Danube Bike and Boat: Passau-Budapest-Passau – MS SE-Manon

4.3/5 (7)
7 nights
29 miles/day
Self guided from EUR € 999
Countries: Austria, Germany, Hungary and Slovakia
Rider Level: Recreational Primarily bike paths Bike and boat tours

Danube Bike and Boat: Passau-Budapest-Passau – MS SE-Manon

4.3/5 (7)

Rider Level: Recreational Primarily bike paths Bike and boat tours

7 nights
29 miles/day

Self guided from EUR € 999
Bike and Boat Tour aboard MS SE-MANON
Countries: Austria, Germany, Hungary and Slovakia

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  • Danube Bike and Boat

    On this bike and boat tour, you will cycle by day and enjoy the comforts of your boat accommodations by night. From Passau, the Bavarian "Three River City", cycle along the Danube River into the heart of the once glorious Imperial and Royal Monarchy. Along the way experience three of the most enchanting European capitals, from the lively city of Vienna, to the Slovak coronation city of Bratislava and the "Hungarian Danube Queen", Budapest.

    Discover the stunning natural wonders of the Danube National Park and Schlögener Donauschlinge ("Great Loop"). Visit the picturesque Hungarian Danube bend with the Esztergom Basilica perched on the hillside of the shore. The Wachau valley will not disappoint with vineyards, castles, and romantic villages along the path.

    • Wachau Valley vineyards, Austria. CC:Lonezor
    • Bratislava, Slovakia. CC:Rustam Abdrakhimov
    • Dürnstein, Lower Austria. Daniel Aturcanu@Unsplash
    • Bratislava, Slovakia. Victor Malyushev@Unsplash
    • Danube Bike and Boat: Passau-Budapest-Passau Bike Tour
    • Schnitzel is a favorite here! Mark Konig@Unsplash
    • Dürnstein, Lower Austria. CC:Bwag
    • Melk Abbey, Austria.

    View more photos

    Highlights

    • Passau, the City of 3 rivers
    • Wachau valley and the World Heritage Site Wachau
    • Vienna
    • Budapest
    • Bratislava
    • The Schloegen Danube Loop
    • The Hungarian Danube Bend

    Learn More

    Learn more about self-guided tours.

  • Traveler photos

    •  (photo by Elizabeth Gray)
    •  (photo by Elizabeth Gray)
    •  (photo by Elizabeth Gray)
    •  (photo by Elizabeth Gray)
    •  (photo by Elizabeth Gray)
    •  (photo by Elizabeth Gray)

    Danube Bike and Boat

     Tour Description Daily Program 

  • Daily program

    All distances are approximate. If you do not want to cycle one day, you can skip the bike tour and relax on board while cruising to the next harbor. The bike tours are self-guided, at your own pace, without a tour guide, but with daily briefings on board and detailed bicycle maps and directions. We reserve the right to make changes to the program if necessary due to weather or other circumstances.

    • Day 1: Passau – Engelhartszell
      Arrival in the "Three River City." Passau attracts many with the world's greatest church organ at the Stephansdom and its charming Old Town. Embarkation will be around 4:00pm, departure around 7:00pm. Enjoy your first dinner on board and an evening sail to Engelhartszell.

      Day 2: Engelhartszell – Great Loop – Untermühl (22 mi/35 km)
      The day starts in Engelhartszell (the only Trappist monastery in Austria), where we head towards the "Great Loop," one of the most beautiful and original sectors of the Danube. Your cycling will encounter small villages and cozy must-see taverns. You'll board again in Untermühl. Then, you cruise towards Bratislava.

      Day 3: Bratislava (32 mi/52 km)
      Arrival at Bratislava in the morning. You start cycling from Bratislava via Hainburg to the imposing Imperial Palace of Hof, beautifully terraced gardens and idyllic manor farm, further on to Devin, and then back to Bratislava. Overnight, you'll cruise to Budapest.

