# Wachau

A stretch of about 35 km of the Danube between Melk and Krems, a World Heritage site since 2000, with terraced vineyards of grüner veltliner and riesling, apricot trees and Baroque abbeys.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/austria/lower-austria/wachau · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## How to get there from Spain

Fly to Vienna. From Vienna's station there are trains to Krems, at the eastern end of the Wachau, and to Melk, at the western end, on the western line via St. Pölten. The Wachau line links Krems with Spitz along the north bank. You can do it as a day trip from Vienna, but with two nights you see it without rushing.

## Getting around the valley

The valley can be explored in three ways: the Danube cycle path, almost flat; the DDSG Blue Danube boats, which call at the villages; and the north-bank train. The most practical approach is to combine them: boat out, bike back, or the other way round. Bikes can go on the boat.

## Crowds and what to book

On summer weekends the cycle path and the boats are busier, and Dürnstein receives many day visitors. Book the Heuriger at the Domäne Wachau in July, because it fills up, and the Friday guided tour. For the boat and the bike, a day's notice is enough.

## Day trip from Vienna

If you only have one day, take the train to Melk in the morning, go into the abbey first thing, have lunch in the centre and take the afternoon boat downriver to Krems, where the train back to Vienna leaves. It runs from late March to early November, when the DDSG boats sail. In winter the valley is still beautiful, but without the boat or the Wachau train: then it is better by car, with the abbey and a walk around Dürnstein.

## Where to eat and sleep

There are three bases for sleeping. Dürnstein, in the middle of the valley, is the prettiest: the Hotel Schloss Dürnstein and the Richard Löwenherz are beside the river, but both close in winter and you cannot park in the village. Melk is the most practical for starting at the abbey and cycling downstream; the Hotel zur Post is in the centre, near the station. Krems has more choice and trains to Vienna all year. For eating, the Loibnerhof in Unterloiben is the classic Wachau house and the Landhaus Bacher, in Mautern, is the special-occasion meal with two Michelin stars.

## Dónde está
- Zonas: Danube
- Cerca: Göttweig Abbey and the Kamptal (a 7.5 km), Tulln an der Donau (a 39.9 km), Mödling and Burg Liechtenstein (a 66.2 km), Vienna (a 66.4 km)

## Qué hacer
- **Danube cycle path from Melk to Krems** (5 h · 35 km · Families and anyone who rides a bike): What it is
The Donauradweg, the Danube cycle path, crosses the Wachau from Melk to Krems along about 35 km of almost flat valley, always downriver. It is part of the Passau–Vienna route and passes terraced vineyards, apricot orchards, winegrowers' villages and castles above the water. There is a path on both banks and ferries to change from one to the other, so you can choose the side with less traffic and stop wherever you like. It is done in an easy day, with stops, and you return by boat with your bike on board.
The classic way is west to east: start in Melk, after seeing the abbey, and finish in Krems, with a direct train to Vienna.
Which bank to choose

South (right) bank: Melk, Aggsbach-Dorf, Aggstein, Oberarnsdorf, St. Lorenz, Rossatz and Rossatzbach. It is the quietest, among orchards, vineyards and riverside meadows, and avoids the main road until Rossatzbach, where the path runs beside the road.
North (left) bank: Emmersdorf, Willendorf, Spitz, Weißenkirchen, Dürnstein, Loiben and Krems. It passes through the best-known villages, but between Emmersdorf and Spitz and between Weißenkirchen and Dürnstein it runs on the pavement beside the B3 federal road, with a lot of traffic: with children, better avoided. From Spitz to Weißenkirchen it runs on the old Wachau road, which is quiet.

A comfortable combination: south bank from Melk to Oberarnsdorf, ferry to Spitz, north bank as far as Weißenkirchen and back to the south via St. Lorenz if you want to avoid the stretch beside the B3.
The ferries
There are three river crossings in the Wachau: Spitz – Arnsdorf and Weißenkirchen – St. Lorenz, with cable ferries that operate from April to October, with no fixed timetable, depending on demand; and Dürnstein – Rossatz, with a motor boat. Mautern and Krems-Stein are joined by a bridge.
Bike hire

Wachau Touristik Bernhardt: hires city, trekking, mountain and electric bikes in Melk (Pionierstraße 2) and in Spitz (Bahnhofstraße 6). Book by telephone (+43 2713 2222) or email; the website does not publish prices. If you ask, e-bikes hired in Melk can be returned in Krems or in Spitz.
nextbike: public bikes with stations along the Danube, from April to mid-November, which you can leave at another station.

Getting back

By boat: the DDSG Blue Danube boats between Krems and Melk carry bike racks; the bike pays €3, and is handled at the landing stage.
By train: direct trains to Vienna leave from Krems.

