Wachau Valley & Danube Cruises: 15 Days on the River

1.Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket to the Danube Tower

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,303 reviews · 1 day · from $21Our pick

Visit Vienna’s 1960s Danube Tower in scenic Danube Park with a skip-the-line ticket. A fast express lift takes you to the 150-meter observation decks for wide 360-degree views. Add time for the rotating café or restaurant, and remember that the tower slide costs extra. Weather can make or break the panorama.

“When i was there i could see all of Vienna and beyond! Took some time to point out certain places. The slide was really cool and fun. The fact that the restaurant turns is cool! Recommend going!”

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2.Danube Valley Day Trip from Vienna

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,576 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $141

Travel from Vienna into the UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley by coach, visit Dürnstein, cruise from Spitz to Melk from April through October, and tour Melk Abbey if selected. Guides such as Tommy, Eric, Christian, and Claudia have earned praise for clear commentary. Winter departures replace the boat with lunch.

“The entire tour was very good. The guy who was in Spanish and English was amazing and was a constant source of knowledge. They really made sure about the logistics to get you out to about 100 km away from the city of Vienna. The first stop was a small little village, which was quaint, and then we took the boat tour, which gave you a little bit of a feeling of what it might be like to take a river cruise down the Danube the boat tour was about an hour and a half And with beautiful scenery and finally we ended up in the area called MELK. Which…”

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3.Wachau Valley, Melk Abbey Tour with Danube Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,413 reviews · 8h 30m · from $151

Spend about eight and a half hours exploring the Wachau Valley from Vienna by air-conditioned coach and, in summer, boat. Visit Krems, Dürnstein, and Melk, then tour Melk Abbey with the all-inclusive summer option. English and Spanish guides provide history and practical help throughout the day.

“Excellent! Just make this after April as nature wasn't ready for our visit!”

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4.Evening Cruise Along The Danube

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 1,280 reviews · 3 hours · from $55

Spend three hours aboard the MS Vindobona, MS Blue Danube, or MS Wien as Vienna shifts from daylight to night. You will cruise through the canal before reaching the Danube, with sunset views from the upper deck, a live camera feed, and optional freshly prepared Viennese food from Roman Loos’s onboard restaurant. German and English assistance is available.

“Excellent day trip! Omer did an amazing job of keeping us comfortable throughout. Showed us important historical and beautiful places. Always on point with photography. Left us time to explore as well! Would 100% recommend”

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5.3.5-Hour Grand Danube River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 1,151 reviews · from $51

Board the MS Wien or Hundertwasser-designed MS Vindobona at Schwedenplatz for a 3.5-hour cruise through Vienna’s green, modern, and historic sides. You’ll pass the Prater woods, Danube Island, Danube Tower, Millennium Tower, Nussdorf locks, and the Danube Canal. German and English service is available, with food and drinks sold onboard.

“Was amazing, nice service, nice view. We will book again for a longer way”

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6.Danube River Cruise w/ optional Viennese Specialties

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 1,017 reviews · from $36

Cruise from the DDSG Blue Danube ticket office through modern Vienna, the Nussdorf lock, and the Danube Canal. Choose the shorter 1.5-hour route or continue toward Prater, Danube Island, and Freudenau for the extended cruise. Optional Viennese food is available, while drinks cost extra.

“A great Way to see Vienna from the seaside. Very nice cruise ship and good service”

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7.Wachau Valley Wine Tasting Bike Tour from Vienna

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 829 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $163Top rated

Leave Vienna by train for Krems, then cycle about 25 kilometers along the Danube through vineyards, villages, and quiet roads. You’ll taste wines at two local wineries, explore Dürnstein, and have time for lunch or a swim. Guides such as Szana, Tim, Nicolas, and Sina bring local color to the day.

“This tour was one of the best days of our trip so far. We had a great time trying different wines and the views in the valley are gorgeous. Tim, our guide, was great too. We would recommend this to anyone!”

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8.Bratislava Day Trip from Vienna With Catamaran Cruise on Danube

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 723 reviews · from $115

Travel from Vienna to Bratislava by air-conditioned coach, join a local walking tour, then return by Twin City Liner catamaran on the Danube. You’ll see St. Martin’s Cathedral, Michael’s Gate, Grassalkovich Palace, Primate’s Palace, and Bratislava Castle, with several hours for lunch and independent exploring. The guide may lead in more than one language.

