Wachau Valley
Wachau Valley
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Thegalivants
Geelong, Australia16 contributions
Aug 2022
We travelled to Krems an der Donau by train from Vienna and enjoyed exploring the beautiful old section of the town. The Hotel Unter den Linden proved to be an excellent place to stay.
On day 2 we hired bikes from Wachau Explorer relying on the helpful hints and great advice from Marcel. We rode along the Danube valley amidst the stunning scenery of vineyards and quaint villages
On day 2 we hired bikes from Wachau Explorer relying on the helpful hints and great advice from Marcel. We rode along the Danube valley amidst the stunning scenery of vineyards and quaint villages
Written 1 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kate C
Sydney, Australia76 contributions
Jun 2017
Not to be missed when visiting Vienna.
At first it seems a bit complicated to organize this on our own, but it ended up being super easy & I wanted to share my travel tips with others on this.
First you need to catch a train from Vienna to Melk. We got on the train at Westbanhof - this is a large station that has city trains as well as 'rural' trains (OBB trains). I'm pretty sure you can catch the train to Melk from a number of Vienna main train stations. At Westbanhof, we went to an automatic ticket machine and purchased two of the 'Kombiticket', selecting the one one that included the train ride, river cruise & Melk Abbey. We caught the train that left Westbanhof at about 9am.
We stayed on this train for about 50mins and then had to change at St Polten to another train to take us to Melk. We also asked the ticket inspector about which platform to go to & he was very helpful.
Once you arrive at Melk, there are a couple of signs pointing towards the river cruises. A very easy stroll past the Abbey down to the river.
On the river cruise, they serve food & drinks for the 1.5hr journey through the Wachau Valley. Absolutely beautiful and the most stunning views I have ever seen.
Once the river cruise ended at Krems we had lunch at the restaurant/bar by the Danube- great food, deserts &drinks. There is a shuttle that costs money but we were happy to walk through the town and explore a bit (3km easy stroll). The trains from Krems to Vienna leave about every 45mins. We waited only 15mins until it departed. It was then an easy train trip back into Vienna. We then continued our afternoon exploring in Vienna by taking the city train elsewhere. Just remember that when you get off the OBB train, you need to buy a city train ticket (2.20 euro per trip). I would highly recommend taking the effort to do the trip.
At first it seems a bit complicated to organize this on our own, but it ended up being super easy & I wanted to share my travel tips with others on this.
First you need to catch a train from Vienna to Melk. We got on the train at Westbanhof - this is a large station that has city trains as well as 'rural' trains (OBB trains). I'm pretty sure you can catch the train to Melk from a number of Vienna main train stations. At Westbanhof, we went to an automatic ticket machine and purchased two of the 'Kombiticket', selecting the one one that included the train ride, river cruise & Melk Abbey. We caught the train that left Westbanhof at about 9am.
We stayed on this train for about 50mins and then had to change at St Polten to another train to take us to Melk. We also asked the ticket inspector about which platform to go to & he was very helpful.
Once you arrive at Melk, there are a couple of signs pointing towards the river cruises. A very easy stroll past the Abbey down to the river.
On the river cruise, they serve food & drinks for the 1.5hr journey through the Wachau Valley. Absolutely beautiful and the most stunning views I have ever seen.
Once the river cruise ended at Krems we had lunch at the restaurant/bar by the Danube- great food, deserts &drinks. There is a shuttle that costs money but we were happy to walk through the town and explore a bit (3km easy stroll). The trains from Krems to Vienna leave about every 45mins. We waited only 15mins until it departed. It was then an easy train trip back into Vienna. We then continued our afternoon exploring in Vienna by taking the city train elsewhere. Just remember that when you get off the OBB train, you need to buy a city train ticket (2.20 euro per trip). I would highly recommend taking the effort to do the trip.
Written 18 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CarolDM1900
Montpelier, VT3,349 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
If you're headed to the beautiful Wachau Valley from Vienna, consider buying an OBB (Austrian Federal Railway) "Kombiticket." It's easy to do and, by Vienna standards, a real bargain. For 51 Euros, you get the train to Melk, access to the abbey there, the cruise down the Danube to Krems, and the train from Krems back to Vienna. I can't think of a better way to spend a summer day.