When to go and how long
From April to October, when the cable ferries are running. If you want to see the apricots, check the apricot season. Allow a whole day with stops: about 5 hours on the bike or less, plus the visits. There is little shade along much of the path.
With children
It is flat, so it suits children who already cycle, but avoid the stretches beside the B3 on the north bank. With small children, do only one stretch, for example from Spitz to Weißenkirchen along the old road, and return by boat.
- **Boat through the Wachau between Krems and Melk** (3 h 5 · All ages · From €34.50 per person; bike, €3): What it is
The Wachau is the stretch of the Danube between Krems and Melk: about 35 km of river among terraced vineyards, apricot orchards, winegrowers' villages and ruined castles, with Melk Abbey at the end. From the water you understand all of it. The DDSG Blue Danube boats run the scheduled cruise between Krems and Melk from March to November. Upriver, towards Melk, the journey takes about three hours; downriver, with the current, it is faster.
The most practical way is to do it in one direction and return by bike on the Donauradweg or by train.
Timetable 2027

Low season: from 20 March to 23 April and from 4 October to 1 November.
High season: from 24 April to 3 October.
On Saturday 19 June 2027 there are no regular cruises; the company publishes replacement departures.

From Krems to Melk:


StopMS Dürnstein (daily)MS Austria (Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays)


Krems/Stein10:1511:00
Dürnstein10:4511:30
Weißenkirchen—11:50
Spitz11:4512:30
Melk/Hafenspitz13:2014:05


For the Melk–Krems direction, check the company's timetable. When the Danube is low, DDSG changes timetables: check the notices on its website before going.
Prices and reservations
The cruise costs from €34.50 per person; the exact price depends on the day, the time and the extras you choose when buying. A bicycle pays €3 (€1.50 for a child's) and is only handled at the landing stage, not online. Dogs travel free, on a lead and muzzled.
You can buy online, at the ticket offices, by post or by telephone (+43 1 588 80-500). The company recommends booking at weekends, on public holidays and in high season. Cancellation is free up to 14 days before.
Eating on board
Each boat has a restaurant. You may not bring your own food or drink on board. There are paid extras: captain's menu, schnitzel, wine tasting or Wachau breakfast.
Getting to the landing stages

Krems/Stein: Welterbeplatz 1, in the Stein district. Krems has a direct train to Vienna.
Melk/Hafenspitz: Kolomaniau 1, beside the Rollfährestraße. The ticket office is open from 9:30 to 16:30. From here you climb to Melk Abbey.

With children and bikes
It is a comfortable plan with children of any age: they can move around the deck and get off at a village halfway. With a bike, the boat has racks: boat to Melk in the morning and cycle back downriver to Krems.
- **Melk Abbey, library and Baroque church** (1 h 30 · Adults and teenagers · Adult €16; family €32; guided tour €4 more): What it is
Melk Abbey is a Benedictine monastery on a rock above the Danube, at the western end of the Wachau. Monks have lived here since 21 March 1089, and the building you see is a Baroque reconstruction commissioned by Abbot Berthold Dietmayr and directed by Jakob Prandtauer: work began in 1702 and the church was consecrated in 1746. The south wing is more than 240 m long. It receives about 500,000 visitors a year, forms part of the Wachau landscape declared a World Heritage site, and its school is the oldest in Austria still in operation.
What you see
With your ticket you walk through:

The former imperial rooms, where the emperor's family stayed, converted into the abbey museum, with Jörg Breu's altarpiece.
The Marble Hall, with Paul Troger's ceiling fresco of 1731.
The terrace, to the west, which links the Marble Hall with the library, with a view of the river, the town and the church facade.
The library: about 100,000 volumes, nearly 1,800 manuscripts from the 9th century and about 750 incunabula, under Troger's frescoes.
The church, with Johann Michael Rottmayr's frescoes in the dome and nave.
The abbey park, with its Baroque pavilion, and the year's temporary exhibitions.

Opening hours

2 November 2026 – 6 January 2027: with or without a guide, from 10:00 to 16:30; last entry at 15:45. On 24 December, only from 10:00 to 12:30.
7 January – 28 February 2027: guided tour only, at 11:00, 13:30 and 15:00.
1 – 19 March 2027: on weekdays, with a guide only; Saturdays and Sundays, with or without a guide, from 10:00 to 16:30.
20 – 31 March and 1 November 2027: from 9:00 to 16:30; last entry at 16:00.
1 April – 31 October 2027: from 9:00 to 17:30; last entry at 17:00.

Tickets
Prices from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027:


Price


Adult€16
Family (parents with children up to 16)€32
School pupils and students up to 27€8
Guided tour, supplement€4
Audioguide (Hearonymus app)From €3.99
Park only, adult€5.50


