Original
Cycling
Cycle the Danube
4.8
Excellent
88 reviews
8 days
Start
Vienna, Austria
Finish
Budapest, Hungary
Trip Code
ZMXD
Min Age
14
Trip Size
1 - 15
Physical Rating
Meals
7 breakfasts, 1 lunch
Transport
Bicycle, Support vehicle, Ferry, (e-bike option available, subject to availability)
Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), guesthouse (1 night)
From £1,865(8 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Follow the Danube downstream, passing romantic castles, small villages and lowland forests – the best way to see Eastern Europe is on two wheels!
Cycle leafy paths away from the traffic of main roads and cities, from vibrant Vienna to cosmopolitan Bratislava and bohemian Budapest. Away from the tourists, you’ll have a better chance of connecting with local cultures!
Spend some time at the domed Basilica of Esztergom – the biggest church in Hungary – and see how it’s reflected in the still waters of the Danube Bend. Then, make your way into Budapest and indulge in one of the steaming public baths.
See the Roman remains at Carnuntum – one of Austria's most important archaeological sites. Wander the ruins and reconstructions and then hop back on your bike to the Slovak border.
Straddle the borders of Hungary and Slovakia in the historic spa town of Komarom and soothe your sore muscles during one of the optional spa visits.
By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Tuuur Foundation partner, World Bicycle Relief. Donations provide school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas with bicycles that provide access to education, healthcare, and income.
Is this trip right for you?
To complete this trip, it’s important that you’re both confident and competent in riding a bicycle.
On this trip, we have a single leader who rides with the group and another who drives the support vehicle (acting as a back marker where needed). Where the vehicle cannot travel directly with the cyclists (e.g. a cyclists-only path) your leader will assign a person from the group to act as a back marker.
While the cycling distances are relatively long – sometimes up to 75 km – the terrain of the Danube as it flows downstream is naturally flat, so you’ll only need a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy the trip. But remember, we will always have the support vehicle on hand if you need to take a break for an hour or a day.
As accommodation on this trip is twin-share, single travellers will share a room with another traveller of the same sex. This trip is a great opportunity to get to know other like-minded people, so embrace it while you can. If you’d prefer not to share, a single room supplement is available at an additional charge.
This trip is part of a longer itinerary. You might be joining travellers who have already spent some time together. If you have more time to explore, you might like to check out Cycle Central Europe & the Danube trip.
To complete this trip, it’s important that you’re both confident and competent in riding a bicycle.
On this trip, we have a single leader who rides with the group and another who drives the support vehicle (acting as a back marker where needed). Where the vehicle cannot travel directly with the cyclists (e.g. a cyclists-only path) your leader will assign a person from the group to act as a back marker.
While the cycling distances are relatively long – sometimes up to 75 km – the terrain of the Danube as it flows downstream is naturally flat, so you’ll only need a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy the trip. But remember, we will always have the support vehicle on hand if you need to take a break for an hour or a day.
As accommodation on this trip is twin-share, single travellers will share a room with another traveller of the same sex. This trip is a great opportunity to get to know other like-minded people, so embrace it while you can. If you’d prefer not to share, a single room supplement is available at an additional charge.
This trip is part of a longer itinerary. You might be joining travellers who have already spent some time together. If you have more time to explore, you might like to check out Cycle Central Europe & the Danube trip.
Itinerary
Pedal beside the iconic Danube River, passing castles, forests and villages
Retrace the steps of the Roman, Ottoman and Habsburg Empires on this cycling adventure along the mighty Danube River. Over eight days, you’ll ride through small villages, lowland forests and lush farmland as you cycle from Vienna to Budapest, passing through Slovakia. Discover the Baroque style at the Schonbrunn Palace or get lost in the cobbled laneways of Komarom – a spa city with one foot in Hungary and the other in Slovakia. Visit the architectural jewel of the Danube River – the Esztergom Basilica – and pass by the white-hued Bratislava Castle. Celebrate a day in the saddle with a luxurious soak in one of Budapest's steaming baths, then maybe spend the night at the iconic ruin bars. If you’re seeking an active adventure – cycling is the best way to experience the cosmopolitan cities along the Danube.
