommodation,

• any applicable vouchers,

• information about your arrival and how your trip works (practical guide),

• the route book in French

At your first hotel, you will find:

• your printed vouchers,

• your luggage labels,

• the route book in English – useful for the maps it contains.

This is a self-guided trip, with no guide, so you travel independently throughout your stay.

A paper travel pack can be sent to your home for a supplement.

Category A: Accommodation in carefully selected hotels of 4**** standard or equivalent
Category B: Accommodation in selected guesthouses, hotels and inns of 3*** standard or equivalent

Hotel ratings

An increasing number of hotels choose not to have an official rating, including establishments that were still rated just a year or two ago. This does not mean their quality has declined – far from it. If we indicate, for example, a comfort level of “3* or equivalent”: this means that the establishment may not have an official rating, but offers a level of comfort comparable to a 3* hotel.

Rooms

Hotels in Germany and Austria generally do not have double beds with a single large mattress, and rooms with 2 separate twin beds are rare. There is usually one bed base with two 90 cm mattresses, each with its own duvet. Rooms for 3 people: these usually have an extra bed added; however, the rooms are generally spacious.

Breakfast is included. Lunches and dinners are not included.
You can choose half board as an optional extra (3-course meals, in the hotel restaurant or elsewhere). Please note! People in Germany and Austria often have dinner early. Please keep to the restaurant’s serving times.

Start
Day 1 in the afternoon in Vienna.

End
Day 8 in Budapest, or in Vienna if you book the return transfer

Return transport from Budapest to Vienna is optional and must be requested before booking. The current catalogue lists a return transfer at 105 € per person, plus 45 € to transport a personal bicycle. Ask our team to confirm operating dates, pick-up point, bike space and current fare for the future departure. Check train services and bike-carriage rules directly with the operator if travelling independently.

The cycling route starts in Vienna and ends in Budapest. Arrange travel from your own departure city. Both cities have airports and rail connections. Check current routes, timetables, fares and luggage rules directly with the transport operators before booking. Confirm parking availability and charges in Vienna with your hotel or parking provider.

Bike hire

These are quality German bikes from KTM or an equivalent manufacturer, which should allow you to enjoy your cycling tour without any mechanical problems. Although this is our preferred option, please let us know when booking if you would like conventional handlebar-operated brakes, without a back-pedal brake.

Standard bike: unisex bike with 21/24 gears (without a back-pedal brake, frame size 56/51/46/43 cm – for riders 148 cm to 190 cm tall) or 7 gears (with a back-pedal brake, frame size 56/51/46 cm, for riders 155 cm to 190 cm tall), with hub gears and a wide saddle.

Standard hire bike

Men’s model: 21 gears (without a back-pedal brake, frame size 64/60/56 cm – for riders 165 cm to 205 cm tall). Limited availability: please request this when booking.

Men’s hire bike

PLUS bike: Higher quality (e.g. Magura HS 11 hydraulic brakes, Shimano Deore XT), with a noticeable difference in quality. The PLUS bike offers a sportier riding position, 20 or 27 gears and front suspension (frame size 63/60/51/46 cm – for riders 155 cm to 205 cm tall).

PLUS bike

Gravel bike

A quality bike from MAXX, with a lightweight aluminium frame and tyres that provide optimal grip and comfort on a wide range of surfaces. 12 gears, hydraulic disc brakes, Schwalbe G-One Gravel tyres (suitable for riding on tarmac, unpaved roads or off-road), 11.5 kg, bottle cage included.

Electric bike: KTM, 23 kg, 28 inches, 8 gears, 25 km/h up to 180 km

Electric hire bike

The bikes come with:

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

Bike helmet hire is listed at 25 € in the current catalogue; request it when booking a future departure.

A number of our trips offer opportunities to swim, during a day’s ride or at the end of the day. It would be
a shame to miss out. However, we emphasise that it is entirely up to you to judge whether it is appropriate
to swim; you therefore do so at your own risk and take full responsibility.

For cycling

• Cycling shorts or tights, depending on the season
• Cycling gloves
• A helmet (not compulsory 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 handlebar smartphone mount and a power bank
• A water bottle

Note: synthetic technical clothing performs very well. Merino wool clothing is also now 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 cold when wet.

For your lunchtime picnic

• A plastic bowl or plate
• Cutlery (spoon, fork, knife)

Protection against sun and rain

• Sunscreen and sunglasses
• A hat, cap or bucket hat (helmet)
• A windproof jacket
• A rain cape or a “Gore-Tex” jacket

After cycling

• A jumper or fleece
• Comfortable trousers for walking
• Shorts
• 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, Biogaze or “2nd skin”, gauze, disinfectant, arnica pellets and aspirin for minor aches and injuries… (quite a list! But rest assured, the first-aid kit often comes back untouched after your week of touring)

• If your bike has no pannier, bring a comfortable small 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; it makes it easy to carry your belongings when you stop to visit somewhere along the way.
• A bag for luggage transfers: a backpack, suitcase or travel bag in good condition

Countries: Austria, Slovakia, Hungary
Capitals: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest

Travel documents

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

Health

Check current health guidance, insurance and healthcare arrangements for each country before departure.

Dialling code for calling Austria: 0043
Dialling code for calling Slovakia: 00421
Dialling code for calling Hungary: 0036

For current visitor information and transport contacts, ask our team or consult the official tourism and railway operators for Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.

Member of Agir pour un Tourisme Responsable (ATR)

Since 2012, Grand Angle has been a member of ATR, a 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 industry adopt 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 foster meaningful encounters.

Travelife Partner

Since 2025, Grand Angle has held Travelife Partner status, an international label that certifies our responsible practices in environmental protection, ethics and sustainable management, 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 our practical efforts towards responsible tourism. We are actively working towards the next level, Travelife Certified, in line with our sustainable development policy