The two weeks leading into my first trip to Austria turned into a repetitive episode of day-dreaming when my dearest friend Bina (Sabrina), my Bavarian yet Desi-girl announced that we would do an all-girls, cross-country bike trip! Yes, that’s VIENNA TO BRATISLAVA.. Come on, who wouldn’t get animated? Having read through a few blogs we both were fully confident of completing this mission with relative ease. Little did we know that European summers today could be so torturingly hot. Bina ke bina (without my Bina), all my limbs would have been dismantled by the end of day. But as the saying goes, “Sometimes all you need is a good friend and a tank full of gas” … in our case, two saddles full of bums!
1. Is this cycling trip really doable as a first timer?
Nothing is doable until you actually give it a shot, right? But to be honest, all you need for this journey is an intermediate level of fitness and ensure that the weather conditions are in your favor. We recommend to plan the trip during the spring or the autumn season, i.e., either from April until June or September – October. Peak summer months could be difficult to ride and will only exhaust you since the air in this part of Europe is extremely hot and dry.
2. Planning your bike ride – from Start till the end
It’s not difficult to plan a bike trip to Bratislava from Vienna as the total distance between the two cities is just about 70 kms. This particular route is moderately hilly but gets steeper as you near Bratislava. But there is a dedicated biking trail throughout and you don’t really hit offroad, aside from some gravelly stretches (Be alert however, for you need to change lanes at times).
Bikes: Vienna is one city in Austria where you needn’t break a sweat to rent a bike. There’s plenty of options to choose from and we rented ours from https://www.fahrrad-ski.at/
These two gentlemen at the store were rather polite and helpful. Its preferable to rent Hybrid bikes with gears and suspension forks to avoid discomfort enroute. Along with the bikes, you could also ask for chain locks (*you pay a hefty fine of 450 EUR if the bike is stolen*)
Tip: Choose Friday-Saturday-Sunday for the trip. This will allow you to keep the bicycle for almost 4 days. By renting the bike on Thursday evening and returning on Monday afternoon, you just pay 45 EUR, which is quite a good deal given the quality of bikes that this store has to offer.
3. What to pack for the trip?
Here are a couple of things to keep in mind while packing for the trip:
- Food: Its needless to say that one must carry ample food along. However, don’t overload your backpack; pick calorie rich foods and fruits. We carried some sandwiches and snacks on the go> Grapes (best for sugar & hydration).
- Water / enough Liquid: Once you are out of Vienna’s city limits, you will neither find as many cafes nor water pumps. Yes, we were in for a surprise! We assumed that we’ll find these easily since it is an official biking route but unfortunately that was not the case. So don’t forget to carry at least 2 liters of water and some orange juice.
- Sunscreen: Trust me those 2 bottles of sunscreen will save you from that unpleasant sunburn. It is crucial to carry enough sunscreen preferably SPF 50 especially if you are going to take the trip in peak summer. Also, a cap and sunglasses since there is nearly no tree shade on the way.
“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.”
Jawaharlal Nehru
4. What to wear?
We highly recommend wearing light weight and quick dry clothes, especially pants. If you haven’t really biked for long distance, even the most basic of denim shorts can give you those uneasy rashes where you least want them! Consider wearing cycling shorts, something like this one. It comes with pads placed at the bottom and is really comfy for long distance biking. If you are travelling in Spring or autumn, evenings could be chilly so do carry a lightweight wind jacket.
The moment you cross the Prater bridge across the Danube and turn right, it might do you some good to keep your attention to your right side; for you are sure to find disrobed Greek gods strolling by the river, ready to shower goodwill upon you travelers. Yes, you heard us right. The Freikörperkultur (FKK) or ‘free-body-culture’ is something that originated in the German empire and is widespread today across the world. In German speaking countries especially, it is quite common for you to find these places marked by such signboards:
The long and linear stretch ahead can be quite arduous. Experienced bikers might do the distance in less than 5 hours but if you are a first timer, mind you, it’s not a walk in the park. So, feel free to take breaks or even stop by the riverside for a quick dip! However, your patience will be rewarded as you near the Austrian-Slovakian border. The last 12 kms before entering the city center of Bratislava is particularly worth a sight. As you descend into the valley from a higher altitude, the landscape alters constantly with sunflower fields on one side and the mighty Alps on the other. At the far end you will see the skyscrapers and the castle of Bratislava. Oh yeah, this city is more like a bag of assorted cookies.
Say Hi to Bratislava!
Planning at least a one-day in Bratislava is recommended and something you won’t regret. The city is surprisingly modern in many ways with the most iconic building being the UFO. We were glad we decided to stay for a night and gorge on some authentic Slovakian delicacies
Following are some pit stops we took in between for drinking water, eating, etc.
- This was our first halt to grab a bite and refill our water bottles. Near here you will find some cafes and restaurants for a drink or two to pamper your dry throats.
