Our popular Self-Guided Salzburg-Vienna Tour will start in Salzburg and you’ll bike to Krems where you’ll return the bikes and continue by train to Vienna.   You’ll stay in charming 4-star hotels and inns along the way. Daily breakfast is included; dinner is on your own! You’ll bike a total of 396 kilometers from Salzburg to Krems. Highlights include: visits to wonderful Vienna, the “world capital of classical music”, and to Salzburg, Mozart’s picturesque birth place, beautiful Baroque Schärding, historic Linz, Burghausen and Passau, the City of Three Rivers; visits to other charming medieval towns, castles and splendid abbeys and the incomparable Benedictine Monastery in Melk; delightful biking mostly on separate bike paths or on small rural roads through the forested Upper Danube Valley and the scenic vineyards of the Wachau Valley; visit to the unusual “Donauschlinge”, a textbook meander in the Donau River.

Green = Open | Yellow = Limited | Red = Full

2023

Prices are per person in US$ – inclusive bike rental                                                                            *This tour can be guided upon request

Terms and Conditions

DAY 1 – Salzburg
Arrive on your own in your comfortable hotel in Salzburg and use the afternoon to stroll around in the delightful “Sound of Music City”. We hope you arrive at least one day early to explore this wonderful walking city with its many little passageways and courtyards in the cozy medieval center. The most famous street in this part of Salzburg is, of course, the Getreidegasse, well known for its old-style hanging shop signs and Mozart’s birthplace at number 9. A few steps away is the “City of the Bishops’, a more grandiose Salzburg with the magnificent Cathedral and former residence of the Archbishop. The Mirabell Palace and Gardens are a delightful place of great beauty not to be missed. Also especially recommended is the Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzburg’s landmark and the largest citadel in Central Europe to have completely survived. The panoramic view over the city from here is spectacular.

DAY 2 – Salzburg – Burghausen – 37 miles (60 km)
You’ll leave the festival city of Salzburg and take the path along the bank of the Salzach to tranquil and quaint Oberndorf. It was here that the Christmas carol “Silent Night” was written in 1818 and you might visit the charming, little “Silent Night Chapel.” In the afternoon you’ll reach Burghausen, with the most expansive castle buildings in Europe. A visit to the impressive fortress will acquaint you with the history and development of the town and castle.

DAY 3 – Burghausen – Schärding – 43 miles (70 km)
Today you’ll cycle through the “Unterer Inn” Nature Preserve, the largest wooded region of the Inn District and stop at the Inn-Salzach View, where the Salzach flows into the Inn. You then pass through lively Braunau where you can stop for coffee and a walk around to admire the central square and clock tower. Then you’ll cycle on through beautiful open farmland to Obernberg, a thousand-year-old town with an extremely beautiful market square. From here it is another 18 km to the beautiful Baroque town of Schärding where you’ll stay for the night. After dinner we recommend a stroll around in this charming little town with the “most beautiful baroque town square in all of Austria”.

DAY 4 – Schärding – Passau – Schlögen – 37 miles (60 km)
You’ll pedal along the peaceful River Inn and cross for a short time into Germany to Passau, once a prestigious and wealthy center of Roman Catholicism. The Inn and the Ilz flow into the Danube at Passau which is why the city is also called the “Three Rivers Town”. On its impressive Market Square you’ll find St. Stephan Cathedral containing the largest church organ in Europe. Here you can attend the noon time organ concert (daily except on Sundays), quite an exciting experience. After lunch bike on to your comfortable hotel in Schlögen, close to the famous meander in the Danube River.

DAY 5 – Schlögen – Linz – 32 miles (51 km)
Today you continue over an easy path along the river and later on small country roads through lush countryside. You can stop for lunch in picturesque Ottensheim. In the early afternoon you’ll reach Linz, the capital of Upper Austria and Austria’s third largest city. It was here in 1783 that Mozart wrote one of his most beautiful symphonies, the Linz Symphony, which he dedicated to the city. Mozart resided in the house of Count Thun during his Linz engagements and ever since the Thun Mansion has been known as “Mozart Haus”. You can visit it today! Also Anton Bruckner, a great Austrian composer of church music, was closely associated with Linz. For 12 years he was the resident-organist at the magnificent baroque cathedral. Each September Linz holds its most important music festival, the Bruckner Festival dedicated to its namesake. You’ll have time for a delightful stroll in the handsome center of Linz before or after a tasty meal in one of its many fine restaurants. You should remember to try the delicious pastry – the Linzer Torte and check out a lively Austrian Beergarten in the evening!

