Please note the tour price reflected on the brochure is subject to change. Due to seasonality, and taxes prices of the tour are subject to change without due notice. Please consult with the operator directly for the recent price.
Cycle the Danube
Premier
Overview
Highlights (Bullets)
- Cycle leafy paths from vibrant Vienna to Bratislava and bohemian Budapest
- Follow the Danube downstream, passing romantic castles, picturesque villages and lowland forests
- Experience one of Austria's most important archaeological sites, the Roman remains at Carnuntum
- Marvel at the domed Basilica of Esztergom, reflected in the still waters of the Danube Bend
- Straddle the borders of Hungary and Slovakia in the historic spa town of Komarom
- By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, World Bicycle Relief. Donations provide school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas with bicycles that provide access to education, healthcare, and income.
Short Description
Retrace the steps of the Roman, Ottoman and Turk Empires on this adventure along the mighty Danube River. Journey through picturesque villages, forests and lush farmlands as you cycle from Vienna to Budapest, passing through Slovakia and it's cosmopolitan capital. Live it up in Baroque style at the elegant Schönbrunn Palace or get lost in the cobbled laneways of Komarom, a city with one foot in Hungary and the other in Slovakia. Visit the architectural jewel of the Danube River, the Esztergom Basilica, and pass by the imposing white-hued Bratislava Castle. Celebrate a day in the saddle with a luxurious soak in one of Budapest's iconic baths.
Age Requirement
14-99Itinerary
Day 1 Vienna
Welcome to Vienna! Your cycling adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm. Arrive at any time during the day as there are no activities planned until this important meeting. Please confirm with the hotel reception where and when it will take place, or check the reception noticeboards. If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader. If arriving early make sure you go for a walk around this beautiful city. Perhaps even take a spin on the famous old Prater Ferris Wheel. Following the group meeting, maybe head out for an optional welcome dinner at a Viennese Heurigen (wine tavern). Heuriger means "this year's wine", and the Heurigen originated as a way for winemakers to offer samples of their new wine with a few snacks. Fortunately this now also includes a hearty meal, which will be much needed for the days of cycling ahead.
Day 2 Vienna city ride
After breakfast there will be a bike fitting for the group followed by a short test ride. Then take a tour of Vienna by bike (approximately 3 hours). Follow the path of the Habsburg and explore the rich artistic and cultural icons like the Gothic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Hofburg Palace and all that the Ringstrasse has to offer.
Day 3 Cycle Vienna to Bratislava
Leave Vienna’s city centre and ride along the mighty Danube to the tiny hamlet of Hasslau an der Donau. From here, journey east along the riverbanks to one of Austria's most important archaeological sites, Carnuntum, and its eclectic mixture of Roman ruins and modern reconstructions. Spend some time wandering among the remains of Roman life on the Danube before climbing back onto your bike and slowly winding along the riverside bike paths to the Slovak border. In the afternoon arrive in the Slovak capital, the cosmopolitan Bratislava. See firsthand how bordering two independent countries has left its mark on Bratislava with an introductory walk.
Day 4 Cycle Bratislava to Gyor
Follow the flowing waters of the Danube as it turns south. Pass by picturesque villages, lowland forests and across lush farmland to the historic Hungarian city of Gyor. This vibrant Baroque city - highlighted by Káptalan Hill, Bécsi kapu tér square, and the picturesque Király Street - has been inhabited by varying cultures since ancient times and offers a fascinating contrast to the slow pace of the river and its surrounds.
Day 5 Cycle Gyor to Komarom
Leaving Gyor behind, track back to the banks of the Danube and on to the city of Komarom, which straddles the borders of Hungary and Slovakia. While Komarom is known for its forts and strategic position on the Danube River, it is also a beautiful city housing many museums and historical sites. Take part in an introductory walk with a stroll across the Elizabeth Bridge, the pathway between two counties. To add some pampering at the end of a long day why not try an optional spa visit to soothe those leg muscles.