“It was a good trip a bit expensive and two hours too long just passing time at the end of the day could have been back in Vienna earlier”

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9.Wachau Valley Small-Group Tour and Wine Tasting from Vienna

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 540 reviews · from $230

Travel from Vienna in a luxury eight-seat vehicle with a guide such as Marco, Camilo, or Tomas. Explore medieval Dürnstein, taste Austrian white wines, eat at a traditional Heuriger, and cruise the Danube from May to September. In winter, the cruise is replaced by a guided visit to Melk Abbey.

“Excellent tour. Comfortable bus. Guide (Marcos) was great. Lunch location could not have been better. Love it!”

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10.Grape Grazing: Wachau Valley Winery Biking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 468 reviews · 11 hours · from $163

Spend 11 hours cycling the Wachau Valley with an English-speaking guide such as Tim, Nicolas, or Sanja. Ride easy paths between villages, taste wines at two family-run wineries, visit Dürnstein, and take the train from Vienna. Lunch costs €17 in cash, and electric bikes cost extra.

“This day trip was excellent! Our guide, Nicholas, was approachable and professional. He knew a lot and took us to wonderful wineries. The bikes worked really well and the cycling was fantastic. For avid cyclists that enjoy great views, this was a wonderful trip. Thank you for making it so great, Nicholas!”

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11.Wachau Valley Day Tour with Wine Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 399 reviews · 9 hours · from $234

Spend nine hours exploring the Wachau Valley with an English-speaking guide and a maximum of eight people. Visit Dürnstein, taste Austrian whites at two wineries, enjoy local delicacies, and cruise from Spitz to Melk in summer. Seasonal departures may replace the cruise with a guided visit to Melk Abbey.

“Marco was absolutely awesome . He was very friendly, entertaining, and most importantly knowledgeable —- about the history, the area, and of course the wines. A delightful journey not to be missed.”

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12.Private Day Tour Trip Salzburg Hallstatt and Melk from Vienna

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 388 reviews · 13 hours (approx.)

Leave Vienna at 7:30 a.m. with a private English-speaking driver and visit Melk Abbey, Hallstatt, Lake Wolfgang, and Salzburg. Drivers such as Darko, Michael, Romano, and Davor offer local tips, photo stops, and flexible timing. You explore each town independently, making this a fast but practical way to see western Austria in one day.

“We really loved how relaxing the day was and how accommodating D was. He was very relaxed and let us plan our day however we wanted. He made sure everyone was happy and taken care of. We had nice conversations along the longer drives, even with my 14 year old son”

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13.Dürnstein and Wachau Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 336 reviews · 1 day · from $116

Spend a Sunday cruising from Vienna into Lower Austria aboard the MS Kaiserin Elisabeth II. Enjoy breakfast, a lunch snack, and dinner made onboard, then take two hours to explore medieval Dürnstein on your own. German and English hosts are available, but drinks cost extra and the ship is not wheelchair accessible.

“A very good cruse ship. The food was passable. Staff was very helpful and and kind. worth an experience.”

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14.Wachau Valley River Cruise with 3-Course Meal

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 254 reviews · from $76

Sail the Danube for five hours from Krems to Melk and back, passing Dürnstein, Schönbühel Palace, vineyards, villages, and Melk Abbey. Your seasonal three-course meal includes regional produce and one glass of Wachau wine. The renovated ship has a sun deck, lounge, bar, and wheelchair access, with German and English assistance.

“My wife and I took the Krems Wachau Valley River Cruise with the 3- course meal on April 27th and we highly recommend it. The weather cooperated and we were able to get seats on the upper deck of the boat to enjoy the beautiful views. Seats on the upper deck are taken up quickly as there are people who take the cruise but not the meal so if you want to sit outside after you eat you need to be vigilant. The meal was excellent and the service staff were very polite and accomodating. For a cost of $94 per person (Canadian $) this was excellent value. We would…”

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15.Full Day Tour from Vienna to Wachau, Melk, Hallstatt and Salzburg

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 151 reviews · from $44

Start with Vienna pickup at 7:30 a.m. and visit Dürnstein, Melk Abbey, Hallstatt, and Salzburg in a small group of up to eight. You get a guide, air-conditioned transport, hotel pickup, snacks, drinks, and a Mozart chocolate tasting. The route is scenic but very long, and dependable pickup is the key concern.

“Maria is a very knowledgeable giving informations during our trip. It could have been more a better experience if we arrived earlier and stayed more in Salzburg rather than that of the 1st stop in Wachau. It’s already dark when we get to Salzburg so we didn’t get much exploration done.”

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