      Day 4: Budapest or Szentendre loop (rest day, optional city tour by bus/foot/bike, or 28 miles/48 km)
      In the morning, you enjoy the panoramic view of the Danube's gorgeous landscape on the sundeck. The gateway to Budapest is overwhelming, as many of the famous tourist features are situated directly next to the river bank. Upon arrival yu can explore the city during a guided city tour by bike (optional). Nearby, you find the Margaretheninsel which is outstandingly qualified for a small bike tour or you can take an individual bike tour to the charming town of Szentendre (28 mi/48 km) with a Mediterranean atmosphere and lively art life. Continue cruising overnight to Visegrad.

      Day 5: Danube Bend | Visegrad – Esztergom (17- 38* mi/27-60* km)
      The Danube bend is definitely one of the most delightful and attractive parts and is called the Hungarian Wachau. Today's bike stage starts at Visegrad with its famous fortress and the ruins of the former palace. You can choose from 2 different routes: the longer one includes a side trip to the island of Szentendre and the baroque village of Vác, which has been influenced by the architects of the Austrian empress Maria Theresia. The other route leads you directly to the bishop-town of Esztergom, with its gorgeous basilica – Hungary's largest Catholic Church – overlooking the village. Overnight you'll cruise to Vienna.

      *38 mi/60 km-tour is designed for strong cyclists only.

      Day 6: Vienna-Nussdorf/Korneuburg (rest day)
      You should be sure to see the most famous places of interest like St. Stephens Cathedral and the Hofburg. The gorgeous boulevard "Ringstraβe" with the Burgtheater, the State Opera House or the town hall that take you back to the past. Overnight you cruise to Rossatz or Dürnstein.

      Day 7: Wachau – Melk – Pöchlarn (25-30 mi/40-49 km)
      Your last biking day is a special highlight! Amidst small dreamy villages, apricot trees, vineyards, castles, monasteries and ruins, this gentle hilly landscape enchants everybody. A powerful ruin looms above the small Baroque town of Dürnstein, while the blue tower of the monastery church is a landmark of Wachau. In the small village of Emmersdorf – located just opposite Melk – you will board again. After the farewell gala dinner, you start cruising back to Passau.

      Day 8: Departure from Passau
      Every journey draws to an end. Once again you enjoy on deck the first sunbeams and the peaceful silence of the Danube Valley. Take one last sight at the Schlögener Schlinge ("Great Loop") before you arrive relaxed at Passau. You'll arrive at approximately 10:30am, disembarking 1 and a half hours later. We recommend arranging connecting trips from 12:00am or later.

    • Day 1: Passau – Engelhartszell
      Arrival in the "Three River City." Passau attracts many with the world's greatest church organ at the Stephansdom and its charming Old Town. Embarkation will be around 4:00pm, departure around 7:00pm. Enjoy your first dinner on board and an evening sail to Engelhartszell.

      Day 2: Engelhartszell – Great Loop – Untermühl (21-24 mi/33-39 km)
      The day starts in Engelhartszell (the only Trappist monastery in Austria), where we head towards the "Great Loop," one of the most beautiful and original sectors of the Danube. Your cycling will encounter small villages and cozy must-see taverns. You'll board again in Untermühl. Then, you cruise towards Bratislava.

      Day 3: Bratislava (33 mi/53 km)
      Arrival at Bratislava in the morning. You start cycling from Bratislava via Hainburg to the imposing Imperial Palace of Hof, beautifully terraced gardens and idyllic manor farm, further on to Devin, and then back to Bratislava. Overnight, you'll cruise to Budapest.

      Day 4: Budapest or Szentendre loop (rest day, optional city tour by bus/foot/bike, or 28 miles/48 km)
      In the morning, you enjoy the panoramic view of the Danube's gorgeous landscape on the sundeck. The gateway to Budapest is overwhelming, as many of the famous tourist features are situated directly next to the river bank. Upon arrival yu can explore the city during a guided city tour by bike (optional). Nearby, you find the Margaretheninsel which is outstandingly qualified for a small bike tour or you can take an individual bike tour to the charming town of Szentendre (28 mi/48 km) with a Mediterranean atmosphere and lively art life. Continue cruising overnight to Visegrad.

