Compare Christmas in Vienna & Prague for the Single Traveller by Just Go! Holidays vs Passau to Vienna Cycling by Exodus Travels
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
Trip |
5 | Excellent
|
5 | Excellent
|
Duration | 8 days | 11 days |
Price From | $ 1,052 | $ 2,900 |
Price Per Day | $ 132 | $ 264 |
Highlights |
|
|
Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
Physical Level |
|
|
Travel Themes |
|
|
Countries Visited | ||
Cities and Attractions |
|
|
Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | No |
Activities |
|
|
Meals Included | N/A | All breakfasts included |
Description |
Join us on a fantastic yuletide break to Vienna and Prague, where you can relax and enjoy the Christmas festivities in the company of like-minded people in a warm and friendly atmosphere. This is a magical time of year to visit these beautiful capital cities with Christmas trees adorning the historic squares and twinkling lights bringing the fine buildings to life. |
The route from Passau, on Germany's eastern border, to Vienna is one of the most popular cycle paths in Europe, and it's no wonder! This stretch of the Danube carves its way through a thousand years of history; 60 dramatic castles and palaces lie along the river and the ever-changing landscape is a kaleidoscope of fertile plains, narrow gorges, lowland forests, bird-rich marshland and acres of picturesque vines.Cycle through a thousand years of history |
Day 1:
Ferry to Calais and overnight stay in Germany.
Day 2:
Cross the border into Austria, reaching our hotel in Vienna in time for dinner.
Day 3: Christmas Eve - Vienna’s Old Town, traditional Viennese café & dinner in a traditional wine tavern
We enjoy a guided walking tour that introduces us to the beautiful Old Town of Vienna. Vienna’s historic centre is rich in grand buildings and monuments and is especially pretty at Christmas when the streets are brightly illuminated. Afterwards, we shelter ourselves from the cold in a traditional Viennese café where we enjoy some festive treats including coffee, liqueur and Sachertorte.
This evening, we enjoy an evening meal in a traditional wine tavern (Heurige) that includes wine and live Viennese music.
Day 4: Christmas Day - Classical concert in a Viennese palace
We enjoy a relaxing day in Vienna which includes Christmas Day lunch at a local restaurant followed by a light dinner back at our hotel. We round off this special day with a classical concert in a Viennese palace including a glass of sparkling wine.
Day 5: Boxing Day - Vienna to Prague via Brno
Leaving Vienna, we cross the border into the Czech Republic, stopping en-route in Brno, the country’s second largest city where we enjoy lunch. Highlights include Spilberk Castle and Saint Peter and Paul’s Cathedral on Petrov Hill. Later, we arrive at our Prague hotel where we stay for the next two nights.
Day 6: Prague Castle & Prague Old Town
We start the morning with a guided tour of Prague Castle sat imposingly above the city. Dating back to the 9th century, it is the largest castle complex in the world and is made up of a number of magnificent buildings including palaces, churches, gardens and defense towers. After our tour we enjoy lunch in the castle area. In the afternoon, we take a guided tour of Prague’s Old Town. Highlights include the Old Town Square with its ancient buildings such as the Old Town Hall with its Astronomical Clock that has been keeping time since 1410.
Day 7:
Travel to our overnight hotel in Germany.
Day 8:
Continue on to Calais for our return ferry home.
Day 1 Arrive in Passau
Arrive at your riverfront hotel and then enjoy dinner in the heart of the old town tonight. You stay at the Hotel Residenz (breakfast included)
Day 2 Passau to Schlogen
After receiving your bike and welcome brief, pedal east to Obernzell, famous for pottery, before popping into the Keramicmuseum in a riverside castle. The scent of wood smoke and grilled trout may tempt you into lunch as you cross into Austria where the valley is steeper and cloaked with oak woods. On reaching the hotel, relax in the pool before dinner on the terrace watching passenger boats sparkling with fairy lights cruise past. Cycling distance either 23km/14.5mi or 47km/29.5mi You stay at the Hotel Donauschlinge (breakfast included)
Day 3 Schlogen to Aschach (Linz)
Spot kingfishers today in the Donauschlinge Nature Reserve. Stop and enjoy the views at the picnic tables that dot the waterfront before you reach Aschach's frescoed waterfront. Catch the Linz ferry, or follow the towpath through reed marshes to Ottensheim beach for a swim. Hop on the train here and in no time you'll arrive at your hotel, an ancient convent, in Linz's extravagant town square. Cycling disctance either 27km/17mi or 46km/29mi You stay at the Hotel Wolfinger (breakfast included)
Day 4 Linz to Ardagger/Grein
The route leads you away from the Danube to 12th Century Enns. Austria's oldest city, before returning to the Danube and an onward ride to the beautiful little village of Ardagger. Cycling disctance either 56km/35mi or 61km/38mi You stay at the Hotel Schiffmeisterhaus (breakfast included)
Day 5 Ardagger/Grein to Melk
Explore the small baroque town of Grein before cycling through the fertile Danube Valley for a lunch stop in Ybbs, home to a quirky collection of penny-farthings bicycles. The hilltop twin towers of Maria Taferl appear and Melk's monastery looms high above as you pedal towards Margaret Ebner's welcoming family hotel in Melk. You stay at the Hotel Zur Post (breakfast included) Cycling distance either 55km/34mi
Day 6 At Melk
Melk's massive Benedictine monastery was rebuilt in 1683, and the interior abbey is as breathtaking as the countryside views from the rooftop terrace. For a day trip, cycle to Schloss Schallaburg (8km return), one of the finest Renaissance castles north of the Alps, where you can stroll in the magnificent rose gardens and enjoy acclaimed cultural exhibitions. You stay at the Hotel Zur Post (breakfast included)
Day 7 Melk to Krems
Today you coast along the UNESCO Wachau Valley, a necklace of villages and vineyards, anchored by pretty churches along the north bank. Each is charming, especially Durnstein where Richard the Lionheart was held for ransom in the craggy hilltop castle. Admire the statuette, Venus of Willendorf, dating back to 23,000BC, before arriving in Krems for a splash in the pool, and candlelit dinner on the terrace overlooking the valley. You stay at the Steigenberger Hotel & Spa (breakfast included)
Day 8 At Krems
Krems has one of the most beautiful historic centres in Europe and is packed with interest, from the Wine Museum housed in a restored Dominican monastery to the 13th century abbey that exhibits paintings of Martin Johann Schmidt. You can cycle out to Schloss Grafenegg (14km away), a gargoyle-encrusted Gothic castle set in 85 acres of parkland, perfect for picnics, or just relax in the fabulous hotel spa and pool. You stay at the Steigenberger Hotel & Spa (breakfast included)
Day 9 Krems to Tulln
Freewheel down river to Tulln, known as the 'Town of Roses'. Pop into the Roman museum, which is packed with artefacts, and dine out tonight amid the fountains, statues and ornate buildings that crowd the pretty centre before returning to your waterfront hotel. You stay at the Hotel Nibelungenhof (breakfast included)
Day 10 Tulln to Vienna
Coast along the last stretch and relax over lunch in imperial Klosterneuburg. Then cycle along Danube Island before continuing to your hotel, right in the heart of the city. Enjoy dinner out in Vienna's lively centre which is breathtakingly floodlit at night! You stay at the Hotel Austria (breakfast included) Cycling distance either 22km/13.5mi or 41km/26mi
Day 11 Leave Vienna
The tour ends after breakfast in Vienna.