Cycle from Passau 🇩🇪 to Linz 🇦🇹 along the Danube and EuroVelo 6, one of Europe’s most famous long-distance cycling routes. This 95.2 km cycling route is the first stage of the Passau–Vienna cycling tour, taking you from Germany into Austria through scenic riverside landscapes, small towns and quiet countryside.
Explore the complete route with an interactive map, GPX download, elevation profile, route statistics and full on-road cycling video. The route is ideal for cyclists looking to experience the Danube Cycle Route and follow the EuroVelo 6 from Passau towards Vienna.
Passau – Linz: Cycling the Danube Along EuroVelo 6 from Germany to Austria
The Passau – Linz cycling route is the first stage of the Cycling Horizon Passau–Vienna cycling tour, following the Danube and the famous EuroVelo 6 route from Germany into Austria. This long-distance cycling experience combines scenic riverside landscapes, quiet countryside, small towns, historic settlements, and the unique atmosphere of riding beside one of Europe’s most important rivers.
This route marks the beginning of a four-stage Cycling Horizon journey from Passau to Vienna. While the Passau–Vienna section is commonly divided into seven official stages, this Cycling Horizon tour combines the journey into four longer rides. The first stage connects Passau and Linz, providing an excellent introduction to the Danube Cycle Route and setting the scene for the kilometres that follow further east through Austria.
Starting the Journey in Passau
The ride begins in Passau, Germany, a historic city located at the meeting point of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers. Its position on the Danube makes it a natural starting point for cyclists beginning a journey towards Austria and Vienna.
Leaving Passau, the route quickly settles into the characteristic rhythm of the Danube Cycle Route. The river becomes the main geographical reference as the route heads eastwards, with the landscape gradually changing from the surroundings of the city to forests, riverbanks, open countryside and smaller settlements.
This opening section provides a natural transition into the multi-day journey. The focus is not on steep mountain climbs or technical terrain, but on establishing a steady rhythm and experiencing the landscape as the route follows the Danube towards Austria.
Following the Danube into Austria
After crossing from Germany into Austria, the route continues through the Danube landscape towards Linz. The character of the ride is defined by the river and the countryside surrounding it, with wooded hills, agricultural areas, villages and smaller communities appearing along the way.
The Danube provides a natural corridor through this part of Central Europe, making the route particularly appealing for long-distance cycle touring. Instead of constantly changing direction through complicated terrain, cyclists can settle into a consistent pace while the landscape gradually changes around them.
The route also demonstrates one of the main attractions of EuroVelo 6: the ability to travel through several European regions and countries while remaining connected to a major river and its surrounding landscapes.
The Danube as a Constant Companion
One of the defining features of the Passau – Linz stage is the relationship between the road and the river. The Danube remains the central element of the landscape, creating a continuous sense of direction throughout the journey.
Riding beside a major European river provides a completely different experience from cycling through mountainous terrain. The scenery changes gradually, with wooded slopes, fields, villages, riverbanks and roads creating a varied but coherent landscape.
This makes the route particularly well suited to cyclists who enjoy longer rides where the journey itself is the main attraction. The combination of distance, changing scenery and the constant presence of the Danube creates the feeling of travelling through Central Europe rather than simply completing a single cycling route.
Route Note: For this Cycling Horizon recording, the route from Passau to Linz was ridden along the right bank of the Danube. The video and GPX track document this specific route choice.
Cycling Through the Austrian Countryside
As the route continues towards Linz, the surrounding landscape remains strongly connected with the Danube valley. Small settlements and agricultural areas are mixed with wooded sections and open views, creating the characteristic countryside scenery of the region.
The route is well suited to endurance-oriented cycling because it allows riders to maintain a consistent rhythm for long periods. Rather than concentrating on repeated steep climbs, cyclists can focus on pacing, distance and enjoying the surroundings.
For riders travelling as part of a multi-day cycling holiday, this type of terrain also makes it possible to concentrate on the overall journey. The Danube corridor has been an important route through the region for centuries, and today it provides one of Europe’s best-known environments for long-distance cycle touring.
Approaching Linz
As the route approaches Linz, the landscape gradually becomes more urban. After spending much of the ride surrounded by countryside and riverside scenery, the increasing presence of roads, settlements and urban development signals the approach to one of Austria’s major cities.
Linz is situated directly on the Danube and is an important destination for cyclists following EuroVelo 6. Reaching the city provides a natural conclusion to the first stage of the Cycling Horizon Passau–Vienna journey.
For riders continuing towards Vienna, Linz is not the end of the journey but an important intermediate destination. From here, the route continues eastwards along the Danube towards the next stages of the tour.
A Scenic Introduction to EuroVelo 6
The Passau – Linz stage provides an excellent introduction to EuroVelo 6 and the Danube Cycle Route. Its appeal comes from the complete cycling experience rather than from a single landmark or spectacular climb.
