Hello:
We will be in Vienna for 5 nights. We would like to visit Salzburg and also do the Danube cruise in the Wachau valley [Melk, Durnstein and Krems]. Should we go from Vienna to Krems, Durnstein, Melk, Salzburg or should we take the train to Salzburg and work backward? We have about 2 days and thought we would overnight in Salzburg. We know we will get back to Vienna quite late at night.
Any suggestions re trains and combination tickets? We have found great information here already! Thank you!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area
5697 posts
We took the cruise as a day trip from Vienna last October -- train to Melk, toured the abbey, boat back to Krems and then train back to Vienna. Bought a combo ticket at the train station. For the cruise portion there are two boat lines; the ticket can be used on either boat from Melk. The trip took most of the day and we took the train to Salzburg on another day. (We were traveling Salzburg - Vienna - Salzburg - Munich over about 10 days and we don't like to rush through things.) IMHO it's much easier to day trip without worrying about hauling or checking bags along the way,.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you so much Laura. Yes, we will be travelling very light!
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5381 posts
I would highly suggest the Wachau as a Vienna day trip and then a separate overnight to Salzburg.
For Salzburg, I would take the Westbahn train and buy tickets aboard.
For the Wachau, I would take the train to Melk, boat to Weissenkirchen or Spitz or Durnstein (explore at least one of these charming villages) and then take the bus to Krems where you will catch the train back to Vienna. There are boat/train combos available through the www.oebb.at website as well as through the train stations when you arrive.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
You have put my thoughts in order! We will do the Wachau tour one day. Then with a very early start we can have two full days and a night in Salzburg. We have already made reservations in Vienna so we can leave our luggage there and travel light. This will be just fine!
I do appreciate your help and this forum.
Thanks,
Pat