Which river cycling routes are particularly suitable for beginners and leisure cyclists?

The Danube cycle path (sections in the Wachau), the Traisental cycle route between Traismauer and Lilienfeld, the Piestingtal cycle route, the railway line sections of the Thayarunde and the heart of the Ybbstal cycle route between Waidhofen/Ybbs and Lunz am See are particularly suitable. These sections are predominantly flat, well signposted and mostly run on dedicated cycle paths.

When is the best time for river cycling in Lower Austria?

The main season usually runs from April to October. Spring and autumn offer pleasant temperatures and intense colours - such as the fruit blossom in the Mostviertel or the grape harvest in the Wachau, the Kamptal and Weinviertel. In midsummer, stages with bathing spots on the Danube, Ybbs, Erlauf or Thaya are particularly attractive.

How does travelling by public transport work?

Many starting points are located on railway lines: for example Melk and Krems on the Danube cycle path, St. Pölten, Traismauer and Lilienfeld on the Traisental cycle route, Sollenau and Wiener Neustadt for the Piestingtal cycle route and Waidhofen/Ybbs on the Ybbstal cycle route. Along the Danube cycle path, you can also use the Wachau railway to get there and back, and on the Ybbstal cycle path, the Radtramper bus and the bike taxi take cyclists between Waidhofen/Ybbs and Lunz am See to the desired point. If you cycle along the Traisental cycle route to Mariazell, you can take the Mariazell railway back to St. Pölten from there. The respective detailed pages for the individual cycle routes provide information on railway stations, bike transport and availability of (seasonal) shuttle services.

Can several river cycling routes be combined into longer journeys?

Yes, several routes can be explicitly combined. A classic is the Mostviertel "river circuit" consisting of the Erlauftal and Ybbstal cycle paths. The Triesting-Gölsental cycle route links up with the Thermen cycle path and the Traisental cycle route, the Kamptal cycle route connects the Kamptal with the Thaya and March landscapes and can be combined with the Danube cycle route Südufer and Danube cycle route Nordufer.

What equipment is useful for river cycling?

We recommend a bike or e-bike suitable for touring, a helmet, weatherproof and breathable clothing, rain and sun protection, sufficient water and a small repair kit with a spare inner tube. It is also worth taking swimwear with you. For multi-day tours, bike bags, a light change of clothes, charging cables and possibly an analogue map are helpful. Many regions offer e-bike hire and service points, but it is still worth carrying out a brief technical check before each tour.

The most beautiful riverside cycling routes

Along the river through the countryside

In Lower Austria, rivers are often the quiet guiding lines of the landscape. They connect wine villages, historic towns, valleys and protected areas, forming ideal corridors for cycling.

©© Niederösterreich Werbung/Gerald Demolsky

Danube Cycle Path

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

Worth knowing: 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: Combination with a boat or barge trip on the Danube

Traisental Cycle Path

From the Weinland on the Danube to Mariazell, the Traisental cycle route 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

Thayarunde Cycle Path

The Thayarunde stands for quiet railway line cycling 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 gradients
Experiences: Castles and city walls, picnic areas and bathing spots along the Thaya
Insider tip: Particularly harmonious at the end of the day - long light moods, hardly any traffic

Piestingtal Cycle Path

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

Route character: Flat, continuously asphalted cycle path to Gutenstein, from there to Rohr im Gebirge with a 15 per cent gradient, especially for sporty cyclists
Event tip: Raimund Games in Gutenstein (annually in the summer months)
Refreshment tip: Myrastubn by the thundering Myrafälle

Ybbstal Cycle Route

From the Danube valley to Lake Lunz, the Ybbstal cycle path 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, centrepiece on disused railway line between Waidhofen and Lunz
Perspectives: Bridges and tunnels of the old railway, gravel banks as swimming and photo spots, transition to the Iron Road
Extras: Cycle hitchhiker bus and cycle taxis for easier arrival/departure, can be easily combined with the Erlauftal cycle path

Erlauftal Cycle Route

The Erlauftal cycle path leads from the Danube into a quiet river valley with gorges, tranquil villages and views of the Ötscher. Like the Ybbstal cycle path, 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: Stopover for a hike through the Erlauf gorge near Purgstall
Recommended: Can be planned together with the Ybbstal cycle path as a circular tour through the Mostviertel region

Triesting-Gölsental Cycle Path

Between the Thermenregion Vienna Woods and Mostviertel, the Triesting-Gölsental cycle path follows two rivers from the plain into a pre-alpine landscape - with many transitions to other cycle paths.

Route character: Around 60 km from Leobersdorf to St. Veit an der Gölsen or Traisen, slightly hilly
Experiences: Stopover at the Araburg, one of the highest castle ruins in Lower Austria
Insider tip: Can be combined with the Thermen, Danube and Traisental cycle route on the Vienna Woods cycle tour for a multi-day tour along the water.

Kamp-Thaya-March Cycle Route

The Kamp-Thaya-March cycle route combines the Danube, the Kamptal, Waldviertel, Weinviertel and the Marchauen 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, mixture of river passages and hilly countryside
Highlights: Wine villages in the Kamptal, Thayatal National Park, Weinviertel wine cellar lanes, floodplain landscape around Marchegg
Prospects: Vineyard hills and granite formations, river bends in the border region, good opportunities for birdwatching

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about river cycling routes in Lower Austria

Many starting points are located on railway lines: for example Melk and Krems on the Danube cycle path, St. Pölten, Traismauer and Lilienfeld on the Traisental cycle route, Sollenau and Wiener Neustadt for the Piestingtal cycle route and Waidhofen/Ybbs on the Ybbstal cycle route. Along the Danube cycle path, you can also use the Wachau railway to get there and back, and on the Ybbstal cycle path, the Radtramper bus and the bike taxi take cyclists between Waidhofen/Ybbs and Lunz am See to the desired point. If you cycle along the Traisental cycle route to Mariazell, you can take the Mariazell railway back to St. Pölten from there. The respective detailed pages for the individual cycle routes provide information on railway stations, bike transport and availability of (seasonal) shuttle services.
Yes, several routes can be explicitly combined. A classic is the Mostviertel "river circuit" consisting of the Erlauftal and Ybbstal cycle paths. The Triesting-Gölsental cycle route links up with the Thermen cycle path and the Traisental cycle route, the Kamptal cycle route connects the Kamptal with the Thaya and March landscapes and can be combined with the Danube cycle route Südufer and Danube cycle route Nordufer.
We recommend a bike or e-bike suitable for touring, a helmet, weatherproof and breathable clothing, rain and sun protection, sufficient water and a small repair kit with a spare inner tube. It is also worth taking swimwear with you.
For multi-day tours, bike bags, a light change of clothes, charging cables and possibly an analogue map are helpful. Many regions offer e-bike hire and service points, but it is still worth carrying out a brief technical check before each tour.

The most beautiful riverside cycling routes

Along the river through the countryside

Danube Cycle Path

Recommended period

Traisental Cycle Path

Recommended period

Thayarunde Cycle Path

Piestingtal Cycle Path

Recommended period

Ybbstal Cycle Route

Recommended period

Erlauftal Cycle Route

Recommended period

Triesting-Gölsental Cycle Path

Recommended period

Kamp-Thaya-March Cycle Route

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about river cycling routes in Lower Austria

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