The town of Melk lies at the western end of Austria’s Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site. While the abbey can be visited independently between April and October, most visitors choose to stop by on a full-day tour from Vienna. Said tours often combine an abbey visit with wine tastings in the valley, a boat cruise along the Danube River, a trip to nearby Salzburg, or a jaunt across the Czech border to Cesky Krumlov.
A visit to this monastery is a must for history buffs and architecture lovers.
The abbey is open to independent visitors without a tour guide from April to October; guided tours are available year-round.
Guided tours of the abbey last about an hour.
Melk Abbey tours from Vienna typically include round-trip transportation for added convenience.
A restaurant, gift shop, and restrooms can be found on-site.
The abbey is accessible for wheelchair users.
Perched on a hilltop overlooking the town, the Melk Abbey can be reached on foot from the Melk train station (a 10-minute walk) or by brief taxi ride. Most visitors opt to visit on a day trip from Vienna—50 miles (90 kilometers) east—but it’s equally accessible from Salzburg, 70 miles (115 kilometers) west, or Spitz, 12 miles (20 kilometers) north.
The Melk Abbey is open all year round, but from November through March, visits are only possible by guided tour and must be booked in advance. The abbey can get busy in July and August, so plan an early morning or late afternoon start to avoid the crowds.
Melk Abbey is famous for its exquisite baroque architecture, the work of architect Jakob Prandtauer. Highlights include the Marble Hall, with its magnificent ceiling frescoes by Johann Michael Rottmayr; the opulent library, filled with priceless manuscripts; and the Abbey Church, with its dazzling gold altar.
