2850 kilometers of pure natural landscape along the Danube, 2850 times to breathe deeply and experience vastness: This is the Danube Cycle Path, an active nature and cultural experience. The Danube Cycle Path is also called the "mother of river cycle paths" and is one of the most popular cycle paths in Europe.

In addition to the world-famous cities - Passau, Linz and Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, the Danube Cycle Path also passes smaller towns with a lot of history. It leads on well-maintained paths through a total of ten countries: from the source near Donaueschingen to Romania, where the Danube flows into the Black Sea. The Danube flows through landscapes of great diversity and several mountain ranges. Especially impressive are the numerous historical buildings, monasteries and churches that you pass on a bike tour along the Danube Cycle Path. The Danube Cycle Path is also easy to cycle in stages and with the support of an e-bike nothing stands in the way of enjoyable cycling. In addition to the numerous excursion destinations for which one likes to get off the saddle to take a deep breath - such as the UNESCO City of Media Arts Linz, St. Florian Abbey or Melk Abbey - numerous bathing places also invite you to take a dip in the cool water.

Starting from the Danube Cycle Path, you can branch off to other river cycle paths. For example, in Lower Austria, the Ybbs, Thaya, Kamp and Traisen rivers invite you to go river biking. From Ybbs on the Danube in a southerly direction, the Ybbstalradweg leads along the wildly rushing Ybbs to Lunz am See in the heart of the Ybbstaler Alps. The Kamp-Thaya-March cycle route starts in Krems on the Danube, where the Ottenstein reservoir, the Thayatal National Park or the cool Weinviertel cellar lanes invite you to take a break. Also on the Danube - in Traismauer - starts the Traisental cycle route, where you cycle from Traismauer to Freiland directly on the Traisen.

Photo credit (c): Danube Cycle Path, Andreas Hofer

From the tree hotel to the tipi suite to the castle: along the way there are also some unusual overnight accommodations. Anyone who wants to make their overnight stay in the Upper Austrian Danube region a special experience is in the right place at Donau(T)Raum. This name hides hand-picked accommodations that make a stay unforgettable with their unique premises. All these fascinating accommodations are ideal starting points to discover and experience the Upper Austrian Danube region with all its facets.

Culinary specialties such as chocolates, cheese and more, as well as regional craftsmanship are waiting to be tasted and discovered along the way. In the Upper Austrian-Bavarian valley of the Danube between Passau and the Strudengau region, people live and work who have set themselves the goal of devoting their creative energy to the extraordinary. They create treasures and delicacies that are outstanding in idea and quality. From the builder of the barge to the masters of the chocolatier and confectioner craft. From one of the last artisan glassblowers to the courageous winegrowing pioneer. From vegetable farmers who bring old varieties back to life to the creative chefs of the gastronomy.

Fascinating natural spectacles can be experienced up close during a bike tour along the Danube: For example, the Danube breakthrough at Weltenburg. Rocks up to 100 meters high and centuries-old rock formations line this narrow passage in the Danube valley. Above it lies the Weltenburg Monastery with the oldest monastery brewery in the world.

Another highlight is the "Naturwunda" Schlögener Schlinge in Upper Austria. Due to the hard rock around the villages of Schlögen and Haibach, the Danube makes an impressive 180-degree bend here, forming a horseshoe-shaped river valley where you can enjoy wonderful cycling and hiking along the Donausteig trail. A stop with a short hike to the viewing platform offers you an unforgettable view of the natural wonder.

The Wachau is one of the most beautiful cultural landscapes in Europe. It is not without reason that the Danube valley between Melk and Krems has enjoyed UNESCO World Heritage status since 2000.

The Wachau stretches as an ancient cultural landscape, between Melk and Krems, along the Danube. The winding river valley, rugged cliffs, the characteristic wine terraces, the extensive orchards, the imposing monasteries, castles and ruins draw in an impressive way the history of the Wachau.

Downstream, a visit to the Archabbey of Pannonhalma in Hungary, recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1996, is worth a stop. The thousand-year-old Benedictine monastery rises on St. Martin's Hill. This center of Catholic faith is a special place for Catholic people worldwide. The abbey was the source of Hungarian Christianity. The first school was established here and the Hungarian language was also recorded on a document for the first time in Pannonhalma.