Austria is the best country in Europe to combine effortless cycling with world-class scenery. The Danube Cycle Path cuts through the Wachau Valley — a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of vineyard terraces, medieval castles and riverside village cafés — where the hardest decision each day is which Heuriger wine tavern to stop at. The classic Passau to Vienna tour is one of Europe's benchmark cycling journeys: consistently flat, impeccably signed, and arriving at one of the continent's great capital cities. Those who want to extend the adventure can follow the Prague to Budapest route through Austria and on into Hungary, or take on the spectacular Alpe Adria Cycle Path southward from Salzburg to the Adriatic. For a dramatic alpine challenge with a Mediterranean finish, the Munich to Venice route crosses the Alps via Austria at its most breathtaking.
Wondering how hard the route really is? Read our guide to the Danube Cycle Path difficulty, or see our advice on self-guided vs guided tours.