- Restaurant Goldenen Anker was the other where you could again refill your bottles and eat a lazy lunch with the relaxing sound of the Danube. Make sure to find a spot on the outdoor terrace overlooking the river. Sadly, there wasn’t much available in vegan and I had to order some fresh salad. But this can only be a blessing in disguise, isn’t it? The best part of this pitstop was undoubtedly the nap that me and my friend took after the lunch. Down there on the lawn, with the breeze catching your cheeks: wouldn’t trade this for any mattress.
Cost of the trip (Super important, always!)
The cost depends on how many days you stay in Bratislava and where you eat during the trip.
For the bike trip along, you could consider around 50-60 EUR for food and the return train journey (excludes the bike rental.)
Book your return train journey here.
Tip: Please keep cash handy because some places only accept cash. (Well, blow me down…)
Stay in Bratislava
As budget travelers, we picked our night-stay at the Urban Elephants hostel.
The beds were quite comfy for a night’s rest and the hostel in general was well-maintained. The people managing the hostel were very friendly and also cook exclusively vegan breakfast and dinner every day! Of course, this was no less than a Godsend to me after the hard work out. You only have to pay 5 EUR per head per meal. We had vegan Bolognese pasta for supper as soon as we reached the hostel in the evening at 19.00. Dinner starts at 20.00 so it’s best to reach before that. For breakfast, we were offered a big vegan waffle with toppings of our choice. Yummy in my tummy… Super good! (“Lecker!”, as the Germans say)
Things to do in Bratislava
1. City tour of the old town of Bratislava
You could book free city trips through Free tours. They offer free tours around the world and mostly they are in English. Keep some bucks to tip the enthusiastic tour guides.
2. The UFO
The odd shaped, alien craft-like hanging bridge is world renown for its rooftop café, seated right on top of the pylon. The view from atop the UFO is quite a spectacle. Although considered as one of the most controversial structures of Bratislava, it nonetheless offers incredible views of the city. The entry fee is between 10-13 EUR.
3. Slavin
You could also visit Slavin if there is still some time left in your schedule. It’s a memorial monument with a cemetery for the soviet soldiers. This again is acclaimed for the amazing views it offers over the city.
Vegan Eateries in Bratislava
It was not difficult to find vegan food in Bratislava in general. However, if you’re a true foodie, you wouldn’t want to miss out on trying the traditional Slovakian dishes (Vegan versions, mind you). A quick advice: when looking for vegan options in a new place, it’s best that you first find the names of traditional dishes. Now google the same with the prefix ‘vegan’ ;). We found a couple of places offering traditional vegan dishes.
You could ask for vegan Halusky or Pierogi if they can make it for you. These are traditional Slovakian dishes made primarily from potatoes.
You can find a couple of vegan options. Although you have to ask for it specifically because all the dishes have meat. A must-try is ‘tatra-chai’ or ‘tatratea’, a natural tea-based liquor containing highland herbs and glacial water.
This is a popular family run ice-cream salon with some of the best ice cream flavors in Bratislava. Also included on the menu are many dedicated vegan flavors as well as sorbets. Try the chocolate flavor and I bet you won’t stop with just one.
Return trip to Vienna
It’s best to consider returning to Vienna by train unless you are a cycling freak and keen on taking the long way back once again. The train ticket costs 14 EUR for one way including your bike charges.We hope this blog helps you with taking that biking trip of your lifetime! (like it did for me) Let us know in comments if you have any questions regarding this trip. We will be happy to have a quick chat.
If you’d like to see some photographs and videos from our travels, do head over to our Instagram page and follow us there!
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Hi ! We’re Forum and Shiva, two intrepid souls united by our shared love for TRAVEL and SUSTAINABILITY. We met as architectural colleagues and we both spent some years exploring sustainable and socially responsible architecture. Our mutual fascination for vernacular architecture, traditional communities, and the curiosity to witness the natural world.. all led us to build this little nest: Barriers and Borders.
Our mission is simple – to bring you meaningful stories from the small or the big journeys that we make which could allow you to see the world differently. To let you join our journeys through our words.. to touch upon those little details that maybe get missed.. and above all to attempt to give back to the places we are privileged to visit in this lifetime.
Barriers and borders
Vegan Travellers | Eco-Conscious Architects | Love Envoys | Nature enthusiasts
Barriers and Borders
Hi ! We’re Forum and Shiva, two intrepid souls united by our shared love for TRAVEL and SUSTAINABILITY. We met as architectural colleagues and we both spent some years exploring sustainable and socially responsible architecture. Our mutual fascination for vernacular architecture, traditional communities, and the curiosity to witness the natural world.. all led us to build this little nest: Barriers and Borders.
Our mission is simple – to bring you meaningful stories from the small or the big journeys that we make which could allow you to see the world differently. To let you join our journeys through our words.. to touch upon those little details that maybe get missed.. and above all to attempt to give back to the places we are privileged to visit in this lifetime.
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