Day 6 Cycle Komarom to Esztergom
Today there is an early departure to ensure a timely arrival into Esztergom (approximately 55 kilometres). The former capital city of Hungary, Esztergom is the seat of the Hungarian Catholic Church and boasts an amazing array of architectural gems such as Royal Palace, and Watertown, which is built on the banks of the Danube itself. The crowning glory of Esztergom is undoubtbly the Esztergom Basilica, a stunning example of Classicism and the third largest church in Europe. Reflected in the still waters of the Danube Bend, the Basilica is a sight to behold from outside and within. Take part on an introductory orientation walk of this beguiling city.
Day 7 Cycle Esztergom to Budapest
Cycle the famous ‘Danube Bend’ beneath the wooded hills of Visegrád. Here the river turns south towards the Hungarian capital city of Budapest. Today is our longest day in the saddle but be sure to enjoy a stop half way for a picnic lunch on the river bank. After cycling through the city itself end the day on a high with an afternoon visit to one of Budapest's famous spas is included. There is ample free time in the evening to explore at your leisure.
Day 8 Budapest
Your cycling adventure comes to an end today. There are no planned activities or rides, so you're free to depart anytime before noon. If you want to spend some extra time in Budapest or require a later checkout, we strongly recommend booking extra accommodation at the time of booking.
Availability
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4,331 Intrepid Travel Travel Reviews & Ratings
Cycle the Danube
Company Reviews
Sardines in a can
If any of us had been physically inflexible or overweight we could not have coped with the sleeping arrangements . It is impossible to sit on the top bunk and even turning over in bed requires considerable planning .
An adventure does not mean cutting back on basic essentials …
In our view there were too many people in too small a space .
Two complete strangers were also asked to sleep together in an extremely small double bed , which meant that one of them decided to sleep on deck or in the living space .
The only redeeming factor was our Skipper who is professional, friendly , informative and skilled .
I would recommend this trip if the numbers were reduced .
I feel totally cheated
Have not even started and not impressed
No help when things go wrong (seriously ill on trip)
Trip 1- I was taken very ill while in Vietnam and had to drop out of the tour. I had no help from the guide- no help with getting to a doctor (I don't speak Vietnamese and was too ill to get out of bed anyway), he didn't even assist with arranging a hotel room.
Trip 2- I've had to cancel an upcoming (2024) trip, but haven't received the refund despite phoning the customer service line several times. The people I talk to are nice, but don't seem to be able to actually get anything done. They just suggest waiting a bit longer- not sure how long they think is acceptable to hang on to someone's money really.
Check for other companies offtering the same trip
Once I had paid for my trips, it was very difficult to get in touch with Intrepid to ask a question.
During the trips, several times I was told something one day only to have the info change without any good reason. The guides need proper training about dealing with the heat. Some of use suffered from dehydration and heat stroke and the guides were quite flippant about it. I was told that the guides would not leave anyone behind, but it happened several times.
There was one guide (a trainee) who really took some of the pleasure out of my cycle tour. She spoke to me with a tone used for a child. This tone and her attitude to me almost bordered on harassment.
I went on a third cycling tour with a different company after my 2 with Intrepid and it was much better than my experience with Intrepid.
As the demand for ebikes rises, tour companies such as Intrepid need to increase their fleet of ebikes. They also don’t need to charge the huge amount to rent these ebikes. We only want to rent them, not buy them. As the cost of ebikes comes down, if should reflect in the rental price.
Ecuador guide Eitel made the tour…
Details
Flight & Transport Inclusions
All internal ground transport Bicycle,Support vehicle,Ferry,(e-bike option available,subject to availability)
Group Size
Small Group - 24 max
Maximum Number of People in Group: 15
Accommodations
Hotel (6 nights),guesthouse (1 night)
Guides
All Intrepid cycling group trips are accompanied by one of our cycling leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders. Our cycling leaders are all passionate cyclists, as you’d expect, but they also go through some pretty rigorous cycle-trip specific training. Each one has undergone on-road training and supervision and knows how to do safety checks, basic repairs and emergency first-aid. And at the end of the day they’re still regular Intrepid leaders, which means they will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you were interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
Age Notes :
Min. Age: 14
Max Age: 99
Additional Information
Finish point
- B&B Hotel Budapest City
- Angyal u. 1-3
- Budapest
- HUNGARY
- Phone: +36 1 9206911
Trip ID#:
intrepid-ZMXD
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