Day 1: Arrival in Donaueschingen
The Danube River starts at the confluence of the two rivers - Brigach and Breg - near Donaueschingen in the Black Forest in Germany. However, by agreement the source of the Danube is considered a spring in the castle of Donaueschingen.
Day 2: Donaueschingen – Mühlheim
Distance: approx 47 km / 29 miles
This part of the early Danube cycle path leads you through the austere and beautiful Baar landscape. The Entenburg Fortress in Pfohren and the river capture in Immendingen are worth a visit. For the greater part of the year, the Danube disappears into the porous lime stone instead of flowing into Lake Bodensee, the Rhine River, and the Black and North Seas. Only in the narrow Danube valley between Tuttlingen and Sigmaringen are there some upward gradients and gravel roads. Cycle to the small town of Mühlheim.
Day 3: Mühlheim – Sigmaringen
Distance: approx 45 km / 28 miles
Cycle through the Danube water gap, probably the most beautiful part of the tour. Enjoy the quiet ride between Fridingen and Beuron and take a break at the abbey. Continue along the winding river and on the foothills of the lime stone mountains to Sigmaringen, the former capital of the Sigmaringen Principality. Take a very interesting tour through the royal castle.
Day 4: Sigmaringen – Riedlingen
Distance: approx 34 km / 21 miles
Today’s stretch takes you through a lovely vast landscape. The Heuneburg Museum is in the renovated tithe barn of the former monastery of Heiligkreuztal at Hundersingen. The exhibition explains the importance of the site and displays some of the original Celtic finds from the site and nearby burials. Continue to the Heuneburg hillfort. It is considered one of the most important early Celtic centres north of the Alps. The renovated fort gives insight into town life over 2500 years ago.
Day 5: Riedlingen – Ehingen
Distance: approx 34 km / 21 miles
Cycle along the Danube to Zwiefaltendorf with its beautiful moated castle. Take an excursion to the Benedictine monastery in Zweifalten and admire its Baroque and Rococo architecture. There is a Premonstratensian monastery with Rococo architecture in Obermarchtal. Continue through the small town of Munderkingen with its timber-framed houses to Further Austrian city of Ehingen, known above all for the manufacturing of Liebherr cranes.
Day 6: Ehingen - Blaubeuren – Ulm
Distance: approx 39 km / 24 miles
Leave the Danube and cycle through the valley to Allmendingen, Schelklingen, and Blaubeuren. You’ll find the famous spring, the “Blautopf” and the large Blau cave system near the monastery. There are many Medieval fortresses and ruins to be seen along the Blau River on your way to the Upper Swabian city of Ulm where you will find the highest church tower in the world. Enjoy the metropolitan city and its shopping district.
Day 7: Ulm - Günzburg/Dillingen
Distance: approx 30-57 km / 19-35 miles
Pass town after town as you cycle from Ulm to Dillingen. You can visit the pilgrimage church in Elchingen, the parish church with its Rococo architecture in Günzburg, and the points of interest in the former royal city of Dillingen.
Day 8: Günzburg/Dillingen – Donauwörth
Distance: approx 35-57 km / 22-35 miles
Cycle through meadows along the Danube to Höchstädt (with its castle built for the Duchy of Palatinate-Neuburg) and Donauwörth, situated near the mouth of the Wörnitz River which was once the most important trade route between Nürnberg and Augsburg. The magnificent homes are reminders of the city’s historic significance. The Käthe-Kruse-Doll-Museum is a great place to visit, even for adults.
Day 9: Donauwörth – Ingolstadt
Distance: approx 63 km / 39 miles
Today’s stretch is full of castles, including those of Leipheim, Bertoldsheim, and Stepperg in Rennertshofen. The most beautiful of the castles along the Danube is the Renaissance castle in Neuburg. Cycle through large sections of the forest to Ingolstadt famous for its Audi plant. Ingolstadt is also known for its Medieval flair. The Mobile Museum exhibiting the history of mobility is an exciting place to visit.
Day 10: Ingolstadt - Kelheim/Bad Gögging
Distance: approx 35-46 km / 22-29 miles
Cycle through Neustadt and hop fields to Bad Gögging. The excavated fort is a reminder of how the Romans settled along the Danube. Admire the natural spectacle of the water gap between Weltenburg and Kelheim. The Danube wedges its way through the rocks of the Franconian Jura Mountains. Take a ferry from the famous Benedictine monastery on the sand bar to Kelheim. Spend the night in Kelheim or Bad Gögging.
