By rail
Melk or Krems, ~1 h from Vienna
Europe · Austria
Wachau Valley, Austria
Vineyards, abbeys and the Danube
Getting there
By air
Vienna (VIE), ~1 h
Best time to visit
April to October; apricot blossom in April
Don't miss
Melk Abbey
Dürnstein
Spitz
Krems
Things to do
Cycling the Danube
Melk Abbey
The wine taverns
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: C.Stadler/Bwag · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Cycling-friendly clothes
A quieter corner
The apricot orchards in April blossom
Questions travellers ask
When is apricot blossom in the Wachau Valley?
April, when the apricot orchards are in blossom. Otherwise, visit any time from April to October.
How do I get to the Wachau Valley from Vienna?
Take the train to Melk or Krems, about 1 hour from Vienna. Vienna (VIE) airport is about 1 hour away as well.
What can I do in the Wachau Valley?
Cycle along the Danube, visit Melk Abbey, and stop in Dürnstein, Spitz and Krems. Wear cycling-friendly clothes.
What should I eat and drink in the Wachau?
Grüner Veltliner in the wine taverns, with apricot dumplings.
About Wachau Valley
- Riverside
- Hills
Where it is
The Wachau is a stretch of the Danube valley about 36 km long in Lower Austria, west of Vienna, running between the abbey town of Melk and the old town of Krems, with terraced vineyards and orchards on its steep banks.
History
People have lived in the valley since the Old Stone Age. From the 9th century Bavarian and Salzburg monasteries shaped the valley and its vineyards, and Richard the Lionheart was held prisoner at Dürnstein castle in the 12th century. Melk Abbey was rebuilt in baroque style in the early 18th century, and the Wachau cultural landscape became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.
People
The Wachau's villages have lived from wine and fruit for centuries, and winegrowers open simple taverns called Heurigen to serve their own wine with cold platters. The valley's apricots, the Wachauer Marille, are made into jam, dumplings and schnapps.
Known for
- Melk Abbey
- Dürnstein's blue church tower and castle ruins
- Grüner Veltliner and Riesling wines
- Wachau apricots and apricot brandy
- Cycling the Danube path
Did you know?
The Venus of Willendorf, one of the most famous Stone Age figurines in the world, was found in the Wachau village of Willendorf in 1908.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.