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Salzburg to Vienna, Lakes Option

  • 4.6

    (9)

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  • 7 nights | 35 miles/day
  • Difficulty Level: 2
  • Self-guided from: €555
  • View Dates

Level of difficulty

Tours using road, hybrid or touring bikes:

  1. Mostly flat
  2. Flat with some gentle slopes
  3. Rolling, hilly terrain
  4. Some long and/or steep climbs
  5. Extensive climbing

Tours using mountain bikes:

  1. Mostly flat, wide trails
  2. Some gentle slopes, wide trails
  3. Rolling, hilly terrain and/or narrow trails
  4. Some long and/or steep climbs and/or technical trails
  5. Extensive climbing and/or highly technical trails

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Why Book with BikeTours.com?

  1. Variety: Choose from more than 200 tours offered by local operators in 35 countries.
  2. Advice: Our informed advisors help you choose the trip that's right for you.
  3. Lower cost: You pay local tour company prices—less than what big American companies charge.
  4. Great exchange rates: Pay low rates thanks to the millions of dollars in foreign currency we buy each year.
  5. Convenience: We handle the full booking and payment process.
  6. Support: We’re your advocates from initial planning through final pedal stroke.
Tour Type: Guided Self-guided
Description

Tour description

Everybody knows them, the melodies of the "Serenade No. 13" and "The Blue Danube Waltz!" On this tour, you will start in Salzburg where Mozart was born, cycling straight through the beautiful hilly lake district of the Salzkammergut.

Once you reach Linz, you move away from the lake district as you approach the Danube River that will accompany you for the rest of the tour.

In the Danube Valley, you will cycle past romantic castles, cozy villages and vineyards, all on a well-maintained, paved bike path. An unforgettable end of the tour is the Austrian capital, Vienna, with its countless sights and cultural and culinary highlights!

Highlights

  • Salzburg's Hohensalzburg Fortress
  • Lake Attersee
  • Linz, the birthplace of Anton Bruckner
  • Wachau, wonderful wine-growing region
  • Vienna's Schönbrunn Palace

Stories

Learn more

Learn more about self-guided tours.

Program

Daily program

Day 1: Salzburg
Individual arrival in Salzburg, check-in at the hotel. Receive your travel documents and bikes. Enjoy a stroll through the lovely old town of Salzburg or an evening concert at Hohensalzburg Fortress.
Overnight in Salzburg.

Day 2: Salzburg – Lake Attersee (36 miles/60 km)
Today you leave Salzburg in direction of Lake Wallersee. You continue along the picturesque waterside of Lake Mondsee before you reach Austria's largest fresh waters, Lake Attersee. The Attersee, impressive with its deep blue-green colors, is one of the most popular bathing lakes in the Salzkammergut.
Overnight in Lake Attersee.

Day 3: Lake Attersee – Lake Traunsee (34 miles/55 km)
A short climb up to Weissenbach Valley is rewarded with a speedy descent to the waterside of River Traun before arriving in Ebensee.
Overnight in Lake Traunsee.

Day 4: Lake Traunsee – Lambach - Linz  (19 miles/31 km + train ride)
Take a stroll through Gmunden, historically a popular place for Europe's High Society in the beginning of the 20th Century. Continue your bike tour along River Traun until you reach Lambach. Here you take the train to Linz, where you should not miss an opportunity to taste the delicious pastry, the original "Linzer Torte."
Overnight in Linz.

Day 5: Linz – Grein/surroundings (37 miles/60 km)
After breakfast, stroll through the picturesque old town of Linz before you continue your tour in the direction of Vienna. Via the small town of Mauthausen, you follow the Danube cycle path past the beautiful landscape of the Danube meadow, where you can see rare animals and plants.
Overnight in Grein/Ardagger.

Day 6: Grein/surroundings – Wachau Valley (39 miles/63 km)
Today you have the possibility to visit the maritime museum at the Greinburg Castle and the oldest theatre in Austria. Get to know the impressing landscapes and forested rock formations of the Strudengau region.
Overnight in Mitterarnsdorf.

Day 7: Wachau Valley – Tulln - Vienna (40 miles/65 km by bike + train ride)
The River Danube is surrounded by vineyards, as you cycle through one of Austria's most popular wine regions, Wachau, to Tulln. There you take the train to Vienna, Austrian's capital, where you have enough time to visit all impressive sights this beautiful city offers including Schönbrunn Palace, Fun Park- Prater, St. Stephen's Cathedral and Belvedere.
Overnight in Vienna.

Day 8: Departure
Departure by train to Salzburg or we would be happy to help you book extra nights.

Surface and terrain

The route is mostly flat, especially in the Danube valley, with some hilly stretches in the Salzkammergut.

Hotels

These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.

Hotel Amedia, Salzburg
www.plazahotels.de

Seehotel Post, Attersee
www.hotelpost-attersee.at

Keramikhotel Goldener Brunnen, Gmunden
www.goldenerbrunnen.at

Austria Trend Hotel Schillerpark, Linz
www.austria-trend.at

Hotel Aumuehle, Grein

Gasthof Zur Wachau, Mitterarnsdorf
www.zeller-wachau.at

Hotel Mercure Wien Westbahnhof, Vienna
www.accorhotels.com

Please note tourist taxes are not included in the tour costs (approx. €1–3 per person/night) and are to be paid on site.

Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.

How to get there

Tour Start
Nearest airport and train station: Salzburg, Austria

Tour End
Nearest airport and train station: Vienna, Austria*

*At the tour's end, you will transfer by train back to Salzburg, Austria, which is included in the tour price. It's recommended to arrange your flights into and out of Salzburg, Austria.

Airport transfers

Tips on getting to and from your tour

Dates & Prices

Dates

Daily: Apr 28-Oct 20, 2018
Low season: Sep 29, 2018 - Oct 20, 2018
Shoulder season: Sep 15, 2018 - Sep 28, 2018
High season: Apr 28, 2018 - Sep 14, 2018

Prices

Tour package
Per person, double occupancy
€555
Shoulder season surcharge
€104
High season surcharge
€144
Single room surcharge (1 person/1 room)
€200
Optional dinner package
€142
Bike Rentals
Hybrid touring bike, 21-speed
€69
Hybrid touring bike, 7-speed
€69
Electrically assisted bike
€155
Extra Nights, Salzburg
Per person, double occupancy
€69
Single room (1 person/1 room)
€99
Extra Nights, Vienna
Per person, double occupancy
€69
Single room (1 person/1 room)
€99
Discounts
Person, 15 and older, 3rd/4th person sharing room with 2 full paying adults (on base package price)
10%
Child, ages 12-14, sharing room with 2 full paying adults (on base package price)
25%
Child, ages 7-11, sharing room with 2 full paying adults (on base package price)
50%
Child, ages 0-6, sharing room with 2 full paying adults (on base package price)
100%

Included services

  • 7 nights with breakfast in hotels and inns of 3 and 4-star category
  • Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel as far as Vienna (1 piece per person, max 44 lb/20 kg)
  • Boat or train ride (low season) on/along Lake Traunsee, including bikes
  • Train ride from Lambach to Linz, including bike
  • Train ride from Tulln to Vienna, including bike
  • Return transfer by train from Vienna to Salzburg (transport of own bike not included)
  • Information material per room (cycle map with detailed tour description)
  • 1 bottle of Wachau wine per room (0.375 liters)
  • High quality handlebar bag for a perfect transport of your travel documents (one per room)
  • Service hotline available during the week and on the weekend in case of problems or questions
  • Free wifi in the hotels

Please note tourist taxes are not included in the tour costs (approx. €1–3 per person/night) and are to be paid on site.

Bike rentals

Bikes available for rent on this tour (reserved in advance at the time of booking):

  • Hybrid touring bikes, 7-speed with back-pedal brakes
  • Hybrid touring bikes, 21-speed with hand brakes
  • Electrically assisted bike

Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals. Pedals may not be changed on the bikes.

Helmets:
Helmet rental is not available on this tour. For safety and hygiene purposes, we recommend that you bring your own helmet or plan to purchase one upon arrival.

Further specifications on the electrically assisted bikes:
The cyclist‘s pedal effort is intensified by the electric motor. The electrically-powered bike does not work without man-power except downhill. There are 3 levels for the electric power system. The lowest level boosts the man-power of the cyclist for approximately 50%, medium level for approximately 100%, and the highest level for approximately 130%.

The electric power can be turned off – and you cycle as with a normal bike. The electricity comes from an akku battery and along even paths and smooth manner of driving it lasts approximately 100 km on the lowest level, approximately 7 0km on medium level, and 50 km on the highest level. In hilly areas the distance is shorter.

The electric power is operated from the handlebar, where you can also see how much electrical power is left. A battery recharger can easily be charged on a normal plug socket in your hotel room such as a mobile phone and it takes about 3-4 hours. The bikes are equipped with an 8-speed gear shifting and 2 hand brakes (rear and front)

Tour Company Terms

Terms & Conditions

Please note: Instead of operating bicycle tours ourselves, BikeTours.com represents local bicycle tour operators around the world. Review the tour operator's information and terms below, then submit your booking request through BikeTours.com. The primary benefits of booking your tour through BikeTours.com include:
  • Lower cost: You pay local tour company prices—less than what big American companies charge
  • Variety: Choose from more than 200 tours offered by local operators in 35 countries.
  • Advice: Our informed advisors help you choose the trip that's right for you.
  • Great exchange rates: Pay low rates thanks to the millions of dollars in foreign currency we buy each year. Or pay in euros!
  • Convenience: We handle the full booking and payment process.
  • Support: We’re your advocates from initial planning through final pedal stroke.
Contact us with any questions about booking and paying for your tour through BikeTours.com. We look forward to serving you!

