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Overview
Passing through the stunning landscapes of Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia, this Danube River Bike and Boat tour takes you through a tapestry of different cultures, traditions, and history along one of Europe's most iconic waterways.
You board your luxurious ship in the scenic Austrian port town of Engelhartszell. Set off on an unforgettable journey, including three European capitals, Klosterneuburg, Esztergom, and Visegrad. The alluvial landscape has rolling hills, lush forests, meadows, and world-famous vineyards.
Throughout your electric cycling journey, you savor delicious regional cuisine, sample local wines, and enjoy life onboard your luxury ship.
Highlights
- 5 guided bike tours along the Danube and beyond the river banks
- 4 countries
- 3 European capitals, Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest
- Klosterneuburg, Dürnstein, and Melk
- Picturesque landscapes; Wachau, the Danube floodplains, and the Danube Bend in Hungary
- Accommodations on the Bella, state of the art cruise ship
- Stress-free battery-assisted cycling with a support vehicle
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Itinerary
Day 1: Engelhartszell
Day 2: Vienna, 21 mi. (34 km)
Day 3: Vienna - Klosterneuburg - Vienna 23 mi. (36 km)
Day 4: Esztergom - Visegrad - Budapest, 22 or 31 mi. (35 or 50 km)
Day 5: Budapest City Day
Day 6: Bratislava, 20 - 26 mi. (32 - 41 km)
Day 7: Wachau - Melk, 24 mi. (39 km)
Day 8: Departure or extension in Passau or MunichAll distances are approximate. The itinerary is subject to change in the event of adverse weather or other instances of force majeure.
Day 1: Embark in Engelhartszell near Passau
At approximately, 3 pm, an included bus shuttle transfer (30 - 40 minutes) is offered from the main train station in Passau to the boarding dock in Engelhartszell, Austria. You are then welcomed on board your luxury vessel by your crew and guides. Be sure to be ready for embarkation at 4 pm as the ship departs punctually at 5 pm and navigates downstream toward Vienna. After only 14 km, the ship reaches its first scenic highlight, the Schlögener Schlinge. Here the Danube makes its way through the Bohemian massif in several meanders. At the loop, the river turns in a narrow bend curved to the left by 180 °, followed by another 180 ° bend!Day 2: Vienna and along the Danube, 21 mi. (34 km)
In the morning, the ship navigates the wooded slopes of the Vienna Woods and reaches Vienna around noon. After lunch on board, the bikes are readied for you on the bank. Cycling from the jetty, over the Reichsbrücke, you reach the expansive Danube Island. The floodplain landscape of Lobau lies on the northern side of the Danube. In the Donau-Auen National Park, numerous water birds and other threatened animal and plant species are protected, threatened by the Danube's straightening and its expansion into a large waterway. The cycle path leads across the Danube Island through the Viennese paradise of entertainment, the Prater. From here you come back to the ship on the banks of the Danube. If you like, you can spend the evening in downtown Vienna. The ship stays in Vienna overnight. Your guide will show you the best way to get into town.Day 3: Vienna - Klosterneuburg - Vienna, 23 mi. (36 km)
Once again, you pedal directly from the landing stage. Navigating upstream, your journey unfolds beyond Vienna, leading you towards the steep slopes of the "Wiener Wald" or Vienna Woods. As the riverbank gives way to elevation, you will ascend effortlessly by e-bike to the Leopoldsberg, a vantage point offering a breathtaking panorama high above the Danube and a captivating view of Vienna. It's here, atop this historic hill, that Vienna's destiny was once shaped during the Second Turkish Siege.A delightful descent follows to Klosterneuburg. In the High Middle Ages, Klosterneuburg Abbey was a vibrant hub of art and culture. Later, under the directive of Charles VI, the abbey underwent a baroque transformation, emerging as a stone testament to the intricate connection between the kingdom of God and the empire—an Austrian escorial.
From Klosterneuburg, the journey circles back to the ship, gracefully moored in Vienna, completing a day that blends history, culture, and the joys of cycling along the Danube's picturesque route.
Day 4: Esztergom - Visegrad - Budapest, 22 or 31 mi. (35 or 50 km)
Today could be called a day of castles and fortresses. The ship arrives in Esztergom. Iconic Várhegy, or Castle Hill, rises 170 meters over the Danube River. The hill's history dates back to the 13th century when King Béla IV ordered the construction of a fortress to protect the city from Mongol invasions. Over the centuries, the fortress was expanded and transformed into a royal palace, now known as Esztergom Castle, which served as the residence of Hungarian kings and queens for centuries. The other notable landmark on Castle Hill is the Esztergom Basilica, an impressive neoclassical church, the largest in Hungary and one of the most important religious sites in the country. It houses many significant religious artworks, including the world-famous altarpiece by Michelangelo Grigoletti, which depicts the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.A short transfer to Visegrad Castle on the Danube Bend is on the agenda. The Danube Bend is one of the most picturesque regions on the banks of the Danube. The ancient Visegrad Castle is located above the bend of the river. Above, you can enjoy the intoxicating view of the narrow breakthrough of the river and, after visiting the fortress, start with a descent back to the banks of the Danube.
