Have you heard of the Wachau Valley? No, I didn’t think so. Don’t worry, we’re here to tell you all about it, and let you know how easy it is to visit from Vienna. Take a day trip to the Wachau Valley from Vienna either by car or by train, and enjoy historic towns, vineyards, konditorei (patisseries), and the beautiful Danube River.
We loved our 2 days in Vienna, but it was full-on and busy. It was lovely to head out into the beautiful Austrian countryside to enjoy a more relaxed part of the country.
Transport to the Wachau Valley from Vienna
By car
For the most flexibility, visiting the Wachau Valley by car is the easiest. Located only 80kms / 50miles outside of Vienna, so it is only 1 hour by car. We chose to drive this route, as we were incorporating a visit to the Wachau Valley into our broader Austrian road trip. But before we chose to do this, we did research how to visit by train.
By train
Krems an der Donau is accessible by train from the Wien Heiligenstadt station in the north of Vienna, and takes around 1 hour. Or via St Pölten from Wien Westbahnhof station in the west in 1.25 hours.
Once you have reached the Wachau Valley, there is a special tourist train to take you from place to place. Timings of the Wachau Railway run approximately mid-March to mid-December:
18 March to 29 May – every SA, SO & public holiday
from 30 May to 1 November – daily
from 2 to 17 December – every SA & SO and on 8 December
There are also local buses that go between the villages all year round.
Places to visit in the Wachau Valley
The ideal way to experience the Wachau Valley is to cycle through the grapevines and on the amazing cycle paths created along the Danube River. You can then take the train back or for sections if you are tired / it is raining. We didn’t do any cycling while we were here, but we regret it now, as it looked so fun!
Krems an der Donau
Our first stop was Krems an der Donau. This cute town is a great place to stop for morning tea (or a cheeky wine tasting). A friend had recommended Café-Konditorei Hagmann – which offered an amazing array of of cakes and hot drinks to tide us over until lunch. Payton had a light pastry filled with cream, a bit like a chimney cake.
Krems is famous for its Apricot Festival every July and Apricot Brandy (do try it if you get the chance). The lush Wachau Valley is prime growing conditions for both apricots and grapes.
And that brings me on to the other reason to visit Krems an der Donau – the wine. We can recommend Weingut Mayer-Resch, a women-owned winery producing delicious local varietals. The Grüner Veltliner is a bright and citrusy white wine with peppery notes. The Wachau Valley is also known for its Rieslings.
Tip: The Parkhaus Aaaaadmin parking building is conveniently close to the pedestrian old town.
Parish Church – Krems St. Veit
We stumbled upon the Parish Church of St. Veit in Krems. It looks plain and nondescript from the outside, but the internal decoration, windows and frescoes are incredible.
We stood in awe of the space, the acoustics, and the sacred building we were in. It was a blessing to have experienced it.
Melk
We then drove the river road along the Danube to Melk. Our intention was to visit Aggstein Castle on the way, but it was raining heavily and the clouds had covered the hill where the Aggstein Castle ruins were; so we gave up on that idea. On a sunny day the location offers amazing views of the Wachau area!
Melk Abbey dominates the Melk skyline. The original Benedictine Abbey was built on this promontory in 1089. However this Baroque version was built between 1702 and 1736, after a fire destroyed much of the old structure. The Melk Abbey is home to hundred of ancient manuscripts, and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage area listed as ‘the Wachau Cultural Landscape’.
You can tour the Abbey and see how grand it is from the inside. If you don’t fancy doing a self-guided trip to the Wachau Valley, you can take a tour that starts in Vienna. If you want a custom tour, but don’t want to drive or use public transport, you can also take a private tour by car.
Tip: In the summer, you can take a boat ride in one direction and take the train back, for a very relaxing and scenic option!
Wachau Valley Wine Tasting
A drive or cycle through the vines from Krems to Dürnstein is a great little detour on your journey. Hire bikes in Krems and take the easy bike paths along to the incredible blue church in Dürnstein, stopping at wineries along the way. Be sure to bring a backpack to carry your wines home in!
The vines are so captivating, zigzagging up the hills in impossibly perfect lines. The Grüner Veltliner wines are a lively alternative to Sauvignon Blancs (my personal favorite).
Taking a Danube River Cruise in the Wachau & Danube Valleys
You can choose a river cruise which departs from Vienna and takes the full day to sail through the Wachau Valley and back. The downside to this option is that you may not get the time you desire in the locations you wish.
Or you can take the shorter tourist boats between Krems and Melk mentioned above. If you choose not to drive, we recommend taking the train to Krems, and then a combination of the tourist train and boat ride. Be aware some of these services are only available in summer.
How to Visit the Wachau Valley from Vienna
A fantastic juxtaposition to the grandeur and scale of Vienna, a day trip to the Wachau Valley from Vienna is bliss. If you’re a fan of wine like we are, it is a must-do while you’re in Austria. If you just need a break from the city, it’s an easy and relaxed short visit you can do in a day.
Payton loved the cakes, the little winding streets of Krems, and the cake-like Abbey building. I just wished I could’ve brought some of the wines back with us!
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