10 weeks around Europe: Danube Paussau to Budapest

Cycling the Danube in 7 days: Paussau to Budapest 

So, cycling the Danube compared to the Camino Francés is a cultural shock.  it's unbelievably flat.Even my elderly nan at the age of 92 years old would have though it is easy.

It seems not many people do it , or rather if they do it is mainly the Austrian part then take a boat to Vienna.

Cycling it is 7 days is achievable..  Especially when on a budget: Austria is as expensive as Switzerland. Hostel price start at around 24 euro per person per night.


Here's the stages that I did it in:

Paussau - linz : Hostel Jugendgästehaus

Linz - Melk : Hostel Junges Hotel Melk

Melk - Vienna : Stayed 2 days in  Vienna as there were  too many great museums.

Vienna - Bratislava:  60 km done easily

Halt the day in Bratilava is perfectly fine, and please do not listen to peoples opinion that is it an industrial town. Clearly these people have never stepped foot in either middle England  (Liverpool, Manchester) nor  Russia.

Bratislava- Komárno ( via the Slovakian side) :   Nice good hotel
Penzio Duna, Dunajska 2, Komárno  

Komárno  - Budapest

Paussau to Budapest Books

 
 These were the two books I used to travel the Danube.

I will advise for the Danube bike trail 3, to follow the Slovakian side, this if you do mind cycling on the road whilst passing trough Gyor  than Budapest.

 

 Crosssing Borders with a bike in Europe 

 

Bicycle unpacked are allowed in trains and coach within the same country however crossing boarders is a different matter:

1) you cannot cross boarders with a coach by bike.

2) Exception are made for some trains:  the bike need to be boxed and you'll need to pay a fee for the bike: and it varies sequentially whether boxed or not  (   Zurich -Munich was roughly 40 un-boxed  and 12 euro boxed) 

BUDAPEST

 

 

 

I recommend this restaurant   : http://www.firkasz.hu/

Trendy, retro and cool atmosphere restaurant which  serves local and traditional Hungarian dishes. The staff is helpful and friendly and in addition their rice pudding is amazing( also if on a budget go there cause you can eat delicious meals midday... do not get caught on the trendy so called communist pizza that you'll find in the tourist attraction. For a little more you can eat delicious meal)

Budapest, Tátra u. 18, 1136 Hungary.

Money in Komárno: Slovakia/Hungary

When arriving in Komárno boarder between Slovakia and Hungary: there are no ATM machines in Hungary.
Head towards Slovakia ( 2 min walk)  take out your euros and then exchange them at the bridge before re/entering Hungary.

Hungarian currency is too difficult to handle with : big numbers for a small conversion:

Shipping your Stuff back home in Budapest

I used GLS in Budapest to ship my cycling gear  ( comparing to DHL and Fedex) it WAS the cheapest, reliable and quick.

Their Office depot is in the bookshop on the 3rd floor at the following address ( just grab a box from any shop that are around the neighborhood)