Wachau Attractions: My Top 13 Highlights

There are many beautiful places to discover in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Wachau in Lower Austria. Highlights include the Danube River, the World Heritage Trail, ancient castle ruins, and lovely monasteries.

Here, I present to you the most beautiful sights and destinations in Wachau. You will be enchanted by the Wachau - I promise!

14 stages and 180 kilometers - this is the World Heritage Trail in Wachau, which runs through the Krems Valley. If you want to walk the entire route, you should plan for 14 days on this long-distance hiking path.

You must explore, immerse yourself in, and enjoy the Wachau's culinary offerings. Rushing through would be a mistake for this magnificent destination. In one week, you can hike the southern bank of the Danube, and in the next week, the northern bank.

Of course, you could also split it into two trips. We particularly liked Stage 1 from Krems to Dürnstein. Wine and vineyards are the entire theme of this section. Breathtaking views accompany you past the French Monument and many vineyards to the Dürnstein Castle Ruins and then into the town.

Stift Melk has a history of 900 years and is an active Benedictine monastery, where 30 monks currently live and work.

Particularly impressive are the Marble Hall (only the door frames are made of real marble; the rest is stucco), the library, and the magnificent church of the monastery. The church is richly adorned with gold decorations, though only 3.5 kilograms of gold were actually used-it looks like much more.

The Wachau roughly extends from Stift Göttweig to Stift Melk. Both are among the top sights in the region. A 'stift' receives this title when it is 'endowed,' usually by nobles who granted it to the monks.

In exchange, the nobles expected to be royally hosted during visits, often with large retinues of up to 300 people. These visits cost the monks quite a bit when the rulers stayed at the monastery.

The Danube Cycle Path is one of the most popular bike routes in Europe and counts as one of the sights in the region. It runs 330 kilometers along well-maintained paths from the border at Passau all the way to Vienna. Along the way, you'll pass the Schlögen meanders of the Danube, the UNESCO World Heritage Wachau, as well as the cities of Vienna, Linz, and Passau.

In addition to monasteries, abbeys, castles, and ruins, there are many more highlights. The paths are excellently developed and well signposted. Along the route, there are 50 ADFC bed+bike establishments. Moreover, there are bike service and rental stations everywhere, including for e-bikes. We've already been biking on Bavaria's Water Cycle Path and at the Wilder Kaiser.

You absolutely should not miss the beautiful old town of Dürnstein with its sights. From the castle ruins, you already have a great view of the town. You can stroll along the Danube and visit the so-called Malerwinkel (Painter's Corner), where many landscape painters set up their easels. Especially during the Romantic period, Dürnstein attracted many artists and remains a place for those seeking tranquility. In 2000, Dürnstein was declared a World Heritage Site.

The Traunergassl leads you into the courtyard of the Augustinian Canons' Monastery. Make sure to allocate at least an hour, preferably an hour and a half, for your visit to the monastery. The audio guide provides valuable information. The Augustinian Canons from Bohemia established the Dürnstein Monastery in 1410.

The Dürnstein Castle Ruins have an exciting history. According to legends, here the English King Richard the Lionheart was held captive after he had incurred the wrath of Duke Leopold V of the Babenberg.

After the Third Crusade, King Richard had to return overland through Austria in disguise, but he was recognized and arrested. In this context, the castle is first mentioned in 1193. The one who held the king for the Babenberg was Hadmar II of Kuenring, the founder of the Upper Castle.

For the release of Richard the Lionheart, 100,000 marks of silver were paid, which corresponds to about 23 tons of silver. Emperor Henry VI used his share for the fight for Sicily, while Duke Leopold V invested 50,000 marks in the Austrian mint and founded Wiener Neustadt. Hadmar II of Kuenring used his money to expand Dürnstein, allowing us today to visit this impressive site.

You can find more castles in Wachau at our blogger colleagues from Travelexperience.

Johann Strauss did not compose the piece 'On the Beautiful Blue Danube' for nothing in late autumn 1866 and winter 1866/67. I immediately turned on the Danube Waltz in the car when we drove into Wachau.

The Danube has a beautiful allure. When we were there, it had a bit more water than usual and wasn't particularly blue, but still very beautiful. From the World Heritage Trail and from the castles and towns on both banks, you always have the Danube in view.

In Wachau, there are only two bridges at either end of the region. Between Melk and Mautern, you won't find a crossing. To cross in the middle, you can use the car ferry in Spitz or Weißenkirchen. In Dürnstein, you can only cross with a bicycle. By prior arrangement, a water taxi ride is also possible. We also saw kayaks and real Danube ships.

If you have time, you should take a boat trip on one of the larger ships. Brandner Schifffahrt and DDSG operate along the entire Wachau. Between Krems and Melk, the ships stop in Dürnstein, Weißenkirchen, and Spitz.

Tip: Take the boat to Spitz and bring your bike along. Then you can take the Danube Cycle Path back to Krems.

The Aggstein Castle Ruins are another highlight in Wachau. It is a well-preserved castle ruin that proudly stands on a hill. The watchtower, the old kitchen, and the tavern are still well preserved. In the ancient kitchen, cooking is still done today, and the pass-through remains unchanged like centuries ago. Even the chapel in the castle is still well preserved.

The castle also has a dark history, particularly the so-called Rosengärtlein (Little Rose Garden). The name originates from the robber knight Schreck vom Wald, who placed his prisoners on a small plateau without guardrails. The prisoners could choose to fall off the mountain or starve on the platform. The sentenced stood like rose vines against the wall, hence the name. Macabre, right?

In winter, a wonderfully beautiful Advent market takes place here. During three November weekends, you can stroll all the way up to the castle and along the stalls in the castle.

