The most beautiful riverside cycling routes

Danube Cycleway (Donauradweg)

Between Melk and Krems, the Danube Cycleway follows one of Europe’s most famous river valleys: the Wachau Valley – a UNESCO World Heritage Site with apricot orchards, terraced vineyards, and villages straight out of a historical postcard.

• Interesting fact: 10 of the 17 stages of the long-distance cycle route run through Lower Austria
• Experiences: cultural stop with a guided tour of Melk Abbey, cool off on one of the sandy beaches along the Danube
• Extras: can be combined with a boat or barge trip on the Danube

From the wine country on the Danube to Mariazell, the Traisen Valley Cycleway accompanies the Traisen river from the wide valley floor to an alpine world with a history of pilgrimage.

• Route character: around 107 km from the Danube valley via St. Pölten and Lilienfeld to Mariazell, mostly flat
• Highlights: Traisental wine country, St. Pölten old town, Lilienfeld Abbey, Mariazell Basilica
• Views: gentle hilly landscape, views towards Ötscher and Annaberg, peaceful riverbanks

Thaya Circular Cycleway (Thayarunde)

The Thaya Circular Cycleway stands for peaceful cycling along railway lines in the Waldviertel: old railway lines, flat routes, small towns and lots of river scenery in the border region with the Czech Republic.

• Route character: circular route of approx. 115 km, largely asphalted paths, very gentle inclines
• Experiences: castles and city walls, picnic areas and bathing spots along the Thaya
• Insider tip: particularly atmospheric at the dawn and dusk – long light moods, hardly any traffic

In the "Biedermeier Valley", the Piesting Valley Cycleway follows the Piesting river from the Vienna Basin to the Gutenstein Alps - accompanied by literary history, rock faces and shady riparian forests.

• Route character: flat, continuously asphalted cycle path to Gutenstein, with a 15 per cent incline from there to Rohr im Gebirge, especially for sporty cyclists
• Event tip: Raimundspiele festival in Gutenstein (annually in the summer months)
• Refreshment tip: Gasthaus Myrastubn by the thundering Myra Falls

Ybbs Valley Cycleway (Ybbstalradweg)

From the Danube valley to Lake Lunz, the Ybbs Valley Cycleway combines gentle hills full of cider pear trees with alpine landscapes, former railway lines and crystal-clear bathing spots along the Ybbs.

• Route character: around 109 km from Ybbs an der Donau to Lunz am See, the centrepiece is disused railway line between Waidhofen and Lunz
• Views: bridges and tunnels of the old railway, gravel banks as bathing and photo spots, connection to the Iron Road
• Extras: Extras: bicycle hitchhiker’s bus and bicycle taxis for easier arrival/departure, can be easily combined with the Erlauf Valley Cycleway

Erlauf Valley Cycleway (Erlauftalradweg)

The Erlauf Valley Cycleway leads from the Danube into a quiet river valley with gorges, tranquil villages and views of the Ötscher. Like the Ybbs Valley Cycleway, it ends at Lake Lunz.

• Route character: around 60 km from Pöchlarn on the Danube to Lake Lunz, mostly close to the river, some climbs
• Highlight: stop for a hike through the Erlauf Gorge near Purgstall
• Recommended: can be planned together with the Ybbs Valley Cycleway as a circular tour through the Mostviertel region

Between the Thermenregion Vienna Woods and Mostviertel, the Triesting-Gölsen Valley Cycleway follows two rivers from the plain into a pre-alpine landscape - with many connections to other cycle paths.

• Route character: around 60 km from Leobersdorf to St. Veit an der Gölsen or Traisen, slightly hilly
• Experiences: stop at the Araburg, one of the highest castle ruins in Lower Austria
• Insider tip: can be combined with the Thermal Springs, Danube and Traisen Valley Cycleway on the Vienna Woods circular cycle route for a multi-day tour along the water.

Kamp-Thaya-March Cycleway

The Kamp-Thaya-March Cycleway combines the Danube, the Kamp Valley, the Waldviertel, the Weinviertel and the Marchauen nature reserve into one big river tour with city walls, wine cellar lanes and meadow landscapes.

• Route character: around 426 km multi-day tour along the Kamp, Thaya and March rivers, mixture of sections of river and hilly countryside
• Highlights: wine villages in the Kamp Valley,, Thayatal National Park, Weinviertel wine cellar lanes, meadow landscape around Marchegg
• Views: vineyard hills and granite formations, river bends in the border region, good opportunities for birdwatching