DAY 6 – Linz – Grein/Ardagger – 37-42 miles (59-67 km)
Today you’ll bike from Linz along the Danube to Mauthausen, now a friendly village but once the site of a WWII concentration camp or Enns, the oldest town of Austria. Via Ardagger you’ll cycle on through the fertile Machland region to the old barge town Grein, where you’ll find a wonderful castle from the 15th century and the oldest (1791) theater in Austria, still in use today. You can visit the Grein Castle and the small theatre and marvel that Napoleon sat in one of the same seats long ago!

DAY 7 – Grein/Ardagger – Melk/Emmersdorf – 34-38 miles (54-62 km)
Today you’ll take a peaceful, romantic ride through the relaxing countryside along the Donau, passing though tiny Austrian villages. Shortly after Marbach you’ll pass by the Maria Taferl, for centuries a Christian pilgrimage destination, located on a rugged hilltop on the other side of the river. You’ll bike on to Pochlarn where you could stop at a nice café for lunch. Then on to ancient Melk on the Danube River, the beginning of the Wachau Valley. Here you can visit the incredible Benedictine Monastery, the Stift Melk, founded in 1089 high above the river. It was rebuilt between 1702 and 1726 in splendid high baroque style. Melk is the entrance to the most popular part of the Danube Region, the Wachau, well known for its delicious white wines.

DAY 8 – Melk/Emmersdorf – Krems – Vienna – 22 miles (36 km) + 2-hour train ride
Today cycle through the impressive Wachau region, a scenic stretch of winding river and vine-covered hillsides in lower Austria. Small winding village streets with flower-covered houses make this a photographer’s delight. The area is well known for its choice wines. The route takes you through Spits and Weissenkirchen and the best known town in the Wachau, Dürnstein. It has a ruined castle where Richard the Lionhearted was imprisoned in the 12th century. After reaching Krems, stroll through the renovated section, now a pedestrian zone, with its 17th century pastel houses. In Krems you’ll drop off your bicycle and travel for two hours to Vienna by train.

DAY 9 – Tour Ends
The tour ends in Vienna after breakfast.

The hotels listed below are examples of those usually used on the tour. Depending on availability, you may be booked in a different hotel of equal quality.

Bayerischer Hof
The Bayerischer Hof hotel has been in the same family for generations. You will be spoiled by comfortable rooms with a stunning view of Burghausen’s town square. From here you can easily visit the historic Burghausen Castle, known as the longest castle complex in the world. Where else can you swim in a lake or play a round of mini-golf with a spectacular castle backdrop? Whatever sites you choose to visit, you will love the hotel’s exceptional location.

Stadthotel Schärding
The Stadthotel Schärding has a rich history dating back to the 15th century. Originally constructed as a hospital and church, the building was nearly destroyed by a fire in the early 1800’s. Luckily, the structure was fully renovated in 2005, restoring many architectural features and preserving the original appearance. Guests will enjoy the unique Baroque setting of Schärding, with access to modern amenities.

Freizeitanlage Schlögen
In a beautiful environment in the middle of Upper Austria, you will find everything you want at the Freizeitanlage Schlögen hotel. From here you will have a magnificent view of the valley, but can also visit the most beautiful marina on the Danube River nearby. Back at the hotel, you can visit the on-site restaurant and be spoiled with Austrian delicacies and international cuisine.

Courtyard by Marriott Linz
This contemporary hotel with modern amenities is ideally located near the city center of Linz. Additional hotel amenities include an on-site gym, sauna and steam bath, as well as delectable Austrian dining and an outdoor terrace restaurant. The hotel provides easy access to popular local attractions including the Design Centre Linz, Musiktheater, and the historic main square.

Gasthof – Pension zur Traube
At this traditional family-run hotel, you will find comfort in the cozy rooms and delicacies from the kitchen and wine cellar. This quiet house at the foot of the Greinburg is a great place to stay while visiting the town of Grein. You will enjoy balcony views, a shady countryside garden, and fireplace lounge, as well as easy access to the center of town.

Hotel-Restaurant zur Post
Whether hiking, riding your bike or simply relaxing with a nice glass of wine, the Hotel zur Post will make your stay comfortable for you. This hotel-restaurant has been family owned for four generations, and the staff is happy to make suggestions for things to discover in ink Melk. This includes the authentic Arkadenhof restaurant and the town’s best ice cream parlor!

Austria Trend Hotel Lassalle
The Hotel Lasalle offers comfortable modern furnishings during your stay in the Austrian capital. The hotel is only 300 meters from the Danube and Vienna’s favorite recreation area. There is much to get excited about in Vienna, including well known museums and galleries. Less-known is a secondary business district that has developed into a trendy hotspot in recent years. Vienna’s Prater Park is also a short walk away, a green oasis in the middle of the city, housing the world-famous Giant Ferris Wheel.

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