Wachau Valley
A beautiful stretch of the Danube of terraced vineyards, apricot orchards and hilltop abbeys - a UNESCO cultural landscape and Austria's finest wine country.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
UNESCO World Heritage
The Wachau is a beautiful thirty-kilometre stretch of the Danube valley between Melk and Krems, its steep slopes terraced with vineyards, its villages dotted with apricot orchards, and its heights crowned by the great baroque abbey of Melk. A UNESCO cultural landscape, it produces Austria's finest white wines and is a joy to explore by boat or bike.
What you actually see
- The terraced vineyards - the steep slopes of Gruner Veltliner and Riesling.
- Melk Abbey - the great baroque abbey above the river at the valley's edge.
- Durnstein - the pretty village with its blue church and castle ruin where Richard the Lionheart was held.
- Apricots and wine - the orchards and the tasting rooms of the wine villages.
When to go
April for the apricot blossom, September and October for the wine harvest and golden vines; summer for cycling and boat trips. The Danube cycle path and river boats are lovely in the warm months.
Honest expectations
It is a region of scattered villages and wineries rather than a single sight, so a car, bike or boat helps. It is popular, so the boats and Durnstein get busy in season. Its pleasures are gentle, wine, scenery and villages, rather than dramatic.
Nearby
Melk and Krems anchor each end; Vienna is about an hour east.
What to pack for Wachau Valley
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
