The Wachau Valley & Durnstein: A Day Trip from Vienna
Some people visiting Vienna might be looking for day trip options from the city, while others will be on riverboat cruises looking for information about the area.
This post should cover both!
Key Info on Durnstein & the Wachau Valley
- The Wachau Valley is a 70-minute train ride from Vienna.
- The region includes Krems, Durnstein, and other villages.
- It runs along the Danube River in Austria.
- You’ll find wineries, medieval castles, and restaurants.
- It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
Vienna Day Trip Tours
While you can certainly manage taking a day trip from Vienna to Durnstein and the Wachau Valley on your own, it might be easier to link up with a tour.
They’ll take care of the train tickets, the logistics, the bike rentals, and coordinating with the wineries for tastings.
I’d recommend this one, and give it 5 stars from personal experience:
➡️ Click to Book: Wachau Valley Wine Tour (Bike)
➡️ Click to Book: Wachau Valley Tour (Driving)
The Wachau Valley
The Wachau Valley is a picturesque region in Austria, located along the Danube River between the towns of Melk and Krems.
It’s dotted with several charming riverside towns, and famous for producing high-quality wine, particularly Grüner Veltliner and Riesling.
🍇 Interestingly: Austrian wine isn’t well-known because they consume most of the bottles themselves domestically!
Wachau Valley Towns
Several charming small towns and villages line the Danube River through the Wachau Valley:
- Krems
- Oberloiben
- Durnstein
- Rossatz
- Melk
UNESCO Designation
The Wachau Valley was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site based on its cultural significance. The landscape has been shaped by centuries of human activity and agriculture.
The historic towns, terraced vineyards, medieval castles, monasteries, and ruins reflect a rich history in the Valley which led to the UN designation.
Bike to Durnstein from Krems
The village of Krems, Austria, is a 70-minute train ride from Vienna. From Krems, Durnstein is a 6-mile bike ride.
Krems itself is full of stores and restaurants. It’s also home to several bike rental shops.
Both sides of the Danube River are lined with bicycle and walking paths. They stretch for many miles through the valley’s vineyards, and you’ll see people of all ages on lengthy bike trips here.
There’s little, if any, incline at all along the bike paths in the Wachau Valley. While the bike rental shops have e-bikes (with an added boost) most people won’t need it.
Wineries in the Wachau Valley
The Wachau Valley in Austria is particularly known for producing high-quality white wines, primarily Grüner Veltliner and Riesling.
The region’s microclimate and terraced vineyards create great conditions for grape growing.
The vineyards are all relatively small and family-owned, and produce 95% white wines.
The terraces built into the hillsides centuries ago are divided among a few dozen local families, who’ve been making wine here for generations.
Ownership of the wineries tends to be local, with many vineyards remaining in the hands of Austrian families who’ve been cultivating grapes in the valley for centuries.
Austrian wines aren’t well-known worldwide because most bottles are consumed domestically!
Weinhauer Brustbauer
The Weinhauer Brustbauer winery and vineyard has been in the same family for five generations.
The main house on the property is across the road from the Danube River, and is more than 1,000 years old.
The family cultivates a few acres of grapevines on the hills above town, producing 8,000 to 10,000 bottles a year.
A younger member of the family returned to reopen the briefly shuttered operation in 2015. Maximillian has become a one-man operation, tending to the vineyard on his own, and only hiring temporary workers during the harvest season. The rest of the work he does alone.
In 2022, he and his wife also opened a restaurant on the historic property, which features a cannonball lodged above a doorway from a Napoleonic War.
The same facade features high-water lines from prior floods of the Danube River.
The bottles sell for 15 to 40 Euros. The cork for each bottle of wine costs 1.50 Euro!
Durnstein
Dürnstein is a small, picturesque town in the Wachau Valley, 6-miles upstream from Krems on the Danube River.
It’s known for its medieval charm, historic landmarks, and scenic beauty.