There are combined tickets with Artstetten Castle, the Schallaburg and Göttweig Abbey.
Guided tours
They last about 50 minutes. For individual travellers there is a tour in Spanish from May to September, at 14:50. In English they leave at 10:55 and 14:55 from April to October (also at 13:55 from May to September) and at 11:00, 13:30 and 15:00 from November to March. For queries, the abbey can be reached on +43 2752 555 232 or at tours@stiftmelk.at.
Getting there and parking
The abbey is at Abt-Berthold-Dietmayr-Straße 1, in Melk, and its map marks the walking route from the train station and from the landing stage. If you go by car, the visitor car park is free if you buy a ticket: validate the ticket at the ticket office in the first courtyard. It has barrier-free access and electric charging points.
The boat through the Wachau arrives at Melk from Krems, and here begins the Donauradweg for cycling downriver.
How long and accessibility
Allow an hour and a half for the abbey and half an hour more if you stroll through the park. There are barrier-free routes and lifts; the interior of the garden pavilion is not wheelchair accessible.
With children
Under-16s are covered by the €32 family ticket. With small children, prioritise the library, the terrace and the park; the museum rooms may feel long to them.
- **Domäne Wachau in Dürnstein: winery, tasting and the July Heuriger** (1 h 30 · Adults · Tour with tasting €32 per person): What it is
Domäne Wachau is the Wachau's great cooperative winery, in Dürnstein: it is made up of about 200 winegrowers, with about two hectares each on average. It began in the 1930s, when the Starhemberg family sold the estate to the people who worked its vineyards. It mainly makes Grüner Veltliner, about 70% of its vines, and Riesling, about 20%, in the three Wachau styles: Steinfeder, Federspiel and Smaragd, from lightest to most concentrated. Its image is the Kellerschlössel, a small Baroque palace among the vines.
To visit it you have three options: the guided tour with tasting on Fridays, the wine shop for tasting and buying, and the July Heuriger, the seasonal wine tavern.
The guided tour with tasting

What it is: a tour of the estate, the vineyards and the historic cellar, followed by a guided tasting of four wines with Wachauer Laberl bread rolls.
When: Fridays from April to October, at 15:00, for an hour and a half. The 2026 tour ended on 30 October; the 2027 dates have not yet been published.
Language: English.
Price: €32 per person. Under-7s do not pay. A group of up to six people pays €200 in total.
Bookings: online on the winery's website, choosing a date. For tailor-made appointments, at event@domaene-wachau.at or on +43 2711 37140.
Cancellation: free up to 24 hours before; after that they may charge the full amount.

The tour has a steep staircase and may include a walk through the vineyard. If you need a barrier-free visit, request it by email. Dogs may enter the tasting room and the shop, but not the cellar, except assistance dogs.
The wine shop
For tasting or buying on your own, the wine shop is open:

April to October: Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 17:00; Saturdays, from 10:00 to 14:00.
November, December and March: Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 17:00, except public holidays.
January and February: closed for the winter break.

The July Heuriger
On two weekends a year the winery opens its Heuriger in the Kellerschlössel garden, with a view over the Ried Kellerberg vineyard: in 2026 it ran from 3 to 6 and from 10 to 13 July, every day from 16:00. Heuriger specialities and regional nibbles are served with the whole range of the house wines, from fresh Federspiel to Smaragd and old bottles from the archive. The winery warns that it fills up. The 2027 dates have not yet been announced.
Getting there
The address is Dürnstein 107. If you come by bike on the Donauradweg or on the Wachau boat, which stops at Dürnstein, you arrive without a car. If you are going to taste, do not drive: the boat or the bike is the best option.
How long and who it is for
The tour lasts an hour and a half; with purchases at the wine shop, allow two hours. It is a plan for adults interested in wine. It fits well into a day in Dürnstein with the climb to the castle ruin by the Vogelbergsteig, better after the walk than before.
- **Wachau apricot season and the Spitz Marillenkirtag** (3 h · All ages · Independent; Kirtag admission to be confirmed): What it is and what you see
In July the Wachau smells of apricots. The Danube valley between Krems and Melk has about a hundred thousand apricot trees, and its fruit, the Wachauer Marille, has protected designation of origin: it is grown by 227 member producers. For a few weeks, restaurants serve Marillenknödel, the dough balls filled with apricot, plus cakes and jams, and producers sell freshly picked fruit at their farms.
The festive moment is the Marillenkirtag in Spitz, the apricot festival that fills the church square of this north-bank village. Three days of food and drink with the fruit as the star: Marillenknödel, cakes, jams, spirits, liqueurs and Wachau wines, with live music, folk music and dancing. It even has a vending machine for hot Marillenknödel, one of the festival's attractions. On Sunday the parade sets out, with the women in golden bonnets, the group in regional dress, the brass band, the firefighters and the apricot royal couple, King Marillus and Queen Aprikosia; the Goldene Marille is also presented, Spitz's recognition of people who have worked for the region.
When
The harvest begins in July and lasts three to four weeks. In 2026 the producers' association expected the bulk of the picking around 12–15 July, and by 1 August it was over. The apricots around Krems ripen first; a few days later, those of Spitz and Arnsdorf, and last those of the upper Wachau: Willendorf, Aggsbach-Markt, Aggstein and the Spitzer Graben. Frost, hail or storms can shift the dates and reduce the harvest, so check the status on the association's website before going.
The Marillenkirtag is held in July, from Friday to Sunday. In 2026 it ran from 17 to 19 July: Friday from 17:00, Saturday from 12:00 and Sunday from 9:00. The 2027 dates have not yet been announced.
How to buy real apricots
The fruit is sold almost only at the farm, ab Hof, or in the orchard itself. The association recommends phoning a producer first and reserving, because what is sold is whatever is ripe each day; on its website you have the list of producers and an offers exchange. Look for the European designation-of-origin seal and the Original Wachauer Marille mark on the boxes, and the association's flags and parasols at the stalls. Be wary of boxes that say only "frisch-saftig" or "Marillen aus der Region". Ripe fruit does not keep long and bruises easily: eat or cook it by the next day at the latest. The association does not recommend sending it by parcel service.
Admission and price
Seeing the valley and buying fruit costs nothing beyond what you take away. For the Marillenkirtag, in 2019 people paid €8 per day or €10 for all three days from age 16. We have not found a more recent price: ask at the Spitz tourist office, on +43 2713 2363 or at info@spitz-wachau.at.
Getting there
Spitz is on the north bank, on the Wachau train line that comes from Krems, and is a stop for the boats between Krems and Melk. If you go by bike, the Donauradweg runs along the river through the valley. The festival websites do not publish car parks or traffic closures; the train or the boat saves you looking for a space in a small village on a festival weekend.
Practical tips
Sunday, with the parade, is the fullest day of the Kirtag. With children, the Marillenknödel machine and the parade work well; with a pushchair, go early, before the square fills up. For fruit, book by phone before going to the farm.
Combine apricots with the rest of the valley: the July Heuriger at the Domäne Wachau in Dürnstein or Melk Abbey.
- **Vogelbergsteig and the Dürnstein castle ruin** (2 h 30 · 3.8 km · Teenagers and adults without a fear of heights · Independent · free): What it is
The Vogelbergsteig is a short, steep loop over the rocks above Dürnstein, in the Wachau. It is 3.8 km with 341 m of ascent, about 2 and a half hours, and the Donau Niederösterreich tourist office rates it as difficult: the last third goes over rock and a granite slab with gravel, with sections secured by cables and chains. At the top await the rocky outcrop of the Vogelberg, the Starhemberg viewing tower on the summit of the Schlossberg and the ruin of Dürnstein castle, where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in the late 12th century. Below, the Danube and the abbey's blue tower.
It is free and done independently.
The route, step by step

