River Danube Cycle Trail – South Bank

The River Danube Cycle Trail – Europe’s most famous long-distance cycle trail

The scenery takes your breath away as you leisurely follow the Danube downstream – unforgettable experiences are not far away. The south bank of the River Danube Cycle Trail brings unique adventures to life and offers fun for the whole family. Here on the River Danube Cycle Trail, picturesque towns and interesting places wait to be discovered and turn your cycling holiday into a special experience. You can also hire e-bikes at specially signposted hire stations and recharge them for free at the many public charging stations.

Like the North Bank trail, the River Danube Cycle Trail – South Bank begins in the historic bishopric town of Passau, whose historic town centre and location make it a point of interest. The River Danube Cycle Trail – South Bank leads downstream through Upper Austria. The trail is spectacular, carving its was east, surrounded by high forested banks, the “Donauleiten”. The first major site on the way is Engelszell Abbey. It is the only Trappist monastery in Austria and is renowned for the liqueur it produces. The Schlögener Schlinge in Upper Austria is a unique natural phenomenon. It is where the Danube meanders through two spectacular changes of direction.

It’s worth walking up to the Schlögener Blick to appreciate this natural phenomenon in all its beauty.

The cycle trail then continues on a slightly altered and therefore increasingly flatter valley around Aschach. The trail leads along the characteristic tow paths, which were once used to pull the ships upstream by horse. The route passes Wilhering Abbey and continues to the Upper Austrian city of Linz, which as European City of Culture 2009, invites you on a journey of discovery with its exciting combination of tradition and modernity. Before you reach the fertile region of the Marchland, the oldest town in Austria, Enns and the baroque abbey of St. Florian invite cyclists to take a short break.

What makes the River Danube Cycle Trail so unique is the variety of different landscapes that appear along the way. The Nibelungengau begins at Ybbs/Persenbeug and with it the section of the River Danube Cycle Trail through Austria’s largest federal state, Lower Austria. And so begins the trail for those interested in food, drink and culture. The majestic Melk Abbey marks the gateway to the Wachau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and internationally renowned wine-growing region. As soon as you pass through the Roman town of Traismauer, the wine-growing region of Wagram, and Tulln with its Danube stage, you quickly reach the Austrian capital of Vienna. The trail then continues through Lower Austria and into the Roman Country region of Carnuntum Marchfeld, where you will be transported back to Roman times upon discovering the magnificent castles of Marchfeld. Finally the trail leads through Donau-Auen National Park until it reaches Austria’s eastern border.

Please note!
Due to construction work, the River Danube Cycle Trail will be closed for several weeks near Jochenstein from 18 September. A diversion will be signposted locally. For a precise plan of the diversion, click here.