Cycle the Danube: Vienna to Budapest – 8 Days
Vienna, Bratislava, Győr, Esztergom and the Danube Bend by bike to Budapest, with a support vehicle and a small group.
Tour overview
This 8-day small-group cycling trip follows the Danube through three countries, from imperial Vienna to the grand boulevards of Budapest, riding mostly flat paths along the river. Groups have up to 15 travellers aged 14 and over, with a leader throughout. Bike hire is included for six days, and a support vehicle backs up the group and carries the luggage. You stay seven nights in simple hotels, with one night in a village guesthouse. Breakfast is included daily, with a lunch on the final ride.
After a welcome meeting in Vienna, you are fitted to your bike and join your leader for a guided ride around the city's palaces and parks, with a stop at a quirky local café. Next day you leave the centre and ride along the Danube past the hamlet of Hasslau and through the riverside forests of the Donau-Auen National Park into Slovakia and its compact capital, Bratislava, with its castle above the river.
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Following the river south, you cross into Hungary and ride through picturesque villages, lowland forests and farmland to the baroque town of Győr, staying in a guesthouse at Hédervár. Leaving Győr, you track back to the Danube and on to Komárom, which straddles the border with Slovakia and is known for its vast 19th-century fortresses.
An early start takes you to Esztergom, Hungary's former capital and seat of its Catholic Church, where you visit the great basilica on its hill above the river. The final ride follows the Danube Bend, where the river turns south beneath the wooded hills of Visegrád, into Budapest, Hungary's capital, for a celebratory last evening.
The physical rating is medium, with daily rides on mostly flat, dedicated cycle paths. This trip suits regular cyclists who want to travel slowly through Central Europe, with a sociable group and the reassurance of vehicle support. Evenings are free to enjoy local food and wine in the riverside towns, and the gentle gradients mean you can enjoy the scenery rather than worry about hills. Departures run from spring to autumn.
Trip highlights
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A guided ride around Vienna (Day 2)
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Riding into Bratislava (Day 3)
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Hungary's lowlands and Győr (Day 4)
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Komárom's fortresses (Day 5)
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Esztergom Basilica (Day 6)
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The Danube Bend to Budapest (Day 7)
Your route
9 stops from Vienna to Budapest
- Vienna Days 1–2
- Carnuntum Day 3
- Bratislava Day 3
- Hedervar Day 4
- Gyor Day 4
- Komarom Day 5
- Esztergom Day 6
- Visegrád Day 7
- Budapest Days 7–8
Why choose this tour
Three capitals linked by one of Europe's great cycle paths. Mostly flat riding with vehicle support and a small group.
Best suited to
- Regular cyclists
- Active couples and friends
- Solo travellers looking for an active group
- Families with teenagers aged 14 and over
Day-by-day itinerary
8 days from Vienna, Austria to Budapest, Hungary
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Day 1 · Vienna Arrive in Vienna
A welcome meeting at 6pm.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 2 · Vienna Vienna by bike
A bike fitting and a guided ride around the city.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 3 · Hasslau an der Donau, Bratislava To Bratislava
Ride along the Danube into Slovakia.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 4 · Győr, Hédervár To Hédervár
Cross into Hungary through villages and farmland.
- Hotel
- Guesthouse
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 5 · Komárom To Komárom
Follow the Danube to the fortress town of Komárom.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 6 · Esztergom To Esztergom
Ride to Esztergom and visit its basilica.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 7 · Visegrád, Budapest Danube Bend to Budapest
Cycle the Danube Bend into Budapest.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 8 · Budapest Trip ends in Budapest
The trip ends after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Vienna (2 nights) Hotel
- Bratislava (1 night) Hotel
- Hédervár (1 night) Guesthouse
- Komárom (1 night) Hotel
- Esztergom (1 night) Hotel
- Budapest (1 night) Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 6 nights in hotels and 1 in a guesthouse
- Meals 7 breakfasts and 1 lunch
- Bike hire for six days
- Guided and vehicle-supported rides
- Vienna guided ride and café visit
- Esztergom Basilica entry
- Leader throughout
Not included
- Flights to Vienna and from Budapest
- Meals not listed
- Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You have never cycled — you ride most days
- You want luxury — hotels are simple
- You want many meals included — mostly breakfasts
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £1,780 per person, twin share, tour only. 14 upcoming departures.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
How hard is the cycling?
Daily rides on mostly flat, dedicated cycle paths along the Danube.
Is there a support vehicle?
Yes, on the riding days, carrying luggage and offering a break when needed.
Are bikes provided?
Yes, bike hire is included for six days.
Which countries do we visit?
Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.
What is the minimum age?
The minimum age is 14, with under-18s accompanied by an adult.
How many people travel together?
Up to 15 travellers, with a leader.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary