The Wachau Valley (Danube Valley) is most often visited on a full-day trip from Vienna. Wine tasting is a popular activity, as is visiting Melk Abbey, an 11th-century Benedictine monastery adorned with bright frescoes. The valley is also a popular place for bike tours thanks to its flat paths and stunning scenery.
Some tours combine a Wachau Valley cruise with the ruins of Burgruine Durnstein, the village of Spitz, and the medieval town of Krems. Alternatively, visit the Wachau Valley and Salzburg on an excursion that covers the Salzkammergut Valley and Salzburg's Mirabell Palace and Gardens.
History buffs and wine lovers will be spoiled for choice of things to do in Wachau Valley.
With more than 5,000 historic landmarks, it's tough to see the best independently; book a tour for a more in-depth experience.
The region can be explored by car, bus, or bike, as well as boat.
Most tours to the Wachau Valley include hotel pickup and drop-off in Vienna.
Lower Austria's proximity to Bratislava, Slovakia, and Budapest, Hungary, make the region an ideal launchpad for exploring more of Europe.
From Wien Westbahnhof in central Vienna, catch the REX train to Melk Bahnof or Krems (the latter requires a change at St. Polten). However, although catching the train to Melk is a breeze—especially from Vienna—it's best to explore the valley with a guide as part of a sightseeing or biking tour.
The spring months of March to May are undoubtedly the best time to visit the Wachau Valley, when wine and food festivals such as the Wachau Gourmet Festival and Wachau Weinfrühling take place. In late March and early April, the area's landscapes are awash with the pastel-pink blossoms of apricot trees.
With so much to see and do in the Wachau Valley, it can be tough to know where to begin. If it's your first time in the area, don't miss the historic village of Dürnstein; the UNESCO-recognized Welk Abbey, with its elaborate frescoes; local favorite, Grafenegg Castle; and the baroque Göttweig Abbey, where you can often catch classical concerts.