Start in Dürnstein. The route begins below, in the village, on the banks of the Danube (208 m).
The climb. A steep, varied path climbs the slope between woodland and rock.
The secured section. In the last third the path crosses rock and a granite slab with gravel; there are cables and chains to hold on to. It is the part that demands no fear of heights.
The Vogelberg. A rocky outcrop at 546 m, the great viewpoint over the valley.
The Starhemberg tower. On the summit of the Schlossberg, at 564 m. The key to the tower is requested at the Fesslhütte.
The castle ruin. You go down to the Dürnstein ruin and from there to the village, closing the loop.

Difficulty and who can do it
The tourist office gives it 4 out of 6 for both fitness and difficulty. The cables and chains are there for a reason: you need a firm foot, free hands and no fear of heights. It suits teenagers used to the mountains; not small children. If you only want the ruin, go up and down by the normal path from the village, without passing through the cable section.
Wear mountain footwear with a good sole. The gravel on the slab is slippery.
When to go
From spring to autumn, with the path dry. With snow or ice the route is closed for safety. After rain, the rock and gravel are slippery: wait for it to dry. In summer set out early, before the heat builds.
Getting there and parking
By car, take the A1 to Melk and the B3 to Dürnstein, or the S5 or S33 to Krems and the B3. Dürnstein has few visitor spaces, so arrive early or use public transport:

Bus 715, every hour, from Melk and Krems stations to the Parkplatz P2 stop in Dürnstein.
Wachau train (Wachaubahn), daily from 30 May to 1 November, from Emmersdorf or Krems.
nextbike bicycles, with stations in Dürnstein, at €1 per half hour.
Boat: the DDSG cruise stops at Dürnstein.

Water and food
There is nowhere to eat or drink on the route: bring water, especially in summer. In Dürnstein you have places to eat on the way down, and the Domäne Wachau, with its wine shop, is in the same village.
If the weather changes
In a storm, do not enter the cable section: wet rock and metal are a bad combination. If it catches you at the top, descend by the ruin path, which is the most direct to the village.

## Dónde comer
- **Loibnerhof** (Restaurant, Dürnstein (Unterloiben), €€€). Qué pedir: the Krebsnudeln (pasta with Danube crayfish), the pan-fried veal schnitzel and, for dessert, the Marillenbuchteln or the Topfenknödel with apricot.
- **Landhaus Bacher** (Restaurant, Mautern an der Donau, €€€€). Qué pedir: the long menu if it is the special meal of your trip; at midday from Thursday to Saturday there is a shorter midday table. Ask for the pairing with Wachau wines.
- **Hotel zur Post restaurant** (Restaurant, Melk, €€). Qué pedir: the Mittagsteller (midday dish of the day) or a schnitzel; in autumn, the goose, and for dessert something with apricot.