Melk is lovely old town, with narrow cobblestone streets. The great abbey on the cliffs above it is a Baroque masterpiece with impressive panoramas of the surrounding countryside plus an historically important viewpoint that "back in the day" when there was a Babenberg fortress on this site was a strategic lookout for enemies who might be cruising down the river to attack. You can stand in the very place and look through the abbey's magnificent archway to see the the sparkling blue Danube in the distance.
The participating cruise ships are comfortable and pleasant, offering restaurant and bar service. You have options as to the particular boat and the time of departure. Just take your OBB voucher to the dock-side ticket office, check the schedule, and exchange the voucher for your actual ticket. If you choose one of the later departures, you'll have plenty of time to stroll through the abbey's gradens or enjoy lunch or a snack in one of the many pleasant cafes in town.
Once on the water, you will be treated to some of the best views in Austria: quaint old villages with their red-tile roofs and pretty church steeples, fairy-tale castles and castle ruins that are everything you ever imagined in this part of Europe. Oh, and let's not forget the beautiful hillside vineyards, or the town of Willendorf, where the 30,000 year old iconic "Venus of Willendorf" (given pride of place in Vienna's Natural History Museum) was found by a workman digging around in 1908.
The cruise boats offer narration in German and English, so you'll have an idea of what you're seeing. One spectacular view is of the ruins of Duerstein Castle, high on hill overlooking the town of the same name. Here in 1192 the crusading English King Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned and held for a massive ransom by his enemies, led by Austrian Duke Leopold V. Richard was caught in disguise while trying to get back from the Holy Land, where he had been imprisoned by Saladin during the Third Crusade. This seems the stuff of folk tale and legend, but it really happened.
There are stories galore all along this route, and you've got a bit over two hours to enjoy yourself before disembarking in Krems, which also has a lovely old center to explore before heading back to Vienna.
Let me note that in Krems, both the old town and the train station are located quite a distance from the dock where you will disembark. Using the big map posted on a billboard, you can plan a walking route, which will take 20-25 minute, or just catch a cab. There are plenty of them near the dock.
Nothing left to say, except ENJOY. I've included a few pictures. Hope you'll like them.
Melk is lovely old town, with narrow cobblestone streets. The great abbey on the cliffs above it is a Baroque masterpiece with impressive panoramas of the surrounding countryside plus an historically important viewpoint that "back in the day" when there was a Babenberg fortress on this site was a strategic lookout for enemies who might be cruising down the river to attack. You can stand in the very place and look through the abbey's magnificent archway to see the the sparkling blue Danube in the distance.
The participating cruise ships are comfortable and pleasant, offering restaurant and bar service. You have options as to the particular boat and the time of departure. Just take your OBB voucher to the dock-side ticket office, check the schedule, and exchange the voucher for your actual ticket. If you choose one of the later departures, you'll have plenty of time to stroll through the abbey's gradens or enjoy lunch or a snack in one of the many pleasant cafes in town.
Once on the water, you will be treated to some of the best views in Austria: quaint old villages with their red-tile roofs and pretty church steeples, fairy-tale castles and castle ruins that are everything you ever imagined in this part of Europe. Oh, and let's not forget the beautiful hillside vineyards, or the town of Willendorf, where the 30,000 year old iconic "Venus of Willendorf" (given pride of place in Vienna's Natural History Museum) was found by a workman digging around in 1908.
The cruise boats offer narration in German and English, so you'll have an idea of what you're seeing. One spectacular view is of the ruins of Duerstein Castle, high on hill overlooking the town of the same name. Here in 1192 the crusading English King Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned and held for a massive ransom by his enemies, led by Austrian Duke Leopold V. Richard was caught in disguise while trying to get back from the Holy Land, where he had been imprisoned by Saladin during the Third Crusade. This seems the stuff of folk tale and legend, but it really happened.
There are stories galore all along this route, and you've got a bit over two hours to enjoy yourself before disembarking in Krems, which also has a lovely old center to explore before heading back to Vienna.
Let me note that in Krems, both the old town and the train station are located quite a distance from the dock where you will disembark. Using the big map posted on a billboard, you can plan a walking route, which will take 20-25 minute, or just catch a cab. There are plenty of them near the dock.
Nothing left to say, except ENJOY. I've included a few pictures. Hope you'll like them.
