Vienna to Budapest

Visit three countries on one cycling holiday!

Three countries, one bike ride and all along the Danube Cycle Path! The cycle route from Vienna to Slovakia and Hungary is quiet and idyllic. The untouched nature and breathtaking culture along the Danube Cycle Path make for an adventurous bike ride! Cycling from one highlight to another, the charm of each region is felt.

Along the way to Budapest, you'll have the chance to explore three capital cities including Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, with its impressive medieval castle and charming old town. The route will also take you through picturesque towns like GyÅ‘r, known for its baroque architecture, and the charming town of Szentendre, famous for its art galleries and traditional Hungarian crafts.

Details about the bike tour from Vienna to Budapest

Starting from the Austrian capital, the Vienna to Budapest cycle tour goes between the Donau-Auen National Park towards Bratislava. Along the way, you will pass the species-rich flora and fauna and encounter a variety of landscapes. Via Mosonmagyaróvár and Györ it goes from Komáron to Visegrád. The destination Budapest is now getting closer and closer. When you arrive in the Hungarian capital, you can relax knowing that you have completed one of Europe's iconic city-to-city cycle routes.

The highlights of the cycling holiday at a glance

  • Vienna: A Sachertorte in a traditional Viennese coffee house, an enchanting Fiaker tour through the streets of Vienna and a walk through the city to St. Stephen's Cathedral.

  • The city of 17 bridges: On two wheels through the natural paradise of the small Schüttinsel. Take a short break in the pretty town of Mosonmagyaróvár on a stroll through the town.

  • Esztergom: You cycle between vineyards and picturesque villages towards the "Hungarian Rome". The basilica built there is considered the largest church in Hungary.

Things worth knowing about the bike tour from Vienna to Budapest

You will cycle on the cycle paths of this three-country trip for eight days in total. This bike tour covers 320 kilometres, covering between 40 and 70 kilometres per day. The route is mainly on flat and well-marked trails. Do you need a short break? You can put your feet up and relax on the boat trip from Visegrád to Budapest!

This tour has been graded as Easy. Find out more about our cycling holiday difficulty levels.

Read a detailed day-by-day tour report of the Vienna to Budapest cycle tour on our Active on Holiday blog.

Tour information
Easy
  • 8 Days / 7 Nights
  • Self-Guided
  • Luggage transfers included
  • Total cycling distance: approx. 320 km
Active on Holiday Team
+44 1706 618 155 Contact
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Itinerary

Early arrival in Vienna is recommended. The metropolis on the Danube has a lot to offer and is worth a longer stay. Enjoy a cup of coffee and a delicious Sachertorte in one of the many coffee houses or treat yourself to a tour in the famous and romantic horse carriages.

The first part of your cycling tour takes you through the Donau-Auen National Park. You will encounter species-rich flora and fauna, as well as diverse landscape forms. Past Schloss Orth and Eckartsau, you quickly reach Bad Altenburg, from where you can take a trip on the Römerweg to Carnuntum. The archaeological park is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in Austria. After Hainburg, you cross the border into Slovakia and the capital Bratislava is your next overnight stop.

ca. 70 km

Just a short stage today in the Slovakian territory before crossing the Hungarian border at Rajká. On the first kilometres in Hungary, you will cycle through beautiful small villages. The entire part is agricultural. Your bike ride takes you through the so-called Szigetköz, the small 'Schüttinsel'. This section is characterized by numerous branches of the Danube and the enormous floodplains. Today's stage destination is the beautiful city of Mosonmagyaróvár, also known as the City of 17 Bridges.

ca. 45 km

Today you will cycle through the natural paradise of the small Schüttinsel. On the way, you pass Hédervár, ideal for your lunch break. The enormous castle is located in the middle of a protected park. You should plan enough time for a visit to Györ. The capital of the province has many sights and is a breathtaking baroque old town.

ca. 40 km

You will soon reach the Hungarian town of Böny today. From there, a route variant leads you to Bábolna, a very well-maintained town with a beautiful city centre. Known far beyond the borders is the local national horse breeding. The last part of your stage will take you back to the Danube before reaching the divided city of Komárom / Komárno. The border between Hungary and Slovakia runs across the Komarom Bridge in the middle. In the evening you can relax in the thermal bath.

ca. 55 km

Today you will pass several villages and see the vineyards in the background. The sporty cyclist can cycle a variant via Tata, which, however, contains some slopes and therefore requires some fitness. However, the absolute highlight is your final destination today Esztergom, also known as "Hungarian Rome". The basilica is the largest church in Hungary. You will spend the last kilometres of the stage on a Danube ship from which you can admire the surrounding landscape in a relaxed way. The so-called "Danube bend" is considered one of the most beautiful parts of your bike ride. (Note: in April, September and October, as well as on Mondays, boat trips are not possible; you will receive a train ticket instead).

ca. 55 km
Boat from Esztergom to Visegrád

The Royal Palace and the Castle of Visegrád will amaze you and the open-air museum and the baroque centre of Szentendre invite you to linger. And then you reach Budapest, the crowning glory of this bike tour, where you can absorb the many impressions of this wonderful bike ride in the evening during a pleasant walk through the city.

ca. 55 km

There is much to discover in the Hungarian capital. We are happy to book an extension for you. Very handy is our return transfer, which you can book on Sundays for an extra fee.

Route information

The cycling tour leads over cycle paths, rural roads and partly over car-free service roads. More traffic-rich routes are usually short-lived. Only on three short stretches, you will cycle on unpaved roads, otherwise, you will only encounter paved roads. The route is generally very well signposted, with some exceptions in the Slovak part. A generally relatively easy bike ride, with only slight inclines during some stages.

