By Bike and Boat Along the Austrian Danube, MS Prinzessin Katharina

Welcome to Austria! Engelhartszell is the perfect starting point for your trip by bike and boat along the Austrian Danube. The town, just a few kilometers from Passau, looks back on a history that dates back to Roman times. The Angelszell Abbey is particularly worth a visit. The only Trappist monastery in Austria impresses with its baroque architecture and rococo furnishings. It is also known for its fine liqueurs and home-brewed beer. Embarkation takes place from approx. 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.. Overnight stay in Engelhartszell.

On the first stage of your journey by bike and boat along the Austrian Danube, you will reach the impressive natural wonder of the Schlögener Schlinge after just a few kilometers. Here, the Danube makes a striking 180-degree turn in a U-shaped loop - a spectacular sight. The most beautiful view of this panorama is from the Schlögener Blick, which can be easily reached on foot from Schlögen. The ship awaits you in Aschach. After a stopover in Linz, the journey continues to Tulln in the evening and overnight.

Today you cycle along the Danube to Austria's capital Vienna. Just outside the city gates is the impressive Klosterneuburg Abbey - a baroque jewel with over 900 years of history. Inside, the Verdun Altar, an important masterpiece of medieval goldsmithing, is particularly impressive. A detour to the nearby Kahlenberg village is also worthwhile: from here, a leisurely walk through the vineyards leads to the viewing terrace on the Kahlenberg. Once at the top, you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view over the metropolis of Vienna.

Today you have the opportunity to explore Vienna at your own pace. The city boasts a wealth of sights: from the imperial Hofburg Palace, the imposing St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Mozart House to the famous Prater and the elegant Belvedere Palace. In between, traditional Viennese coffee houses invite you to take a break - perhaps with a slice of Sachertorte and a Viennese Melange? Or discover the colorful hustle and bustle of the Naschmarkt, where culinary delights and international flair meet. Cast off in the late evening: the ship will take you to Krems in the Wachau region overnight.

Today you will discover one of the most beautiful regions along the Austrian Danube: the Wachau. This UNESCO World Heritage landscape is characterized by rolling hills, steep vineyards and a wealth of historical treasures. Along your cycle route, picturesque villages such as the baroque Dürnstein invite you to take a break. A detour to the legendary Aggstein castle ruins allows you to immerse yourself in the world of the Middle Ages. Your destination for the day is the impressive Melk Abbey - a masterpiece of Austrian Baroque that towers majestically over the Danube.

Today's tour of your journey by bike and boat along the Austrian Danube takes you through one of the most scenic areas of Lower Austria. You cycle around 50 kilometers through the idyllic Strudengau region, past vineyards, small villages and historic towns such as Ybbs and Pöchlarn. Along the way, cozy inns and viewpoints invite you to take a break with a view of the Danube. In your destination for the day, Grein, the charming pearl of the Strudengau, a visit to Greinburg Castle is well worthwhile. The impressive building is considered one of the oldest residential castles in Austria and still shapes the townscape to this day.

You cycle through idyllic meadow landscapes and small villages, enjoying beautiful views of the Danube time and again. A stopover in Wallsee with its castle is well worth a visit. Once you arrive in Mauthausen, it is worth visiting the memorial site of the former concentration camp - a place of remembrance and warning. The boat awaits you in the afternoon for the onward journey to Engelhartszell. The trip takes place overnight.

Your journey by bike and boat on the Austrian Danube ends today. Enjoy the first rays of sunshine on deck and the silence in the morning before you reach Engelhartszell. Disembarkation takes place at around 9.30 am. You start your individual journey home.