      Day 5: Danube Bend | Vác – Esztergom (30 mi/48 km)
      The Danube bend is definitely one of the most delightful and attractive parts and is called the Hungarian Wachau. Today's bike stage starts at the baroque village of Vác, which has been influenced by the architects of the austrian empress Maria Theresia. Cycling through the picturesque and gently undulating countryside your route leads you directly to the bishop-town of Esztergom, with its gorgeous basilica – Hungary's largest Catholic Church – overlooking the village. Overnight you'll cruise to Vienna.

      Day 6: Vienna-Nussdorf/Korneuburg (rest day)
      You should be sure to see the most famous places of interest like St. Stephens Cathedral and the Hofburg. The gorgeous boulevard "Ringstraβe" with the Burgtheater, the State Opera House or the town hall that take you back to the past. Overnight you cruise to Rossatz or Dürnstein.

      Day 7: Wachau – Melk – Pöchlarn (25-31 mi/40-50 km)
      Your last biking day is a special highlight! Amidst small dreamy villages, apricot trees, vineyards, castles, monasteries and ruins, this gentle hilly landscape enchants everybody. A powerful ruin looms above the small Baroque town of Dürnstein, while the blue tower of the monastery church is a landmark of Wachau. In the small village of Emmersdorf – located just opposite Melk – you will board again. After the farewell gala dinner, you start cruising back to Passau.

      Day 8: Departure from Passau
      Every journey draws to an end. Once again you enjoy on deck the first sunbeams and the peaceful silence of the Danube Valley. Take one last sight at the Schlögener Schlinge ("Great Loop") before you arrive relaxed at Passau. You'll arrive at approximately 10:30am, disembarking 1 and a half hours later. We recommend arranging connecting trips from 12:00am or later.

    Surface and terrain

    The cycle route is mostly flat, at times on a gentle downhill slope.


    Boats


    How to get there

    Tour start and end
    Nearest airport: Munich, Germany
    Nearest train station: Passau, Germany

    Tips on getting to and from your tour


    Danube Bike and Boat

     Tour Photos Dates & Prices 

  • Dates

    • Aug 11, 18, 25; Sep 1, 8, 15, 2023.

      Season A: Apr 28, 2023 - May 4, 2023

      Season B: May 5, 2023 - Sep 22, 2023

    • Jun 21, 28; Jul 5, 26; Aug 2, 9, 30; Sep 6, 13, 20, 2024.

    Prices

    • MS SE-Manon

      Per person, double occupancy Season A Season B
      Main deck, standard cabin €999 €1099
      Middle deck, standard cabin €1199 €1299
      Upper deck, standard cabin €1299 €1399
      Single use cabin (1 person/1 cabin)*
      Main deck, standard cabin €1499 €1649
      Middle deck, standard cabin €1799 €1949
      Upper deck, standard cabin €1949

      €2099

      *Limited number of double cabins available for single use.

      Bike Rentals

      Standard touring bike, 7-speed with hand brakes € 79
      Electrically assisted bikes € 189
    • MS SE-Manon

      Per person, double occupancy
      Main deck, standard cabin €1149
      Middle deck, standard cabin €1399
      Upper deck, standard cabin €1599
      Single use cabin (1 person/1 cabin)*
      Main deck, standard cabin €1725
      Middle deck, standard cabin €2100
      Upper deck, standard cabin €2400

      *Limited number of double cabins available for single use.

      Bike Rentals

      Standard touring bike, 7-speed with hand brakes €89
      Electrically assisted bikes €199

    Included services

    • 7 nights accommodation in booked cabin style
    • Full board: 7x breakfast, 6x lunch snack on board (non-cyclists) or packed lunch for cyclists, 6x afternoon coffee break, 6x 3-course-dinner and 1x farewell-dinner with farewell-drink
    • Program as mentioned in the itinerary
    • Route book and information pack (1 set per cabin); GPS tracks
    • Tour guide on board (does not cycle with you)
    • Daily cleaning of cabins
    • Change of towels and bed linen if requested
    • Welcome by the captain and cocktail
    • Daily informational meeting
    • Port fees and passenger fees

    Please note that special dietary needs can be accommodated upon request. Extra fees may apply. Please inform us when booking your tour.


