I have a few questions about using the OBB comi ticket to the Wachau Valley.
If anyone has used this service, did you purchase your tickets in Austria or online before hand.
If you purchased them online what is the process for obtaining the vouchers for the abbey , cruise
and train tickets. I am arrving in Vienna at the Hautbanhof train station, could anyone tell me if
there is an OBB office there?
I would like to take the train to Krems to and from the Hautbanhof train station but I have
seen posts that say the train from Krems returns to a different station.
Finally, if I go on a Sunday will most stores and restaurants be closed in Melk and Durnstein.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Posted by
2560 posts
I am arrving in Vienna at the Hautbanhof train station, could anyone tell me if
there is an OBB office there?
Most certainly, of course. Buy your Wachau ticket there. There is no need to buy it in advance as the route is serviced by local trains where there is no seat reservation.
As you can see from the folder the trains depart/arrive from Westbahnhof and Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof, not from Hauptbahnhof. If you insist on departing/arriving at Hauptbahnhof, you need to change trains in St. Pölten.
The usual way to do this trip is going to Melk, visiting the abbey, take the boat to Dürnstein, board the next boat to Krems, take the train back to Vienna. You could do it the other way around, but this means going upstream by boat which is much slower, i.e., you will lose a lot of time.
If you want to extend your time in Dürnstein, take the bus to Krems at a later time, skipping the boat.
Dürnstein is a touristic hotspot, so shops will be open on Sunday.
Beware that the summer season ends on October 6th, i.e., reduced boat services.
Posted by
OP
6 posts
Thank you for posting this very useful information.
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5858 posts
I can only confirm and add to what wmt1 has shared above.
Hauptbahnhof means Main Train Station in German. As a result, OBB definitely has an office in that station as they run all of the trains. I suggest, however, that you purchase the combi ticket from an OBB ticket machine which can be found at any train station. You can switch to English on the machines. For example, I live near Rennweg train station and I have purchased this combi ticket from my local station at Rennweg many times from the OBB machine. Perhaps you can share where you will stay in Vienna and then it will be easier to guide you.
As wmt1 mentioned, it is recommended to go from Vienna to Melk (not Krems) to see the Abbey and then get on the boat in Melk. I recommend getting off the boat in Duernstein and then taking the bus 715 (https://www.donau.com/en/wachau-nibelungengau-kremstal/information-service/getting-there/busverbindungen-in-der-wachau/) back to the Krems train station. Saves a lot of walking from the boat dock in Krems to the train station. From Krems you take the train back to Vienna (Franz Joseph Train Station).
Restaurants are typically always open on Sundays, it is only shops you must worry about. But as Duernstein is full of tourist shops, you will have no problem finding those open to buy souvenirs, wine and apricot products.