Day 11: Kelheim/Bad Gögging – Regensburg
Distance: approx 39-55 km / 24-34 miles
Before you get going today, visit the „Hall of Liberation“ built by King Ludwig I and enjoy the fantastic view. The 18 large statues of women illustrate the taste for art in the19th century. Cycle to Regensburg at the most northern point of the Danube. The city is deemed to be the best preserved German metropolis and has been declared a UNESCO World Cutlural Heritage. Crown your day with a stroll through the narrow alleys in the disctrict of Spital.
Day 12: Regensburg – Straubing
Distance: approx 51 km / 32 miles
Visit the Wallhalla Tempel near Donaustauf, conceived in 1807 by Crown Prince Ludwig and built in 1842 - similar to the Pantheon. Cycle along the Danube. Pass the Wörth castle and continue through the landscape called “Gäuboden”. Today’s destination is the city of Straubing which dates back to Celtic and Roman times. The prominent tower is the city’s emblem.
Day 13: Straubing – Deggendorf
Distance: approx 41 km / 25 miles
Cycle through the town of Bogen, famous for its painting of the pregnant Madonna which was found in 1104. Continue through Pfelling, to the Bededictine abby in Mariaposching, and to Deggendorf, the “Gate to the Bavarian Forest”. Gothic and Baroque architecture give the Old Town its unique flair.
Day 14: Deggendorf – Passau
Distance: approx 57 km / 35 miles
The last leg of your tour takes you past the monastery in Niederaltaich. Cycle to the historic little town of Vilshofen. Your destination is the “Three River City”, Passau, also former residence of the bishop of Passau. Enjoy a restful boat ride on the Danube, Inn, and Ilz Rivers. Top it all off with a leisure stroll through the Old Town or by visiting the fortress, Veste Oberhaus.
Day 15: Departure from Passau
Depart after breakfast, unless you’ve planned an extended stay. Travellers are responsible for their homeward transportation.
Day 1: Arrival in Donaueschingen
The Danube River starts at the confluence of the two rivers - Brigach and Breg - near Donaueschingen in the Black Forest in Germany. However, by agreement the source of the Danube is considered a spring in the castle of Donaueschingen.
Day 2: Donaueschingen – Mühlheim
Distance: approx 47 km / 29 miles
This part of the early Danube cycle path leads you through the austere and beautiful Baar landscape. The Entenburg Fortress in Pfohren and the river capture in Immendingen are worth a visit. For the greater part of the year, the Danube disappears into the porous lime stone instead of flowing into Lake Bodensee, the Rhine River, and the Black and North Seas. Only in the narrow Danube valley between Tuttlingen and Sigmaringen are there some upward gradients and gravel roads. Cycle to the small town of Mühlheim.
Day 3: Mühlheim – Sigmaringen
Distance: approx 45 km / 28 miles
Cycle through the Danube water gap, probably the most beautiful part of the tour. Enjoy the quiet ride between Fridingen and Beuron and take a break at the abbey. Continue along the winding river and on the foothills of the lime stone mountains to Sigmaringen, the former capital of the Sigmaringen Principality. Take a very interesting tour through the royal castle.
Day 4: Sigmaringen – Riedlingen
Distance: approx 34 km / 21 miles
Today’s stretch takes you through a lovely vast landscape. The Heuneburg Museum is in the renovated tithe barn of the former monastery of Heiligkreuztal at Hundersingen. The exhibition explains the importance of the site and displays some of the original Celtic finds from the site and nearby burials. Continue to the Heuneburg hillfort. It is considered one of the most important early Celtic centres north of the Alps. The renovated fort gives insight into town life over 2500 years ago.
Day 5: Riedlingen – Ehingen
Distance: approx 34 km / 21 miles
Cycle along the Danube to Zwiefaltendorf with its beautiful moated castle. Take an excursion to the Benedictine monastery in Zweifalten and admire its Baroque and Rococo architecture. There is a Premonstratensian monastery with Rococo architecture in Obermarchtal. Continue through the small town of Munderkingen with its timber-framed houses to Further Austrian city of Ehingen, known above all for the manufacturing of Liebherr cranes.
