A Cycling Journey: Historic Bike Paths Along the Danube River

After our airport pickup, we will drive by motorcoach with a local expert through Vienna International Centre, aka UNO City, a major site for the United Nations, and then to the Vienna Woods and visit the Klosterneuberg Abbey for a docent lead discovery of Emperor Charles VI’s private chambers and the baroque abbey church and the precious Verdun Altar. We’ll admire the views of the city from the hilltop. On our drive back we will stop in Grinzing, famously known for its many ”Heuriger” or wine taverns.

On your own in Grinzing.

On our drive to your first night’s hotel, we will take a loop around Vienna's "Ringstrasse" to see the many magnificent Viennese buildings such as the Parliament Building, The Opera House and the Imperial Palace. After we check in to our centrally-located hotel, you’ll have time to rest and relax. Before dinner, the Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Whether biking in beautiful countryside or vibrant cities, Road Scholars will learn to understand and deal with local traffic, account for other bikers along the way, and be prepared for the unexpected such as sudden stops. Group Leaders will provide a summary of each day’s activities. Educational content will be presented during lectures and field trips by the Group Leader, educators, local experts, and museum docents. . A support vehicle will accompany us on our biking field trips in the event of emergency situations. Thereafter, the driver and vehicle will drive to the hotel and put luggage in our rooms. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

At the hotel.

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel.

We will join our Group Leader in the hotel conference room for a presentation on safety, rules of the road, and the Corner System: the way in which we will navigate throughout the program. Our Group Leaders will ensure your bicycle is properly fitted and that you understand its workings. We will then be ready to set out on our first biking field trip on Vienna’s bicycle trails.

Lunch on your own in Vienna.

This afternoon we will gather for a lecture by a local educator on the European Union followed by a walking field trip by a local expert into the heart of Vienna to learn about its vivid history. The city is highly “walkable.” People have been living here since the Stone Age. Different tribes preceded the Romans, followed by multitudes of competing forces until the Habsburgs established the Austro-Hungarian empire in 1867. The imperial legacy is seen in extraordinary monuments, palaces, grand boulevards, and cultural institutions

At a local restaurant.

Tonight our Group Leader will help us discover the efficiency of the city’s subway system to a classical Viennese concert in the heart of the city.

At the hotel.

Today, we’ll check out of our hotel in Vienna and start our bicycle ride along the Danube from the Danube Island. This artificial island was created to managing flood waters and protect the city of Vienna. It doubles as a recreational playground for the Viennese. We will ride past beaches and sports enthusiasts on our way to Tulln. We will stop in Korneuberg, the sister city to Klosterneuberg, to admire its neo-gothic town hall and have lunch.

On your own in Korneuberg.

We will bicycle further along the Danube to the “City of Flowers” known as Tulln an der Donau. Before we check into our hotel for tonight, we will take a docent-led exploration of the Egon Schiele Museum which is dedicated to his life and his work.

At hotel.

At your leisure.

At the hotel.

Our day will start with a short bike ride to the Tulln Gardens where we will absorb the sights, sounds and scents of colorful flora and fauna native to Austria. Our local expert will elaborate on its environmentally friendly green space management. And don’t miss the stunning views from the 100 foot high tree top walk. After our morning garden experience, we’ll ride on our bicycles along the Danube towards Krems and stop in Traismauer for lunch with views of the Danube river.

On your own in Traismauer.

We’ll continue our bicycle exploration along the Danube and arrive in Krems with Free Time for you to explore this medieval town with its superbly restored original fortress, gates and towers and its beautiful pedestrian and bicycle only thoroughfares. We’ll take a short 10-minute bike ride to the hotel for check in.

At a local restaurant.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We’ll wake up in the heart of Austria’s Wachau Valley known for its vineyard-lined landscapes. We will bicycle through vineyards on our way to Dürnstein. At the town gates, we will park our bikes and discover this quaint village by foot because this popular destination does not allow tourists to drive or bike through its streets. You will have Free Time, or if you feel inclined, you may join your Group Leader for a 1.5 mile hike along the King Richard Trail and discover the ruins of the Dürnstein Castle and the legends of the capture of the English king on this mountain

On your own in Dürnstein.

We’ll spend the afternoon riding to Melk through the UNESCO World Heritage area of the Wachau. Stopping several times along the Danube shores for water breaks and photos. We will check in to our hotel in the heart of town of Melk. Before dinner, we will walk to a nearby “Weingut” to awaken our senses to the tastes and flavors of the grapes of the Wachau valley that we saw on our bicycle ride today.

