Danube – Bike & Boat Passau to Budapest (Return)

Start the day quietly perhaps in Engelhartszell with a visit to Austria’s only Trappist Monastery, famed for its heady, health-promoting cordials and liqueurs. The famous Schlögen loop will have you in a spin of sorts next. One of the most beautiful and original river sections, it’s where the Danube meets a granite rock bed and does a 180 degree turn in one mighty meander. The route to Brandstatt where you rejoin the ship is dotted with charming little villages and welcoming ‘Keller’, typical taverns just right to stop a while and watch the world cruise by. Once back on board, the ship sets sail for an overnight passage to Devin.

Miles: 32 Kms: 46

Arrive in Devin – home to mighty medieval castle ramparts and a legendary Maiden Tower, an impressive cliff-top edge of the confluence of the Danube and Morava Rivers and undoubtedly the place for panoramic views.  Cycle out to the Imperial Palace of Hof with its world-renowned Baroque terraced gardens before crossing borders to pedal along the old iron curtain into the impressive Slovakian city of Bratislava where there is an opportunity to tour the city on an optional mini-train/walking tour excursion (payable locally) if you wish. Overnight, you sail on to Budapest.

Miles: 33 Kms: 54

Spend the morning up on the sundeck of the ship, wondering at the views on the final few kilometres of Hungarian countryside on the approach to Budapest. As arrivals in cities by river go, this has to be one of the best, with many of the impressive sights lined up along the river bank. The embankments of both Pest and Buda are incredible and it’s hardly surprising that the view of the Buda Castle district and Danube embankments are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In the afternoon, there’s a chance to join a tour of the city by coach (optional – payable locally) or take yourself off on two wheels to explore Margaretheninsel or the attractive little town of Szentendre with its almost Mediterranean feel, home of many Hungarian artists and rich in folk traditions. Overnight, the MS Manon or MS Prinzessin Katharina sails on to the Hungarian town of Visegrád.

Miles: 30 Kms: 48

Just north of Budapest, the wooded hills of Pilis, Visegrád and Börzsöny make for beautiful backdrop at a sharp bend in the Danube which is often referred to as the ‘Hungarian Wachau’. Saddle up in Visegrád to visit the town’s famous fortress and ruins of its former palace before choosing from two different cycle tour routes. For the shortest option, head directly to Esztergom with its über-impressive basilica, the largest Catholic church in Hungary, or maybe take the detour en route to visit Szentendre and the Baroque village of Vác influenced by the architects of the Austrian Empress Maria Theresia. Overnight, the MS Manon or MS Prinzessin Katharina sails back into Austria to Vienna.

Miles: 15-37 Kms: 25-60

You might choose to take up the chance to attend a Waltz and Operetta concert (optional, payable locally) during your stay in Vienna, but whatever you choose to do, this is a city so full of amazing cultural offerings that you’re sure to be all of a whirl. Must-sees include the big wheel and St Stephen’s Cathedral as well as the Hofburg, but the coffee houses are seriously tempting and the exquisite cakes displayed in the windows even more so! Take a guided city tour by bike or bus (both optional, payable locally) to see the impressive ‘Ringstrasse’ including the historic Burgtheater, State Opera House and town hall. Overnight, the MS Manon or MS Prinzessin Katharina sails on to Rossatz or Dürnstein in the Wachau.

Perhaps this Danube cruise and cycle leaves the best until last? Nothing compares with the enchanting landscapes of the Wachau Valley: its apricot orchards and vineyards, picturesque hillside villages and monasteries, captivating castles and impressive ruins. Cycling out from Rossatz / Dürnstein, Dürnstein is a must – the little Baroque village is famed for the blue tower of the monastery church its ruined castle where Richard the Lionheart was held hostage whilst returning from the Crusades. The Wachau Valley has a chequered and complex history and UNESCO World Heritage Site status: it is a place for wonder and reflection. Don’t miss the mighty monastery at Melk and get a real taste of the place at one of the many vineyard taverns around Weissenkirchen. Finally, your floating hotel awaits you at Pöchlarn – and a farewell dinner and cocktail as you start sailing back to Passau.

Miles: 26-32 Kms: 42-52

Sit back and relax into a final morning with the Danube as you enjoy its famous mighty meander, the ‘Schlögener Schlinge’ for the last time. The MS Manon or MS Prinzessin Katharina arrives back in Passau around 11am in readiness for onward travel from around noon… but perhaps you are still enchanted by the magical Danube and can’t resist staying in City of Three Rivers just a little while longer?

Extra nights can be booked to allow more time to explore Passau at your leisure.