The Danube by bike and by boat from Passau to Budapest - Primadonna 2026

Danube bike cruise between Passau and Budapest on the Primadonna

The most popular river cruise is undoubtedly the one from Passau to Budapest on the Danube by bike. The romantic narrow valleys, beautiful vineyards and expanses of the Hungarian plains are unforgettable experiences on this bike cruise. You can admire abbeys, castles and palaces as well as the 3 beautiful cities of Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest.

The highlights of the stay:

• Bratislava, Budapest, and Vienna
• The Danube loop
• The majestic castles

Day 1: Passau

Boarding between 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm. Bus transfer from the car park or train station is available. A welcome drink is offered on board. The captain welcomes you at dinner time.

Day 2: Schlögen - Linz. 56 km

Pick up of rental bikes in Schlögen in the morning. The route begins with the valley near Kaiserau. Then, you take the direction of Aschach's baroque market town  to Linz, European cultural capital in 2009.

Day 3: Tulln - Vienna. 31 km

The day begins with a visit of the “Tulln State Garden Show” where you can stroll through a vast area of gardens (not included, to be booked on board - around 12 €). You can also enjoy the many public gardens in Tulln (65), nicknamed the city of flowers. You then take a cycle path that offers a magnificent view of the Viennese countryside to Vienna. You are free to visit Vienna on your own (95% route on cycle paths) or visit the city with a guide (optional). After dinner, at 8:30 p.m., a bus tour takes you around Vienna by night (optional), or you can discover a "Heurigen", near the boat landing stage.

Day 4: From Komárno to Esztergom (56 km)
Starting from Komárno Fortress, cycle along the beautiful EuroVelo 6 cycle paths. Along the way, discover Kelementia, a Roman stronghold, to Štúrovo and then Esztergom. You can visit the magnificent cathedral of Esztergom. In the evening, the boat will take you to the magnificent illuminated city of Budapest.

Day 5: Sightseeing in Budapest (free) and/or excursion to Margaret Island (22 km)
In the morning, a 3-hour bus tour of Budapest is offered, with a stop in the Castle District (optional). In the afternoon, you can take a cycling tour of Margaret Island in Budapest or a loop through the artists' village of Szentendre (55 km).

Day 6: Bratislava and Meulensteen Museum Island (40 km)
Start your day with a one-hour guided tour of Bratislava's historic center (optional). After lunch on board, saddle up for a visit to Meulensteen Museum Island. This modern art museum is well worth the detour. Return to the ship via the same route as the outward journey.

Day 7: Wachau Valley (53 km)
Departing from Krems, you cycle through the Wachau Valley and its splendid landscapes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cycle path leads you past the hillside vineyards and through the magnificent villages of Dürnstein, Melk and its hilltop abbey, to Marcbach, where the boat awaits.

Day 8: Passau
Disembarkation before 10:00 a.m. Transfer to our local correspondent's office or to Passau train station.

General informations :

• 8 days and 7 nights
• Boat comfort level: Deluxe
• Languages ​​spoken on board: English and German
• Child rates: contact us

The dates 2026 :

Departures on Fridays:

• Low season: May 15, September 18, October 2
• High season: May 8, May 22, May 29, July 3, July 10, July 17, July 31, August 7, August 14, August 21, September 4, September 11

Included :

• Full-board stay (picnic lunch)
• Self-guided tour
• 2 hydrojet massages or one "health massage" per cabin
• 1 tasting of 4 local wines on board
• Free access to the wellness area
• On-board guide with daily briefing
• Transfer between the boat and the Passau barge or our local correspondent's office (outbound and return)
• Maps, detailed route descriptions, and GPS data upon request
• Travel diary: We will provide you with information about your stay a few weeks before your departure

Not included :

• Transport to the place of departure
• Personal expenses
• Visits
• Everything that is not mentionned in "included"

The options :

• Standard bike or ebike rental
• Bike theft insurance (for rented bikes)
• Cancellation insurance
• Private parking in Passau
• Guided tour of Vienna by bike
• Guided tour of Budapest
• City tour of Vienna
• Excursion package : guided bus tour of Budapest, guided walk of Bratislava (minimum 20 participants)

Level:

1 2 3 4 5 6

Ground :

Flat, very smooth roads and paths. Cycle paths all along the Danube.

Weather :

Continental, mild sun, pleasant temperatures.

Technicality:

• 0 to 56 km of hiking per day, or about 0 to 5 hours of cycling.
• Easy to follow route. No difficulty, accessible to all.

Bibliography:

bike guide from Passau to Vienna (Cartovelo)

The participants :

On board you meet an international community of all ages, men, women, singles and couples with children.

Support :

Self-guided tour, daily discussions with an on-board guide about the next day's route. English or German language
On board, the captain and his crew. They are responsible for the smooth running of the holidays (on the boat) and take the boat from stage to stage. The cook prepares the meals.

Meals :

• Breakfasts: On the boat, you will find a buffet breakfast offering hot and cold dishes.
• Lunches: On the boat = 3 courses offered // By bike = picnic provided.
• Snack: After the daily route you will find, when you arrive on the boat, various drinks, such as tea and coffee.
• Dinners: 3 courses

Drinks are not included.

The bike :

The rental bike are 7-speed or 21-speed. Ebike with 7 gears is also available.

If you take your own bike, it cannot be insured against theft by our company. You will need to do the necessary with your usual insurer. Don't forget your lock!

Transport :

• By train: regular from Vienna to Passau
• By car: E56 motorway to Passau
• By plane: International airport in Vienna

Your vehicle:

Possibility of parking in a private car park in Passau, unguarded and enclosed (to be booked in advance)- Transfer included from the car park to the boat.

Cancellation insurance :

In order to guarantee the reimbursement of costs in the event of cancellation of your stay, you can take out cancellation insurance. To learn more about insurance, click here.

Boat description : click here.