Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Wachau (Melk, Dürnstein & Krems)
Terraced vineyards, apricot orchards, baroque abbeys and castle ruins along the UNESCO Danube valley between Melk and Krems.
Best time to visit: Apricot blossom turns the valley white from late March to mid-April, usually for only a few days at full bloom, and the DDSG Blue Danube boats run daily from 28 March to 1 November 2026. The apricot harvest is in mid-July: in 2026 the Spitz Marillenkirtag took place on 17-19 July, Marillen Sommer in Spitz ran from 26 June to 26 July, and Alles Marille in Krems ran Thursday to Sunday from 9 to 26 July. Summer is warm and the villages are busiest around midday, so arrive early. September to November is the wine-harvest season, good for cycling the Danube path. In Advent there are markets in Krems (19 November to 23 December 2026), at Stift Göttweig (28 November to 6 December), and in Dürnstein and Melk.
Getting your bearings: The Wachau is a 36 km UNESCO stretch of the Danube between Melk in the west and Krems in the east. Melk, with its huge baroque abbey, is the western gateway; Krems and its twin town Stein are the eastern gateway, about an hour by regional train from Vienna. In the middle lie Spitz, Weißenkirchen and Dürnstein with terraced vineyards and wine taverns. DDSG Blue Danube boats link Krems, Dürnstein, Weißenkirchen, Spitz, Emmersdorf and Melk daily from 28 March to 1 November 2026. The Wachaubahn tourist train runs between Krems and Emmersdorf on weekends and holidays from mid-March to November, daily from 1 May to 2 November, and on selected dates in December. Regional buses (line 715 Melk-Krems on the north bank, line 720 on the south bank) cover both banks, and the flat Danube cycle path is the classic way to link the villages.
Wachau Advent: Krems, Göttweig, Dürnstein & Melk (Wachauer Advent)
The Kremser Advent fills the old town with Christmas stalls, around 30 mulled-wine stands and music from 19 November to 23 December 2026; the Wachauer Adventmarkt in the Dominikanerkirche is open on three Advent weekends from 10:00 to 19:00 with free entry. Stift Göttweig holds its Advent market from Saturday 28 November to Sunday 6 December 2026, daily 10:00-17:30, with an entrance fee of EUR 5. Dürnstein's Wachauer Advent between the abbey and the boat landing, which in 2025 included a floating market on a decorated ship, has run on weekends from late November to mid-December, and Melk's Advent in the town centre has run from late November to about 21 December. Krems is about an hour by regional train from Vienna; Göttweig is on a hill above the Danube, so allow time for the climb or a taxi. Pick one market per evening, because the villages are small and daylight ends early.
All the sights in Wachau (Melk, Dürnstein & Krems)
History & Old Town
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Melk Abbey (Stift Melk) High priority
Baroque Benedictine abbey on a rock above the Danube, with Imperial rooms, Marble Hall, library and abbey church.
One of Europe's grandest Baroque monasteries, towering above the town of Melk. The tour route covers the Imperial Rooms, the Marble Hall, the famous library and the richly decorated abbey church, and ends with the terrace views over the Danube. A guided tour (about 50 minutes, English at 10:55 and 14:55 from April to October) costs a supplement; you can also go round on your own. The abbey park is a pleasant extra. From Melk station it is about a 10-15 minute walk uphill through the old town; Melk is also the usual start or end point for Wachau boat trips.
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Melk Old Town (Hauptplatz and Rathaus) High priority
Pretty pastel-coloured main square and lanes below the abbey, with the Rathaus and cafes.
The compact old town sits between the station and the abbey rock. Stroll along the Hauptplatz with its Baroque house fronts and the town hall, then climb the lanes towards the abbey. It is easy to combine with the abbey visit or a lunch stop before the boat. The old town is free to walk at any time, and shops and cafes keep normal opening hours.
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Dürnstein Abbey (Stift Dürnstein) High priority
Baroque abbey church with the blue tower that is the symbol of the Wachau, plus the exhibition "Discovery of the Precious".