    Bike rentals

    Bikes available on this tour (not included in tour price, must be reserved at time of booking):

    • Unisex 7-speed bike with step-through frame, either hand-brake OR hand-brake and pedal-brake (subject to availability)
    • Electrically assisted bikes (limited number, upon request)*
    • Bike rental includes rental insurance

    *More about electrically-assisted bikes >

    Please note, you may bring your own bike with a surcharge of €29 (on request, limited available space)

    Equipment available:

    • Water repellant saddle bag
    • Water repellant handlebar bag
    • Repair kit with spare tube
    • Pump
    • Lock
    • Lighting system
    • Mudguard

    Pedals:
    The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.

    Helmets:
    We recommend that you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene purposes or plan to purchase one upon arrival. Helmets are not available for purchase on board. Helmets are compulsory for children under 13 years old and for all cyclist in Slovakia outside towns.

    It is also recommended that you bring a high-visibility vest. High-visibility vests are compulsory in Slovakia and Hungary in poor visibility and at night.


    Tour Company


    Danube Bike and Boat

     Daily program Route Map 

  • Route Map

    Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.


    Danube Bike and Boat

     Dates & Prices Tour Reviews 

    • William Wilson 6 months ago

      Adventure

      Overall, it was a great experience. Unfortunately, there was one large group of passengers that took over the lounge and dining room each night. Their behavior was loud and obnoxious. It would have been nice if someone if someone in authority could have spoken to them about the disruptions they created for others.
      Our waiter, Emrah, was amazing. He was most attentive.
      I was disappointed with the cost of the drink package. It was more expensive than I expected.
      The entire crew worked very hard to ensure we all had a wonderful experience.

      What was the date of your tour?
      10/1-10/8
      How many tours have you completed?
      One
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Cynthia John 6 months ago

      Fascinating trip through beautiful countryside

      This was an amazing trip! From Passau to Bratislava, Budapest to Vienna and back to Passau. We had fantastic weather. The only challenging aspect was lack of clarity on the bike routes. The tour directors were challenged in explaining the routes; and the booklets were confusing because they did not shoe the entire routes.
      The meals were great; our room service were very responsive, and the bar servers were great.
      I do wish we had had more time at each of the ports.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 8, 2023
      How many tours have you completed?
      2
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 3/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
      • 4/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • Joyce Winough 6 months ago

      Best Holiday

      this tour really was fun, exciting and restful all together. I really enjoyed being on the boat as it made it's way down and up the Danau.

    • Elizabeth Gray 6 months ago

      Beautiful trip on the Danube

      This scenic trip is beyond description!!! Boating on this beautiful river, in and out of small towns, bustling cities and incredible mountain and grapevine views was fabulous!
      The boat was nice, clean ( very cold pool) and plenty of service, however; instructions were poor at best.
      There were a couple that provided directions on the routes and many other events upon the boat, SE Mannon, however one spoke no English and the other struggled with describing in English the sometimes complicated routes. 85% of the travelers were non English speakers and were well informed by the German speaking gentleman. Many English speakers became lost in Bratislava and some in Vienna. The routes were beautiful and not too challenging to ride if you paid close attention during the briefings and asked a lot of clarifying questions. When you are t quite sure, ask again until you do. We found not understanding the German and Austrian speakers frustrated them a great deal but don’t get offended. You need the correctly translated information. As simple as “up stream or down stream” can be miscommunicated.
      We had one bike that needed to be changed out, however, the people checking the bike said it was ok and we suffered 2 days with a bike that was not shifting properly. Day 3, new bike, no more problems.
      Do not waste your money on ANy of the drink packages! It is only honored after 4 pm, even soda or coffee is charged outside the 4 pm- 11 pm hours. Dinner drinks are included in restaurant. Breakfast includes coffee but not soda as many drink in AM. Bring snacks back on board if you want anything to eat outside breakfast or dinner.
      Now for the food: we had “guess that dish” every night Everything was covered in some kind of gravy. Pork for dinner the first 3 nights! Desserts were the most disappointing. Very bland puddings, and some had breakfast cereals mixed in. After day 2, we started eating dinner out when possible. One night we had spaghetti which wasn’t too bad however we couldn’t get any Parmesan cheese or extra bread to fill up. Breakfasts offered many options, however, the omelettes were not always cooked through. Stick with the waffles, they were good. Plenty of meats and bread to make sandwiches for your lunch ride. We generally stopped at a pub or beer garden for goulash or French fries and beer! Lots of little places to choose from although good places could be recommended in the route book! No one on board would suggest any restaurants in the towns. That was disappointing. We found a great restaurant on top of a hotel in Vienna with a fabulous view of the city and river.
      In our info from Biketours. Com, we were told not to book travel from the boat before 12. The boat wanted us out of our cabins by 8:30. We waited up on top of the boat until our taxi arrived at 11:00. We were the last party to leave. None of the Americans got off the boat until 10-10:30. Lack of communication again.
      It was nice unpacking only once for our bike tour, however we will probably stick with the bike/hotel version in the future! Croatia here we come in 2024!!! Still had a blast with our party of 6! Thanks Biketours!  SHOW MORE 

