The Danube begins small in southern Germany, and so can your journey. Starting at the river’s source in Donaueschingen, follow the German Danube Cycle Route through limestone valleys, historic cities and open Bavarian plains. Near Tuttlingen, the route joins EuroVelo 6 and continues east towards Passau, Austria and the next chapter of the Danube journey.
Start where the Danube begins
Begin in Donaueschingen, where one of Europe’s great rivers starts its journey. The complete route to Passau covers around 600 kilometres, but there is no need to ride it all at once. Choose a few stages, combine cycling with rail travel or follow the river for several days and watch the landscape gradually change around you. Make it your own.
Ride through the upper Danube
Between Tuttlingen, Beuron and Sigmaringen, the young Danube winds through one of the route’s most dramatic natural sections. Limestone cliffs rise above wooded slopes, while castles, abbeys and small towns provide plenty of reasons to get off the bike and take your time exploring.
Pause at Beuron in the heart of the Upper Danube Nature Park, then continue towards Sigmaringen and its striking castle above the river. This section is ideal for travellers who want to combine nature and culture within the same day’s ride.
Take a break in Ulm
By the time you reach Ulm, the Danube has grown, and so has the urban landscape around it. Leave the bike for a while and wander through the historic Fishermen’s Quarter, where narrow lanes, half-timbered houses and little bridges line the channels of the Blau River.
Then look up at the soaring tower of Ulm Minster. Stop for coffee or lunch beside the river before getting back in the saddle and continuing east.
Cycle and cruise at Weltenburg
Near Kelheim, change the rhythm of the journey by combining your cycling day with a boat ride upstream through the Danube Gorge. From the water, watch the river wind between high limestone cliffs on the way to Weltenburg.
Step ashore at Weltenburg Abbey, set beside a bend in the river, before continuing your journey. Switching from bike to boat makes this section feel less like simply covering kilometres and more like travelling with the Danube itself.
Follow the Danube to Passau
Continue through Regensburg, where the UNESCO-listed Old Town invites you to trade the bike for cobblestone streets, historic squares and a relaxed evening before continuing downstream towards Straubing and Deggendorf. Historic towns gradually give way to flatter countryside and broad river landscapes as the Danube gathers strength.
The German journey reaches a memorable finale in Passau, the City of Three Rivers, where the Danube meets the Inn and Ilz. Stop at the confluence and watch their waters come together, but think of it as a beginning rather than an ending. From here, EuroVelo 6 crosses into Austria and follows the Danube east towards the next chapter of the journey.