Day 6: Ehingen - Blaubeuren – Ulm
Distance: approx 39 km / 24 miles
Leave the Danube and cycle through the valley to Allmendingen, Schelklingen, and Blaubeuren. You’ll find the famous spring, the “Blautopf” and the large Blau cave system near the monastery. There are many Medieval fortresses and ruins to be seen along the Blau River on your way to the Upper Swabian city of Ulm where you will find the highest church tower in the world. Enjoy the metropolitan city and its shopping district.
Day 7: Ulm - Günzburg/Dillingen
Distance: approx 30-57 km / 19-35 miles
Pass town after town as you cycle from Ulm to Dillingen. You can visit the pilgrimage church in Elchingen, the parish church with its Rococo architecture in Günzburg, and the points of interest in the former royal city of Dillingen.
Day 8: Günzburg/Dillingen – Donauwörth
Distance: approx 35-57 km / 22-35 miles
Cycle through meadows along the Danube to Höchstädt (with its castle built for the Duchy of Palatinate-Neuburg) and Donauwörth, situated near the mouth of the Wörnitz River which was once the most important trade route between Nürnberg and Augsburg. The magnificent homes are reminders of the city’s historic significance. The Käthe-Kruse-Doll-Museum is a great place to visit, even for adults.
Day 9: Donauwörth – Ingolstadt
Distance: approx 63 km / 39 miles
Today’s stretch is full of castles, including those of Leipheim, Bertoldsheim, and Stepperg in Rennertshofen. The most beautiful of the castles along the Danube is the Renaissance castle in Neuburg. Cycle through large sections of the forest to Ingolstadt famous for its Audi plant. Ingolstadt is also known for its Medieval flair. The Mobile Museum exhibiting the history of mobility is an exciting place to visit.
Day 10: Ingolstadt - Kelheim/Bad Gögging
Distance: approx 35-46 km / 22-29 miles
Cycle through Neustadt and hop fields to Bad Gögging. The excavated fort is a reminder of how the Romans settled along the Danube. Admire the natural spectacle of the water gap between Weltenburg and Kelheim. The Danube wedges its way through the rocks of the Franconian Jura Mountains. Take a ferry from the famous Benedictine monastery on the sand bar to Kelheim. Spend the night in Kelheim or Bad Gögging.
Day 11: Kelheim/Bad Gögging – Regensburg
Distance: approx 39-55 km / 24-34 miles
Before you get going today, visit the „Hall of Liberation“ built by King Ludwig I and enjoy the fantastic view. The 18 large statues of women illustrate the taste for art in the19th century. Cycle to Regensburg at the most northern point of the Danube. The city is deemed to be the best preserved German metropolis and has been declared a UNESCO World Cutlural Heritage. Crown your day with a stroll through the narrow alleys in the disctrict of Spital.
Day 12: Regensburg – Straubing
Distance: approx 51 km / 32 miles
Visit the Wallhalla Tempel near Donaustauf, conceived in 1807 by Crown Prince Ludwig and built in 1842 - similar to the Pantheon. Cycle along the Danube. Pass the Wörth castle and continue through the landscape called “Gäuboden”. Today’s destination is the city of Straubing which dates back to Celtic and Roman times. The prominent tower is the city’s emblem.
Day 13: Straubing – Deggendorf
Distance: approx 41 km / 25 miles
Cycle through the town of Bogen, famous for its painting of the pregnant Madonna which was found in 1104. Continue through Pfelling, to the Bededictine abby in Mariaposching, and to Deggendorf, the “Gate to the Bavarian Forest”. Gothic and Baroque architecture give the Old Town its unique flair.
Day 14: Deggendorf – Passau
Distance: approx 57 km / 35 miles
The last leg of your tour takes you past the monastery in Niederaltaich. Cycle to the historic little town of Vilshofen. Your destination is the “Three River City”, Passau, also former residence of the bishop of Passau. Enjoy a restful boat ride on the Danube, Inn, and Ilz Rivers. Top it all off with a leisure stroll through the Old Town or by visiting the fortress, Veste Oberhaus.
Day 15: Departure from Passau
Depart after breakfast, unless you’ve planned an extended stay. Travellers are responsible for their homeward transportation.