Written 15 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bartschmid
Austin, TX633 contributions
May 2012 • Couples
We took the early train out of Vienna to Melk arriving around 08:10. Knowing that the Abbey did not open until 9:00 we walked around for a bit and arrrived at the Abbey around 08:35. To our great surprise there were already several LARGE tour groups assembled in the courtyard. Since we bought the combi trip we had to exchange our voucher for our tickets. When we went to the window to do this not only did they give us our ticket but told us to come on in and we could start our individual tour. We literally had the place to ourselves. It was fantastic. Not just the building and the history, but the fact that we were not having to fight large crowds and being able to take pictures when the place was totally empty. This trip to the Wachau Valley is well worth the time when in the Vienna area. It was one of the most perfect days of our 3 week trip.
Written 27 May 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nehabhushan
Sydney, Australia359 contributions
Wachau valley day tour is arguably a must feature in the itinerary for Vienna.Getting there is very convenient,from westbahnof, buy the "wachau ticket" for 49euros. It covers entry to Melk abbey, return train ticket from Krems & the Danube cruise. The cruise is very scenic, passing through vineyards & interesting landscape.But make sure to carry a good sunscreen lotion, the sun can be scorching! You get drink & food on board( pay basis),although I would advice against buying food.its good to spend sometime in Krems old town. Try to arrive early in Melk.
A well spent day, we enjoyed thoroughly!!
A well spent day, we enjoyed thoroughly!!
Written 29 August 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dhhtravel
Hong Kong21 contributions
I took train from Vienna to Melk and visited Melk Abbey. The Abbey is located on the top of a mount in a small beautiful town. I enjoyed the walk inside the Abbey so much. It is a wonderful place for art and history.
Then, I took Danube cruise to St Polten and then back to Vienna. The 2 hour cruise is another wonderful travel along River Danube.
If I can go there again next time, I will follow the above route again to feel the cultural and natural refreshment.
Then, I took Danube cruise to St Polten and then back to Vienna. The 2 hour cruise is another wonderful travel along River Danube.
If I can go there again next time, I will follow the above route again to feel the cultural and natural refreshment.
Written 12 February 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
redeco
Warren, MA9,297 contributions
Dec 2010
My visit to the Wachau Valley included a tour of Melk Abbey, a stop at Durnstein for a little sightseeing and shopping, and a stop in Weissenkirchen for a glass of gluhwein at Alte Poste in Weissenkirchen. The weather was lovely for December with even a glimpse of sunshine.
I'd recommend a day to explore town to town along the Danube. Nice people, good photo opportunities, and lots of good dining. Krems is another slightly larger town that should be interesting.
Enjoy!
I'd recommend a day to explore town to town along the Danube. Nice people, good photo opportunities, and lots of good dining. Krems is another slightly larger town that should be interesting.
Enjoy!
Written 16 February 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Crumudgeon
Nashville, TN69 contributions
Jun 2017 • Family
However you do it, get yourself to the Wachau valley! This stretch of the Danube is among the most picturesque in the world -- earning it a UNESCO world heritage designation. This valley has also been populated for 25,000 years, evidenced by the 'Venus of Willendorf' fertility figure uncovered here, now residing in the Natural History Museum in Vienna.
You can bike, hike, cruise or like we did -- take the bus from village to village. You do not have to do an organized tour but that might allow easier access to wineries (we did not do that). Because of the less frequent boats, it is not easy to explore the villages or wineries by cruise. Also, in summer you must book ahead to secure a place on one of the boat lines (Brandner or DDSG)
We took a train from Wien Hauptbahnhof to Melk (1 change). The OBB (Austrian Rail) info office explained exactly where and how to change trains and printed out the time table for me. On arrival in Melk, the street just opposite the station leads down the hill to the center of the village with the great Abbey of Melk on a bluff above. At the Tourist Info (TI) office on the main road at the base of the Abbey (and at the Danube canal) we were given the timetable of the bus line. The WL (Wachau Line) offers a 10 Euro hop on / hop off all day price (5 Euro for kids). It seems to run in a continuous circuit up and down the Danube stopping at all the towns. In the long daylight of summer it runs pretty late. We caught the 20:16 from Durnstein which made its way to the Krems train station from where we took the train back to Vienna. I believe there was one last WL bus an hour later as well.
The guidebooks will tell you get to the Wachau by late morning. Do NOT let that dissuade you from venturing out later in the day if that is the time you have. We left Vienna mid afternoon on a Saturday and as above left Durnstein in the evening. The long days of summer were perfect for this.
