Bike the quiet roads and gentle paths along the famous Blue Danube.

Austria, Slovakia and Hungary by bike

Our bike tour links three of the most romantic capital cities in Eastern Europe: Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, on an enchanting ride along the Danube. Pedal on gently rolling terrain through fairytale forests and rural hamlets. From castles to cathedrals, we'll see a stunning array of architectural styles. We'll enjoy a variety of food, wine, beer and culture as we bike through three countries (and currencies). We'll make our way along the river that has inspired artists and musicians for centuries and create our own Danube Dreams. The trip starts in Vienna and ends in Budapest, two gay-friendly and increasingly popular hot spots in Central Europe.

Highlights:

• Kick off your Central European tour with a night on the town in gay Vienna.
  
• Ride through fairy tale forests and lovely rolling plains through Slovakia and Hungary.
  
• Visit Pannonhalma Monastery outside Gyor, Hungary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating from the 10th century.
  
• Enjoy comfortable accommodations and tasty local cuisine at the end of each day.
  
• Follow the Danube as it winds through three countries and three capital cities.
  
• Celebrate your ride with a night in Budapest, a fun and friendly city.
  

Dates and Price:
July 4 to 11, 2009: $2,790.00: A trip for gay men & lesbians.

Prices are per-person, based on double occupancy. Tours often fill up months before departure. We regularly update our travel schedule to show the status of this and other trips.

Travelling Alone?
So are most of the people who travel with us. You do not need to pay extra to travel by yourself. Prices are per-person, and the single supplement applies only if you'd like a room by yourself.

Location: Starts in Vienna, Austria and ends in Budapest, Hungary

Price includes: Comfortable hotels or inns each night; Services of two tour guides; All breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 5 dinners with wine included at group dinners; Transportation to get luggage (and tired riders!) to destination; Use of bike; Detailed map and route suggestions.

Not included: Transportation to and from start/end points; 4 lunches; 2 dinners; Souvenirs, snacks, admissions; Gratuities for guides.

1: Vienna

Our tour starts in Vienna, a majestic city dripping with history. Hapsburgs, Viennese waltzes, architectural excess, world-class museums, white stallions, renowned orchestras and angelic choirboys are just some of the pleasures Vienna offers the world. Our group will meet in the early evening for an orientation followed by a Welcome Dinner at a popular restaurant in the gay district. For those with the energy, nightlife in Vienna is uber-fun.

2: Vienna to Bratislava, Slovakia (67 km)

After breakfast, we start our first ride of the week. It's a long cycling day, but the course is pretty flat. There are plenty of interesting things to see along the way: the famous Prater Park of Vienna, with its iconic Reisenrad Ferris Wheel; the lovely, critter-filled marshes of the Lobau, with a nature center/museum just off the route; a massive medieval castle (Schloss Orth); kitchified Roman ruins at Carnuntum; the lovely little town of Hainburg, with its imposing Vienna Gate, and delicious ice cream eating opportunities; and Devin, the most famous castle in Slovakia and a short ferry ride from Hainburg (or a leisurely pedal from Bratislava). Bratislava is a delightful town right on the banks of the Danube with a fabulous castle looming over it. Our accommodations for the night are a bit bohemian to keep us in the Slovakian spirit. We will be staying at one of the quaint "botels," right on the river. These comfortable and quiet hotels on the river are ideally situated for arrival by bike while avoiding the hassles of loading bikes onto vans or negotiating traffic. Tonight we feast on native Slovakian food.

3-4: Bratislava to Gyor, Hungary (78 km)

From Bratislava to Gyor, our route rolls gently through Hungarian villages and towns (after crossing the border near Rajka). This region is known in Hungarian as the Szigetkoz, meaning "thousand islands." We can stop for lunch in the adorable little town of Moson-Magyarovar. Nearby, the small village of Lipot (on the route) offers thermal baths. From Dunaszeg, cyclists have the option of continuing along the main road into Gyor, or following the meandering Mosoni Duna ("Little Danube") along an idyllic causeway.

Gyor is impressive, with lots of magnificent Baroque buildings, an extensive pedestrian zone, and a lovely little place to stay on an island right in the middle of town. This will be our home for two nights. Gyor (pronounced jyeur) sits midway between Vienna and Budapest and is at the confluence of the Danube, Rabca and Raba Rivers. It was an ancient Roman city and was made a bishopric (Catholic center) in the 11th century. In the 16th century a fortress was established to hold back the Turks.

On our second day in Gyor tired riders can take a break and wander the city, but we recommend a fantastic loop option that takes in Pannonhalma Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a world-famous library. The complex of buildings at the site dates from the 13th to the 18th centuries. Highlights include the Romanesque Basilica (1225), Gothic Cloister (1485), and the impressive library with many ancient texts. This is a working monastery and our visit will include an official guide. Tonight you can choose from a variety of restaurants and don’t forget to try the local lagers.

5: Gyor to Tata (61 km)

Today's ride undulates gently across the western part of Hungary's Kisalfold (the Little Plain), through typical villages. Midway through the ride is Babolna, home to the National Stud Farm, with horsy attractions, including a horse museum. We'll stop for lunch and if there's time we'll check out the zoo or a botanical garden. Then it's on to Tata, a lovely place, on the shores of Old Lake. There's an atmospheric old castle, a royal residence of the Esterhazy family, and a short pedal away are the archeological excavations at Vertesszolos, home of Europe's oldest footprint and some interesting displays. Tonight we'll enjoy dinner overlooking the lake.

6: Tata to Visegrad (78 km with hills)

After several days of nearly pancake flat riding, the early section of today's route has most of the hills we'll see all week. Our route rolls vigorously through forests, farmland and vineyards, along delightfully traffic-free roads. We pass through the picturesque hamlets of Tarjan and Bajna before reaching the Danube again at Tat.

Just a little farther is Esztergom, "Hungary's Rome," and center for the country's Catholic Church since the 11th century. This fact is evidenced by the enormous basilica, where all the kings of Hungary were crowned, looming over the banks of the Danube. Climbing up to the dome is a must, and the old part of town along the riverfront is worth a wander.

Today's last 20 km is along the river, at the base of some bluffs, to the city of Visegrad. We should reach our hotel in time to check out the city and relax before the final ride tomorrow into Budapest.

7: Visegrad to Budapest (50 km)

Today is a great day of riding and sight-seeing, though the excitement of reaching the capital may pull us along. Just past Visegrad is the famously scenic and historic Danube Bend, where the river makes a sharp right turn towards Budapest.

We will start the day with a hike up to Visegrad castle, then take the ferry over to Szentendre Island, in order to incorporate the much quieter roads and scenery of the long, narrow island in the middle of the Danube. We'll then take another ferry back across the river to the town of Szentendre. Szentendre is an atmospheric old town with lots of art galleries and restaurants, and a perfect place to stop for lunch. Heading into town we can see Roman ruins at Aquincum and the Margarit Szegit, a sports-oriented island just north of central Budapest. Tonight we enjoy a Farewell Dinner at snazzy restaurant with lots of local color. For those who wish, we may check out the nightlife.

8: Departure Day

There's nothing scheduled after breakfast today, so you can depart whenever you find good connections. For anyone who would like to explore Budapest in more depth, please see our FAQs for a description of our two-night Budapest post-trip extension. There's plenty to see and do. We hope your Danube Dreams all come true, and we look forward to seeing you soon on another adventure!