Inclusions
Meals
7 breakfasts, 1 lunch
Transport
Bicycle, Support vehicle, Ferry, (e-bike option available, subject to availability)
Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), guesthouse (1 night)
Included activities
Vienna Guided Cycling
6 Days included bike hire
Carnuntum entrance
Vienna to Bratislava Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
Bratislava to Gyor Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
Gyor to Komarom Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
Esztergom Basilica entrance
Komarom to Esztergom Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
Budapest - Szechenyi Baths
Esztergom to Budapest Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
Optional activities
Vienna - Prater Ferris Wheel - EUR15
Vienna - Belvedere Gallery (Lower Gallery) - EUR17
Vienna - Leopold Museum - EUR17
Vienna - Albertina Museum - EUR19
Vienna - Schoenbrunn Palace - EUR22
Vienna - Hofburg Palace & Sisi Museum - EUR20
The Slavin War Memorial - Free
Bratislava - Kamzik TV Tower - Free
Bratislava - Blue Church Bratislava - Free
Fort Monostor - HUF2400
Bálint Balassi Museum - HUF100
Esztergom Castle Museum - HUF3000
Budapest - Hungarian State Opera House Tour - HUF9000
Budapest - Danube Boat Trip - EUR15
Dates and availability
Starting
Ending
Remaining
Prices From
Important notes
1. It is very important that you provide your height at time of booking so we can ensure that you have the appropriate sized bicycle when your trip starts. If you do not provide your height ahead of arrival we cannot guarantee a suitably sized bike for you.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 5 (Komarom) where you will be in a twin-share room, and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. Bike helmets are compulsory on this trip. We are unable to hire bike helmets locally so please ensure you bring your own bike helmet from home.
4. On this trip we have a single leader that rides with the group, and another that drives the support vehicle (acting as a back marker where needed). Where the vehicle cannot travel directly with the cyclists (e.g. a cyclists-only path) your leader will assign a person from the group to act as a back marker.
5. An e-bike option (at additional cost) may be available on this trip. We have limited numbers of these bikes available and they are an 'on request' basis only. A request does not guarantee an e-bike, only a confirmed booking. Please ask your agent for more details at the time of booking.
Reviews (83)
5 stars
72
4 stars
8
3 stars
2
2 stars
1
Leigh
Aug 15, 2025
I found the adventure riding a bike to Budapest to be a worthwhile and excellent journey. The tour was well organised with many treats such as breaks, excellent scenery, well organised and friendly tour operators who facilitated the trip. Highly recommend
Adrian
Jul 23, 2025
Just completed the Vienna to Budapest trip with Tomi and Astrid as our excellent leaders. They helped the group to bond quickly and made inclusion where it was wanted was a priority. The equipment was excellent but it was the leadership of a group of adults that didn’t know each other that made the difference. Safety was a priority as was enjoyment.
Carolyn
Jul 05, 2025
Having never even heard of Intrepid, we weren’t sure what to expect. But we had a WONDERFUL time. Tomi and Astrid were professional, personable and a pleasure to be with. Our international group of 8 people were interesting and well traveled. We all got along very well. We will certainly be booking another biking tour with Intrepid.
Gary
Jun 29, 2025
If you’re looking for an adventurous way of seeing Central Europe, I can thoroughly recommend a cycle tour with Intrepid, from Vienna to Budapest, following the Danube River, over 6 days. It certainly beats the boredom of being on a boat, train or bus! Together with your dynamic, friendly, local guide and fellow cyclists (from all over the world), it makes for a fun, energetic, informative travel experience that you will remember with fondness!
Anne
Jun 19, 2025
This was my first cycling holiday and I was not disappointed. I was a little unsure that I would manage the long distances but our group leader Tomas was great at motivating us and Astrid on the support vehicle provided regular pit stops for cake and snacks. The cycling paths were excellent and the bikes were new, so riding was fun. The towns we visited along the Daube were beautiful, with nice restaurants for evening meals.
David
Jun 11, 2025
Excellent cycling trip with Intrepid - with great guidance and leadership from Tomi and Astrid !!
Peter
Jun 11, 2025
We thoroughly enjoyed cycling from Vienna to Budapest with Intrepid. The pacing was great, the scenery lovely, accommodations excellent, and the guides friendly and very knowledgable.
Dennis
May 24, 2025
We had a great trip, with outstanding, knowledgeable leaders and a friendly group. Igor and Tomi were friendly and always ready to help in any way possible, great local recommendations and information.
Crystal
May 11, 2025
Excellent combination of physical, culture and cuisine enrichment. Cycling is mostly on the bike path, it’s relaxed, allows you enjoying beautiful scenery without being concerned about the safety. The path is flat, the distance very reasonable. Highly recommended especially for those considering long distance cycling the first time.
Robbert
May 10, 2025
Not a travel agent. Use an outside travel agent or just book a tour and do the rest yourself, the tours are good, the tour company is ethical and socially responsible but they failed as a travel agent.
Friends and Family Travel is an agent of Intrepid Travel. All Trip content and associated images are copyright of Intrepid Travel.
You are protected
Contact Information
Call us at
0208 058 4003
Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM GMT.
Contact our customer support
contact@friendsandfamily.travel
We’ll get back to you within 24 hours.
© 2024 Friends and Family Travel | All rights reserved.