Danube Cycle Path: Vienna To Budapest Guide & Itinerary
Pedalling from Vienna to Budapest along the Danube Cycle Path is a truly classic ride linking two historic cities. Starting from Vienna, which requires little introduction, you’ll follow the Danube River through gorgeous scenery. You’ll pass through Slovakia’s pretty capital of Bratislava, the lovely town of Gyƶr, the scenic Danube Bend, and so much more, before finishing up in Budapest.
That’s 3 countries and 3 capital cities!
The Danube Cycle Path from Vienna to Budapest is 289 kilometres long (180 miles), and takes the average person 6/7 days to complete. There is plenty to see along the route, so be sure to take it slow and allow time for sightseeing.
Get your GPX file: Download a Vienna to Budapest GPX track here.
Danube Cycle Path: Vienna to Budapest Route & Itinerary
Most online itineraries suggest taking 6/7 days to cycle from Vienna to Budapest. I think this is a good length of time, as it allows you to sight-see and have enough time after cycling each day to enjoy your surroundings. With this in mind, I have come up with an ideal 7 day itinerary for cycling Vienna to Budapest.
Day 1: Vienna to Bad Deutsch Altenburg
Day 2: Bad Deutsch Altenburg to Bratislava
Day 3: Bratislava to MosonmagyarĆ³vĆ”r
Day 4: MosonmagyarĆ³vĆ”r to Gyƶr
Day 5: Gyƶr to KomƔrom
Day 6: KomƔrom to the Danube Bend
Day 7: The Danube Bend to Budapest
That being said, this Vienna to Budapest cycling itinerary is just a guide; you can obviously cycle as much or as little as you like each day, or take a rest day to explore somewhere that interests you.
It is definitely possible to cycle this route in 4/5 days if you’re an experienced cyclist. This is what I did, however, I completed the route as part of a 3-month tour from London to Istanbul, so I was covering long distances each day. 6/7 days is much better if you’re looking for a leisurely cycling holiday with sightseeing.
Day 1: Vienna to Bad Deutsch Altenburg (42km)
Your bicycle tour will kick off from Austria’s historic capital city of Vienna. You’ll cycle out of the city and into the verdant National Park Donauanem, which you’ll ride through for most of today’s ride.
Spend the night in Bad Deutsch Altenburg, a Roman spa village. I recommend taking a tour around the Archaeological Park of Carnuntum once you arrive.
Day 2: Bad Deutsch Altenburg to Bratislava (26km)
Today’s ride will take you from Bad Deutsch Altenburg to Slovakia’s capital city, Bratislava.
Bratislava is comprised of a mix-match of gothic, baroque and communist architecture, so its a very interesting place to explore. Fortunately, most of the main sights in Bratislava are located in the pedestrian-only, 18-century Old Town, making it easy to see lots in a short space of time.
I recommend heading into Bratislava’s Old Town after your day of cycling to explore and dine on halushky, a traditional Slovak dish.
Day 3: Bratislava to MosonmagyarĆ³vĆ”r (44km)
From Bratislava, find your way out of the city and back onto the Danube cycle path. You’ll only cycle for a short distance before crossing into Hungary – already your third country of this bike tour!
Day 4: MosonmagyarĆ³vĆ”r to Gyƶr (41km)
Today will be another scenic day of cycling before you reach Gyƶr. I really loved Gyƶr, so I’d advise setting out early so that you can reach the town by mid-afternoon and have plenty of time to explore. It’s the district capital and has a breath-taking historic centre with a few sights and lots of great places to eat.
Day 5: Gyƶr to KomƔrom/KomƔrno (57km)
Tonight, you’ll arrive at the divided town of KomĆ”rom/KomĆ”rno. The former is on the Hungarian side of the Danube, while the latter is on the Slovak side. There’s a bridge you can use to cross between sides. I chose to stay on the Slovak side in KomĆ”rno, but the choice is yours.
Either way, you should definitely check KormĆ”no out as it’s quite a pretty place. There are some beautiful buildings along the main pedestrian streets and The Courtyard of Europe is spectacular.
