Compare Passau to Vienna Cycling by Exodus Travels vs A Grand Rail Adventure: Vienna, The Alps & Milan - Westbound 2024 by Tauck
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4 | Great
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| Duration | 11 days | 8 days |
| Price From | $ 2,900 | $ 13,590 |
| Price Per Day | $ 264 | $ 1,699 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | N/A |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
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| Flights & Transport | No | No |
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| Meals Included | All breakfasts included | N/A |
| Description |
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 |
A Tauck Exclusive private train, Golden Eagle Luxury Trains' Danube Express, takes you through Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein in search of art, castles, wine, and cuisines, along some of the most scenic mountain railways in Europe. For Tauck guests only – limited departures with only 56 Tauck guests aboard, accompanied by two Tauck Directors for the utmost in personalized service. |
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.
Day 1 Arrive Vienna
Tour begins 6:00 PM. A transfer is included from Vienna International Airport to the Hotel Bristol, an elegant Art Deco landmark in the heart of the city, opposite the Vienna State Opera House. Join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner at the hotel.
MEALS : D
LODGING : Hotel Bristol
PORTOFCALL : Vienna, Austria
Day 2 Vienna Sights & After-hours at Schönbrunn Palace
City sightseeing includes a tour of Belvedere Palace, a museum housing works by Impressionists including Monet and Van Gogh, Austrian art from the Middle Ages to the present, and the world's largest collection of Gustav Klimt paintings. Later, get a guided look at the immense Hofburg, formerly the Imperial Palace, now the residence and offices of the Austrian President; and St. Stephen's Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece and iconic landmark. Spend free time exploring the city on your own, then join us this evening for a private after-hours tour of Schönbrunn Palace, the opulent Habsburg summer residence inspired by Versailles. Start with a typical Viennese dinner at the Café Residenz; inside the palace, your guided tour includes the dazzling hall of mirrors and the magnificent apartments of Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Elisabeth. Dinner tonight is at the Cafe Residenz, a classic Viennese cafe in the eastern wing of the palace.
MEALS : B, D
LODGING : Hotel Bristol
PORTOFCALL : Vienna, Austria
Day 3 Vienna & The Danube Express
Depart your historic Vienna hotel and travel to Vienna Central Station, where you'll board Golden Eagle Luxury Trains' Danube Express, your elegant hotel on wheels for the next three nights, and enjoy lunch aboard the train. After settling in, you'll attend an exclusive private concert with sparkling wine (or soft drinks) in an intimate historic setting in Vienna. Dine onboard the train tonight as you head across central Austria to Innsbruck via the Semmering Pass.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Golden Eagle Danube Express
PORTOFCALL : Vienna, Austria
Day 4 Semmering Pass to Innsbruck
Travel the scenic alpine landscapes of central Austria to the Semmering Pass, the border between Lower Austria and Styria; a journey along viaducts and tunnels brings you to Jenbach, where you'll travel up to Lake Achen, a mountain lake also known as the Fjord of the Alps. Enjoy a boat cruise on the turquoise water, over a sunken valley that wanders fjord-like for miles amid limestone peaks and forested islands. Resume your train journey to Innsbruck, the resort capital of Tyrol, nestled beside the striking Nordkette mountain range; the city was a favorite retreat of the Habsburgs, who kept a lavish residence here. Take a walking tour of the medieval old town with a local guide before dinner aboard the Danube Express.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Golden Eagle Danube Express
PORTOFCALL : Innsbruck, Austria
Day 5 Zurich & Vaduz
Watch the enchanting landscapes of Austria's Vorarlberg province – mountain lakes, craggy peaks, waterfalls, villages, castles and deep valleys – unfold as the Danube Express crosses into Liechtenstein. Vaduz, the nation's capital, is a fascinating city of art, eclectic architecture, and vantage points for panoramic views. View the clifftop medieval castle that is still the residence of Liechtenstein's royal family; trails and overlooks on the grounds offer stunning birds-eye views of the city, the Rhine River, and the imposing mountain range. Ride the Danube Express to Zurich, where a walking tour includes the Kunsthaus Museum of Art; the museum's collections of 4,000 paintings, sculptures, and installations include paintings by Monet, Munch, Picasso, and Van Gogh, as well as works dating back to the Middle Ages, with an emphasis on Swiss masters. Stroll through Zurich's captivating Old Town with a local guide.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Golden Eagle Danube Express
Day 6 St. Gotthard Pass to Lake Como
Dramatic landscapes of granite peaks, plunging valleys, tunnels, and dramatic turns fill your view as the Danube Express winds through the rugged Gotthard Pass to Italy. Arrive in Chiasso, Switzerland and depart the train, traveling the short distance to Como, Italy. A walking tour reveals charming narrow streets and pastel houses beside enchanting Lake Como, lined with stately villas, terraces and promenades against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Visit the 14th-century marble cathedral for an exclusive organ concert, and spend free time in town, then ride the train to Milan, your final destination. A walking tour of the city's historic center introduces you to the awe-inspiring Duomo, which took 600 years to build, and a no-less impressive commercial cathedral, the Galleria Vittorio Emmanuelle II, a 19th-century shopping arcade under a monumental glass and ironwork ceiling. Or take a walking tour of the Brera District, a romantic bohemian neighborhood of narrow cobbled streets, galleries, and artisans' shops known as the Milanese Montmartre. Check into your prestigious hotel opposite the Central Station, and dine a la carte this evening.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Excelsior Hotel Gallia
PORTOFCALL : Milan, Italy
Day 7 Milan and a cascina
Drive outside the city to a working farm, or cascina, where you'll learn about sustainable farming methods and the growth of agritourismo – opening family farms to visitors and school children for recreation and education; you'll also get a hands-on cooking lesson in authentic local cuisine, followed by lunch. Return to the city for free time on your own, then join us for a farewell dinner with entertainment at a local enoteca (wine bar) and restaurant, with insights on wine-pairing and wines from a sommelier.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Excelsior Hotel Gallia
PORTOFCALL : Milan, Italy
Day 8 Journey Home
Tour ends: Milan. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Excelsior Hotel Gallia, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Milan to Milan Malpensa Airport. Allow at least three hours for flight check-in.
MEALS : B
PORTOFCALL : Milan, Italy