On a nice day in the Wachau there is beauty at every turn. Views from the river up to some of the villages or vice versa; views of the vineyards making their orderly way up the hills; views of church towers and distant castles around a bend in the river... all with the breeze and sun...truly a magical journey.
You can bike, hike, cruise or like we did -- take the bus from village to village. You do not have to do an organized tour but that might allow easier access to wineries (we did not do that). Because of the less frequent boats, it is not easy to explore the villages or wineries by cruise. Also, in summer you must book ahead to secure a place on one of the boat lines (Brandner or DDSG)
We took a train from Wien Hauptbahnhof to Melk (1 change). The OBB (Austrian Rail) info office explained exactly where and how to change trains and printed out the time table for me. On arrival in Melk, the street just opposite the station leads down the hill to the center of the village with the great Abbey of Melk on a bluff above. At the Tourist Info (TI) office on the main road at the base of the Abbey (and at the Danube canal) we were given the timetable of the bus line. The WL (Wachau Line) offers a 10 Euro hop on / hop off all day price (5 Euro for kids). It seems to run in a continuous circuit up and down the Danube stopping at all the towns. In the long daylight of summer it runs pretty late. We caught the 20:16 from Durnstein which made its way to the Krems train station from where we took the train back to Vienna. I believe there was one last WL bus an hour later as well.
The guidebooks will tell you get to the Wachau by late morning. Do NOT let that dissuade you from venturing out later in the day if that is the time you have. We left Vienna mid afternoon on a Saturday and as above left Durnstein in the evening. The long days of summer were perfect for this.
On a nice day in the Wachau there is beauty at every turn. Views from the river up to some of the villages or vice versa; views of the vineyards making their orderly way up the hills; views of church towers and distant castles around a bend in the river... all with the breeze and sun...truly a magical journey.
Written 4 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FionaWPerth
Perth125 contributions
Apr 2014 • Friends
The Wachau wine cruise can be done very easily by yourself. We had booked a tour but when they had not confirmed by the the night before we were due to go, I started researching how to do it independently and was surprised how easy it was. You can buy a combination ticket at any main rail station for a train to Melk, a tour of the abbey, a DGG or Brandsron river cruise and a train back to Vienna from Krems very easily and this means you choose which trains and which cruise giving you the flexibility to make it as short or as long as you wish. I was with my mum who can't walk far and it was much better doing it on our own and missing out all that hanging around waiting for other people in the tour. There is no need to buy a tour for twice the price unless you really want the coach transport rather than the train. The scenery from Vienna to Melk appears to be very flat and uninteresting and the same back from Krems to Vienna so, retrospectively, we felt doing it independently was the way to go, especially as the tour we were going to go on didn't include hotel pick up or drop off nor lunch.
Written 7 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Costadreamer
County Tipperary, Ireland108 contributions
Sept 2012 • Couples
My husband and I pre-booked this day trip through Viator before visiting Vienna in September 2012. I would have to say that it was a day to remember. We were lucky to have great weather which was a bonus. We were picked up at our hotel and taken to the coach park, where we departed for the day trip. We arrived in Spitz to await our river cruiser - it was a beautiful journey from there down the Danube passing lovely villages and castles on the way to Melk. Once in Melk we were taken on a guided tour of the fabulous Benedectine Abbey - it's a must see! After the tour we had time for lunch and taking photographs from the vantage points on the balcony of the Abbey. We then traveled back to Vienna by coach and were dropped at the Opera House. A super day out and we were so glad we booked it.
Written 17 March 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Did you bike starting from Melk to Krems? If so, were you able to rent the bike and ride it one way and not have to make the round trip to return the bike?
Written 24 October 2019
We rented the Bike at hotel schwarzer Bär and make a round Trip from emmersdorf to Krems and Back andcthe opposite Side from mautern to Melk.
Written 23 November 2019
שלום רב, אשמח לדעת האם בתחילת מרץ מזג האוויר מאפשר טיול ב trail, ולא קר מידיי. כמו כן, האם זמינים מקומות לינה , תחבורה וכד'. תודה רבה יעל
Written 22 October 2019
Hi,
Can I ask who you rented bikes through?
Did you do a bike tour through them?
How strenuous and how long did you bike?
Thank you so much,
Pattie
Written 28 September 2019
Hi we rented the Bike at hotel schwarzer Bär emmersdorf and drove a round course from emmersdorf to Krems and Back in the Others Side of the danube from mautern to Melk.