The blue-and-white Baroque tower is the best-known silhouette of the Danube valley. Inside you can visit the church, courtyards and the exhibition "Discovery of the Precious" (about one hour, audioguides in five languages including English). German tours run Friday to Sunday and on holidays at 11:00. It is a few minutes' walk from the Dürnstein boat landing, and the village main street leads straight to it.
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Dürnstein Village Walk (Hauptstraße) High priority
Medieval walled village with a single lane of wine taverns, apricot shops and the town gate.
The whole village is a compact stroll of 30-60 minutes from the town gate to the abbey. Shops sell apricot jam, liqueur and local wine, and several taverns offer terrace views. The village is busy at midday when day-trippers and boats arrive, so early morning or late afternoon is calmer. It is a few minutes from the boat landing and Wachaubahn/bus stops.
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Weißenkirchen Village Walk Nice to have
Wine village with a fortified church, old wine houses and heuriger taverns.
The village is the centre of Wachau wine culture. Stroll between the fortified parish church, courtyards and apricot and wine shops; taverns (Heuriger) serve local wine and snacks. Reach it by Wachaubahn (Weißenkirchen station), boat or bus 715 from Melk.
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Aggstein Castle Ruin (Burgruine Aggstein) High priority
Medieval robber-baron fortress high above the Danube with a tower, ruins and a panoramic terrace.
Ruin Aggstein stands on a rocky spur above the right bank of the Danube. Walk through the ruined halls, climb the tower and enjoy the views down the valley. Open daily 21 March to 1 November 2026, 09:00-18:00, with a tavern on site. The climb from the village takes about 20-30 minutes; wear sturdy shoes.
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Steiner Tor (Steiner Tor) High priority
The medieval town gate of 1480 is the landmark symbol of Krems and the entrance to the old town.
The Steiner Tor is the best-preserved gate of the old town fortifications, with a striking pointed roof and two flanking towers. Pass through it to walk into the pedestrian old town along Obere Landstraße. It takes only a few minutes to see and photograph, so combine it with a stroll through the old town. From Krems station it is about a 10-minute walk via Bahnhofstraße and Obere Landstraße. The gate stands in the open street and is always accessible.
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Krems Old Town & Landstraße (Altstadt Krems) High priority
A pedestrian old town of Renaissance houses, courtyards and wine taverns climbing from the Steiner Tor.
Krems old town stretches between the Steiner Tor and the Hoher Markt, with the Obere and Untere Landstraße as its shopping and café spine. Look for Renaissance facades, arcaded courtyards and the oldest streets around the Hoher Markt and the Gozzoburg. Plan time for a coffee or a glass of local wine in a courtyard. It is a flat 10-minute walk from Krems station, and everything is pedestrian. Shops close on Sundays, but the streets and cafés stay pleasant any day.
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Parish Church St. Veit (Stadtpfarrkirche St. Veit) Nice to have
An early-Baroque parish church from 1616-1630 on the hill above the old town, with altar paintings by well-known masters.
The parish church of St. Veit is an early-Baroque building (1616-1630) crowning the Pfarrplatz above the old town, with a richly decorated interior. Walk up the steps from the old town for a view over the rooftops. Visits take about 15 minutes; please keep quiet during services. It is a 12-minute walk from Krems station via Obere Landstraße. Entry to the church is free.
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Piarist Church (Piaristenkirche) Nice to have
A Gothic church with a plain Baroque interior, right beside St. Veit on the Pfarrplatz hill.
The Piaristenkirche is a Gothic building with a simple Baroque interior and is a quiet counterpart to the grander St. Veit next door. Pair the two in one short walk up from the old town. Allow 10-15 minutes. It is about 12 minutes on foot from Krems station via Obere Landstraße. Entry is free.
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Göttweig Abbey (Stift Göttweig) High priority
A hilltop Benedictine abbey with the Troger-fresco Imperial Staircase, baroque state rooms and a panoramic view.
