The "Nicest Cycle in Europe": Our Journey from Passau to Vienna

After being on the road for 2 months, we were looking forward to getting on one of the most scenic cycling paths in Europe from Passau to Vienna. This section of our journey is full of picturesque landscapes, historic landmarks, and so many amazing cultural encounters. 

If you’d like a video tour, here’s our vlog:

https://youtu.be/BLbfzGZF_zk

Passau: Where Rivers Converge:

Our cycling adventure began in Passau, where we cycled across the border from Germany into Austria. The cycle paths are always very easy to follow and along the way we got to see the beautiful waterways of the Danube and intertwining rivers. The weather was also very kind to us as it was all clear skies and sunny which allowed us to enjoy Passau's medieval architecture and cobblestone streets. 

Linz: A Journey through Extraordinary History:

Continuing along the cycle path, we pedaled our way to Linz, a city steeped in extraordinary history. While Linz is known for its cultural scene and vibrant atmosphere, it has a dark historical past. Adolf Hitler spent his formative years here, and a visit to the Mauthausen Concentration Camp Memorial was poignant reminder to us of all the atrocities committed during World War II. But be warned that the cycle to Mauthausen is a very hilly one as it is at least one kilometer up on a huge hill before you reach the memorial. 

Ybbs: A Scenic Transformation:

After leaving Mauthausen and cycling further, the landscape changes and we were soon in the town of Ybbs, a picturesque town nestled along the Danube. Ybbs was one of those towns that we characterized as a ‘nice to cycle by’ but not ‘worthy enough to spend an entire day’ kind of town. But nonetheless, it was a good time! By the way, there was a section of the “bicycle path” which merged onto the highway. So be warned!

Melk: Abbey on a Hill:

Our next stop, Melk, was the place to be. Home to the Benedictine Abbey which was perched atop a steep hill, we pushed Santerella up the hill and were rewarded with a breathtaking view of the Danube and its surroundings. Tickets to enter the abbey are rather pricey but students can enjoy discounted admission fees by presenting their student cards. A proper pauper tip would be to go there before sunset and bring some snacks there for a picnic as there is a beautiful free lookout point nearby for a nice picnic while enjoying the setting sun against the backdrop of the abbey. 

Tulln: A Pleasant Conclusion

After leaving Melk, we headed to Tulln where we spent a morning just having breakfast by the fountain in the park nearby. The cycle paths onward from Tullin are simply delightful and brought us on a flat road straight to Vienna. Along the way, there are many rest-stops for cyclists to find food and drinks. It was the best leg our journey before we headed to Vienna. 

Vienna: The Grand Finale:

We arrived in Vienna by evening just in time to catch the sunset by the Danube. The park along the Donaukanalradweg is great just to cycle through and gave us a sneak peak before we hit the main city centre. Vienna was beautiful and home to the yummy Austrian tortes and schnitzels. It would have been a great place to end our cycling and just pig out or attend a musical festival, but as you all know we are heading back to Singapore so we got our asses back on the road. 

Bratislava: Stepping into Eastern Europe:

And we finally entered Eastern Europe! After cycling an entire day from Vienna to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, we were warmly welcomed by the kindness of so many strangers. People were so much friendlier than in Western Europe. An old professor bought us Slovak wine, a Vietnamese boy gave us free Bun cha and we even got free Kofola (the Eastern European version of coke) to try from cyclists at the pub. It was the friendliest country we had ever been to and we were so grateful to all these amazing people we met. 

Accommodation and Wild Camping:

As for our accommodation along this cycling route, we mostly wild camped as we found flat land or some bushes to spend the night. But for those who are not as budget conscious as we are, there are plenty of options available like hotels, motels, B&Bs or campsites along the way since the Eurovelo 6 is a pretty well-known cycling path in Europe. 

But for us as the proper paupers, we were more than happy to camp every single night. Just being in a tent at the end of the long day of being on the road allowed us to be closer to nature and also to each other as we cooked over our tiny Coleman stove. 

Conclusion:

So was the cycle the most beautiful cycle in the world? Possibly. It’s a well-paved cycling route which boasts impressive sights to see along the way and is also easy to follow. It is really everything a cyclist would desire and we would highly recommend trying out this incredible journey from Passau to Bratislava! 

And getting a Kofola along the way :p (Especially if you don’t drink alcohol like us).