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Trip Overview Three countries, three capitals and three times the fun on our Danube Dreams! |
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An illustrated itinerary of one of our many travel adventures for gay men, lesbians, and friends. This information supplements our
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The romance of the Danube beckons us to take one of the most classic bike rides in the world. Central Europe is rapidly becoming popular for its unspoiled beauty, gracious hospitality and gay friendly cities. Our comfortable ride along bike paths and quiet country roads takes us to three national capitals, with plenty of historic and fascinating sights in between. Many riders may want to arrive in Vienna early to experience the mind-boggling cultural opportunities, including world-famous museums, concerts and operas, great restaurants, and exciting gay night life. 
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 Alyson Adventure!
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