Tour operator
DDSG Blue Danube
Austria's largest traditional Danube shipping company, running city cruises, evening trips on the Danube Canal and day trips to the Wachau and Bratislava from Vienna.
Vienna Explorer
A bike tour and rental company on the Danube Canal running three-hour city bike and e-bike tours, Wachau winery bike days and self-guided Danube trail trips.
At a glance
- Type
- Bike tours and rental
- Area
- Innere Stadt, Vienna, Austria
- Official site
- viennaexplorer.com
Good to know
- Guided bike and e-bike tours
- Wachau day trips
- Bike rental
- Self-guided Danube cycle packages
Why we recommend it
Vienna Explorer is a bike tour and rental company based on Franz-Josefs-Kai, along the Danube Canal at the edge of the old town. Vienna is a flat, bike-friendly city with a large network of cycle paths, and a guided ride is one of the best ways to cover a lot of ground in a short time, from the Ringstrasse to the Prater and the Danube.
The core product is the Vienna Bike Tour, a three-hour ride that starts at 10:00 and follows the Ringstrasse, the Danube Canal and the Prater, with groups of up to 16. The Vienna E-bike Tour, also three hours and starting at 10:00, covers the Danube Island, the canal and the Prater in groups of up to 12 and is a more relaxed option for less confident riders. Vienna's tourism board notes that the city tour passes sights such as the Hundertwasser House, the Stadtpark, the Karlskirche and Schwarzenbergplatz.
For a full day out, the Wachau Winery Bike Tour runs for up to 11 hours, starting at 08:30, and visits Krems, Dürnstein and Weissenkirchen in the Danube's famous wine valley. The Hidden Wachau Valley tour goes by van with stops including Melk, and private van tours can be arranged. Vienna Explorer also rents trekking e-bikes, touring bikes and city bikes by the half day or full day, and sells self-guided packages along the Danube Cycle Path, from Passau to Vienna or from Vienna to Budapest.
The tours suit active travellers, couples, friends and families with older children who are comfortable on a bike in traffic. Wear comfortable clothes, bring a light rain layer and check the weather before you go. Booking ahead is recommended in summer, when groups fill up, and the company can advise which tour suits your fitness and experience.
The company is seasonal. The office is open daily from 08:30 to 18:00 from April to October, has shorter weekday hours in March and closes over the winter months, though rentals outside opening hours can sometimes be arranged by phone or email. The office on Franz-Josefs-Kai is a short walk from Schwedenplatz station (U1, U4), with trams along the canal.
Vienna Explorer FAQs
How long is the Vienna Explorer city bike tour?
About three hours, starting at 10:00.
Is there an e-bike tour?
Yes, a three-hour e-bike tour covering the Danube Island, the Danube Canal and the Prater.
How big are the groups?
Up to 16 on the bike tour and up to 12 on the e-bike tour.
Can I rent a bike?
Yes, e-bikes, touring bikes and city bikes are available for half or full days.
Is Vienna Explorer open all year?
No. It opens daily from April to October, with shorter hours in March, and closes in winter.
Are there day trips to the Wachau?
Yes, a Wachau Winery Bike Tour and van tours to the valley.
Where is the office?
At Franz-Josefs-Kai 45, a short walk from Schwedenplatz station.
Can I cycle the Danube Cycle Path?
Yes, the company sells self-guided packages with bike rental, such as Passau to Vienna.