Durnstein is also renowned for its Baroque architecture, particularly the blue and white tower of the Augustinian Abbey, which is one of the most photographed landmarks in the Wachau Valley. The town’s cobblestone streets, terraced vineyards, and traditional Austrian houses create a fairy-tale atmosphere which attracts tourists from around the world. It’s a popular spot for river cruises to stop.
Wine production plays a major role in Durnstein’s economy, and local Grüner Veltliner and Riesling wines can be sampled in the town’s wine taverns and cellars.
The Durnstein Castle
The ruins of the Durnstein Castle are perched on a hilltop between Durnstein and Krems, and date back nearly 1,000 years.
A King’s Prison
King Richard I of England, known as Richard the Lionheart, was famously imprisoned in the Wachau Valley during the late 12th century.
After returning from the Third Crusade, Richard was captured near Vienna in 1192 and held in the Durnstein Castle as a political prisoner.
His supporters took two years to raise the ransom for his release.
Hike to the Durnstein Castle
There’s a fairly steep trail, made of stone rocks, that leads from the town up to the castle ruins.
It’s not lengthy, so people of all ages make the trek.
The view from the top is spectacular. You can see up and down the Danube, and get an even better view of the vineyards.
The Best Time to Visit Durnstein, Austria
Tours end (for the most part) in the late fall, and pick up in the spring. Winters can be harsh!
Our guides told us the region really quiets down, especially if you want to bike through the Wachau Valley, between October and March. It’s too cold to be enjoyable.
For me, I’d say May and early June are ideal, along with September for a day trip from Vienna to the Wachau Valley.
Here’s a brief seasonal breakdown:
Spring (March to May):
- Temperatures: 45°F to 65°F
- Spring brings mild weather with blooming vineyards and flowers. It’s a great time for hiking and outdoor activities, though the mornings and evenings can still be chilly.
Summer (June to August):
- Temperatures: 60°F to 95°F
- Summer is warm to hot. It’s peak season for tourists in the Wachau Valley.
Fall (September to November):
- Temperatures range, from highs near 90 at times in September. They cool quickly as fall sets in, especially in the evenings.
- Fall is harvest season, marked by crisp air and beautiful foliage. It’s an ideal time for wine lovers to witness the grape harvest.
Winter (December to February):
- Temperatures: 25°F to 50°F
- Winters are cold, but generally mild compared to alpine regions. Snow is possible, and the crowds are minimal. Many of the tour operations completely close between December and February.
FAQs on a Vienna Day Trip to the Wachau Valley
Let’s go over a few more frequently-asked-questions about Durnstein and this day trip idea from Vienna.
How far is Durnstein, Austria, from Vienna?
Durnstein is 55 miles west of Vienna. It’s 2 hours by train and bus, or about 80 minutes to drive by car.
How far is Durnstein from Krems, Austria?
They’re very close. Krems is only about 6-miles east of Durnstein.
What kind of wine is produced in the Wachau Valley of Austria?
It’s 95% white wine produced in this part of Austria.
Wachau is famous for its wine, particularly Grüner Veltliner and Riesling.
How do you pronounce Wachau Valley?
In Austria, a “W” is pronounced with a “V” sound, so it’s “Vah-cow” Valley.
Where is the Melk Abbey?
Melk Abbey is a stunning Benedictine monastery on the Danube River. It dates back to the 11th Century, and the complex includes an ornate church, grand halls, and stunning views of the surrounding countryside.
It’s a lengthier ride from Krems, about 20 miles each way.
Wrap: Is it Worth a Day Trip from Vienna to Wachau Valley?
Without a doubt, I loved escaping the busy city for a relaxing day in the Austrian countryside.
Meeting the local vineyard owners was fascinating, especially since in the US, we have very few businesses that go back several generations in one family.
Personally, I love gardening, so learning about the grapevines, soil chemistry, and climate change was an added bonus.
Plus, biking 15 miles helped to work off all the wine we drank (or at least a glass or two 🙂 !
If you’re looking for another day trip from Vienna, I’d recommend visiting Bratislava, Slovakia.
