Hiking on the northern bank of the Donausteig
4040 Linz

Hardly any region is as diverse as the Danube region in Upper Austria. From the wooded riverbanks in the Upper Danube Valley over the fertile plains of the Eferding Basin and the Machland to the rugged rock formations in the once so feared Strudengau.
The breathtaking natural landscape is to be conquered step by step, meanwhile spotting incredible panoramic views of the river from above.
Recommended season:
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
450 kilometers Donausteig
Along both banks from Passau via Linz to Grein, the Donausteig leads through diverse natural and cultural landscapes. Hikers encounter marvelous legendary figures, impressive landscapes, and unique cultural treasures on the way. It is evident - the Donausteig is simply legendary!
Divided into 2 routes:
From Passau via Linz to Grein, the Donausteig leads over the North and South routes. To give a better overview of the Donausteig, it has been divided into 23 stages.
49 Donausteig loops
Branching off from the main route are numerous paths into the surroundings of the Danube, enabling an even more intense experience of the region. The 49 Donausteig loops are perfect for day trips, as these circular routes always return to the starting point.
Optimal integration of train, bus, and ship
Excursion hikers are thus facilitated in arrival and the return to the starting point.
The Donausteig is ideal for:
- Long-distance hikers/stage hikers
- Excursion hikers
- Families
- Leisure hikers
Hiking in the realm of legends & art on the Donausteig:
120 Danube legends, retold by Helmut Wittmann and illustrated by Jakob Kirchmayr, are displayed on overview boards. In the open-air gallery on the Donausteig, metal sculptures by artist Miguel Horn can be admired at special places.
Donausteig hosts
Many hotels, guesthouses, and inns in the Bavarian-Upper Austrian Danube region are “Donausteig hosts.” As specialists in hiking holidays along the Donausteig, they conform to defined quality criteria.
Target group-oriented package offers
The bookable package offers are aimed at different types of hiking holidaymakers and divided into various categories so that every guest quickly finds the package adapted to their needs.
Here you can find the individual stagesTip:
Exploration trips with enjoyable stops! This route leads directly past the following culinary partners:
Safety guidelines:
In some stages we encounter unsecured terrain. Therefore, good footwear is advisable.Equipment:
In addition to your personal hiking equipment, there are no special requirements.Additional information:
WGD Donau Upper Austria Tourism GmbH
Lindengasse 9
4040 Linz, Austria
Tel. +43(0)732/7277-800
Fax. +43(0)732/7277-804
info@donausteig.com
Paths covering:










Getting there
The main station of Passau is located on the peninsula of Ortspitz about 350 m west of Schanzbrücke bridge (Navigation: D‑94032 Passau, Hauptbahnhof).
Public Transit
Passau can be conveniently reached by train and bus. Information about the schedules can be found at www.vlp-passau.de.
A return transfer from Grein to Passau Main Station is easily possible by train. From the Danube shore in Grein to the station is only a short walk. Information about schedules is available at http://www.ooevv.at .
Parking
The city centre of Passau is mostly a short-term parking zone. For long-term parkers, numerous paid parking garages and lots are available. Information about their locations and prices can be found here.
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
Please get in touch for more information.
Lindengasse 9
4040 Linz
Phone +43 732 7277 - 800
Fax machine +43 732 7277 - 804
E-Mail info@donauregion.at
Web www.donauregion.at
Vis-à-vis users
1. The tours presented for hiking, walking, biking and road biking, mountain biking, motorbiking, horseback riding, climbing, cross-country skiing, and going on skiing and snowshoe tours etc. are to be considered non-paid tour recommendations and only serve as non-binding information. We have no intention of concluding a contract with the users of this website. The utilisation of the data does not lead to the establishment of a contract with us.
The data may only be used for private use; any commercial use is prohibited. In particular, it is not permissible to offer the data on commercially run websites, file-sharing platforms etc. or to use it to develop commercial products. Downloading data does not imply that users are granted rights to the data concerned.
The tour recommendations posted were created with utmost care; nevertheless, we assume no liability for the correctness and completeness of the information.
We point out that neither the tour recommendations included on this website nor the associated data and information were posted by us, but rather by third parties (Art. 16 Austrian E-Commerce Act). We have no influence on whether the details provided (e.g. distance, level of difficulty, change in altitude, description etc.) are authentic, correct and complete. We do not review these third-party contents. For this reason, we assume no liability for the authenticity, correctness and completeness of the information.
Construction-related measures or other influences (e.g. landslides and similar occurrences) can lead to temporary or permanent changes in a route (e.g. loss of a bridge and similar occurrences). Such occurrences can lead to part of the route or the entire route becoming impassable.
The use of the data as well as undertaking (riding, walking, taking etc.) the recommended tours or using the network of paths occurs at users’ own risk and on their authority. In particular, users themselves are responsible for the choice of route, outdoor orientation, adherence to traffic rules, supplies and equipment for tours listed in Point 1 (e.g. bicycle etc.), wearing a helmet, estimating their own fitness, recognising dangers and maintaining an appropriate velocity. We exclude ourselves from any liability whatsoever for damages, in particular accidents, that occur whilst taking part in the recommended tours.
2.Some of the tours lead over roads with normal traffic conditions. Please observe that there is an increased risk which can be avoided by means of appropriate attention and proper estimation and implementation of one’s own abilities. For this reason, please travel a route that is unfamiliar to you slowly and with special care. Pay constant attention to potential dangers and always observe traffic. Do not leave the routes featured in descriptions.
