Danube Valley and Melk Abbey Guided Day Trip from Vienna

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Operngasse 8: Meeting point is 15-10 minutes before departure in front of the Opera Fountain at the Vienna State Opera. Take the lines U1 (red), U2 (purple) or U4 (green) to station "Karlsplatz". Follow the exit "Oper" and walk left along the Vienna State Opera to get to Operngasse.

   5 min

2. Visit the wonderful Dürnstein.

   1 h

3. Take an impressive boat trip on the Danube from Spitz to Melk (only in summer).

   30 minAdmission included

4. As part of the all inclusive option, you can get a guided tour through the magnificent Benedictine Abbey (depending on which option you choose).

   1.5 h

5. On your boat trip (in summer) you will pass the picturesque Schönbühel Castle below Melk on the right bank of the Danube.

   Passes by

6. See many mediaval castles, grand monasteries and a breathtaking landscape.

   7 h

7. Operngasse 8: End of the tour

   5 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 1,603 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Showing reviews written in English.

• 2Disappointing

  We did this tour on the last day of our two week European tour and were really looking forward to it. Unfortunately, we were disappointed, especially with the lack of communication from our tour guide. The tour started in Vienna with a bus ride to the Wachau Valley, where we stopped to get onto the river cruise portion of the day. We were the last group to board the boat and there were no outside seating left. The boat when down (up?) the Danube then turned around and doubled back to Durnstein. So almost half the cruise repeated itself. We then got off at Durnstein and were told we'd do a brief talking tour and then have about 20 minutes to explore on our own. That never happened. We walked through the town with the guide in ten minutes, ending up at the bus parking lot at the far edge of town, and then told we had ten minutes free, with half of the time spent waiting in line to use the restroom. Back to the bus to drive to Melk. Parked at the edge of the town and figured we would have some time to check it out. Nope. Had to walk up a steep hill to get the top, where we had to wait for the guide to obtain and pass out to us the tickets to the Abbey tour. The guide said we then had about an hour until the tour started. It was then about 2:00 and no one had eaten lunch yet. We could walk back down the hill to the town and try find a place to eat (with no guidance from the guide), and then walk back up the hill, all in about an hour. Which was probably not possible. Instead, our only alternative was to eat at the overpriced restaurant next to the Abbey. The Abbey tour was alright, but that's mostly because it was run by a guide from the Abbey. But note that no pictures were allowed inside the Abbey. The guide who accompanied us throughout the day was poor; she would start talking before the group could coalesce around her, and would act perturbed if anyone had any questions. Lastly, the tour turned out to be mixed English/Spanish, which meant that 50% of the guide's time was spent repeating herself in the second language.

  TexanOneSeptember 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Wonderful Adventure

  We had a wonderful time on this excursion. Herman, the guide did a great job. Just enough time in each location. Enjoyed the boat trip and Abbey visit. Pick up was very easy at the Opera House. Hint: When you get to the Abbey eat at the restaurant the guide tells about. The food was good and service quick so as not to interfere with the start of Abbey Tour.

  scott4808August 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Our guide was excellent (Lathky?)

  The boat ride and walking tour was great. Combing a bus ride there, Melk, boat ride back is very peaceful.

  ROBERT_CAugust 2026via Viator

• 5Thomas was great....

  Thomas was great. Wolfgang drove us safely. Tour ran on time! The Danube cruise should not have gone past Durnstein and rounded back. Thus would’ve left us more time to enjoy the little village.

  GAIL_KAugust 2026via Viator

• 3Not what I hoped for

  It was ok but not the best day trip. With the hot summer, the Danube was low and therefore the guide mentioned it’s not the normal cruise they do. That’s no fault of the guide or company but I can’t control only review what we did on the day. 90 min coach ride to the cruise, which then dropped us in a small village with nothing really to do for just over a hour. We then went to Melk Abbey which is pretty but you look around maybe 10 rooms and then it’s over and you drive back to Vienna. I would have preferred to have depend my day doing something else, in hindsight. The driver and guide were very nice and professional and the review is not a reflection on them.

  repiniqueAugust 2026via Tripadvisor

• 3Boat ride on Danube is...

  Boat ride on Danube is slow and relaxing, with opportunity to purchase a meal on board. There is not much scenery during the trip. The Abbey is interesting, though the tour only goes through approx 10 rooms in the large residence. The Church at the end of the tour makes the boat trip and the Abbey worth the wait. Probably the most dramatic church in Europe. Definitely worth seeing

  perry_BJuly 2026via Viator

Know before you go

How it compares in Vienna

• Its from-price is 347% above the median of the 61 attraction tickets we list in Vienna.
• It is longer than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 1 of 61.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Vienna

Vienna is Austria's elegant capital on the Danube, a city of imperial palaces, grand coffeehouses and a musical heritage known the world over.

The Ringstrasse circles the old centre with monumental buildings: the State Opera, the Parliament, the City Hall and the Burgtheater. Inside the ring, St Stephen's Cathedral, with its patterned tile roof, rises above lanes of shops and cafés, and the Hofburg palace complex holds the imperial apartments, the Spanish Riding School and a museum devoted to Empress Elisabeth.

Top-ranked sights in Vienna: Hofburg Imperial Palace (Hofburg Wien) , Schönbrunn Palace (Schloss Schönbrunn), Rathaus.

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