Highlights of the Danube

Individual arrival to Passau by train/car. We offer a transfer from the parking lot and the train station to the ship at fixed times (around 4:30 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. Welcome evening. At approx. 6.30 p.m. we cast off!

Starting from UNESCO World Heritage Site „Schlögener Schlinge“ through the uninhabited valley Kaiserau to the baroque market Aschach and via Ottensheim further on to Linz. Here you can explore, among other things, the St. Mary’s Cathedral, the castle and the picturesque main square, and take the world’s steepest cable car up the Pöstlingberg. Optional: “200 years of Anton Bruckner” concert on the Bruckner organ in Linz.

After breakfast individual visit of the Egon Schiele-museum and garden exhibition in Tulln. Bike tour from the flower-city Tulln, with nice view to the extensions of the Viennese forest past Klosterneuburg to Vienna. Individual visit of Vienna or tour by bike (+ 18 km). Optional: evening city tour by bus (2 hrs.)

This stage starts in the historic city of Esztergom, on the border between Hungary and Slovakia. On the way to Szentendre, the Danube changes its direction and makes its way in a wide arc to the south, through the Hungarian mountains. This section of the river is also called the Danube Bend and is one of the most beautiful landscapes of Hungary. On the way you can visit the citadel with the medieval royal palace in Visegrád. Then continue along the Danube Cycle Path, which eventually leads to the 30-kilometer-long island of Szentendre. This densely forested natural paradise is a popular destination for Budapestites. Once you reach the picturesque artists’ village of Szentendre, you can decide whether to cycle the 22 kilometers to Budapest or take the train (about 40 minutes, payable on site).

Today you can take the whole day to explore the beautiful capital of Hungary. You can choose between a 3-hour city tour by bus (optional) or a bike tour to Margaret Island. In the afternoon on 100 % car-free bike paths into the pedestrian zone to stroll around and/or shop and further on to the Margarete’s island, the wonderful recreation zone in the middle of the city. In the evening by ship through the beautifully illuminated Magyar metropolis.

From one capital city to another: when you wake up, the ship is still on its way to Bratislava. You can relax on the sun deck after breakfast. After lunch and arrival, you can begin a 1-hour guided city tour of Bratislava (optional) or start the bike tour right away. The historical center of the Slovak capital is small and compact. So you can easily visit the most important sights like St. Martin’s Cathedral, the Old Opera House or the Old Town Hall on foot. Your bike tour takes you along the Austrian bank of the Danube via Wolfsthal to Hainburg. Here you should definitely take a short break to look at the picturesque alleys of this medieval town. In the middle of the natural idyll of the Donau-Auen National Park lies the Imperial Castle Eckartsau. Here you can experience the splendor of the Habsburg monarchy up close. Then either cycle back or opt for the longer bike ride via Hof Castle and Devín, back to Bratislava.

This last section is one of the highlights of this bike and boat trip. You start your day in the 1000-year-old city of Krems with its beautiful old town. Then, you will continue through the Wachau region with its characteristic orchards and vineyards. In this fascinating environment you will pass the wine villages Spitz and Weißenkirchen and the castle ruin Dürnstein. Below the ruins is a monastery with a distinctive blue tower. When you reach the medieval town of Melk, you will see the imposing Benedictine Abbey of Melk Abbey (UNESCO World Heritage Site) from afar. The baroque abbey and the old town of Melk are definitely worth a visit. And from the hill you have a great view of the Danube and the surrounding countryside. Our day ends in Pöchlarn. Here you will find, among other things, the birthplace of the famous expressionist painter Oskar Kokoschka.

Arrival in Passau at approx. 9 a.m. – after the breakfast at approx. 10 a.m. bus transfer to the train station/parking space and home journey.