After a short section on a busy road, a small ferry transfers to the elongated island in the Danube Bend. A rural idyll awaits you here. The route leads more than 20 km south across the island of Szentendrei-Sziget, onward to Szentendre, only a few kilometers before Budapest. The cheerful baroque town on the right bank of the river was an artist colony characterized by many churches and its location on the banks of the Danube. It is approx. 15 km from here to Budapest, which will be completed by bus transfer.
If you would like, you can bike into the city though there will be traffic as you approach the city limits.
Day 5: Budapest
Today, you have an entire day in Budapest. The river majestically divides the city into two parts Buda and Pest, which are connected by splendid bridges. Budapest boasts stunning architecture that reflects its diverse history. From the iconic Buda Castle and Fisherman's Bastion to the grandeur of the Hungarian Parliament Building along the Danube River, the city's skyline is a testament to its centuries-old heritage.Public transport in Budapest is well developed and the city is served by metro, tram, trolley, and bus. You can explore the city center or book a comprehensive 3.5-hour city tour on board. You will see the Millennium Monument on the spacious Heldenplatz, the magnificent opera, the former stock exchange, and the gigantic parliament building. A tour through the castle district takes you past the Matthias Church to the Fishermen's Bastion. You continue to Gellért Hill and visit the 220-meter-long citadel, at the southern tip of which the Statue of Liberty rises.
The ship casts off at around 4 p.m. to travel upstream again towards Germany.
Day 6: Bratislava - Hainburger Pforte - Bratislava, 20 - 26 mi. (32 - 41 km)
In the morning your ship docks in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. From the outside, the cityscape is still a bit brittle socialist, but the old town has been nicely renovated and, like Vienna and Budapest, exudes the old splendor of the Habsburg Empire. Pressburg was the name of the city until Czechoslovakia was founded. In 1993, when it separated from the Czech Republic, Bratislava became the capital of Slovakia.
The cycling stage begins in Hainburg/Austria at the Hainburger Pforte, a narrow part of the Danube between Austria and Slovakia.From there, you cross the Danube via a massive tension bridge and can reach the baroque palace Schloss Hof in Austria. The cycle route crosses the border to Slovakia and ends at the ruins of Devín Castle a few kilometers west of Bratislava. Bus transfer back to Bratislava or – if you do not mind a 2 km of city traffic – you can bike all the way back to the ship in downtown Bratislava mostly along the shore of the Danube. The ship will leave the city in the afternoon.
Day 7: Wachau - Melk, 24 mi. (39 km)
While you have breakfast, the ship glides through the wonderful landscape of the Wachau. Your ship docks in Krems in the morning (approx. 8:15 am) and cyclists embark to Dürnstein, probably the most famous of all wine-growing locations in the Wachau. Dürnstein is picturesquely situated on the Danube, surrounded by vineyards and at the foot of an old castle. It has been a romantic ruin since the Thirty Years War and is a reminder that King Richard the Lionheart was a prominent prisoner there.
The further cycle route leads to Weißenkirchen, a wine-growing village past Dürnstein through terraced vineyards with small winegrowers' houses. You will be impressed by the Gothic fortified church from the 14th century in Weißenkirchen.
Other picturesque wine-growing towns such as St. Michael, Spitz, and Willendorf are included in your itinerary. The almost 30,000-year-old statuette “Venus von Willendorf” was found in Willendorf in 1908! It is Austria's most famous find from the Stone Age and is now exhibited in the Natural History Museum in Vienna. The bike tour ends in the early afternoon near Melk, opposite the imposing monastery complex. The baroque Benedictine monastery marks the beginning of the Wachau in a picturesque way and offers a unique interplay of landscape and culture. You will be back on board around noon and your ship will continue upstream toward Engelhartszell.Day 8: Departure or extension in Passau or Munich
The ship docks in Engelhartszell between 7 and 8 am. Disembarkation and transfer to the train station in Passau around 9 am. Travel time is approx. 40 minutes.Of course, extending another night (or two) in Passau or Munich is advisable to experience these lively and fascinating Bavarian cities even more extensively.
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Map
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Boats
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Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodation for 7 nights in the selected category of cabin
- Breakfast
- Lunch as a picnic buffet or as a buffet on board according to the program
- 7 multi-course dinners in buffet form
- All drinks are included on this trip, with the exception of champagne, bottled wine, & exclusive rarities
- Electric bike
- Support vehicle
- Guided cycling itinerary
- All visits & admissions as indicated in the itinerary
- All transfers as indicated in the itinerary
- Departure airport transfer
- CO2 compensation in the region
What’s Not Included
- Helmet
- Gratuities
- Bike Protection
- Travel Insurance
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Dates & Pricing
Dates & Pricing
Questions about dates or pricing? We’re here to help! Call 800-951-4384 to talk to a Tour Specialist now.
