Wachau Valley & Dürnstein
Wachau / Dürnstein
A UNESCO World Heritage Danube valley from Melk to Krems, with vineyard terraces and castles along the way. The blue-tower village of Dürnstein is the most beautiful stop.
The Wachau Valley is a roughly 36-kilometre stretch of the Danube, inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2000. Both banks are lined with vineyard terraces, apricot orchards, castles and small towns. The area is known for its Grüner Veltliner white wine and apricot brandy. Dürnstein has a famous blue-and-white Baroque abbey bell tower. The ruined castle on the hilltop once imprisoned Richard I of England, known as Richard the Lionheart. The climb to the top takes about 30 minutes and offers views over the valley. From April to October, DDSG cruise boats run between Melk and Krems, taking about 1.5 to 3 hours, or you can cycle along the riverside bike path. It makes an easy day trip from Vienna.
Opening hours
Open all day (boats operate approx. Apr–Oct)
Nearby sights
- Melk Abbey
- Kirche am Steinhof
- Schönbrunn Zoo
- Baden bei Wien
- Kahlenberg
- Technisches Museum Wien
- Schönbrunn Palace
- Grinzing