The Austrian countryside has a lot to offer, and if you are looking for great day trips ideas from Vienna, look no further than the Danube Valley !
There are several beautiful places in the Danube Valley and the area that can be visited on a day trip. You can either rent a car to have more freedom on your itinerary and time management, or you can book a tour. If you opt for the second option, GetYourGuide offer a wide range of activities and experiences, for all prices.
So without further ado, here are some day trips ideas from Vienna, from boat tours on the Danube river to the Wachau vineyards, including picturesque villages !
Rather than coming in the summer months, I’d suggest visiting during the shoulders seasons, so either May-June, or September. That way, the villages will be less crowded, you can do a boat tour on the Danube river and the vineyards will be splendid.
If you prefer to rent a car and explore on your own, you can jump to the next section.
However if you chose to visit the region with a full day tour, here is my recommendation :
- Where to book : I’d recommend this activity on GetYourGuide. I tried it and was 100% happy with the tour, the stops are all worth the detour. (for those with a car you can definitely do the same circuit on your own).
- Duration : 9am to 6pm
- Cost : 90€ per person
Definitely a good pair of walking shoes, water and eventually picnic if you don’t plan on having lunch in a restaurant or on the boat.
Dürnstein
About one hour from Vienna is Dürnstein (if you book the tour I mentioned earlier, you’ll stop here for about 1.5 hours of free time).
This village is located in the protected Wachau Landscape, which is part of the Danube Valley.
There are several beautiful villages in the Wachau region, but Dürnstein is just so picturesque : from the colourful houses to the wine taverns including the historic monuments.
You can walk along the banks of the Danube, wander in the charming streets of the village or explore the vineyards. There are several paths possible to visit the area, which are all detailed on a sign at the entrance of the town :
I’d suggest starting with the little hike to the ruins of Dürnstein Castle. Honestly the ruins are not worth visiting but the amazing views of Dürnstein, the Danube and the Wachau Valley were so worth the effort ! Plus, the path through the vineyard is really pleasant.
Then you can explore the colourful streets, see the iconic blue tower of Dürnstein abbey and enjoy a glass of wine in one of the many wine tavern.
Finally walk along the Danube river. This will give you an other perspective of the town. Plus, the blue-white tower is best visible from the riverside.
Wachau vineyards
You will see many vineyards around Dürnstein and almost everywhere in the Wachau region. It’s the stretch of the Danube valley between Melk and Krems. The vineyards in Wachau cover more than 1,296 hectares !
Krems an der Donau
Krems is another picturesque village to visit when you are in the area. Head to the emblematic square of this town, Körnermarkt. This is where you’ll find the wine museum and the Mariensäule, a monument dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Among all the things you can do in this town, you can discover the Obere Landstrasse and the other old streets of the historic center, push the doors of the Chapel of St. Ursula, or head to the Steinertor (a preserved gate, originally built in the late 15th century). Krems has a lot to offer, so check out the town’s website for more ideas on things to do there.
Danube
If the weather allows it, a great option is to hop on a boat from Dürnstein and cruise all the way to Melk, which is around 1 hour and a half. That gives you plenty of time to enjoy the various landscapes from the Danube, take a lunch of coffee break while cruising on the river.
Melk Abbey and Melk Abbey Park
Once in Melk, you can start by discovering the gardens and then visit the abbey.
Melk Abbey Park is open daily, from April to October, between 9am and 6pm. The admission is included in the ticket for the abbey visit.
The park has three levels :
- On the lower level is the Baroque garden pavillon, dating back from 1748. It was intended for the monks’ recreation after fasting periods.
Feel free to take a look inside as the ceilings are really beautiful :
- On the second level, after walking through a tunnel pergola, one can reach the Paradise garden, designed as an exotic Mediterranean garden, in remembrance of the former orangery.
- On the third level, there’s a water basin but by walking around in the park you’ll discover many other gardens such as the Mediterranean garden, the Walafrid Strabo garden or the Oriental garden.
After that, you can either visit Melk Abbey on your own or with a guided tour, but make sure to check the respective slots for each on the official website. The price for the entrance is 16€, with a surcharge of 3,5€ for a guided tour.
I took the guided tour which was very informative. The Benedictine Abbey of Melk – one of the biggest European Baroque ensembles – is the emblem of Wachau. Both the region and the abbey are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Since 1089, the Benedictine monks have been living and working in Melk Abbey.
You will also get very nice viewpoints from the abbey :
That’s it for my recommendations on Vienna day trips ! If you need more inspiration you can check out VisitingVienna. The website gives many destinations ideas in Austria.
If you want to spend a few days visiting Vienna, check out this article to know what to see and do. Or click here for the list of all my Vienna’s related posts.
If you need a custom itinerary, you can fill this form and I’ll make your own personalised itinerary.