## Car-free: Train, boat and bike along the Danube
The Wachau is one of the few valleys in Europe that can be done entirely without a car: a train from Vienna to Krems or Melk, a DDSG boat between the two ends, the Wachau train on the north bank in season and an almost flat cycle path beside the river. The only thing it asks is that you check timetables, because the boats and the Wachau train only run from spring to autumn.
Presupuesto orientativo: 110–180 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir without a car
- **Hotel Restaurant zur Post** (Hotel): The house
A hotel of the Ebner family in the very centre of Melk, on the Linzer Straße, round the corner from the main square. The rooms are named after Wachau wines: Steinfeder (25 m²), Federspiel and Nibelungen (30 m²), Smaragd (35 m²), and two suites of 55 and 60 m², the larger for four people. Some see the abbey. Downstairs is the house restaurant, with a dish of the day at midday.
Who it is for
It is the comfortable base for starting the Wachau from the west: you arrive by train from Vienna at Melk station, a few minutes' walk away, see the abbey first thing before the groups and the next day go down the valley by bike or boat. It has a bike store with charging for e-bikes and packages designed for Danube cyclists. Reception is open from 7:30 to 20:30; check-out is at 11:00. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.
Getting there
By train, to Melk station; by car, on the A1, Melk exit. The DDSG landing stage at Melk is about 15 minutes' walk away.
- **arte Hotel Krems** (Hotel): The house
A modern hotel in the Kunstmeile district of Krems, the street of museums that links Stein with the centre, next to the university campus. Bright rooms, art in the lobby and a gym. It does not have the charm of a vineyard village, but it does have the practical: a garage under the building, a safe place for bikes and a train to Vienna.
Practical matters
There is a garage under the hotel, with a bicycle cage with charging for e-bikes, and four public chargers for electric cars opposite. Without a car, the regional train stops at the Campus-Kunstmeile halt, a few steps away, and the city bus has a stop about 100 m away.
What is nearby
The DDSG landing stage at Krems/Stein, from which the boats to Melk leave, is a walk away. The old centre of Stein, with its winegrowers' houses, and the centre of Krems are on foot. To the west, the Danube cycle path takes you to Dürnstein in a little under an hour at an easy pace.
### Servicios
- **Wachaubahn, the train from Krems to Emmersdorf**: A seasonal panoramic train on the north bank · In 2026, Friday to Sunday from 13 March and daily from 24 April to 1 November · Bikes admitted
- **Melk tourist office (Wachau Info-Center)**: Wachau information, boats and accommodation · In November and December, Monday to Thursday from 8:00 to 16:00 and Friday from 8:00 to 12:00
- **Krems an der Donau station**: Regional trains to Vienna and departure point of the Wachaubahn · About 15 minutes' walk from the Krems/Stein landing stage

## By bike: The Danube by bike, from Melk to Krems
The Danube cycle path runs through the Wachau on both banks, almost flat, among vineyards and apricot orchards: from Melk to Krems it is about 35 km. The comfortable way is to go downriver with the current, west to east, and combine with the boat or the train so you do not have to pedal back.
Presupuesto orientativo: 100–170 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're cycling
- **Hotel Schloss Dürnstein** (Hotel): The house
A 17th-century castle on the bank of the Danube, at the foot of Dürnstein's old town, converted into a five-star hotel. The rooms and suites occupy the historic halls; many face the river. It has outdoor and indoor pools, a spa, a library, a bar and a terrace restaurant over the water that is open to non-residents. It also hires out bikes.
Season
It is a seasonal hotel: in 2027 it opens on 26 March and closes on 21 October. In winter only the rooms in the gate building (Tor) and the Villa Schönthal are in use, with breakfast in the castle shop. The pool, spa and bike hire close from late October to late March.
Getting there and parking
In Dürnstein street parking is prohibited: guests leave their car inside the castle grounds, where there are electric chargers. By train you reach Dürnstein-Oberloiben station on the Wachau line, seasonal, or Krems, 7 km away. The landing stage for the DDSG boats is a few steps away.
The terrace
The restaurant is open at midday and in the evening with no day off during the season, and there is usually a table on the same day if you book in the morning. It is a good midday meal even if you are sleeping elsewhere.
- **Hotel Richard Löwenherz** (Hotel): The house
The Richard Löwenherz occupies a former 13th-century Poor Clares convent in the centre of Dürnstein, with the cloister garden and the terrace over the Danube. It has double rooms, single rooms, junior suites with a river view and suites, all air-conditioned, and apartments in a separate house. The ruin of the castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned is just above.
Practical matters
Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out until 11:00; if you arrive after 18:00, let them know. Although Dürnstein is pedestrianised, guests can drive up to the hotel, with few spaces. The outdoor pool is open from May to September. It hires bikes for €15 and electric bikes for €35 a day, just right for the Danube path. The restaurant opens from mid-April to mid-October and is closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
With a dog
It admits dogs for €20 a night; they may not enter the cloister garden or the breakfast room.
- **Hotel Restaurant zur Post** (Hotel): The house
A hotel of the Ebner family in the very centre of Melk, on the Linzer Straße, round the corner from the main square. The rooms are named after Wachau wines: Steinfeder (25 m²), Federspiel and Nibelungen (30 m²), Smaragd (35 m²), and two suites of 55 and 60 m², the larger for four people. Some see the abbey. Downstairs is the house restaurant, with a dish of the day at midday.
Who it is for
It is the comfortable base for starting the Wachau from the west: you arrive by train from Vienna at Melk station, a few minutes' walk away, see the abbey first thing before the groups and the next day go down the valley by bike or boat. It has a bike store with charging for e-bikes and packages designed for Danube cyclists. Reception is open from 7:30 to 20:30; check-out is at 11:00. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.
Getting there
By train, to Melk station; by car, on the A1, Melk exit. The DDSG landing stage at Melk is about 15 minutes' walk away.
- **arte Hotel Krems** (Hotel): The house
A modern hotel in the Kunstmeile district of Krems, the street of museums that links Stein with the centre, next to the university campus. Bright rooms, art in the lobby and a gym. It does not have the charm of a vineyard village, but it does have the practical: a garage under the building, a safe place for bikes and a train to Vienna.
Practical matters
There is a garage under the hotel, with a bicycle cage with charging for e-bikes, and four public chargers for electric cars opposite. Without a car, the regional train stops at the Campus-Kunstmeile halt, a few steps away, and the city bus has a stop about 100 m away.
What is nearby
The DDSG landing stage at Krems/Stein, from which the boats to Melk leave, is a walk away. The old centre of Stein, with its winegrowers' houses, and the centre of Krems are on foot. To the west, the Danube cycle path takes you to Dürnstein in a little under an hour at an easy pace.
### Servicios
- **Wachaubahn, the train from Krems to Emmersdorf**: A seasonal panoramic train on the north bank · In 2026, Friday to Sunday from 13 March and daily from 24 April to 1 November · Bikes admitted
- **Melk tourist office (Wachau Info-Center)**: Wachau information, boats and accommodation · In November and December, Monday to Thursday from 8:00 to 16:00 and Friday from 8:00 to 12:00
- **Krems an der Donau station**: Regional trains to Vienna and departure point of the Wachaubahn · About 15 minutes' walk from the Krems/Stein landing stage

