Austria / Sailing the Danube

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1. Passau
Boarding time from 4 p.m. Use your free time and stroll through the cobblestoned old town centre and have a look at the world’s largest Catholic Church organ in the Passau Cathedral. The ship departs in the evening.

2. Engelhartszell - Brandstatt (45 km)
Breathe in the fragrance of the dense forest and freshly mown meadows. Explore the pristine countryside of the Upper Danube valley on the former towpath as it runs past sleepy villages. Small, rustic inns at the edge of the trail invite you to linger, the aroma of fresh fish grilled according to tradition on a stick wafts through the air. The Schlögener Blick observation point offers a truly stunning view of the Schlögener Schlinge where the Danube carves its way through a gorge and doubles back on itself.

3. Brandstatt - Linz (24 km)
Catch some fresh country air again - at lunch time, you’ll reach the Upper Austrian capital of Linz. The cathedral is the biggest church in Austria, the Pöstlingbergbahn the steepest adhesion railway in the world. Visit the ARS Electronica Museum, where you can try out some of the most impressive examples of modern technology for yourself.

4. Linz - Vienna (31 km)
Cycle along the Danube from Linz to Vienna and find right in front of Vienna's entrance, embedded in a breathtaking scenery, the monastery of Klosterneuburg. You can already see the dome of this 900-year-old baroque building from a distance. "Kahlenbergerdorf" with its wine taverns is only a hop from the shipping pier and definitely worth a visit. After a stroll through the vineyards, you can enjoy the panoramic view over Vienna.

5. Free day in Vienna
The day is dedicated in visiting Vienna: magnificent Ringstraße will remind you of times long past and inviting coffee houses will tempt you with delicious Viennese cakes and pastries, while the Naschmarket market is a feast for all the senses. 

6. Vienna - Melk (37 km)
An unforgettable day in the picturesque Wachau. Cycle through delightful wine-growing villages surrounded by terraced vineyards and apricot trees. The charming little town of Dürnstein with its narrow lanes is an absolute highlight. In Spitz - one of the most famous wine-growing villages in the World Cultural Heritage Landscape - you can discover the first rate famous Wachau wines. 

7. Melk - Grein - Mauthausen (36 km)
A beautiful and diverse route awaits you, offering a wide range of experiences! You'll cycle through the picturesque hinterland of the Strudengau region. With a bit of luck, you may even be personally guided through the romantic Clam Castle by the castle's lord. Additionally, you'll take a journey back in time to prehistory at the Celtic Village in Mitterkirchen. The Mauthausen Memorial, a WWII concentration camp memorial site, is situated on a hill near the town.

8. Passau
As you cruise back up the Danube enjoy the beauty of the lanscape on your way to Passau, where you will ll disembark at approx. 11 a.m. Any connection for further travel should be booked from midday onwards.

Due to organisational reasons, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during the holiday. Issues with high and low water, as well as logistic obstacles such as officially ordered - previously not announced - repair work on locks or bridges can modify some of the daily stretches or overnight stays and may even request a transfer by bus. These decisions are only taken by the barge’s captain.