Prices and dates

Prices are per person in GBP and exclude flights


Complete a Booking Request: Vienna to Budapest

Make an enquiry about 2024 arrival dates and prices for this tour

Place of arrival: Vienna
  Season 1
01.04.2023 - 13.04.2023
30.09.2023 - 07.10.2023

Saturday
Season 2
14.04.2023 - 31.05.2023
01.09.2023 - 29.09.2023

Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Season 3
01.06.2023 - 31.08.2023

Daily
Vienna - Budapest, 8 days, Cat. B, AT-WIRWB-08B
Base price
699.00
789.00
849.00
Half board 129.00 129.00 129.00
Single room surcharge 259.00 259.00 259.00
Vienna to Budapest, 8 days, Cat. A, AT-WIRWB-08A
Base price
809.00
899.00
959.00
Half board 159.00 159.00 159.00
Single room surcharge 389.00 389.00 389.00
  • Category A: You will stay in carefully selected 4**** hotels
  • Category B: You stay in carefully selected 3*** hotels, gasthöfe or guesthouses
Season 1
Apr 1, 2023 - Apr 13, 2023
Sep 30, 2023 - Oct 7, 2023
Saturday
Season 2
Apr 14, 2023 - May 31, 2023
Sep 1, 2023 - Sep 29, 2023
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Season 3
Jun 1, 2023 - Aug 31, 2023
Daily
Vienna - Budapest, 8 days, Cat. B, AT-WIRWB-08B
Base price
Half board
Single room surcharge
Vienna to Budapest, 8 days, Cat. A, AT-WIRWB-08A
Base price
Half board
Single room surcharge
699.00
129.00
259.00
809.00
159.00
389.00
789.00
129.00
259.00
899.00
159.00
389.00
849.00
129.00
259.00
959.00
159.00
389.00
  • Category A: You will stay in carefully selected 4**** hotels
  • Category B: You stay in carefully selected 3*** hotels, gasthöfe or guesthouses
Season 1
Apr 1, 2023 - Apr 13, 2023
Sep 30, 2023 - Oct 7, 2023
Season 2
Apr 14, 2023 - May 31, 2023
Sep 1, 2023 - Sep 29, 2023
Season 3
Jun 1, 2023 - Aug 31, 2023
Vienna
Double room p.p. Cat. B
Single room surcharge
Budapest
Double room p.p. Cat. B
Single room surcharge
Vienna
Double room p.p. Cat. A
Single room surcharge
Budapest
Double room p.p. Cat. A
Single room surcharge
69.00
46.00
69.00
56.00
79.00
50.00
85.00
70.00
69.00
46.00
69.00
56.00
79.00
50.00
85.00
70.00
69.00
46.00
69.00
56.00
79.00
50.00
85.00
70.00
Additional nights
Place of arrival: Vienna
  Season 1
Apr 1, 2023 - Apr 13, 2023
Sep 30, 2023 - Oct 7, 2023

Saturday
Season 2
Apr 14, 2023 - May 31, 2023
Sep 1, 2023 - Sep 29, 2023

Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Season 3
Jun 1, 2023 - Aug 31, 2023

Daily
Vienna
Double room p.p. Cat. B 69.00 69.00 69.00
Single room surcharge 46.00 46.00 46.00
Budapest
Double room p.p. Cat. B 69.00 69.00 69.00
Single room surcharge 56.00 56.00 56.00
Vienna
Double room p.p. Cat. A 79.00 79.00 79.00
Single room surcharge 50.00 50.00 50.00
Budapest
Double room p.p. Cat. A 85.00 85.00 85.00
Single room surcharge 70.00 70.00 70.00
Filter
7-Speed Unisex Bike
21-Speed Unisex Bike
Unisex E-Bike
27-Speed Bike PLUS
21-Speed Men's Bike
99.00
99.00
239.00
159.00
99.00
Prices per person in GBP

Our rental bikes

Services / Information

Services

Including

  • 7 nights in the chosen category, including breakfast
  • Boat trip Esztergom-Visegrád or Szentendre-Budapest; incl. bicycle (probably every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from the beginning of May to the end of September; outside this time or on other weekdays there is a train ticket as a substitute)
  • Personal welcome meeting (German, English)
  • Luggage transfer(s) max. 1 piece of luggage 20 kg per person
  • Travel folder 1x per room (German, English with route and overview maps, detailed route description, places of interest, important telephone numbers, luggage labels)
  • GPS data available on request
  • Service Hotline

Not included

  • Tourist tax, if applicable, to be paid locally
  • (Optional) Return transfer by minibus to Vienna every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, daily in season 3, departure 3 pm, journey time 3.5 hours. Costs €75 per person, surcharge own bike €29 per bike. Reservation required in advance
Arrival information
  • Train: Vienna Station
  • Airport: Vienna, Bratislava or Budapest
  • Parking: Free public parking near the hotel. Public garage approx. €20 per week, no reservation possible, payable locally. Parking directly at the hotel is about €25 per day, no reservation possible, to be paid on site
General information
  • Half board: 5x Dinner in the hotel restaurant or in a restaurant in the immediate vicinity with a voucher. Only breakfast in Vienna and Budapest
  • In Slovakia a bicycle helmet is mandatory outside built-up areas, for cyclists younger than 15 years this is also mandatory within built-up areas.

Why book with Active on Holiday?