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All about the Danube Cycle Path: where it is, length, map and routes
Established in the early 1980s, the Danube Cycle Route is by far the best known and most popular cycle route in the world, following the course of Europe’s second longest river. One after the other, it offers an incredible variety of landscapes as well as history and traditions, not always easily held together by the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Where the Danube Cycle Path starts
To understand the magnitude of this river, one only has to consider that the Danube rises in Germany’s Black Forest, flows through Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldavia, and forms a delta between Romania and Ukraine, before flowing into the Black Sea after 2,850 km. Over the centuries, it has been an important route for people and trade, more so than many other European waterways; known in Roman times as the Via Istrum, it also played an important role in the Salt Road from Salzburg to Prague.
What are the capitals along the Danube Cycle Route?
Vienna, Bratislava, Belgrade and Budapest stand majestically on its banks. Curiously, in addition to its wealth, Vienna also owes its name to the Danube! Or rather, a tributary, the Wien.
How long is it and what are the routes
Not satisfied with these more than 2,000 km, the European Cyclists’ Federation thought it would be a good idea to connect Europe’s great rivers by bicycle: in its great visionary project called Eurovelo (i.e. a series of endless cycle paths that would link Europe from one end to the other), it has planned 4,400 km of cycle paths along the Loire, the Rhine and then the Danube.
Eurovelo 6 is the Atlantic-Black Sea route, and for half of its length, it includes the elite of cycling routes.
The Danube Cycle Route is ideally divided into 3 major sections, which are the most developed and gather most of the bicycle tourism: the German Danube, the Austrian Danube and the Vienna-Budapest/Belgrade. Further east, the route is still on paper.
From Donaueschingen to Passau, the German Danube
This is the section of the Danube bike path from its source in Donaueschingen to Passau on the Austrian border. ADFC, the German Cycling Federation, produces a very detailed report on cycling in Germany every year. In 2018, the German Danube was ranked fourth in terms of popularity, after the Weser, Elbe, and Ruhr bicycle routes.
In addition to the statistical data, the ADFC also gives a rating for the quality of the route and related services: the Deutsche Donau received an excellent 4/5.
*the route of this map is simplified
From Passau to Vienna, the most famous part of the bicycle path
Often referred to as the “Queen of Cycle Tracks,” it is indeed the ultimate for those who choose to travel by bicycle, which is to say the approximately 300,000 cyclists who ride all or part of it each year. According to the German Cyclists’ Federation (ADFC), it has been the most used cycle path abroad for years.
It is about 300 km from Passau, the city of three rivers, through the big Danube bend to Schlögen, the modern Linz, the Wachau valley with its gentle slopes and rows of orchards, and then Vienna, wide, royal and perfect for cycling.
Cyclists of all nationalities choose it for their first or umpteenth trip, alone or with the family, and the reason is quickly explained. Here are some of the reasons why it has always been the most popular among pedestrians:
- First of all, it is fully marked in both directions and on both sides of the river. This means that you never have to look at a map, except to plan your crossings over the dams or on the ferries (depending on which side of the river you are on).
- Climbs: those unknowns. In the rare cases where a hotel or tourist site is located a little higher up, there is always a way to take advantage of transfers or shuttles that will save you the trouble of breathing. The only climbing will be to cross bridges!
- Sightseeing and tourist attractions are always within cycling distance: contemporary architecture in Linz, the Holocaust memorial in Mauthausen, the spectacular Melk Abbey, the Schiele Museum in Tulln, etc.
A word of advice? Don’t just ride straight to your next destination, get off the bike path and ride into the villages. It will be a 100% immersion in Austrian life! - It is family-friendly! There is never a shortage of meadows, playgrounds and amusement parks that not only invite you to take a break, but are also great fun for the little ones. No problem for parents pulling prams or small bicycles: the track is safe, spacious and wide.
See the route from Passau to Vienna on the map:
*the route of this map is simplified
From Vienna to Budapest, eastward
Among the most traveled sections is the “wilder” one, which has little to do with the previous 2 sections, but this aspect fits nicely with it being the true route of the capitals! In fact, a bicycle ribbon connects Vienna to Bratislava and further to Budapest and Belgrade.
The exclusive bike path from Vienna’s Donauinsel leads directly to Bratislava, whose white castle can be seen from afar. The route then follows mostly country and secondary roads, often quiet, sometimes with -slightly- mixed traffic, but still requiring some caution, especially when entering and leaving urban centers.
The Danube is not always on your side, but appears here and there between quiet Hungarian villages and charming towns like Györ, Eztergom and Szetendre. In short, the atmosphere changes from the ornate Austrian banks dotted with romantic villages to the wide open spaces as far as the eye can see, where the inhabitants are always ready to offer us a lemonade, some apples or crackers (and how can we forget the Hungarian hospitality!).
All in all, it is just over 300 km, with slightly hilly stages to Budapest. Nothing too challenging, but some training is recommended.
See the route from Vienna to Budapest on the map:
*the route of this map is simplified
How to ride the Danube Cycle Path?
A city or trekking bike is more than adequate. There are those who try road biking, especially on the first 2 sections where the terrain is perfect (paved or otherwise well trodden), the choice is yours. You can do 2-3 stages by bike, or – better – a week or more, which is ideal to acclimatize and get to know the local conditions.
There is no shortage of bike rentals and repair shops, from small toolboxes along the trail to workshops. This is especially true along the Austrian and German Danube. Those who choose the Vienna-Budapest route will have to equip themselves with a minimal repair kit, as there are no facilities for long stretches.
Organized cycling vacations on the Danube Cycle Route
Carefree travel also means relying on people to take care of your luggage and hotels, and with the tours offered by Girolibero you could plan it faster. There is something for everyone!
