Located along the Danube River just north of Vienna, the Klosterneuburg Monastery is a popular stop on hop-on-hop-off bus tours and is one of the attractions included in the sightseeing Flexi Pass Vienna. For a spectacular bird’s-eye view over the massive complex, opt for a helicopter flight from Vienna that takes in both the city and its surrounding countryside and landmarks from above. If visiting the monastery by land, be sure to take in St. Leopold’s Chapel, monastery church, medieval cloister, and winery that includes a baroque cellar complex.
The Klosterneuburg Monastery (Stift Klosterneuburg) is located in the town of Klosterneuburg, about a 10-minute drive north of Vienna. Take the hop-on-hop-off bus, the Schnellbahn S40 train, or buses 400 or 402 from the Wien-Heiligenstadt metro station to Klosterneuburg-Stift.
The monastery and winery are open daily except for major holidays. Due to its close proximity to Vienna, the complex is a popular weekend destination, so visit on a weekday to avoid the crowds. The surrounding vineyards make for striking photos from late spring through the early fall, when the vines are a lush green.
Among the most valuable and impressive treasures housed in the monastery complex is the enameled altar of Nikolaus of Verdun, one of the most exquisite examples of medieval enamel work in the world. The altar, made in 1181, depicts a variety of biblical scenes on its 51 panels. Other highlights include a 17th-century organ, a Romanesque candelabra dating from the 12th century, and stained-glass windows from the 1600s.