## By car: By car on both banks
By car you travel along both banks and reach the Heurigen and viewpoints that are far from the boat stops. The valley has a road on each bank and bridges at Krems-Mautern and Melk, and small ferries at Spitz, Weißenkirchen and Dürnstein. Watch out for Dürnstein: you cannot park in the village.
Presupuesto orientativo: 120–200 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're driving
- **Hotel Schloss Dürnstein** (Hotel): The house
A 17th-century castle on the bank of the Danube, at the foot of Dürnstein's old town, converted into a five-star hotel. The rooms and suites occupy the historic halls; many face the river. It has outdoor and indoor pools, a spa, a library, a bar and a terrace restaurant over the water that is open to non-residents. It also hires out bikes.
Season
It is a seasonal hotel: in 2027 it opens on 26 March and closes on 21 October. In winter only the rooms in the gate building (Tor) and the Villa Schönthal are in use, with breakfast in the castle shop. The pool, spa and bike hire close from late October to late March.
Getting there and parking
In Dürnstein street parking is prohibited: guests leave their car inside the castle grounds, where there are electric chargers. By train you reach Dürnstein-Oberloiben station on the Wachau line, seasonal, or Krems, 7 km away. The landing stage for the DDSG boats is a few steps away.
The terrace
The restaurant is open at midday and in the evening with no day off during the season, and there is usually a table on the same day if you book in the morning. It is a good midday meal even if you are sleeping elsewhere.
- **Hotel Richard Löwenherz** (Hotel): The house
The Richard Löwenherz occupies a former 13th-century Poor Clares convent in the centre of Dürnstein, with the cloister garden and the terrace over the Danube. It has double rooms, single rooms, junior suites with a river view and suites, all air-conditioned, and apartments in a separate house. The ruin of the castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned is just above.
Practical matters
Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out until 11:00; if you arrive after 18:00, let them know. Although Dürnstein is pedestrianised, guests can drive up to the hotel, with few spaces. The outdoor pool is open from May to September. It hires bikes for €15 and electric bikes for €35 a day, just right for the Danube path. The restaurant opens from mid-April to mid-October and is closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
With a dog
It admits dogs for €20 a night; they may not enter the cloister garden or the breakfast room.
- **Hotel Restaurant zur Post** (Hotel): The house
A hotel of the Ebner family in the very centre of Melk, on the Linzer Straße, round the corner from the main square. The rooms are named after Wachau wines: Steinfeder (25 m²), Federspiel and Nibelungen (30 m²), Smaragd (35 m²), and two suites of 55 and 60 m², the larger for four people. Some see the abbey. Downstairs is the house restaurant, with a dish of the day at midday.
Who it is for
It is the comfortable base for starting the Wachau from the west: you arrive by train from Vienna at Melk station, a few minutes' walk away, see the abbey first thing before the groups and the next day go down the valley by bike or boat. It has a bike store with charging for e-bikes and packages designed for Danube cyclists. Reception is open from 7:30 to 20:30; check-out is at 11:00. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.
Getting there
By train, to Melk station; by car, on the A1, Melk exit. The DDSG landing stage at Melk is about 15 minutes' walk away.
- **arte Hotel Krems** (Hotel): The house
A modern hotel in the Kunstmeile district of Krems, the street of museums that links Stein with the centre, next to the university campus. Bright rooms, art in the lobby and a gym. It does not have the charm of a vineyard village, but it does have the practical: a garage under the building, a safe place for bikes and a train to Vienna.
Practical matters
There is a garage under the hotel, with a bicycle cage with charging for e-bikes, and four public chargers for electric cars opposite. Without a car, the regional train stops at the Campus-Kunstmeile halt, a few steps away, and the city bus has a stop about 100 m away.
What is nearby
The DDSG landing stage at Krems/Stein, from which the boats to Melk leave, is a walk away. The old centre of Stein, with its winegrowers' houses, and the centre of Krems are on foot. To the west, the Danube cycle path takes you to Dürnstein in a little under an hour at an easy pace.
### Servicios
- **Melk tourist office (Wachau Info-Center)**: Wachau information, boats and accommodation · In November and December, Monday to Thursday from 8:00 to 16:00 and Friday from 8:00 to 12:00

