Hi all,
Planning to be in Vienna for five days out of a 12 day trip. I am back and forth trying to decide whether to just do a day trip to the Wachau Valley, or if it warrants a night or two (which would come out of the Vienna portion of the trip). We do enjoy small towns, walking and biking.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts on this topic!
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8138 posts
Another alternative city for a day trip is Bratislava, Slovenia. It's just 39 miles from Vienna, but a whole world apart. In a weekend we spent there, we didn't hear any German spoken. It's a very high income, high tech place right on the river.
Posted by
3244 posts
We took a small-group tour of the Wachau Valley with Vienna Explorer in 2015. It was a great day. They also have bike tours in the Wachau Valley.
Posted by
Massachusetts
847 posts
We were there this past summer and spent 2 nights in Melk, doing the river cruise from Melk to Krems on the full day between the two nights. But we had quite a lot of time for this trip and weren't even visiting Vienna at all (I had been on a previous trip), Anyway, we also spent 3 nights in Bratislava but I really think a day trip to either (both) the Wachau Valley and Bratislava are worthwhile but both can probably be enjoyed as just a day trip. With only a total of five days it might be more efficient use of time than to waste time changing hotels.
Here's the trip report I wrote that includes both of them, - https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/blog/2018/11/bavaria-to-bratislava-and-back-in-three-weeks
Posted by
1900 posts
Another alternative city for a day trip is Bratislava, Slovenia. It's just 39 miles from Vienna, but a whole world apart. In a weekend we spent there, we didn't hear any German spoken. It's a very high income, high tech place right on the river.
Sorry, but Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia. The old city center, the only part worth visiting, is on the left side of the Danube and can be explored within a day. As far as I know it is partially a high price area because of the tourists, not so much a high income area.
Posted by
Charleston & Birmingham
4313 posts
@Isabel-your trip report is amazing!
Posted by
Massachusetts
847 posts
Thanks a lot
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5381 posts
It’s good that you didn’t hear German in Slovakia. That would have been weird. High income and tech are not two words I associate with Bratislava at all - Viennese go there to shop and for dental care as the prices are lower, for example.
Now getting to the Wachau - what time of year? My answer would differ depending on the month. If during a warmer month, a night in Duernstein would be lovely. Cramming eveiinto a day trip is a bit much. Rent a car in Vienna and drive to the Wachau - much easier. Give me more retinas I can give you more details. Been there many times.