The Danube cycle path - from Schwanenstadt to Vienna

We tested the Danube cycle path from Schwanenstadt to Vienna. Packed with two bags and a rucksack, Eli, Emma and I cycled 293 kilometres along the Danube.

We wanted to bring a bit of variety into our everyday lives. Not always go running or hiking, but simply go for a nice bike ride. Our plan was to cycle from Schwanenstadt to Vienna in 4 days to eat a burger at Front Food. Of course, Emma, my Jack Russell Terrier dog, was also at the start and was transported in a basket on the handlebars. In this article, I would like to tell you what the Danube cycle path was like for the three of us and how we got on.

The Danube cycle path - our preparations

 You should definitely have a certain basic level of fitness for such a long tour. You should also do some conscious training beforehand and cover a few kilometres by bike. I neglected this somewhat and of course it was noticeable. Apart from my general problems on longer bike rides lasting several days, such as the pain in my bum every time I sat down from the second day onwards or the pulling in my thighs from the third day onwards. No, on the last day my left knee also hurt enormously.

I could possibly have prevented this pain in my knee and also in my thighs with sufficient training. I can't say that it was due to insufficient preparation, but I would just like to say: always prepare yourself as well as possible for such adventures. Of course, there are people for whom something like this is easily achievable, even in one day. However, these tips are for people like me who don't do sport on a regular basis and need support on such tours.

The planning

Of course, as with any excursion or holiday, a certain amount of planning is required. For our cycle tour, we started by planning where we would get on the Danube cycle path and the best way to get there from home. We then put together a tour via Komoot and now knew what our route would look like.

Next, we had to think about how long we wanted to be on the road and how long our individual stages would be. As I was also taking Emma with me, I didn't want to cycle more than 100 kilometres a day and didn't want to overdo it. The whole tour was around 300 kilometres, so we thought we would cycle an average of around 80 kilometres a day and split the bike trip into 4 days. Of course, this was only a rough initial plan and it always depends on the day.

Step number three for us was to check where accommodation was available along the way and whether there was enough choice. We then decided to book the hotel for the first day as soon as we had planned it and thus decided on the first stage. We then looked for the subsequent accommodation on the respective day. This meant we didn't have to cover a certain distance and could be a little more flexible. If we'd had a bad day or even broken down, we could have looked for accommodation nearby. If we were really fit and wanted to continue after 80 kilometres, we could just keep going. On the whole, it worked pretty well, of course there were always small difficulties, but that's just part of it.

Last but not least, the only thing missing was the luggage, which of course should only contain the bare essentials. I'll write you a little guide for this. This varies slightly for everyone, but you can use it as a guide.

Checklist for a multi-day cycle tour on the Danube cycle path

• Money
• Mobile phone
• Powerbank
• Cosmetic bag (toothbrush & toothpaste, shower gel, deodorant, etc.)
• Bicycle helmet
• Gloves
• 2x cycling outfit (shirt, sports shorts, cycling shorts)
• Sports shoes
• Drinking bottle + magnesium
• Sunglasses
• Sleeves & leg warmers
• Rain jacket
• Bicycle pump
• Repair and first aid kit
• Barrier chain + lock
• Spare tube and cover
• 2x T-shirt
• Shorts
• 3-4 pants
• 3-4 pairs of socks
• Bath slippers

Our extras

For the dog

• Lining
• Treats
• Ceiling
• Drink
• Collar
• Tableware
• Leash

For us

• Camera (Eli and me)
• Drone

The individual stages

Day 1: from Schwanenstadt to St. Magdalena

This stage will of course be different for you, as you will probably start at home. For us, we first cycled for around 30 kilometres along the Traun river on a gravel path to Wels and towards Marchtrenk. The route then led us via Holzhausen and Alkoven to the start of the Danube cycle path. On the first day, we cycled another 20 kilometres or so to St. Magdalena, where our accommodation was located.

Day 2: from St. Magdalena to Pöchlarn

This was the worst day for me: the last 20 kilometres and the motel where we spent the night were just horrendous. But the majority of this stretch was simply beautiful. You mostly cycle along the Danube for 4 days, but there are always beautiful sections or villages. Like on day 2: Grein and the subsequent ferry ride were definitely a little highlight for me.

Day 3: from Pöchlarn to Tulln an der Donau

For me, it was actually the best day of our cycle tour. We started off by cycling through the Wachau, through beautiful little villages with views of the many vineyards. Then there was a trip on the ferry, which I just loved. A small highlight of the day was cycling past the nuclear power plant in Zwentendorf, which was also interesting to see.

Day 4: from Tulln on the Danube to Vienna

It was our most leisurely day on the Danube cycle path. Although we only covered around 75 kilometres on the first stage, the following stages were somewhat longer. So we only had just under 40 kilometres left for the last day before we arrived at the Westbahnhof station in Vienna and, after a refreshment stop at Front Food, boarded the next Westbahn train. Once we arrived at the train station in Attnang, we then had to cycle another 10 kilometres home, completing just under 50 kilometres for the day.

The Danube cycle path - my conclusion

This was my third multi-day cycle tour, having already travelled to Italy twice. The Danube cycle path can definitely hold its own here. My idea for this year was a cycling trip with Emma, because I like to experience such adventures with her. Too many gravel paths or too many climbs are not ideal for this. The Danube cycle path was the solution - perfect conditions for experiencing something like this with your darling. But this trip is not only ideal for this constellation. The Danube cycle path is suitable for so many things. A long tour from Passau to Bratislava on a racing bike, a leisurely ride with the children or a nice trip for two.

With this marvellous view, it's simply a pleasure to go for a ride. But it's not just the scenery that makes this tour so great. All the little extras along the Danube cycle path also make this tour so great. Like the ferry rides or the nuclear power plant in Zwentendorf, just to name two. Simply a great experience with physical and emotional ups and downs - they are just part of it. But the best thing was that it worked so well with Emma. A smooth ride on tarmac, she was always in top form, in a good mood and dogs were welcome wherever we took a break. For me, it's clearly already one of my highlights of 2024, and I think Eli really enjoyed it too.

The planned tour

If you are interested in multi-day tours such as the Danube Cycle Path, then you should definitely take a look at the Cycle tour from Salzburg to Jesolo in Italy view.