To Passau
Passau is our starting point. Our 8:00 am train starts from the Westbahnhof station. Looking for a place to have an early breakfast before boarding was hard. It seems that breakfast is not an important meal to Austrians. Most bakeries open about 8:00 am at the earliest.

As the Passau starting point is popular, expect other cyclists to be joining you on the train. Our train was a pre war vintage but it still kept its schedule like clockwork. Seating on the train was on sleeper cars so we were able to stay in one private room with facing seats and foldable bunk beds. The train route skirts the Danube River partly so you will see some towns you'll be passing by as you bike back to Vienna.
at the Westbahnhof Train Station
Passau is known as the 3 river point where 2 rivers meet and merge to form the major water tributary known as the Danube or Donau (in German). You get a good view of this from the Oberhaus Castle overlooking the old city center.

Our lodging in Passau is at the Holiday Inn, just across the train station. Passau is a small town so touring the city on foot will not take much time. We wandered the cobweb of back streets and alleys observing the locals. At the river front, a lot of barge cruise ships were unloading their passengers for their day tour into the city.
3 river view from Oberhaus Castle

Oberhaus Castle
St. Stephan Church housing the worlds largest organ
If you have the time and energy, try visiting St. Stephan Church housing the worlds largest organ and the Oberhaus Castle perched on a hill across the river. We spent a good amount of time just lounging on benches on the river bank. Which direction are we heading to in tomorrows ride ? The best way is to observe the current flow on the river. We will be going with the river flow all the way to Vienna.

Promoting the road beside the Danube as a cycling route is a stroke of genius. Not only does it generate enormous tourist dollars, but it also develops a healthier citizenry. On our rides, we usually encounter older riders (the oldest one we met was 85) using heavy bikes who always outpace and outdistance us. They have made cycling a regular routine and have become healthier as a result. I just hope we develop the same positive outlook. Come to think of it, there were less obese and overweight people on the streets of Austria compared to our cities.

As for nightlife in Passau, there is none. Shops close before 7 PM. Restaurants and coffee shops are the only places to hang out.
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