The double town of Krems-Stein is a city of art and universities. Both old towns are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Wachau. What should you definitely do in Krems? Well, you have to walk through the Steiner Tor. From this sight, the streets lead you to the city's highlights.

A must-see are the ceiling frescoes in the parish church, designed by Kremser Schmidt. The oldest church is the late Gothic Piarist Church with the Piarist Stairs, regarded as the little sister of Vienna's St. Stephen's Cathedral.

The Krems Museum is also worth a visit. It is located in the old Dominican Church and houses Fanny vom Galgenberg, the oldest artwork in Austria, which is 32,000 years old. A detour also takes you to Gozzoburg, a former city palace.

A focal point is the new Lower Austrian State Gallery in the Kunstmeile Krems. The futuristic building sparks debates but is architecturally impressive and houses modern art. The collections of the Lower Austrian State as well as exciting private collections and themed exhibitions can be seen there.

Next door is the Caricature Museum Krems, another must for your visit.

Stift Göttweig really surprised us. It majestically towers on a hill. A lot happens here. Father Pius, for example, manages the second-largest religious Instagram account. There are concerts in the monastery courtyard, theater performances, and events like Classic Under the Stars or a Sunset Lounge.

You can visit the monastery church for free daily from 5:30 AM to 7:30 PM. The museum has an entrance fee, but it's best to take a guided tour. This way, you learn a lot about the monastery. In addition to fantastic concerts, Göttweig also offers retreats for spiritual reflection.

Viticulture along the Danube has a long history that spans approximately two thousand years. Even the Celts and Illyrians were pressing wine here, and with the Roman occupation, the vineyards were further cultivated. In the Middle Ages, the Bavarian dioceses and monasteries likely had the first terraced vineyards in Wachau. Back then, viticulture reached its peak and was known far beyond the borders of Austria. Wine has since become a cultural asset of Wachau, favored by the special climate.

Today, various grape varieties grow in Wachau on an area of 1,390 hectares. From Wachau to Vienna, especially white wine thrives, while in the east, in Carnuntum, strong red wine is also maturing.

A traditional Heuriger is a must in Wachau. The excellent wines can be experienced most authentically at the wine cellar festivals and at traditional Heuriger establishments. From May to September, enjoying wine outdoors here along the Danube is a highlight you shouldn't miss.

You should definitely visit these wine cellars in Wachau:

Domäne Wachau: The winemaker cooperative Domäne Wachau ranks among the ten best white wine estates in Austria. The members cultivate 440 hectares, which is 30 percent of the wine in Wachau. While you are there, be sure to enjoy a guided tour focusing on viticulture and its history.

Nikolaihof: It is the oldest wine cellar in Europe and has 2000 years of history to tell. From the year 63 AD comes the masonry Roman wine cellar of the castellum Favianis. Be sure to take a look at the wine cellar and then enjoy your dinner under the huge linden tree in the garden.

What is a Heuriger? The traditional heurigers are small taverns, usually run by farmers. They offer their own young wine, the so-called Heurigen, which is wine that is one year old. Along with this, there's a hearty platter.

Since 2006, it has been official: Wachau is the Enjoyment Region for Wachau Apricots. Between March and April, 100,000 apricot trees bloom in white blossoms. The flowers are white with a delicate pink center. Many photo tourists are out during this time. If you want to know the best timing for your photo tour, you can track it via webcam on www.wachau.at.

It is also beautiful during the harvest season. On about 170 hectares, the fruit trees are particularly dense in Rossatz-Arnsdorf. This is a sight you should not miss.

You can either visit Wachau during the blossom or harvest season. We tried the apricot nectar and were thrilled. Whether pure, as a spritzer, with alcohol, or as schnapps - the apricot tastes fabulous. The jam or apricot pastries from the baker are also a delight.

My next sight is the Hinterhaus Castle Ruins, nearly a thousand years old. It proudly overlooks the highest hill along the Danube, the Jauerling. It was first mentioned in 1243. Like many castles in Wachau, it is very old. The Hinterhaus Castle Ruins can be visited for free. A short five-minute climb takes you up the hill, with signs guiding the way.

Once, the Knights of Spitz ruled from the Hinterhaus Ruins, which were under the house of Kuenring that owned the Dürnstein Castle Ruin. The Knights of Spitz were likely active in the castle during the 13th and 14th centuries.

A tip: The ruins are located near the Tausendeimerberg (Thousand Bucket Mountain). The name suggests a specific yield - 1000 buckets of wine. Whether this is still the case today, you can find out during the harvest season as you watch the vintners at work.

Unfortunately, you cannot visit Schloss Schönbühel, as it is privately owned. However, there are several good photo spots from which you can capture the castle. We recommend using the side arm of the Danube, specifically the area of the side arm system Grimsing.

There, you can not only take beautiful walks and observe the flora and fauna but also enjoy the best view and the most beautiful photo motif of Schloss Schönbühel. A boat tour is also a great option to get close to this sight.

After dining in royal style with a view of the Danube, the shortest way to bed is at Hotel Richard Löwenherz (check prices here*) in Dürnstein. In the morning, you can swim some laps in the large pool.

In Krems, we recommend the Arte Hotel Krems (check prices here*). It is located directly on the Kunstmeile, across from the university. Moreover, this is where the first stage of the World Heritage Trail begins. We recommend the breakfast buffet, and the gym is excellent for burning off a few calories.

Another favorite is ad vineas (check prices here*), the guesthouse of Nikolaihof. The cuisine is simply fantastic, and the Roman-era wine cellar absolutely impressed us.

In the small town of Spitz, you'll find Gasthof Goldenes Schiff (check prices here*). There, you get free bicycles, the garden invites you to relax, and of course, the restaurant offers typical Wachau cuisine.