Day 6: KomƔrom to the Danube Bend (52km)
Today’s route is pretty flat, running along the Danube Valley. You’ll pass a few farming villages, where time seems to have stood still, and will be able to see some scenic vineyards in the background. If you’re interested in history, you may want to allow time to visit the Roman Fort of Kelemantia, which is on route.
You should definitely allow time to explore the 13-century city of Esztergom, which is commonly referred to as Hungarian Rome. It’s easy to see why this is, as its picturesque town is packed with historic attractions, including the largest basilica in the country.
From Esztergom, you’ll cycle along a woodland path right by the river, where the views are sensational. I stopped many times to walk down to the shore, relax by the water and take in the scenery.
The magnificent Danube Bend is located just past Esztergom. Its one of the most beautiful sections of the Danube, where the river winds through the mountains and then makes an abrupt turn south between Esztergom and Szentendre.
Day 7: The Danube Bend to Budapest (62km)
About 15km into today’s ride, you’ll reach the town of VĆ”c. Once at VĆ”c, you’ll need to catch a ferry across to the other side of the river, where the bike path continues.
Soon after coming off the ferry, you’ll cycle along the Danube Bend, where the river winds through the VisegrĆ”d mountains. This is easily one of the most beautiful sections of the Danube cycle path, and the gorgeous scenery will continue all the way to Budapest.
Tips and helpful advice on cycling Vienna to Budapest
From navigation to accommodation options, here is everything you’ll need to know to help you on your way.
Navigating the Danube cycle paths
The Danube cycle path is incredibly well sign-posted and easy to navigate, so it’s quite difficult to get lost.
The route from Vienna to Budapest is 80% on cycle paths and 20% on roads, but the roads are mostly quiet, with some busier points when entering and leaving the cities. It’s also almost entirely flat, so I would grade the route as easy.
The Danube Cycle Path between Vienna and Budapest uses the EuroVelo 6, which is a long-distance cycling route that spans across Europe. As such, you can simply look out for the EuroVelo 6 logo on signposts and follow these.
Accommodation options on the Danube Cycle Path
As this is a very popular cycling route, there are plenty of options for accommodation. You can either camp or stay in hotels, depending on the level of comfort you prefer and/or your budget.
I personally camped along the route and can highly recommend Gyƶr CityCamping in particular. There were lots of other cycle tourists here so it had a nice community atmosphere. Myself and 4 other cyclists went out for dinner together after meeting here and had a lovely time.
Not sure about arranging it all yourself?
The Danube Cycle Path from Vienna to Budapest is a really great choice for beginner cycle tourists. The route is easy to follow and there are lots of accommodation options, bike shops and things to see. You will have no problems completing this route independently. That being said, if you would prefer the luxury and comfort of booking with a company, Freedom Treks and Macs Adventure are two great options.
Both the trips from Freedom Treks and Macs Adventure that I’ve linked to above are “self-guided” cycling holidays. This means that the company will provide you with a bike if needed, transfer your luggage each day, book all your accommodation for you and provide all the maps you’ll need. You will not be led along the trail each day by a guide, but rather will follow the provided route and itinerary in your own time. This is ideal for cyclists who aren’t too sure about embarking on their first cycle tour completely unaided but do want a bit of freedom.
If you’re looking to extend your trip, why not consider cycling from Passau to Vienna first, before continuing onto Budapest?
About The Author
Lauren Pears is a freelance travel writer and blogger based in London. She writes about active adventure travel, aiming to encourage and inspire travellers to make the most of the great outdoors.
Thank you for reading! If you found this post useful, I’d be grateful if you would consider using the affiliate links below when planning your travels. I’ll make a small commission atĀ no extra cost to you.Ā This will help me to keep this blog running. Thanks for your support – Lauren.