      •  (photo by Elizabeth Gray)
      •  (photo by Elizabeth Gray)
      •  (photo by Elizabeth Gray)
      •  (photo by Elizabeth Gray)
      •  (photo by Elizabeth Gray)
      •  (photo by Elizabeth Gray)
    • Francis Farrell 7 months ago

      A Family Danube Adventure

      As Grandpa, I organized this adventure for my daughter, son and his family. This seemed an ideal year to do it since my grandson, 16, wouldn't be bored and my granddaughter, 12 and the youngest passenger, would be able to manage the biking and appreciate the countries and cultures she'd experience.
      The ship, cabins and, except for the grand kids, the meals were good.

      On the downside, there were very few English speakers including the tour director. He spoke only German but his wife would do a reasonably good job of translating. Many of the crew and other passengers were capable in English. Also, the cruise line offered a "Drink Plan" with unlimited alcohol for 15 Euros/day for all seven days. This would have been 630 Euros for us, all but me non-drinkers - ridiculous!

      I'm sure we will take another "boat & bike" trip but I doubt with CD Cruise Lines.

      What was the date of your tour?
      August 11-18
      How many tours have you completed?
      16
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      No
      • 3/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 3/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • skinut 7 June 17, 2019

      good trip with a few qualifiers

      The accommodation and food were good. The bikes were excellent.
      The joining instructions were poor. We followed the bus directions after leaving the train and ended up with a 2 km trek with luggage to the boat-the bus took us to summer dock not winter.
      There needs to be clearer advisories re trips in late May and possibly early June, that due to high water in the Danube, there is a greater likelihood of delays and alterations to plans. We were 4 hours late docking at Passau at the end and missed our flight from Vienna. We had arranged a transfer for 12noon as directed(not the scheduled time of 10am) but could not make our flight with a 2pm arrival.
      Also our scheduled stop in Devin was not possible due to high water.

      What was the date of your tour?
      May 20 2019
      How many tours have you completed?
      2 including this one
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Normbc June 4, 2019

      Enjoyed the biking and scenery, but time of year with high water slowed boat down

      This was my first experience on a bike and barge cruise. It was great to have to unpack only the once and have the same place to sleep each day. The rooms were very good, the staff excellent and the meals exceptional. The first couple of days we had rain (time of year) but we were still able to get out and bike (if you don't mind doing so with rain gear on). The timing between stops by the boat were really off because of high water. At one place we were not even able to dock to get off the boat to leave on bikes so that day we had to start where we should have ended and biked an extra 10 km to complete the circuit. Only 2 of us actually the did the entire cirucit due to the rain and wind conditions and distance. The rest of the trip the weather improved and we had some sunny beautiful days biking. We lost our free time to explore Vienna though because of the slow progress of the boat coming up-river where we arrived at 5:30 pm rather than 10 am as scheduled.

      How many tours have you completed?
      May 19 - 26
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
      • 3/5 Guides (if applicable)

    Danube Bike and Boat

     Route Map Book This Tour 

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