Niederalteich: Cycling routes, long-distance hiking and abbey tours

Cycling routes starting in Niederalteich

The 55-kilometre Donau-Ilz Cycle Path follows a former railway line through the Sonnenwald and Dreiburgenland regions to the Ilz valley near Hutthurm/Kalteneck. In Niederalteich, the route starts on the Danube and connects to the Danube Cycle Path and the Isar Cycle Path. Its length and named destination give the cycling tour a clear framework. The two connections at the start also broaden your route options: you can treat the Donau-Ilz Cycle Path as a route in its own right or include its connections to the other cycle paths in your plans.

A second perspective: the Gunthersteig

If you would rather make a long-distance hike the focus than a cycling route, the Gunthersteig offers a different kind of trip. The 82-kilometre trail runs from Niederalteich via Lalling, Rinchnach, Lindberg, Spiegelhütte and Scheuereck/Prasily to Dobrá Voda (Gutwasser) in the Czech Republic. It follows in the footsteps of Saint Gunther through the Bavarian Forest and the Bohemian Forest. This makes it easy to distinguish the focus of each trip: the Donau-Ilz Cycle Path is a 55-kilometre cycling route to the Ilz valley, while the Gunthersteig is an 82-kilometre long-distance hiking trail to the Czech Republic.

Churches of the Benedictine abbey: a guided visit

Tours of Niederaltaich Benedictine Abbey include the Baroque Basilica of St. Mauritius, with its sacristy and upper church, as well as the Byzantine Church of St. Nicholas. The Baroque Basilica is accessible only on a guided tour. A tour of either church lasts 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the arrangement. If you include a visit to the abbey in your holiday plans, arrange the details with the abbey before you arrive. The stated duration applies to a tour of one of the two churches, not to a tour of both.

The Altaha Danube ferry

The Altaha Danube ferry crosses from one bank of the Danube to the other and back. During the 2026 season, it was out of service due to a technical defect. Before planning a crossing, check whether the service is operating.

Deggendorf: landscapes within the broader travel destination

The wider Deggendorf destination encompasses the Deggendorfer Land, from the heights of the Bavarian Forest through the Danube landscape and the Isar estuary to the rich colours of the Gäuboden. It lies between 200 and 1,150 metres above sea level. This broader landscape is a separate aspect to consider when planning your trip and should not be confused with the routes or churches in Niederalteich.

In the Deggendorf destination, Natternberg Castle ruins can be reached by footpaths from three sides. From there, the view extends across the Gäuboden and into the Bavarian Forest. Winzer Castle ruins look out over the Danube valley. The two ruins offer different viewpoints within this broader destination, while the cycling routes and the Gunthersteig name Niederalteich as their starting point.

Use your holiday focus to guide your accommodation search

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Niederalteich, you can base your choice on your planned activities: the cycle-path connections on the Danube, the start of the Gunthersteig or a pre-arranged tour of one of the abbey churches. This makes the kind of trip you want a practical starting point for your search. The routes mentioned offer different ways to spend your holiday; the tour adds a cultural visit of manageable duration, which can be arranged in advance.

Discover more destinations: Auerbach, Schöllnach, Lalling, Grafling, Osterhofen, Grattersdorf, Hunding, Plattling.

View the overview of the wider destination: Deggendorf.