The potential use of private roads, in particular forestry roads and agricultural transport roads, can be subject to legal restrictions, which must be observed and adhered to.
The normal traffic rules apply. Each user (e.g. biker, motorbiker) is responsible for adhering to these rules and maintaining his/her bike/vehicle and its equipment (lights, brakes etc.) in good working order. Each user is also responsible for ensuring that he/she rides at a velocity that is appropriate for the conditions and his/her skill level and for maintaining sufficient distance to the rider in front. We explicitly recommend adjusting velocity to correspond to the respective field of vision, wearing a helmet, using reflective clothing (or similar) and employing bicycle lights in line with regulations.
3.Each tour requires good physical fitness as well as detailed planning. We explicitly recommend only taking the tours in the case of optimal healthiness.
We recommend that you conclude an accident and liability insurance policy. Use an onboard computer that displays the respective kilometres travelled per day and is calibrated for the front wheel.
4.Special for mountain bikers – Fair-play rules:
Mountain biking is one of the most wonderful outdoor leisure-time activities. Whilst biking or on a mountain biking tour, mountains and lakes, meadows and cabins are re-discovered in new ways. A couple of rules for fair play in the forest help to avoid conflicts whilst mountain biking.
a.Pedestrians have the right of way: We are accommodating and friendly to pedestrians and hikers. Upon encountering these fellow travellers, we alert them by using the bicycle bell and slowly overtake them. We avoid paths with heavy pedestrian traffic altogether. Take nature into account: We do not leave refuse behind.
b.The braking distance should be half of the total distance visible: We ride at a controlled pace, are ready to brake and maintain a braking distance half as long as the total distance visible, especially in curves, because we always have to count on obstacles on the path. Damage to the path, stones, branches, wood piles, grazing livestock, cattle grids, barriers, tractor-type forestry machines and authorised vehicles pose dangers that we need to be ready for.
c.Don’t drink and drive!: Do not drink alcohol when mountain biking. Take care at stop-off points (dealing with bike racks, dirty shoes or clothing).
It is obligatory to provide first aid!
d.Marked routes, closed paths and blockades: Keep to the marked routes, observe the blockades and accept that these roads are primarily for agricultural and forestry use!
Blockades can often not be avoided and are in your own interest. Biking beyond the intended path and outside of opening times is punishable and turns us into illegal bikers.
e.We are guests in the forest and behave accordingly, including vis-à-vis forestry and hunting staff. Whilst mountain biking, mobile telephones and music players are forbidden! Biking requires your full attention.
f.Avoid unnecessary noise. Out of consideration to the animals living in the wild, we only bike during full daylight. As a principle, we always wear our helmet (even when riding uphill)! Don’t forget emergency supplies: We always have a repair set and bandages along.
g.Don’t overestimate your skills: We should not overdo it when it comes to biking technique and physical fitness. Take the level of difficulty posed by the route into consideration and make a precise estimate of your experience and skills as a biker (braking, bell, lights)!
h.Close gates: We approach grazing livestock at a walking pace and close every gate behind us. We should avoid causing escape and panic reactions in the animals. Nothing stands in the way of the fun and athletic challenge in the mountains and forests!
i.Traffic rules: The general traffic rules (StVO) apply for all the mountain biking routes and we adhere to them. Our bike therefore needs to be in perfect technical condition and equipped in line with the traffic rules, including brakes, a bell and lights. We inspect and service our mountain bikes regularly anyway.
5.We assume no liability for the contents of external websites; in particular, we assume no liability for their statements and contents. Moreover, we have no influence on the design or contents of the websites to which hyperlinks on guide.oberoesterreich.at lead or from which hyperlinks lead to guide.oberoesterreich.at. There is no on-going review of websites to which hyperlinks on guide.oberoesterreich.at lead or from which hyperlinks lead to guide.oberoesterreich.at. We do not appropriate the contents of websites to which hyperlinks on guide.oberoesterreich.at lead or from which hyperlinks lead to guide.oberoesterreich.at.
Vis-à-vis bloggers
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1. Each of your tour recommendations for hiking, walking, biking and road biking, mountain biking, motorbiking, horseback riding, climbing, cross-country skiing, and going on skiing and snowshoe tours etc., along with other details and information, is free of charge. In particular regarding the correctness of the information, we assume no liability, nor do we assume any liability whatsoever for the consequences of the use of your tour recommendation by a third party (in particular by a user of this website). We do not review the tour recommendations you post, including other details and information, at any time.
We have no intention of concluding a contract with persons who post tour recommendations and/or other details and information on this website. Posting data (information) does not imply that a contract has been concluded.
By recommending a tour, we assume special responsibility vis-à-vis other athletes. Please take this responsibility seriously and describe your tour recommendation with utmost care and to the best of your knowledge and belief.
2.Your tour recommendations must therefore clearly and unambiguously include at least the following criteria and provide a sufficiently detailed description:
• Starting point
• Detailed route description
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4. We are not responsible for the contents of external websites; in particular, we do not assume any liability for their statements or contents. Furthermore, we do not influence the design or contents of websites that can be accessed from guide.oberoesterreich.at via hyperlinks or that use hyperlinks to refer to guide.oberoesterreich.at. The websites that can be accessed from guide.oberoesterreich.at via hyperlinks or that use hyperlinks to refer to guide.oberoesterreich.at are not regularly monitored. Furthermore, we do not assume any claims to the websites that can be accessed from guide.oberoesterreich.at via hyperlinks or that use hyperlinks to refer to guide.oberoesterreich.at.