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Really enjoyed reading about your experience. I am planning to do this cycle next June. Did you use your own bike or hire. Is it possible to hire bike in Vienna to go all the way to Budapest and drop off bike rentals there at end of journey. Eileen
Thanks Eileen, glad you enjoyed the read. I used my own bike as I cycled from London to Istanbul, but there are lots of hire places in Vienna. This website allows you to hire in Vienna and drop off in Budapest: https://www.viennaexplorer.com/tours/danube-bike-trail-vienna-to-budapest/
We leave this Thursday for our self-directed trip and we have been working with Vienna Explorer. They have been communicative and welcoming. Canāt wait.
Hi Lauren
I’m doing this trip in September. I’m just finishing chemo treatment and I’m a little more tired than usual. I’m assuming this trip is pretty easy. Are there hilly sections or any difficult days?
Hi Carrie, I found the trip to be easy – there isn’t much in the way of hills. Hope this helps and enjoy your ride š
Hi Lauren,
Thank you very much for sharing your experience on this route! I decided to also do it and I would have a question. I’m starting my trip on a Monday morning and hoping to reach Budapest on Saturday, would you mind recommending where I should do my stops?
Cheers,
AndrƩ
Hi Andre, I hope you have a fantastic time! For your 6 day trip, you could do the following:
Day 1: Vienna to Bratislava
Day 2: Bratislava to MosonmagyarĆ³vĆ”r
Day 3: MosonmagyarĆ³vĆ”r to Gyƶr
Day 4: Gyƶr to KomƔrom
Day 5: KomƔrom to the Danube Bend
Day 6: The Danube Bend to Budapest
Hi Lauren loved your article I’m sorry but question is very similar , is the trip doable in 5 days? Shame to rush it but the only time I have !
Thankyou
Hi Deirdre,
Yes, definitely doable in 5 days – I spent 5 days actually cycling, and then a day exploring Bratislava and a day exploring Gyor. If you don’t plan to spend time looking at these cities then you can just complete the trip in 5 days of cycling.
This is how my cycling days looked:
Day 1: Vienna to Bratislava
Day 2: Bratislava to Gyƶr
Day 3: Gyƶr to KomƔrom
Day 4: KomƔrom to the Danube Bend
Day 5: The Danube Bend to Budapest
Thanlkyou so much. Doing my first solo cycle , slightly concerned that the signage in Hungary will be unclear and I’ll end up goodness knows where ! Any tips ?
Hi Lauren sorry to be back with another question I start my trip next Saturday 21st, still a bit concerned about the route, on hindsight think the Passau -Vienna might have been easier!
Your suggested route go south of the Danube after Bratislava, through Mosonmagyarovar and Gyor whereas the velo6 route seems to follow north Danube route. I have booked accommodation in M.. and G…but concerned the signage will not be in place to help me find them!
Does the velo 6 go north and south Danube and is there signage?
Thankyou
Deirdre
Hi I am planning to do this holiday but I don’t want to be on my own, is there any guided tours between Vienna and budapest?
Hi Shatha, unfortunately, while there are many self-guided cycling tours between Vienna and Budapest, there are not many guided ones. I did find one company that offers this ride as a guided tour, though: https://lovevelo.co.uk/hungary/guided-vienna-to-budapest-cycling-holiday/ I hope it helps!
Hi there,
Iāve seen it said by a few people that the section between Gyor and Komarom is difficult to navigate because of the condition of the cyclepaths and scarcity of signs. Indeed I noted that one tour company used the train between these two places, perhaps for the reasons I suggested. What is your experience and feedback from others. Many thanks
Hi Roy! Yes, from Gyor to Komarom doesn’t have the best waymarking or the best paths. That being said, I used an app for navigation and this meant I stayed on the correct path. If you rely on signs alone it’ll definitely be a bit of a struggle here.
Hi Roy,
We have cycled from Gyor to Kormoron today and I can confirm that there is a brand new cycle path for the last 13km, which from what Iāve read wasnāt there before and was difficult to pass.
Hope that helps.
This is super helpful. If you had to choose ā would you do Passau to Vienna or Vienna to Budapest. We only have a week to cycle and canāt decide between the two!
