The Danube Cycleway - From Donaueschingen to Budapest

Guidebook to the popular holiday cycling route, the Danube Cycle Way, which takes cyclists from Bavaria to Budapest along the route of the Danube river. Covers 1350km, in 20 stages, mainly on dedicated, clearly signed cycle tracks, and is suitable for all abilities and ages. With all necessary route-finding and accommodation information.

J. Crasemann, The Danube from Donaueschingen to the Black Sea (diagrammatic map, not suitable for navigation)

Michelin, Germany No. 984 (1:400,000)

Michelin, Hungary No. 925 (1:400,000)

Radwandern von Donaueschingen bis Passau. Austria: Bikeline

Danube Bike Trail - Passau to Vienna. Austria: Bikeline

Donau-Radweg - Von Wien nach Budapest. Austria: Bikeline

Notes on maps
I have yet to find a good set of compatible maps for the whole route. Road maps like the Michelin 1:400,000 number 984 (Germany) do not show the cycleway clearly enough, and walkers’ maps are often too detailed and you have to purchase and carry too many of them. The best and most detailed maps are to be found in the Donau-Radweg books published by Bikeline (see Bibliography). There are three books covering the whole route though the first and third are only published in German. This does not of course affect the maps, which are clear and accurate though not always precisely up-to-date. Unfortunately local authorities make a habit of changing the route or repositioning signs throughout their region and this can cause considerable confusion. If you are in doubt anywhere it is better to ask a local inhabitant rather than a fellow cyclist who may be just as lost as you are. However with these books you are unlikely to get seriously lost.

I could find no suitable detailed map for the Altmühl Trail (Stages 6–8 in this guide) and had to rely on one advertising supermarkets in the area that I found in a local tourist office! That said, the signing along this stretch was exceptionally clear and there were no route-finding difficulties in this region at all.

When finding your way in Slovakia and Hungary be prepared to find that road signs, if they exist, particularly in towns and cities, may be written in Cyrillic script, which does not match the names found on maps. Also remember that a minor road in these countries may not be paved and could easily turn out to be little more than a muddy track. Signing of the trail throughout Hungary is very intermittent. The Michelin Map 925 – Hungary (1:400,000) is perfectly adequate to give an overview of the journey for the purposes of route planning through Slovakia and Hungary but do not expect to find the cycleway marked on it – or even many of the minor roads.

Finding your way round most of the larger cities should not pose a problem – just follow signs to the Centrum (town centre). Tourist information centres in Donaueschingen, Regensburg, Passau, Linz, Vienna, Györ and Budapest all provide good detailed maps that are ideal for exploring the cities on foot or by cycle. (The exception is Bratislava, where you may have difficulty even finding the tourist office!) Note also that, whichever maps are used, the exit from Vienna is likely to prove a challenge.

See the Bibliography for a list of maps.