Meet your bike for the first time at a living-history reconstruction of a Bavarian village, a colorful start to our first ride along a former train route • Nothing like a bit of oompah music to get things started—enjoy an Oktoberfest-style celebration before we set sail • Cross over from Germany to Austria on two wheels • Stroll amid Italian baroque buildings in Passau, the City of Three Rivers • Join hundreds of local cyclists on Austria's famed Donauradweg (Danube bike path) • Explore the gingerbread-house streets of Linz • Choose an excursion to Salzburg or Český Krumlov—both spectacular World Heritage sites. 

Bike or cruise the stunning Wachau Valley, where the Danube snakes between steep bluffs green with vineyards and apricot orchards • Behold stately Melk Abbey, commanding its hilltop since the 10th century • Stop for a taste of the local Grüner Veltliner • Discover Vienna, imperial city of the Hapsburgs and a hub of Central European culture and tradition • Follow bike paths in serene Donau-Auen National Park, keeping an eye out for kingfishers and herons • Ride between two capital cities—Vienna and Bratislava—passing remnants of the former Iron Curtain • Dine at a castle which once belonged to Hapsburg empress Maria Theresa • A local guide unlocks the myriad stories behind quirky Bratislava's sights. 

Arrive in Budapest and discover the city's historic landmarks and hidden history on an urban walk • Hop on the metro—one of the oldest in the world—linking Buda and Pest, once two distinct sister cities facing each other across the river • Spend the afternoon exploring this remarkable capital with its posh coffee shops, hip ruin pubs, thermal bathhouses and countless museums • Join a ship full of fellow Backroads guests and leaders in a toast to this week's celebration!