## Luxury: A castle by the river and two stars
The Wachau offers a luxury weekend without ostentation: sleeping in Dürnstein castle or in Richard the Lionheart's former convent, eating at the Landhaus Bacher and spending the afternoon on the terrace over the Danube with a riesling or a grüner veltliner from the valley. It works from late March to October, when the seasonal hotels are open.
Presupuesto orientativo: From €350 por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir in style
- **Hotel Schloss Dürnstein** (Hotel): The house
A 17th-century castle on the bank of the Danube, at the foot of Dürnstein's old town, converted into a five-star hotel. The rooms and suites occupy the historic halls; many face the river. It has outdoor and indoor pools, a spa, a library, a bar and a terrace restaurant over the water that is open to non-residents. It also hires out bikes.
Season
It is a seasonal hotel: in 2027 it opens on 26 March and closes on 21 October. In winter only the rooms in the gate building (Tor) and the Villa Schönthal are in use, with breakfast in the castle shop. The pool, spa and bike hire close from late October to late March.
Getting there and parking
In Dürnstein street parking is prohibited: guests leave their car inside the castle grounds, where there are electric chargers. By train you reach Dürnstein-Oberloiben station on the Wachau line, seasonal, or Krems, 7 km away. The landing stage for the DDSG boats is a few steps away.
The terrace
The restaurant is open at midday and in the evening with no day off during the season, and there is usually a table on the same day if you book in the morning. It is a good midday meal even if you are sleeping elsewhere.
- **Hotel Richard Löwenherz** (Hotel): The house
The Richard Löwenherz occupies a former 13th-century Poor Clares convent in the centre of Dürnstein, with the cloister garden and the terrace over the Danube. It has double rooms, single rooms, junior suites with a river view and suites, all air-conditioned, and apartments in a separate house. The ruin of the castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned is just above.
Practical matters
Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out until 11:00; if you arrive after 18:00, let them know. Although Dürnstein is pedestrianised, guests can drive up to the hotel, with few spaces. The outdoor pool is open from May to September. It hires bikes for €15 and electric bikes for €35 a day, just right for the Danube path. The restaurant opens from mid-April to mid-October and is closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
With a dog
It admits dogs for €20 a night; they may not enter the cloister garden or the breakfast room.