May 25May 25 € 3246 Book May 25May 25 € 4285 Book Jun 1Jun 1 € 3246 Book Jun 1Jun 1 € 4285 Book Aug 10Aug 10 € 3246 Book Aug 10Aug 10 € 4285 Book Sep 21Sep 21 € 3246 Book Sep 21Sep 21 € 4285 Book Show pricing details and extra options →
Pricing details and extra options
Tour Package:
May 25, Jun 1, Aug 10, Sep 21- Tour Package 2025 May 25, Jun 1, Aug 10, Sep 21 from € 32462025 departures: May 25, Jun 1, Aug 10, Sep 21
2025 May Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 June Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 August Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 September Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Tour Package Double occupancy Cat A cabin € 3246 Cat C cabin € 3646 Single occupancy Cat A cabin € 4285 Cat C cabin € 4925 Bike rental Electric bike Included
- Extra Options
Extra options Helmet rental Must be reserved in advance.€ 10 Transfers Private transfer from Munich Airport/city to Passau, 1-8 people € 350 Private transfer from Vienna Airport/city to Passau, 1-8 people € 490 Train transfers from Vienna to Passau possible, please inquire for pricing.
Please Note
- Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
- Tour Package 2025 May 25, Jun 1, Aug 10, Sep 21 from € 3246
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Extra Info
Skill Level — Moderate–Difficult
On this electric bike tour, you will cycle through the picturesque wine-growing landscape of the Danube Valley along the terraced slopes. The total distance is approximately 150 km and mostly takes place on cycle paths or on small side roads with little traffic. The paths along the Danube have only slight inclines. On Day 6, you will encounter an approximately 200 m long ascent but this will not be a problem at all on electric bikes. On the third day, you are offered a hike on the Leopoldsberg. This paved footpath leads 3 km steadily uphill. Alternatively, you can go up by support vehicle. You decide how much assistance you require on your premium pedelec equipped with Bosch or Shimano mid-mounted motor. The difficulty rating will be entirely up to you!
Airport Info
Fly to Munich (MUN) or Vienna (VIE) Airport.
Local Travel
Munich Airport is located 188 km from Engelhartszell. Please book your flight so that you arrive at Munich Airport no later than 1 pm, otherwise, you run the risk of arriving late on board the ship. Boarding is at 4 pm and the ship departs at 5 pm followed by a panorama tour.
Arrival/Departure in Munich:
- Take a bus to Freising Train Station (approximately €3). It’s also possible to take a taxi from the Airport to Freising Station (approximately €27). From Freising, continue by train to Passau. The train ride is approx. 2–2½ hours (depending on connections) and costs €30 to €45 depending on type of train.
- Take the Regional Express train from the airport to Landshut and then get on another regional train that takes you to Passau. The wait between trains is approximately 15 minutes and does not require you to change tracks. Ticket price is approximately €16. Important to note, these tickets can only be purchased on the DB phone app or at the train station. Purchasing tickets from the machine will not give you this option since it does not allow bookings for multiple regional trains.
- Private transfers are available for a supplement from the airport or Munich City Center to Passau. See pricing.
Climate
The Danube River is a charming destination to visit at almost any time of the year, though most travel experts agree the that best times to take a Danube cruise are Spring (April and May) and Fall (September and October). You will travel through a climatic region between mountains and lowlands, where the weather can be very changeable! It can often be quite cool in the mountains. Temperature fluctuations between morning and evening are the rule. You need clothing for hot and fickle/cool weather. You shouldn’t travel without a warm jacket/sweater and rain protection!
Important to know
Travel Documents
Before you travel, please check the passport and visa requirements of the country/countries you plan to visit. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have proper identification. For US citizens, the U.S. Passports & International Travel website is a good source of information. The Country Information tab provides details about passport validity, blank passport pages required, etc. It is important to research before you travel as airlines will not permit boarding if you do not have the required valid documents. We recommend that you make copies of your important documents and papers (insurance cards, etc.). Leave a copy at home and have a copy with you. In the unfortunate situation that you lose your original documents, having copies facilitates the replacement process.
Important note: Please check on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status as once implemented, this will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.
CO2 Compensation
The CO2 compensation program benefits the non-profit Wilderness International Foundation based in Germany and Canada. The aim of the foundation is to protect unique, intact, natural areas in the temperate rain forest on Canada's west coast. The protected areas are located in British Columbia's Toba Valley, about 160km north of Vancouver. There, the foundation buys wilderness areas that are legally protected in the long term by being entered in the land register. This in turn, benefits us all. The costs cover the compensation within the destination (excluding arrival and departure travel).
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Terra Nova.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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