Compare Cycle Prague to Vienna by Intrepid Travel vs A Grand Rail Adventure: Vienna, The Alps & Milan - Westbound 2024 by Tauck

Day 1 Prague

Dobry den! Welcome to Prague. There is an important welcome meeting scheduled for 6 pm this evening, where you will meet your group leader and fellow travellers. With not much time spent in Prague, we recommend you spend at least a day or two to get to know this wonderful Bohemian city. With its Baroque buildings, cobblestoned streets and beer – oh so much beer – there’s something for every explorer. If you want to spend more time in Prague, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). After your important meeting, how about get a group of you together and head to one of the beer halls to get acquainted?

Day 2 Prague

This morning the cycling part of your adventure begins! Have a bike fitting then explore the fascinating street and lanes of Prague on a leader-led orientation ride. You’ll learn about the history of the city, plus have time to take in the Old Town square, looking up at the surrounding spires – there are a lot of spires – as well as the historic building besides the Vltava River. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this eclectic city at your leisure. Perhaps visit one of the many museums that dot the city, or wander the cobbled Charles Bridge in the evening when most of the tourist are long gone.

Day 3 Cesky Krumlov

Today is an early morning start, as you head to Ceske Budejovice by local transport (either vehicle or train depending on group size), taking around 2.5 hours. Once arrived, have a bike fitting and take a short ride (approximately 20 kilometres) around Budejovice and surrounds. If you have time, there’s the option to head on a brewery tour, as Cesky Budejovice (or Budweis in German) is the home of Budweiser! Learn the beer’s history and have the perfectly drawn brew in the onsite bar. This afternoon ride through the South Bohemian countryside from Ceske to Cesky – that is, Cesky Krumlov! Through picture-perfect rolling hills and weaving in and out of forest, you’ll cover around 35 kilometres cycling, with some undulations at points. Once arrived, you’ve got the rest of the afternoon at your leisure in this small medieval town. Take your bike or head on a hike up to see Krizova Hora, visit the State Castle, or just simply explore the weaving laneways of the town, all perched on the side of the Vltava River. If you want to check out the river more, why not book in on a canoe trip? Seeing the Czech countryside from the water gives you stunning views of the surrounding valleys.

Day 4 Kollmitzberg

Rise and shine, as it’s off for another day of cycling, leaving nice and early. Ride along the Vltava River from Cesky Krumlov through the countryside then over the plateau and down to the wooded shores of the beautiful Lipno Lake near the Czech-Austrian border. You’ll arrive at the small town of Lipno and Vltavou on the southern banks of the lake. After some time to look around, drive approximately 140 kilometres to Kollmitzberg. After two days in the saddle you deserve a relax at this secluded town. Why not get your group together and organise somewhere for dinner in nearby Ardagger – your group leader will know of a place to go.

Day 5 Melk

Get back on your bike and cycle alongside the mighty Danube River on a mostly flat course from Kollmitzberg to Melk (approximately 53 kilometres). You know you're getting close when you can see the towers and dome of the famed Melk Abbey high above the town. Once arrived, you could head on an optional tour of Melk Abbey, where you’ll discover the colourful Baroque structure perched on top of a rock overlooking the Danube, plus its parks and bastions.

Day 6 Herzogenburg

From Melk, cycle along the northern banks of the Danube – mostly on dedicated cycle paths – past small riverside towns and villages (and the occasional sand beach), and to the UNESCO-listed terraces of the Wachau vineyards, where wine has been produced since the Middle Ages. Riding up the steep hillsides is definitely a challenge, but there’s some stunning scenery to see along the way. Your final destination for today is Herzogenburg – a thriving town on a small tributary of the Danube. If you have time why not check out the imposing Herzogenburg Monastery before a hearty Austrian dinner.

Day 7 Vienna

Hop on your bike to ride back along the Danube cycle path all the way into Vienna, skirting the river’s southern banks. Today is the longest ride of the tour at around 70 kilometres/43 miles and is mostly slightly downhill. When you arrive in Vienna, be sure to relax and perhaps tuck into a well-earned coffee and sacher torte. Vienna is a classical hub of arts, culture and food, and a perfect place to hop off the bike and explore on foot. If you haven’t discussed it already, why not organise dinner in Vienna with your group tonight – it’s definitely cause for celebration.

Day 8 Vienna

With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave at any time. That doesn’t mean your adventure has to end! Vienna is a large place and full of interesting sights, so it is highly recommended that you spend another day or two in the city. If you wish to spend more time in Vienna, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

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