Schaerding - Vienna

The Danube Cycle Path is a real classing among cycle tours and rightly so! Charming cities such as the baroque Schärding, culinary delights and beautiful nature in the Wachau as well as cultural highlights in the Daube metropolis of Vienna await.

The 8-day tour begins in Schärding, where you can walk through the picturesque castle park and search for the origin in the name of the famous ‘Wirtshaus zur Bums’n’. Did you know that the Danube is the second longest river in Europe at 2,857 kilometres. Don’t worry, you don’t have to cycle that far. You reach your destination in Vienna and can indulge in the unique flair of one of the world’s most liveable cities.

After leaving Schärding, the next highlight awaits after a short stage: the three-river city of Passau. Tip: Be sure to stroll through the pretty alleys of the old town, after all, Passau is known as the ‘Venice of Bavaria’. Linz also has a lot to offer, including an excellent range of art and culture. Also to be highlighted are the places of worship on the tour. In addition to the cathedral with the world’s largest organ in Passau, the monastery in Engelhartzell awaits with delicious liqueur creations as well as Melk monastery and the Maria Teferl Basilica.

Highlights

• The colourful town square of Schärding: The centre of the baroque town literally shines in all colours. In the Middle Ages, the houses along the Silberzeile were painted according to the shop keepers guild – for example, bakers sold from blue houses and butchers in red. Enjoy the blaze of colours!
• The natural spectacle of the Schlögener Schlinge: Where the Danube turns 180 degrees, which with a bit of perseverance can be best seen from the viewing platform ‘Schlögener Blick’.
• The Grüner Veltliner in the Wachau: Whether apricot jam, Sturm or the famous Grüner Veltliner – the culinary delights of the area between Melk and Krems on the Danube should be enjoyed with all the senses!
• The historic Viennese Prater with Ferris wheel: Originally used as the emperor’s hunting ground, the Prater was opened to the public in 1977 and developed into an amusement park that still casts visitors under a magical spell. Anyone who dates to ride on the world-famous Ferris wheel will be rewarded with a wonderful view over Vienna’s rooftops.

Flat or slightly downhill along the Danube; well-built cycle path almost all the way without motor vehicles. Minor roads make up only very short sections of this route – the Danube cycle path is an extremely well-built cycle route.