Passau to Vienna

    The cycle route starting in or near Passau and ending in Vienna. also a little further to Bratislava (Slovakia) as that is only another 35 miles downstream of vienna . Is perhaps the busiest cycle routes in the world during the summer months 

     

  Just to avoid any confusion, Passau is in Germany. From here to a point 17 miles down the river, the Danube represents the natural border between Germany and Austria. Beyond that point it is all Austria to Vienna. By the way: Since Germany and Austria signed the Schengen treaty, like the vast majority of Europe there is no border control.and not even a sign the only thing i noticed was my mobile pinging to tell me the phone rates for Austria, the same as it had been when i cycled over into germany from holand

       for this section its better to choose to  Bike the Danube downstream. Otherwise in the summer you would not be able to enjoy it as much because- you would have to look out for oncoming cyclists every minute. Approximately 38,000 cyclists bike the Danube from Passau to Vienna every year. Assuming that the majority of these cyclists go between May and September, that's about 300 cyclists per day. If you cycle the Danube downstream, you will face a fraction of those only. You will be able to relax way more compared to an upstream itinerary, i was at the end of the season and had the route to myself a lot, 
       

    When i woke in hous panorama the lovely view out the window was still marvelouse but it was lashing down! i made myself a coffee in bed and done some blogging and took my time again getting me and the gear water tight, this turned out to be a wise decisdion as the time it took me meant the rain stopped virtually as i took the bags out the digs, i took plenty photos and had the rain jacket of within half an hour
      passau from the way out was stunning in the morning yet again i felt i had take plenty pictures, the cycle route itself instantly changed it was a proper cycle route again not the gravel track i had been getting used to that was actually rattling the hell out of me and the auld dear, i could at last make good headway my aim was 95km to linz that day! 
       

Its a tricky game trying to gauge where to go where to sdtay how long to travel for stop fot etc i wanted to enjoy the cycling and scenery but here was an oportunity to speed up this questioning never leaves you on a journey like this should I would I could I? 
   I was a bit out of town when i passed a couple cycling touring bikes with panniers they said Hello in english i presumed they were German and enquired if the new i was a foreigner? turned out they were phill and Lisa from Vancouver a retired couple out on a european holiday,  I ended up then cycling with them for twenty odd mile or so, and we took the wee cycling ferry together before they arrived at their countryside lodgings, mid afternoon while i still had a long way to go, we swapped instagram addresses for contact and now follow each other on social media
     

there was three ferrys that day for me

 my conversation with them taught me a lot though and i was to find more people like them in the following days, you can hire bikes from companies at either end of passau\vienna its a daily rate of i think eleven euros this gives you panniers a fully serviced bike and phone number for pick up replacement or repair, the companies will forward any unwanted luggage to your destination and you can leave your bike their or There is a train for cyclists (in particular) that goes from Vienna to Passau and return every day. The train is called 'RadTramper Donau' and operates between May and October. A place for your bicycle is included in the fare of approx. €39 one way. The train starts in Vienna (Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof station) in the morning and arrives in Passau around mid-day. The return journey starts late afternoon (5:44 pm). Kids (6 to 14 years of age) travel at lower fares, maximum €29. Toddlers (below 6 years of age) go free.

               

There are about 190 seats and 75 slots for bicycles. The composition of wagons can be found online. A reservation for your bicycle is included in your ticket. A separate ticket for your bicycle is not necessary on this train.
   How awesome is that what a great holiday idea i quickly learned why this part of the Danube is possibly the most popular cycle route in the world

      the rest of my cycling alone that day to Linz was lovely cycle tracks,  I ate up the miles easily while enjoying the scenery traffic free mostly cycle route! Linz is billed as an industrial town but it didn't look at it that way,  to me when i arrived it was a nice mix of modern and ancient large city, i was circling around the centre looking for a place to stay the mobile apps where bringing up stupid prices and stupid locations and the local hotels looked a bit posh for me! but i was happy to be there what a wonderful place, I dont want to say this too often but this was yet another city i would have only one night in but wished i had longer, 
             

the clever chain ferry that uses the power of the current and a chain to ferry over