The Danube by bike and boat Premium: Passau, Vienna and Budapest

Day 1: Passau – Engelhartszell
Individual arrival in Passau, a charming city located at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers, also known as The City of Three Rivers. We recommend a visit to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, which houses the world’s largest organ. If you have time, take the opportunity to see one of the concerts held there; it’s an acoustic experience you won’t easily forget. Boarding at 4:00 pm. Around 6:00 pm, first stretch of navigation on the Danube, towards Engelhartszell. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 2: Engelhartszell – Aschach (42 km)
Your first cycling stage begins in the classic and evocative scenario of the spectacular Schlögen bend, one of the most beautiful sections of the Danube. This is an extremely fascinating area, where the river makes a U-turn, in the midst of a valley dotted with lively little villages with local inns. In Austria's only Trappist monastery, the Engelhartszell, you can taste the delicious liquors and cheeses produced by the monks themselves. You will find the boat waiting for you in Aschach. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 3: Devin – Bratislava (43 km)
Today's bike route will take you along the Iron Curtain, the imaginary line that, during the Cold War, divided Eastern Europe, under the influence of the Soviet Union, from Western Europe, under the influence of the United States. The Danube bike path will then lead you to the beautiful Hof Imperial Palace, with its terraced gardens and the evocative 17th-century hunting residence of Prince Eugen of Savoy. After crossing the largest and most pristine floodplain in Europe, you will arrive in Bratislava, at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains. At this point, you can choose to continue with the visit of Bratislava with a guided tour (not included), to discover the treasures of the historical center: the castle, the Gothic Cathedral of St. Martin or the ancient city hall. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 4: Circular Tour Budapest – Szentendre – Budapest (54 km), or free day
The morning will pass while gently sailing along the bends of the Danube, before entering Budapest. The entry into the city, where many of the main tourist attractions are located directly on the river, is impressive. You can visit the city by taking a guided bike or bus tour (not included) or, alternatively, continue by bike to Szentendre, an ancient Roman fortress, now a charming tourist destination with an active artistic life. The city is permeated by a warm Mediterranean atmosphere. At the end of the day, you can attend a traditional evening to experience the local folklore (not included). Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 5: Danube Bend – Esztergom (43 km)
Today's stage will take you to pedal through the Hungarian Wachau, a valley with truly unique landscapes and perfect to discover by bike. You will then reach the characteristic episcopal town of Esztergom, famous for housing the largest Catholic church in Hungary. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 6: Free day in Vienna
Today you will have a whole day to discover the Austrian capital, savoring the unique atmosphere of the ancient imperial city. You can explore it by bike or by bus (not included), visit St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Prater, a large amusement park, or the Hofburg complex, which was the center of Austrian power for over six centuries. Finally, don't miss a walk on the Ringstrasse, a long avenue on which some of the city's most important buildings and monuments overlook: the National Theater (Staatsoper), the Parliament, the Burgtheater. In the afternoon you will have all the time to rest in one of the many Viennese cafes, then, in the evening, perhaps attend a concert or a waltz in the Wiener Kursalon or in a typical place (not included). Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 7: Wachau/Krems – Melk (39 km)
Today a magnificent cycling stage awaits you. The area around the Danube you will explore indeed alternates timeless small villages, apricot trees, vineyards, castles, monasteries, and ruins on the hills. You cannot help but be enchanted by this fairy-tale landscape in which cycling will truly be a pleasure. You will cross the baroque town of Dürnstein, in whose castle Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned, while in Spitz you can stop to taste one of the many regional wines in one of the typical taverns that overlook the bike path (wine tasting not included). Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 8: Passau
On the last day of the tour, during the morning, you can enjoy the first rays of sunshine from the ship's deck, immersed in the peace of the Danube Valley. A final stretch of navigation will take you back in total relaxation to Passau. Disembarking from around 11:00 am. We recommend you to plan your return journey considering departures from 12:00 pm onwards.