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Vienna side trips

Any recommendations on day trips from Vienna or perhaps with an overnight stay? I'll be going in May, so the weather should be nice. Thanks.

Posted by
58 posts

I can recommend an overnight to Budapest for another interesting city or if you would like to slow down and take in the countryside, stay in Melk.
Melk is a sleepy little town tucked in next to the Danube river and features tons of bike trails and the Melk Abbey. The hotel we stayed at offered free use of their bicycles and so we rode through the vineyards to Durnstein (climbed up to the castle ruins where Richard the Lionhearted was imprisoned) and then caught the ferry back to Melk. You can also do a train/boat/Melk Abbey combo day trip from Vienna but I think you get a much fuller experience by staying overnight and riding the bikes. (btw, it is flat) Have fun! We really enjoyed Budapest, Vienna and Melk.

Posted by
84 posts

Thanks for the info Brenda! I went to Budapest a few years ago but haven't been to Melk. I was going to visit Durnstein on my last trip to Vienna, but got sick and never made it. I'll look into visiting Melk.

Posted by
590 posts

I did that bike ride that the previous poster mentioned and I would have to agree that it would have been even more enjoyable if I stayed overnight. The bike ride was so beautiful. I went in the middle of May and the weather was very hot. Not too sure if this was out of the ordinary, but I do remember there wasn't that much shade. Be prepared with lots of water, but there are plenty of stops along the way to buy some if needed.

Posted by
84 posts

Thanks for the response Kate! My plan is to stay in Melk overnight and bike into Durnstein one afternoon. I read that the apricot fields will be in full bloom. I've been to Vienna in May before, it has ranged from cool to extremely hot.