I will be visiting Vienna for a week at the end of December. I very much would like to see Melk Abbey and am looking for suggestions for the best way to visit. I will be traveling from Salzburg and had thought stopping on the way would make the most sense but there doesn't seem be a way to efficiently do this on the train and a car rental is very expensive with the drop-off fee. I know from reading that most who go take the train from Vienna and do the combination train/boat/train but this isn't an option in December. I am wondering if I should save this for my next trip or if it will be just as wonderful without the boat trip. If so, could someone advise how many hours I should set aside for this. I also know the Abbey limits visits to guided tours only during the winter.
Posted by
Rick Steves Europe
353 posts
During Winter (November-March), the Melk Abbey can only be visited by guided tour (English language tours daily at 11:00 & 2:00, €55 plus €10 for ticket). This should be reserved at least a day in advance by email or phone. See website for more details: www.stiftmelk.at/englisch
You could stop in Melk on the way to Vienna from Salzburg (trains almost hourly, with a change in Amstetten, taking about 2.5 hours), but If you will be in Vienna for a week, then you could easily do it as a day trip from Vienna by train. There are trains every 2 hours, sometimes hourly, depending on the time of day. See www.oebb.at/en/ for schedules and ticket prices.
Posted by
OP
Portland, Maine
14 posts
Thanks so much for the train information. I couldn't figure out the station to make the change at and when I simply plugged it into the oebb site it took 4 hours just to get to there. The tickets actually only cost 12 euros for adults per an email I received from Melk abbey.
Posted by
Michigan, United States
32 posts
I absolutely loved the Melk Abbey. To see the library room alone would be worth the trip! You will love it.
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5382 posts
As noted above, seeing Melk/Wachau area as a day trip from Vienna is much more efficient. And you don't have to deal with dragging around luggage.
That said, I wouldn't recommend visiting this area in December if you are planning to return. It is at its best in spring (apricot blossoms) and in fall (wine harvesting). There is also much more to the area than Melk. The Wachau includes numerous charming villages along the Danube (Spitz, Weissenkirchen, Durnstein), vineyards, biking along the river, etc. If you do return I would even suggest spending a night or two.