## By plane: Fly to Vienna and take a train or drive to the Wachau
The Wachau has no airport: you fly to Vienna-Schwechat (VIE), which has direct flights from Madrid, Barcelona and other Spanish cities. From the airport it is a little over an hour by motorway to Krems or Melk. Without a car, you go first to the centre of Vienna and continue by regional train to Krems, at the eastern end of the valley, or to Melk, in the west.
### Dónde dormir if you're flying
- **Hotel Schloss Dürnstein** (Hotel): The house
A 17th-century castle on the bank of the Danube, at the foot of Dürnstein's old town, converted into a five-star hotel. The rooms and suites occupy the historic halls; many face the river. It has outdoor and indoor pools, a spa, a library, a bar and a terrace restaurant over the water that is open to non-residents. It also hires out bikes.
Season
It is a seasonal hotel: in 2027 it opens on 26 March and closes on 21 October. In winter only the rooms in the gate building (Tor) and the Villa Schönthal are in use, with breakfast in the castle shop. The pool, spa and bike hire close from late October to late March.
Getting there and parking
In Dürnstein street parking is prohibited: guests leave their car inside the castle grounds, where there are electric chargers. By train you reach Dürnstein-Oberloiben station on the Wachau line, seasonal, or Krems, 7 km away. The landing stage for the DDSG boats is a few steps away.
The terrace
The restaurant is open at midday and in the evening with no day off during the season, and there is usually a table on the same day if you book in the morning. It is a good midday meal even if you are sleeping elsewhere.
- **Hotel Richard Löwenherz** (Hotel): The house
The Richard Löwenherz occupies a former 13th-century Poor Clares convent in the centre of Dürnstein, with the cloister garden and the terrace over the Danube. It has double rooms, single rooms, junior suites with a river view and suites, all air-conditioned, and apartments in a separate house. The ruin of the castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned is just above.
Practical matters
Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out until 11:00; if you arrive after 18:00, let them know. Although Dürnstein is pedestrianised, guests can drive up to the hotel, with few spaces. The outdoor pool is open from May to September. It hires bikes for €15 and electric bikes for €35 a day, just right for the Danube path. The restaurant opens from mid-April to mid-October and is closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
With a dog
It admits dogs for €20 a night; they may not enter the cloister garden or the breakfast room.
- **Hotel Restaurant zur Post** (Hotel): The house
A hotel of the Ebner family in the very centre of Melk, on the Linzer Straße, round the corner from the main square. The rooms are named after Wachau wines: Steinfeder (25 m²), Federspiel and Nibelungen (30 m²), Smaragd (35 m²), and two suites of 55 and 60 m², the larger for four people. Some see the abbey. Downstairs is the house restaurant, with a dish of the day at midday.
Who it is for
It is the comfortable base for starting the Wachau from the west: you arrive by train from Vienna at Melk station, a few minutes' walk away, see the abbey first thing before the groups and the next day go down the valley by bike or boat. It has a bike store with charging for e-bikes and packages designed for Danube cyclists. Reception is open from 7:30 to 20:30; check-out is at 11:00. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.
Getting there
By train, to Melk station; by car, on the A1, Melk exit. The DDSG landing stage at Melk is about 15 minutes' walk away.
- **arte Hotel Krems** (Hotel): The house
A modern hotel in the Kunstmeile district of Krems, the street of museums that links Stein with the centre, next to the university campus. Bright rooms, art in the lobby and a gym. It does not have the charm of a vineyard village, but it does have the practical: a garage under the building, a safe place for bikes and a train to Vienna.
Practical matters
There is a garage under the hotel, with a bicycle cage with charging for e-bikes, and four public chargers for electric cars opposite. Without a car, the regional train stops at the Campus-Kunstmeile halt, a few steps away, and the city bus has a stop about 100 m away.
What is nearby
The DDSG landing stage at Krems/Stein, from which the boats to Melk leave, is a walk away. The old centre of Stein, with its winegrowers' houses, and the centre of Krems are on foot. To the west, the Danube cycle path takes you to Dürnstein in a little under an hour at an easy pace.
### Servicios
- **Krems an der Donau station**: Regional trains to Vienna and departure point of the Wachaubahn · About 15 minutes' walk from the Krems/Stein landing stage

## As a family: The Danube by bike and boat

The Wachau is good for families because it is flat and can be cut into stages: a stretch of cycling, a boat to come back and a stop to eat apricots.

### What works best
A stretch of the Donauradweg, for example from Spitz to Dürnstein

The DDSG boat, with the bike on board

Melk Abbey, with a €32 family ticket

### Where to sleep
Spitz or Weißenkirchen, in the middle of the valley

Krems, with more choice and a train to Vienna

### Where to eat
Marillenknödel in July

Heurigen with cold food, when they are open

### Bear in mind
The cycle path has little shade in summer

The boats have fewer departures outside high season

### Qué hacer as a family
- Danube cycle path from Melk to Krems
- Boat through the Wachau between Krems and Melk
- Melk Abbey, library and Baroque church
- Wachau apricot season and the Spitz Marillenkirtag

## With teenagers: Bikes, castle and cables

Teenagers like the Wachau if they are on the move: a whole day on the bike, the climb with cables to Dürnstein castle and the boat for a rest.

### What works best
The whole Donauradweg from Melk to Krems

The Vogelbergsteig at Dürnstein, with cable and chain sections

The library of Melk Abbey

### Where to sleep
Krems, with more atmosphere and a train to Vienna

Spitz

### Where to eat
Sandwiches and fruit for the bike ride

A Marillenknödel in July

### Bear in mind
Sturdy footwear is needed on the Vogelbergsteig

Students up to 27 pay €8 at Melk

### Qué hacer with teenagers
- Danube cycle path from Melk to Krems
- Boat through the Wachau between Krems and Melk
- Melk Abbey, library and Baroque church
- Vogelbergsteig and the Dürnstein castle ruin

## Consejos

### Cycle down the river
Start in Melk and finish in Krems, where you have a train to Vienna.

### Go in July
It is apricot season: Marillenknödel in the restaurants and the Marillenkirtag in Spitz.

### Look for open Heurigen
The winegrowers' taverns open only a few weeks a year; ask at the tourist offices which Heuriger is open on your dates.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### Can it be done in a day from Vienna?
Yes: train to Melk, abbey, boat to Krems and train back. With two days you add cycling and the Heurigen.

### How many kilometres is it by bike?
About 35 km from Melk to Krems, almost flat.

### What is a Heuriger?
A winegrower's tavern that serves its own wine of the year with cold food. It opens only a few weeks a year.

### When are the apricots in season?
In July. In 2026 the harvest ended in early August.

### Where is it best to sleep, Melk, Dürnstein or Krems?
Dürnstein is the prettiest village, but its hotels close in winter and you cannot park inside. Melk is convenient for starting at the abbey; Krems has more hotels and trains to Vienna all year.

### Do the boats run in winter?
No. In 2027 DDSG sails between Krems and Melk from 20 March to 1 November.