At the hotel.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

Today, we’ll give our bicycles a break as we explore two Austrian landmark cultural museums. This morning, we’ll walk from our hotel to the splendid Baroque home to the Benedictine monks since 1089, Melk Abbey. We’ll ruminate through the gardens and venture though the abbey with a docent lead lecture and viewing of its gold-gilded interiors, art and science collections and the famous abbey church.

On your own in Melk.

After lunch, we’ll board a motorcoach for an hour’s drive up the mountain for a field trip to the remains of the Mauthausen concentration camp. This notorious World War II internment camp was built by the Nazis. We will see the granite quarries where prisoners cut stones that paved streets in Vienna. Multitudes of camp prisoners died working in these quarries. Estimates are that at least 90,000 people were killed from the time of construction in 1938 until liberation in 1945. Today, the camp is a memorial with monuments dedicated to the people of many nationalities who died here. We will drive to Linz by motorcoach.

At a local "Biergarten" restaurant.

At your leisure.

At the hotel.

After breakfast, we will check out of the hotel and gather for a lecture by a local educator to enlighten us on aspects of the Austrian economy, history, and society. Afterwards, we’ll take a field trip through the city of Linz with a local expert and view its impressive architecture and historic city center. Linz is the capital of the province of Upper Austria. Sites include the Hauptplatz, the former market square, with its Baroque buildings and the Rathaus. It was from the balcony of this town hall on March 12, 1938, that Adolf Hitler proclaimed his thousand-year reich. The town abounds with cathedrals, museums, and perhaps most deliciously, Konditorei: pastry shops featuring the renowned Linzer torte. Be sure to find one of these local bakeries and sample Linzer torte for yourself. We will have Free Time to explore and eat lunch.

On your own in Linz.

This afternoon, we will board a motorcoach for a short ride to Aschach on the Danube, a beautiful old village featuring homes painted during the Baroque era. Here, we will remount our bicycles and take a beautiful ride to Schlögen along the Danube. We’ll check into our resort hotel for two nights.

At the hotel at your leisure.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We’ll wake up to a view of one of the one of the most photographed sections of the Danube, the Schlögen Loop. The river carved a U-shaped loop out of the mountains and we’ll have the option to hike up the mountain to get breathtaking views of the Danube. Or, you may choose to relax at the hotel spa, indoor pool or take a paddle boat out on the water.

In the hotel at your leisure.

Your group leader will take you on a short bicycle ride to visit local Roman archeological sites, or you can choose to enjoy some free time around the nature surrounding your hotel. Before dinner, we will hear a lecture by a local historian on Austrian history and culture.

In the hotel at your leisure.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

After we checkout of the hotel, we will begin our exploration of the Danube along one of the most scenic rides anyone could wish for on the river and through a forest. We will cross the border into Germany and stop in Obernzell, where the castle — built by the Bishop of Passau in 1426 as his summer residence — still stands.

On your own in Obernzell.

After lunch, we’ll mount our bicycles and continue hugging the shores of the Danube river as we ride into the beautiful city of Passau and get our first glimpse of this incredibly scenic city. Before dinner, we will enjoy a short river cruise of the "Dreiflüsseeck” where the three rivers of the Danube, the Inn and the Ilz come together.

At the hotel.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We will gather for a lecture by a local Passau educator on the varied architectural styles prominent in the towns and villages along our way. Next, we will set out with a local expert on a walking field trip in Passau to learn about the history of this wonderful city. From the center of the city, we will take an dynamic walk across the river and up to the “Obernhaus”. Overlooking the city of Passau, this medieval castle is not only richly preserved, but it also houses exhibits which elaborate on the earthly and spiritual life of the people living during the Middle Ages. A local expert will uncover the beauty of these rich exhibits. Afterwards, you can join your Group Leader for a walk back to Passau, or you can stay on the mountain and eat lunch at the café overlooking the three-river junction.

On your own in Passau.

The remainder of the afternoon is free time for you to explore. Your Group Leader will give recommendations.

At the hotel.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We will say goodbye to our bicycles for our final field trip of the program. This morning, we will board a motorcoach and head south to through the hills and forests of Bavaria until we see the Austrian Alps in the distance. We will drive past Salzburg and stop at Berchtesgaden. With a local expert, we will explore the idyllic setting of the Eagle’s Nest with incredible views of The Alps. You will have the option to hike up or down the mountain or use the local shuttle bus. In addition, we will take time to study the historical exhibit of this Nazi-constructed fortress captured by the allies in 1945.

At a restaurant on the mountain.

We will finish our exploration of the Eagle’s Nest and head down the mountain by foot or shuttle bus back to our motorcoach. We will take a leisurely drive to our final destination, Munich.

At the hotel.

Spend the evening socializing with your new Road Scholar friends and packing for your departure tomorrow.

At the hotel, times vary depending on departure time.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!