Thanks Al, I’m glad it was helpful! Gosh that’s a tough question though. I would say Passau to Vienna is busier (if this is something that would affect your decision) but I also think I enjoyed it slightly more. If I were to do one again I’d pick Passau to Vienna! The Wachau Valley and all the little Austrian towns were lovely and I also really liked Linz.
Hi Lauren,
Thanks so much for this detailed blog! Hoping to travel this route next month. Quick question: did you have to take a ferry after Esztergom to Szob? If not, were you cycling on the north/Slovakia side of the river all the way to Vac?
Thanks again,
Jorda
Hi Jordan! I cycled from Esztergom to Vac on the Hungarian side of the river – there is a cycle path there. And a rather beautiful one at that! I took the ferry at Vac to cross the river to where the bike path picked up again.
Thanks for the detailed info. You said you did the route in 4 days of cycling. I too am an experienced cyclist, and I’d like to leave Vienna Sunday morning and arrive in Budapest by Wednesday afternoon. Can it be done? What would be the most appropriate places, distance-wise and tourist-wise, to stop for the nights along the way?
Hi Brian, yes it could be done in 4 days. I cycled it in 4.5 days, which looked like this:
– Vienna to Bratislava (80km)
– Bratislava to Gyor (84km)
– Gyor to Sutto (65km)
– Sutto to Szentendre (72km)
– Szentendre to Budapest (22km)
Bratislava, Gyor and Esztergom are the best places to stay along the route, in my opinion, as they are cities/large towns with places to stay and eat etc. This might be a good route for you, although you’d have to set off early to reach Budapest by the afternoon:
– Vienna to Bratislava (80km)
– Bratislava to Gyor (84km)
– Gyor to Esztergom (98km)
– Esztergom to Budapest (75km)
Hope this helps š
Hey Lauren, thank you for the detailed post! Iāll be doing this trip shortly and this has helped me a lot š
Just one question. From Esztergom to Budapest, would you follow the Donauweg (thru Visegrad & VƔc) or would you cut down directly to Budapest through the fields?
Thank you in advance.
Sam
Hi, thanks for this blog. I am planning on running from Bratislava to Vienna along the cyclepath. I will start carrying 1 litre of water but will need to refill. Are there places along that section I could get water? Thanks
Hi Maryo, that’ll be a great run! There are definitely some shops along the way, although not that many.
Perfect, thanks! I am doing it on Saturday I will let you know how it goes š
Thanks for sharing this great route plan but small (well not so small actually!) correction. Bratislava ā Gyor is NOT 50 km. Even at a *straight line* itās 65km!
The EuroVelo 6 route from Bratislava to Gyor is in fact about 80km.
That said, the roads were excellent so it felt like a lot less.
Hey Stephen, thank you so much for this! I think I got my miles and kilometres mixed up there. I’ve updated the post š
Hoping to cycle later this year will look at your miles each day, that look great for me and the lads.
Cheers
John
Hope you enjoy John, it’s a lovely route!
Hey.
thanks so much for this detailed account.
Quick question: if planning on sleeping ar hostel/hotel along the way, is it necessary to make reservations before or should there be enough vacancies to just find a place to sleep? Middle of may
Hi Meira,
Before COVID, I’d have said there’s no need to book in advance – I didn’t book in advance and had no issues whatsoever. I cycled this route in either June or July, can’t quite remember! That being said, I don’t want to say that there should be enough vacancies now, as I know COVID has changed things. Some hotels may now have closed or be operating with reduced vacancies. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help, but I hope you have a great trip š
Thanks! Ended up booking a day ahead mostly and also winged it komarom, it was fine. Thanks for your help . Did it with two children it was amazing!
Thanks for the update! It’s great to hear that you had an amazing time š
You’ve done so well and it’s a fantastic achievement. Well done!
Carolin | Style Lingua
Excellent story and amazing photos. And love cycling.
Excellent story and amazing photos.
Amazing, it’s fun to travel by bike and with a lot of scenic views.
Thanks for sharing.