We are wanting to purchase the combination Wachau train/boat ticket but I am having a hard time finding out which train station is best. Do you depart and arrive at the same station? It looks like there are direct trains to Melk from westbahnhof but from Krems there are transfers. Would appreciate any insight on planning this day trip. Thx!
Posted by
1929 posts
Both train connections, i.e., Wien > Melk and Krems > Wien, are direct, but depart/arrive at different train stations in Vienna.
The train to Melk departs at Wien Westbahnhof, the train from Krems arrives at Wien Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof.
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5400 posts
Here's how I would do it. I would take the direct train from Vienna's Westbahnhof to Melk, which takes a little over an hour. I would tour the Abbey and then get on the boat to Duernstein. In Duernstein I would have lunch at the Alte Presshaus and hike up to the castle ruins. I would then take the 715 bus to the Krems train station (just a couple of Euro). Then you will get on the direct train at Krems to Vienna's Franz-Joseph Bahnhof, which also takes a little over an hour.
Essentially, any trip to the Wachau should include Duernstein, in my opinion. Also, the boat dock in Krems is a 30 minute walk from the Krems train station - and not a particularly nice walk. The 715 bus from Duernstein, however, stops right in front of the train station in Krems.
Posted by
1929 posts
... the boat dock in Krems is a 30 minute walk from the Krems train station - and not a particularly nice walk.
The walk is not so nice if you follow the instructions given by Google Maps, which suggests to follow route #3, a main through-road.
Better is to walk on Ringstraße starting at the roundabout near the boat dock.
Posted by
103 posts
Emily, my daughter would like to take some time to walk around the village of Melk. Is it possible to take some time to walk around before boarding the boat and still fit in the stop in Durnstein? Do the boats run often enough to accommodate this? (We will probably get to Melk pretty early - we're morning people.)
We've also considered skipping the combination ticket, taking the train to Melk and then taking the bus to Krems after visiting the Abbey. The RS guidebook mentions a bus ticket that allows for stops along the way. Would this also be the 715 bus? How often does the bus run and does it end service at some time that we would need to be aware of?
I'm sorry for so many questions - I like to know all my options in advance and plan carefully to minimize surprises! And thank you! Your contributions to this forum are so helpful!
Posted by
OP
17 posts
Thank you for the helpful information!
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5400 posts
Diana M - The DDSG boat leaves Melk at 11:00, 13:50, 14:35 and 16:25 (https://ddsg-blue-danube.at/linienschifffahrt-wachau/). If you use the OeBB website, you will find that trains leave Vienna's Westbahnhof station at :18 after every hour and arrive in Melk at :21 the following hour. You want to tour the Melk Abbey, right? It is the crown jewel of the Wachau and should not be missed. The village of Melk itself is cute but not particularly quaint. You'll want a couple of hours to tour the Abbey before boarding the boat. Then get off the boat at Duernstein - the cutest village in the Wachau - at 12:30, 15:10, 15:55 or 17:50, depending on which boat you take. You'll want a couple of hours to explore Duernstein and hike up to the castle ruins for the views. If you are on an earlier boat, I highly recommend having lunch in Duernstein at the terrace of the Richard Lionheart Hotel. Bus 715 runs from Duernstein to Krems train station. You can't hop on/hop off the bus, you have to buy a ticket for each journey you take on the bus. The bus comes through every hour and current schedules have the bus stopping at the station by the tourist office at :18 past the hour. You can check this on Google Maps.
Posted by
103 posts
Thank you so much, Emily. This is really helpful information! I'd really like to take the boat trip, but I think my daughter prefers the bus. I don't think she wants to pay 82 euros, but I think it would be worth it.
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5400 posts
What about riding a bike? It’s my favorite way to see the Wachau. It is easy with NextBike. I suggest the ride from Spitz or Weißenkirchen to Duernstein.
Posted by
103 posts
Emily, I looked up Nextbike and that sounds like a fun way to see the valley. I assume we could take the bus from Melk to Spitz, then bike to Durnstein, which is only an hour or so. That would probably be the right amount of biking for me! Are the Nextbike locations generally easy to find from bus stops?