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Dürnstein Castle

Dürnstein Castle: Our most recommended tours and activities

Vienna: Wachau, Melk Abbey, and Danube Valleys Tour

1. Vienna: Wachau, Melk Abbey, and Danube Valleys Tour

Experience a romantic sightseeing tour by bus and boat from Vienna, introducing you to the beauty of the Wachau and Danube Valleys in Lower Austria. Visit the Benedictine Abbey of Melk with a guide. In winter, enjoy lunch in place of the Danube boat trip. Explore the River Danube as it flows around picturesque villages and steep vineyards. Pass by many ancient castles testify to the former importance of the river. One of these is the ruins of Dürnstein Castle, where, according to legend, Richard the Lionheart was kept imprisoned, and was eventually freed by his faithful minstrel Blondel. Then take a romantic boat trip along the legendary Danube only in summer. In the old city of Krems, go to the heart of the Wachau wine-growing region, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site for its architectural and agricultural history. Then, follow your guide to the Danube River town of Melk. Visit the Benedictine Abbey of Melk, one of Austria's most famous Baroque buildings and its cultural and spiritual center.

Vienna: Melk Abbey, Danube Valley, Wachau Private Car Trip

2. Vienna: Melk Abbey, Danube Valley, Wachau Private Car Trip

The Danube Valley (Wachau) is a treasure trove of Austrian history and nature with rolling hills, lush vineyards and medieval fortresses. On this private car tour, you will discover its crown jewel - the historic Melk Abbey and nearby attractions, with an optional Danube River Cruise (summer only) or Wachau Wine Tasting. Experience the wonders of Danube Valley from Vienna! Book a 9,5-hour self-guided tour of the Danube Valley with private transfers, a private tour of Melk Abbey and tickets for the Danube River Cruise. This itinerary is ideal for those who want to simply experience the natural heritage and cultural heritage of Wachau, one of the most prominent tourist destinations of Lower Austria. Our English and German speaking driver will pick you up directly from your Vienna accommodation and take you on a scenic drive through the picturesque landscapes along the Danube River. You will make a stop in the charming town of Dürnstein, which is a well-known wine growing area. Next, we’ll take you to Melk Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will arrange the abbey’s Official Guide to give you a private tour of the Abbey Museum, so you can learn about its history and admire the stunning Marble Hall, the balcony and the Baroque library. There will be a little bit of free time in Melk, then you'll go on a fantastic cruise from Melk to Krems, admiring the highlights of the Danube River along the way. In Krems you can explore the Old Town, do souvenir shopping and have lunch at a traditional Austrian restaurant (at your own expense). At the end of the day, the driver will take you back to Vienna. Choose the 10-hour option for a guided tour of the Danube Valley with private transfers, a private tour of Melk Abbey and tickets for the Danube River Cruise. With a Licensed Private Guide from Vienna you can enjoy interesting and informative commentary at every step of this journey, and truly appreciate the history and cultural heritage of the Wachau region. The guide will tell you about the legend about Richard the Lionheart, who was imprisoned at Dürnstein Castle, share interesting facts about the sights along the Danube River, and show you the highlights of Krems, such as the Steinertor, Rathaus and Gozzoburg Krems. Choose the 11,5-hour option for a guided tour of the Danube Valley with private car transfers, private tour of Melk Abbey and an exclusive tasting of 2 Austrian wines (instead of cruise tickets). Wachau is a world-famous wine region where most of Austria’s wines are produced as part of the tradition that has been cultivated for centuries. On this tour, your Private Guide will invite you to a local wine tavern or restaurant surrounded by lush vineyards for a tasting of 2 different wines produced in Wachau. It’s a must-do in the Danube Valley!

Vienna: Wachau Valley Private Kayak and Wine Tour

3. Vienna: Wachau Valley Private Kayak and Wine Tour

Explore the natural beauty of Wachau Valley as you travel by kayak along the Danube on a private tour. See the incredible scenery, enjoy a delicious tasting of local wine, explore picturesque Durnstein, have a tasty lunch, and more. Meet at the main entrance of Vienna’s Westbahnhof railway station before a one-hour train journey to Melk, home of the world-famous baroque abbey, or meet there directly. Once there, prepare the kayaks and receive a safety briefing. It’s then time to travel by kayak along the Western Wachau, where the hills are carpeted in trees with castles and palaces sitting atop many of the valley’s highest peaks. You’ll be in awe of the valley’s natural beauty from your position in the heart of the Danube. The charming village of Spitz, approximately halfway through the valley, marks the beginning of the wine region. Noted for its dry Rieslings, Austria’s signature Gruner Veltliner, and the wonderfully unique and earthy Neuburger, visit one of the town’s finest local producers for an extensive tasting, before lunch (own expense) in a local hamlet. After this, paddle further east and see the steep valley landscape transform into visually stunning rows of dry stone walls and vines, separated into hundreds of individual vineyard plots. End the journey in picturesque Durnstein, the gem of the valley. You can climb the famous castle ruins or wander through the village, taking in its old-world medieval charm. After a full day of activity, arrive back in Vienna around 7 PM, although the precise time of arrival will depend on our progress over the course of the day – you won’t want to rush through the beautiful nature.

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Other Sightseeing Options in Dürnstein Castle

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What people are saying about Dürnstein Castle

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 658 reviews

We absolutely loved our time on this tour. In Krems we only had 45 minutes but we went to both main churches and explored the alleyways and inspiring views! In Durstein we had an hour and I managed to run up the mountain to the castle ruins and had time to quickly explore town and the river after. If you're hoping to see the castle ruins but can't walk very quickly up a steep hill you won't be able to make it in time for this tour. Lastly, Melk Abbey was amazing and so beautiful. We learned a lot about its history and enjoyed our guide. The timing was very prompt. We had a nice lunch too!

It was a 8.5 hrs trip, which covers whole day. Exactly what I was looking for. Visit of an hour to the beautiful town of Durnstein was wonderful. Got to spend an hour over there. Would have loved to climb up to remains of the castle to get a bird's view of the town and Danube, if more time was there. Danube river cruise from Spitz to Melk was amazing and was highlight of the trip. Sunny day and cool breezes made it a memorable experience. Guided visit to Melk abbey was also very nice. Overall, a nice experience.

Durnstein, Melk abbey was so good. However, the Donau river cruise was a bit boring. It would be better if a little more time was spent on the Durnstein.

So beautiful and informative! This made my trip to Austria one of THE best trips I’ve ever taken.

The trip was great, especially with elder people. The bus and boat were great for them.