The journey connects Germany and Austria while following the Danube through changing landscapes and settlements. This combination makes it particularly attractive for cyclists interested in European cycle touring and multi-day cycling adventures.
EuroVelo 6 crosses some of Europe’s most important river landscapes, and the Danube section between Passau and Vienna is one of its best-known stretches. Riding this section provides an opportunity to experience the route as an actual journey rather than simply viewing it on a map.
Suitable for Different Types of Cycling
The Passau – Linz route can be ridden as an individual long-distance day ride or as part of a longer cycling tour. It is suitable for cyclists using road bikes, gravel bikes, trekking bicycles, touring bikes, hybrid bicycles and e-bikes, depending on their preferred riding style and equipment.
For cyclists planning a multi-day Danube tour, this stage provides a strong starting point for the journey towards Vienna. The route combines a substantial riding distance with the type of landscape that makes it possible to settle into a consistent endurance pace.
It is also a good option for cyclists who want to experience part of EuroVelo 6 without committing to the entire long-distance route. Passau and Linz are both significant destinations, making this section practical to ride as a standalone route or as part of a larger European cycling holiday.
Part of a Four-Stage Passau–Vienna Journey
This ride is Day 1 of the four-stage Cycling Horizon Passau–Vienna cycling tour. The complete journey is divided into four longer stages, allowing each video to document a substantial section of the route.
- Day 1 – Passau 🇩🇪 → Linz 🇦🇹
- Day 2 – Linz 🇦🇹 → Ybbs an der Donau 🇦🇹
- Day 3 – Ybbs an der Donau 🇦🇹 → Mautern 🇦🇹
- Day 4 – Mautern 🇦🇹 → Vienna 🇦🇹
This four-stage structure is the format used for the Cycling Horizon journey and differs from the shorter official stage division commonly used for the Passau–Vienna route. The longer stages are designed to present the journey as a continuous cycling adventure from Germany to the Austrian capital.
After completing the first stage from Passau to Linz, the journey continues eastwards along the Danube. The following stages gradually take the route further into Austria before the final arrival in Vienna.
Real-World Cycling Video
The complete Cycling Horizon recording allows viewers to experience the Passau – Linz route from the perspective of an actual bicycle ride. Instead of relying only on photographs, maps or written descriptions, the video shows the road and surrounding landscape as they appear during the ride.
This makes the route useful for cyclists planning their own Danube journey as well as for viewers who simply want to explore European cycling routes from home. The continuous recording provides a realistic impression of the route and the experience of travelling along the Danube.
The video can also be used as an immersive indoor cycling experience. Riders can follow the journey from home while completing their own training session on a smart trainer or stationary bike.
Ideal for Indoor Cycling Training
The long-distance character of the Passau – Linz route makes it particularly suitable for endurance-focused indoor cycling. The continuous scenery provides a natural visual environment for longer aerobic sessions, steady endurance rides and Zone 2 training.
Instead of following a structured virtual training programme, riders can simply experience the journey along the Danube while maintaining their own preferred intensity. The changing scenery helps create a more immersive environment for longer indoor rides.
The route is therefore useful not only as a real-world cycling destination but also as a virtual cycling experience for riders who want to explore the Danube while training indoors.
Download the GPX Route and Explore the Interactive Map
The Cycling Horizon route page provides the complete GPX track for the Passau – Linz stage. The GPX file can be downloaded and transferred to compatible cycling computers and navigation applications for use during your own ride.
The interactive map allows cyclists to explore the complete route before setting out. Together with the GPX track, the map provides a practical way to understand the route and plan a future ride along this section of EuroVelo 6.
The page also includes the complete cycling video and a gallery from the ride, bringing together the route information and visual experience in one place.
Experience the Danube from Passau to Linz
Passau – Linz is an excellent opening stage for a cycling journey along the Danube and EuroVelo 6. Starting in Passau and continuing into Austria, the route combines riverside landscapes, countryside, small settlements and the distinctive atmosphere of long-distance European cycle touring.
The real appeal of the route lies in the journey itself: leaving Germany behind, following the Danube into Austria and gradually approaching Linz while experiencing the landscape from the saddle. It is a route where the river, countryside and changing surroundings remain central to the cycling experience.
As the first stage of the four-part Cycling Horizon Passau–Vienna journey, Passau – Linz sets the scene for the kilometres that follow further east. For cyclists planning a Danube cycling holiday, preparing for a longer EuroVelo 6 adventure, looking for a substantial long-distance ride, or simply wanting to experience the route from home, this is a memorable place to begin.
The journey continues from Linz towards Ybbs, followed by the next stages through the Danube valley towards Krems and finally Vienna.