IT toll ist six hours gut we Made three stops for Haftung Lunch an a Coffee and a glass of wine.
Written 23 November 2019
Hey all there,
Is it necessary to prebook the cruise from Durbstien to melk? Or can i jus buy them on the day at the dock?
Can anyone help:)?
Thanks
Shravan
Written 12 May 2019
We were 18 ppl and bought cruise ticket at last minute , just before departure time . Only problem is no reserve seat number so if you want great fun of valley than you have to seat on top roof . For that you have to reach earlier than boarding start . It is really good natural scenery , reach earliest as u can . I think buying tickets is not issue .
Written 12 May 2019
Hola,
Me está resultando imposible planificar la visita al Wachau. Me gustaría visitar Melk, Krems, Spitz y Durnstein pero no encuentro cómo hacerlo. Se que existen billetes combinados de tren y barco pero parece que solo hay un barco al día o yo no sé mirarlo bien. Podría alguien ayudarme a planificar el viaje? Muchas gracias!
Written 16 April 2019
This June I am staying in Melk for 2 days. Is it possible to get a ferry from Melk to Dürnstein and return by bus?
Written 7 March 2019
From what we found while biking along the Danube was that the fast ferries don't take you down, only across. But don't quote me! You could do a longer boat ride down the river, but those are at a leisurely, sight-seeing pace. If your goal is simply to cross to explore the town of Durnstein, then you'll have to travel further down to use the ferry to cross. Rent a bike, enjoy the ride and then cross at Spitz and go down to Durnstein. There are busses that will take you back. You should try Krems too. It's a pretty cool city.
Written 7 March 2019
What is a good winery to visit in wachau valley? Taking a day trip from Vienna and would like to stop by a good winery
Written 27 August 2018
Try the smaller, independent ones in Spitz. Just google for the day and time you will be there as they are open at different times on different days (and in different seasons). Spitz is a fantastic place for wineries and cafes. We highly recommend eating at Prankle's down by the river.
We visited the domane wachau winery near Krems, and whilst we love their wine, the visit wasn't so great. It's a huge vineyard and quite commercial and not very personalised attention.
Written 28 August 2018
azadtalibov
Baku, Azerbaijan
Уважаемая Рита,
Огромное вам спасибо за вашие детальные рекомендации по путешествию. Но у меня возникли некоторые вопросы. Подскажите пожалуйста, сколько времени можно провести в самих городах Мельк и Кремс( час , полтора и т. д) во время путешествия из Вены туда и обратно по режиму "комбитикета". Ведь еа мой взгляд, нужно будет ориентироваться по графикам отплытия теплохода из Мелька в Кремс. Сушествует ли риск опоздания на теплоход отплывающий в тот день из Мелька в Кремс в конкретное время или можно сесть и на более поздний теплоход?
Written 13 August 2018
Anyone have any suggestions driving through the wachau valley? Like best routes, maybe stop at a good winery, good restaurants? Which roads to take... thanks!
Written 8 August 2018
Anyone have any suggestions driving through the wachau valley? Like best routes, maybe stop at a good winery, good restaurants? Which roads to take... thanks!
Written 8 August 2018
We spent 3 days driving through through the Wachau just 6 weeks ago and it was wonderful. One of the highlights of our trip.
From Vienna, we drove to Melk and spent a couple of hours visiting the Abbey, Then we stayed on that side of the river and meandered through pretty towns, stopping at Aggestein Castle. This was an unexpected delight and we spent a few hours wandering through here.
We stayed a couple of nights in Spitz at a winery, and that was a fantastic place to stay. Make sure you eat at Gasthaus Prankl - one of the most creative and delicious meals we ate. And try the Grüner Veltliner wine which is a specialty of the Wachau - we brought bottles back to Australia!
From Spitz you can jump on a cruise boat up to Durnstein and Krems. Then you can hire push bikes and ride back home (on "council" bikes) on the fabulous bikeways, that mostly wind through people's vineyards! Durnstein is quite touristy whereas Spitz and Wiesenkirchen are more village-like and I think just as pretty.
Our third day was spent meandering back to Vienna, but this time through Krems and Graffenegg. Try and find smaller, cellar door wineries. The big ones such as Domane Wachau are not as interesting.
Written 12 August 2018
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