Cycling at the weekend is the best. Especially when you have a whole weekend free to do so. There’s an abundance of great cycle paths around Austria, but choosing the right one can be tricky. You want it to be challenging, but not too challenging, as you need those important relaxing moments. You need to be able to do it within the 2-day weekend, but you want to feel like you’ve achieved some significant distance. You don’t want to just cycle the same paths around your area. And you want plenty of cafes and stopping points where you can refuel.
We decided to cycle from Linz to Vienna. Why? Following a river means relatively flat terrain, and the Danube has (for the majority) a well kept cycle path, popular amongst amateur and experienced cyclists. Starting and ending at two major train stations ensures that you can count on great connections wherever you live. And of course there are plenty of Gasthuas’, riverside cafes, restaurants and small villages to explore.
The best thing? The 200+ kilometer bike ride means you burn over 6,000 more calories than you usually do (*calculations based on quick googling, may be inaccurate although make you feel good). And with one portion of Kaiserschmarrn being approximately 500 calories, theoretically you afford to fuel yourself with the dish at least several times per day…
To make sure you have the important (Kaiserschmarrn) information you need to do this cycle ride, we’ve put together some recommended stops for the ride. So if you’re looking to do all or any portion of this ride then take a look at The Schmarrn Kaiserin’s Linz – Vienna Kaiserschmarrn Guide below:
Click here to download PDF version
1. Linz – Café Traxlmayr (2km)
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so we’d say getting Kaiserschmarrn in the stomach early is best. This Linz coffee house is open at 7.30am on Saturday for the early start.
2. Mauthausen – Ed Kaiser’s Gasthaus (23km)
The first hour is done, you definitely deserve a break. Stop at Mauthausen Kaiserschmarrn at the namely ‘Ed Kaiser’s Gasthaus’.
3. Wallsee – Gasthof Grünling (42km)
This is a short, quaint stop at the small town of Wallsee. You have to make a slight detour from the cycle path and take the bridge from the north to the south of the river, but it’s worth it to see Schloss Wallsee and a quick visit to Gashof Grünling to sample the Schmarrn.
4. Ybbs an der Donnau – Gasthof Mang (78km)
Wohoo! It’s the final part of day one, so before you get to your Saturday night destination, cycle the curve of the river at Ybbs and visit Gasthof Mang, which has big benches and a garden to enjoy the Kaiserschmarrn.
5. Melk – Cafe zum Fürsten (101km)
We stayed overnight in the Youth Hostel in Melk. Good value and great location. After getting our rooms and showering, we walked our tired legs through the cobbled streets of Melk to look at the stunning Abbey. Hungry, we found ourselves somewhere for dinner (that of course served Kaiserschmarrn).
6. Krems am der Donau – Café Berger (132km)
Day two, and probably already tired after the previous days cycle. A mid-morning dose of sugar is advisable, so stop at another traditional coffee house in Krems.
7. Tulln – Adlerbräu (175km)
Although Kaiserschmarrn is not on the regular menu, they often include it on the daily special menu. Sit outside or inside, and enjoy the town square view with the reassurance that you have only got the final section to Vienna left to cycle.
8. Vienna – Heindl’s Schmarren & Palatschinkenkuchl (215km)
There are many places in Vienna to enjoy Kaiserschmarrn, too many to mention in this article. However if you’ve cycled for the last 2 days you definitely deserve to devour Kaiserschmarrn at one of Vienna’s most indulgent eateries – Heindl’s Schmarren & Palatschinkenkuchl. It sells savoury and breaded pancakes as well as the classic Kaiserschmarrn. Refuel before getting on the train and most likely falling asleep.
The Schmarrn Kaiserin 