Göttweig is a Benedictine abbey on a hill south of the Danube, known as the Austrian Monte Cassino. Highlights are the Kaiserstiege with its ceiling fresco by Paul Troger, the baroque state rooms, the abbey church and the museum in the Kaisertrakt. A guided tour of about 1 to 1.5 hours is the best way to see the staircase and state rooms. The abbey is about 10 km from Krems, so go by car or taxi; check the bus timetable before relying on it. The museum is open from 21 March to 23 December 2026.
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Stein Old Town (Stein an der Donau) High priority
The former Danube trading town of Stein, joined with Krems, has a long medieval street lined with old houses.
Stein is the old riverside town that now forms one municipality with Krems, centred on the long Steiner Landstraße with narrow alleys and old merchant houses. Walk the street from the Kunstmeile toward the Steiner Tor, about 1.5 kilometres, and look at the church of St. Nikolaus. Allow about an hour. A flat walk of 25 minutes from Krems station gets you to its western end. Free to wander at any time.
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Maria Taferl Basilica (Basilika Maria Taferl) Nice to have
Baroque pilgrimage church on a hill 233 m above the Danube, with wide views towards the Alps.
Maria Taferl is Lower Austria's national shrine to the Sorrowful Mother of God, a large Baroque church finished by Jakob Prandtauer, the architect of Melk Abbey. The church stands on a hill above the river, and the terrace in front gives a view over the Danube valley and, on clear days, the Alps. The basilica is open daily; the colourful Baroque treasury next door opens from April to October. It lies on the north bank, roughly 25-30 minutes by car from Melk, so it fits best as an extra for those with a rental car; a church service can limit visiting inside.
Museums
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Schallaburg Castle High priority
Renaissance castle with arcaded courtyard and a large annual exhibition (2026: the 1980s).
Schallaburg is one of the finest Renaissance castles north of the Alps, famous for its terracotta-decorated arcaded courtyard. Each season hosts a big exhibition; in 2026 it is "80s - Breakaway Decade". Plan 2-3 hours for the courtyard, exhibition and park. It lies a few kilometres south of Melk; car or taxi is the easiest way from Melk.
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Artstetten Castle (Schloss Artstetten) Nice to have
Castle museum on Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the family crypt where he and Sophie are buried.
The castle was the country home of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and its museum tells his life and family story. The family crypt holds the graves of Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie, assassinated in Sarajevo in 1914. There is also a historic nature park and a cafe. It is off the Wachau valley floor, so a car or taxi from Melk or Pöchlarn is the practical way; audioguides are available in English for €4.50.
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Wachau Museum Gallery, Weißenkirchen (Teisenhoferhof) Nice to have
Gallery in the historic Teisenhoferhof, a wine estate courtyard in the heart of Weißenkirchen.
The Gallery in the Wachau Museum is housed in the Teisenhoferhof, a noble courtyard in Weißenkirchen village. It is open Tuesday to Sunday April to October, with a lunch break. It is about 500 m from Weißenkirchen station and can be reached by bus 715 from Melk or by boat. Combine with a walk through the village's old wine houses.
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Dominican Church & Wine Town Museum (Dominikanerkirche / Weinstadtmuseum Krems) High priority
Museum Krems covers the wine-town history in the former Dominican church and nearby museum, with one ticket valid all day.
Museum Krems (Körnermarkt 14) tells the story of the town and its wine culture and uses the former Dominican church as a gallery for changing contemporary exhibitions. One adult ticket covers the museum, the gallery and the Dominikanerkirche and stays valid for the whole day, so you can take a break in town. Plan about 1.5 hours. It is a 10-minute walk from the old town and about 15 minutes from Krems station. The museum is open from mid-March to mid-November; last admission is at 17:00.
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Kunsthalle Krems (Kunsthalle Krems) High priority
Leading exhibition house of the Kunstmeile, showing Robert Rauschenberg until 1 November 2026.
