Check in to your hotel and then take a stroll through the “City of Three Rivers”, so named because this is also the point at which the the Inn and Ilz rivers flow into the Danube. The narrow cobbled streets and pretty squares of the old town are a delight to explore and we also recommend a climb to Veste Oberhaus, a medieval fortress and museum that offers a fantastic, panoramic view of the town and rivers.

Your first ride leads you downstream along the Danube Cycle Path. The going is easy and the path passes through pine forests and small hamlets. After a few kilometers you reach the village of Engelhartszell. Here you can visit Austria’s only Trappist monastery – not just interesting for its architecture, it’s also well known for its fine liqueurs and Trappist ale. We recommend crossing the river here using the small bike ferry (approximately €3 including bike) and continuing on the north bank as it’s quieter and more scenic. After a few more kilometres of very pleasant cycling you’ll spend the night either in the little village of Wesenufer or slightly further on in the village of Schlögen.

If you didn’t have the energy yesterday we recommend an early morning hike up through the forest to the Schlögener lookout point where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the loop and surrounding countryside. For the first few kilometers of today’s ride you follow a lovely cycle path alongside the meandering river as it makes it way past forest-clad hillsides and verdant meadows. Eventually you reach the small town of Aschach with its wealth of riverside cafés and restaurants. This is a good choice for a lunch stop before tackling the second half of the ride to the Upper Austrian capital of Linz. After checking in to your hotel why not wander through the old town or enjoy something nice to eat at one of the many open-air cafés and restaurants on the impressive main square.

Leave Linz behind and continue your Danube cycling adventure. After a few kilometers you reach the town of St. Florian where you can visit the magnificent baroque monastery (entrance fee included). After an enjoyable ride through open countryside you reach the medieval towns of Enns and Mauthausen (on the opposite bank). You will spend the night in one of these pleasant little places.

Before heading off on your ride today you may decide to visit the the former Concentration Camp and Memorial close to Mauthausen – a thought-provoking place that is worthy of a visit. You then follow the cycle path downstream through pleasant undulating farmland. Why not stop for a break at the open-air museum near Mitterkirchen before pedaling on through the beautiful wooded valley to the pretty town of Grein. The town enjoys an idyllic setting with its impressive castle standing guard over the brightly painted medieval houses. We recommend crossing the river here either using the bike ferry (approximiately €3 including bike) or riding back to the bridge some 2 km back upstream. You then ride through the Studengau, a very serene and scenic stretch of the river to your overnight stop which will be either in the small town of Ybbs or across the river in Persenbeug.

Quite a short day in the saddle today as you make your way along this wide section of the Danube valley to Melk. A few kilometers into the ride high on the hill to your left, behind Marbach, you will see the church of Maria Taferl looking out across the valley. Athletic riders like to ascend to this point to enjoy the wonderful views but from personal experience the author can tell you the climb is long and very steep!

Long before you arrive in Melk you will already see the impressive baroque abbey that dominates the skyline. The abbey still accommodates about 30 Benedictine Monks and guided tours of this fascinating site are offered daily. You’ll also enjoy wandering the ancient streets of this beautiful old town.

Make sure the camera is charged and ready today as the scenery really is sublime. The route leads you through the Wachau Valley to Krems. Along the way you’ll see romantic castles and palaces perched on strategic bluffs overlooking terraced vineyards and orchards that cascade down to charming wine villages such as Spitz, Weißenkirchen and Dürnstein. Beautiful old taverns and inns invite you to stop and enjoy some hearty Wachau hospitality along the way. Today’s ride will end in the city of Krems or in the nearby town of Furth bei Göttweig just across the river.

Today’s pleasant ride leads you along a peaceful cycle path with forests and lakes to your right and the river to your left. Your legs know the drill by now so the kilometers slip by with little effort. If you like, you can make a short detour to visit the Roman town of Traismauer a little to the south. The town of Zwentendorf, a little further along the route is a good place to stop for lunch before tackling the last few kilometers to the bustling riverside town of Tulln where you will spend the night.

The final ride of this Danube cycling adventure leads you past Greifenstein Castle and the impressive spires of the monastery at Klosterneuburg into the city of Vienna itself

After checking in to your hotel the rest of the day is yours to enjoy the many highlights of this fascinating city. The Schönbrunn Palace, former summer residence of the Habsburgs is very impressive as is St Stephen’s Cathedral the most important Gothic structure in Austria. The giant ferris wheel, erected in 1897 has featured in a number of Hollywood films and is a great way to see the city from above.