Oberösterreich Touristik Terms and Conditions

Cancellation Policy

Prior to arrival, the customer can cancel in written form at any time the booked arrangement. In case of cancellation or no show we charge following fees:

20% of the tour price= up to 28 days before arrival date

30% of the tour price= from 27th to 14th day before arrival date

50% of the tour price= from 13th to 8th day before arrival date

70% of the tour price= from 7th to 4th day before arrival date

90% of the tour price= from 3rd day before arrival date to the day of arrival or "no show"

In case the booking is changed from the customer himself (change of date, duration of the tour or participant) up to 28 days prior arrival, a handling fee of €25 per booking is charged.

Thereafter the previous cancellation conditions apply. Such a change of booking is only in individual cases a possibility customers do not have a claim on it.

All photos used by permission. ©Oberösterreich Touristik

Reviews

Ratings

Ratings Snapshot

  • 5 Star 6
  • 4 Star 2
  • 3 Star 1
  • 2 Star 0
  • 1 Star 0

Average Ratings

  • Overall

    4.6

  • Difficulty level (Actual vs. expected) 3
  • Value 4
  • Included meals 4.1
  • Bikes & equipment 4.5
  • Hotels or boat 4
  • Scenery 4.9
  • Ease of navigation 3.1
  • Tour documents 3.4
  • Local tour company services 4.1
  • Route selection 4.3

Reviews

eb53 June 17, 2018

extraordinary trip across Austria

This trip was truly stunningly beautiful. We were amazed at how much beauty and variety could be packed into one trip. Even though the directions were sometimes confusing, it was easy to figure your way around--the signage is fantastic and people are exceedingly kind and friendly. We really loved the self-guided option--it increased the sense of adventure, freedom and self-reliance. All accommodations were splendid as were the breakfasts. We were amazed at how great the bike infrastructure is in Austria--way better than in the US. Everyone bikes and cyclists are respected. Motorists were very considerate of cyclists. Temperatures in Austria were WAY ABOVE NORMAL this year. The lakes part of the trip was some of the best riding we have ever done; we also loved the Wachau region. We wished that
this part had been longer. If we had it to do over, we would add a day to the lakes and maybe take a train over sections of the Danube. . . Do not miss the ecological gardens in Tullin! We wished we could have spent a day there.

Norm November 2, 2017

Great ride.

Austria is beautiful with a lot of historic sites. We were late in season so a bit cooler, rained for 2 days but we were prepared. Very impressed with hotels and the mix of modern and historic settings, professionally organized. Only complaint was that on first part of trip, bike trail was not marked well and descriptions were hard to follow eg. go for a short ways and turn right at first farmyard turn left at the country road - keep at the block to the right? To a stranger to the area lot of this didn't make sense. We ended up getting most of our directions from local people who were very helpful. The portion on the Danube bike trail was very easy to follow.
Overall we were pleased with the tour.

Kretch October 4, 2017

One of the most beautiful rides I have taken in Europe

I am so glad I elected to ride from Salzburg to Vienna rather than Passau. The ride was beautiful, mountains coming down to the bike trails and Alpine lakes to ride along. It was not difficult for the average rider and a ranking of easy 2 is fair. From Linz to Vienna was also very nice and it gave us enough river riding to make the trip a good combination of mountains and riverside.

Genevieve August 21, 2017

A great experience

A great way to visit Austria! But the mountain part is quite demanding. More of a Grade 3 than a Grade 2. For the mountain part, navigation was difficult because lack of information on distance.
Lodging and breakfasts were great, except for the inn in Bad Kreuzen - far from everything and bad Internet connection. Not adequate for international travellers.

Fishchico August 18, 2017

Azure blue lakes

The Lakes option of the Danube River path was amazing. Lake Mondsee, Attersee and Traunsee were crystal clear and the most beautiful shade of azure blue. Most of the riding was along dedicated bike paths and lesser travelled roads. People friendly and helpful.

allisong August 9, 2017

Wonderful trip with my daughter!

We did a self-guided tour and had a wonderful time. We used electric bikes and I was very happy with that choice. It was still a lot of work and we got a ton of exercise, but it made it so we were able to enjoy the beautiful scenery. The paths were very good and we were on roads only about 10% of the time. The hotels were very nice-small and quaint with lovely breakfasts. The tour director in Austria was very quick to reply when the electric stopped working on my bike on the 4th day. She found someone to fix the bike early the next day. The only challenge was reading the maps but that was part of the adventure. We definitely made more than a few wrong turns and had to backtrack, but having the electric bikes made it okay.

Mully July 14, 2016

Great way to experience Europe

A wonderful experience. I have traveled to Europe many times, but this was the best way to see it in my opinion. I would recommend taking an extra day here and there along the ride to spend some additional time in areas that you have interest in so the focus isn't always.getting to the next destination. I think what makes this type of trip unique is that you are better immersed in the local sights and culture...you are on a bike, not in a bus or car. The countryside trickles by at a comfortable rate that encourages exploration. The lake portion of this particular trip involved considerable road travel which was a bit unexpected, but drivers were courteous and we quickly became used to it.

John Parsons December 7, 2015

Really great trip.

To start off with the Sound of Music Tours and then fairly leisurely riverside roads and fantastic food and culture - we just loved it. One of the towns was not as good as the rest but for the most part just great