The Kunsthalle Krems shows major international modern and contemporary art in changing exhibitions; the current show is Robert Rauschenberg until 1 November 2026. Expect around 1.5 hours. It is part of the Kunstmeile between Krems and Stein, about 25 minutes on foot from Krems station or a short bus ride. A SUPER.Combi ticket covers all Kunstmeile venues if you want to see more than one. It is closed on Mondays except public holidays.
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Landesgalerie Niederösterreich (Landesgalerie Niederösterreich) High priority
The state art museum of Lower Austria in a striking modern building, with the show on Viennese modernism until January 2027.
The Landesgalerie shows art from Lower Austria in a bold black building by architect Marte.Marte. Currently on display is 'Vienna Modernism. Feminine. Resistant' until 10 January 2027. Plan 1.5 to 2 hours. Find it on the Museumsplatz at the Kunstmeile, about 25 minutes on foot from Krems station. The SUPER.Combi ticket is better value if you also visit a second venue. Closed on Mondays except public holidays.
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Caricature Museum Krems (Karikaturmuseum Krems) High priority
Austria's caricature museum, with the Haderer anniversary exhibition running until 30 June 2027.
The Karikaturmuseum Krems is dedicated to satire and caricature and is the most playful of the Kunstmeile venues. The 'Dieser Haderer' anniversary exhibition runs from 18 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. Plan about 1 to 1.5 hours. It lies on the Kunstmeile in Stein, about 25 minutes on foot from Krems station. It is open daily, and the SUPER.Combi ticket combines it with the other venues.
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Venusium Willendorf Museum (Venusium Willendorf) Bonus
Tiny village museum at the find site of the 25,000-year-old Venus of Willendorf, open on weekends only.
Willendorf is the village where the famous Stone Age Venus figurine was found, and the local museum society runs a small exhibition about the discovery and the valley's prehistory. It is a quick, low-key stop for anyone curious about the story behind the figurine, not a big museum, and the original statuette is kept in Vienna. Opening is limited to weekends and public holidays with a midday break, so check the day before you plan it in; guided visits for groups can be arranged by phone. The village lies on the south bank between Melk and Spitz and is easiest to reach by car or bike on the Danube cycle path.
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Spitz Shipping Museum (Schifffahrtsmuseum Spitz) Nice to have
Small museum about Danube shipping and life on the river, in the village of Spitz.
This museum in Spitz (Auf der Wehr 21) tells the story of Danube navigation and river life in the Wachau. It is a compact visit and a good wet-weather option in a village that otherwise is about walking and wine. It is open daily from April to October, 10:00 to 16:00. Spitz is reached by the Melk–Krems boat or by bus 715, and the museum is a short walk from the centre; combine it with the Tausendeimerberg walk or the cable ferry.
Green & Nature
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Wachau Boat Trip (DDSG Blue Danube) High priority
Scheduled ships between Melk, Spitz, Weißenkirchen, Dürnstein and Krems through the UNESCO valley.
The most relaxed way to see the valley: ships run daily from 28 March to 1 November 2026 on the Melk-Spitz-Weißenkirchen-Dürnstein-Krems stretch, with up to three sailings a day in each direction. Early season (28 March to 24 April) has one ship daily plus a second at weekends (Melk to Krems takes about 1 h 40); from 25 April three ships and more departures run. You can hop off in Dürnstein or Spitz and continue later, and on board there is a restaurant and a sun deck. Check the current timetable and fares on the official website and book ahead for weekends and apricot-blossom or harvest season.
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Dürnstein Castle Ruin (Burgruine Dürnstein) High priority
Hilltop ruin above the village with sweeping Danube and vineyard views, linked to the Richard the Lionheart legend.
A marked trail leads up from the village to the ruin in roughly 20-30 minutes on foot; the site can be visited at any time and is free. Wear sturdy shoes, as the path is steep and rocky. The views over the Danube, the blue tower and the terraced vineyards are the best in the valley. Not recommended for wheelchairs or small strollers.
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Tausendeimerberg Vineyard Walk, Spitz Nice to have
Famous terraced vineyard slope above Spitz with a short walk and views over the village and Danube.
A walk of about an hour leads up through the terraced vineyards above Spitz to viewpoints over the village, church and Danube. Free to walk at any time; wear sturdy shoes and take water in summer. Spitz is reached by the Wachaubahn, bus 715 or boat, and the Spitz-Arnsdorf cable ferry lets you continue to the other bank.
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Spitz-Arnsdorf Cable Ferry (Rollfähre) Nice to have
Small ferry that crosses the Danube on a cable, driven only by the current; a 5-7 minute ride with an art installation.
The 485 m crossing uses only the river current and takes about 5-7 minutes. The cabin holds a camera obscura by Olafur Eliasson. Use it to reach cycle paths and vineyards on the Arnsdorf bank. It runs all year: March-October weekdays 06:15-19:00 and weekends/holidays 08:15-19:30; November-February weekdays only 06:15-09:45 and 13:30-18:00. Service may be suspended at high or low water.
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Danube Promenade Krems (Donaulände Krems) Nice to have
A riverside promenade along the Danube with views toward the Wachau hills and the ship landing stage.
The Donaulände is a flat path along the Danube, popular for walking and cycling and linked to the Danube cycle route. It is also where Danube ships dock. Allow about 30 to 45 minutes for a stroll. It is roughly 15 minutes on foot from the old town. Free and open all the time.
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Grafenegg Castle Grounds (Schloss Grafenegg) High priority
A fairytale castle in a landscaped park, known for the Wolkenturm open-air stage and its concert festival.
Grafenegg is a romantic castle set in a large English-style park with the Wolkenturm open-air stage and an auditorium. The grounds are open year-round except during concert events, when a concert ticket is required for entry from one hour (Prélude) or three hours (main concerts) before the performance. In 2026 the castle interior is open on weekends only, from 13 June to 6 September, with guided tours on Saturdays and Sundays at 14:00. The Grafenegg info office is open Wednesday to Sunday 11:00-17:00. It is about 15 km from Krems, best reached by car or by combining train and taxi. The info office is closed from 21 December 2026 to 2 March 2027.
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Melk Abbey Park and Garden Pavilion (Stiftspark Melk) Nice to have
Baroque-style abbey garden with the Garden Pavilion, a calm green break next to the abbey.
The abbey park lies beside Melk Abbey and can be visited on its own with a park-only ticket, which is handy if you have already seen the abbey or want to skip the interior tour. Paths wind through lawns and old trees to the Baroque Garden Pavilion; the inside of the pavilion is not wheelchair accessible. It is a quiet place for children to run and for a short rest before the walk back down into the old town. The park is open from late March to the end of October; from the station allow roughly 10-15 minutes on foot uphill, as for the abbey.
Other
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Wachaubahn Heritage Train (Krems–Emmersdorf) Nice to have
Panoramic hop-on-hop-off train along the Danube between Krems and Emmersdorf (opposite Melk).
The Wachaubahn links Krems with Emmersdorf across from Melk, passing vineyards and old villages. In 2026 it runs weekends and holidays from 13 March to 15 November and daily from 24 April to 1 November, plus Advent days (20 November to 13 December). Free seat reservation and free bike carriage are included. It combines well with the boat: go one way by ship, the other by train.
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Domäne Wachau Wine Shop and Tasting Room, Dürnstein (Domäne Wachau) Nice to have
Wine cooperative's tasting room and shop in Dürnstein, with Friday estate tours April to October.
Domäne Wachau is the large organic winegrowers' estate of the valley, based at Dürnstein 107, known for Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. You can walk into the tasting room and shop to taste and buy wines at cellar-door prices. The English-language estate tour with a four-wine tasting and Wachauer Laberl rolls runs on Fridays at 15:00 from April to October, lasts about 1.5 hours and costs €32 per person; book ahead as dates sell out. Children up to 7 are free on the tour. From Dürnstein's boat landing it is a short walk through the village.
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