Traveling in the Weinviertel and the Wachau

Anyone who visits the Wachau should not only enjoy and feast. After all, a Unesco cultural landscape should be explored in all its facets. We took this principle to heart and were on the road with a wide variety of means of transport during the three days. Whether it’s a historic train ride, a leisurely cruise on the Danube or sporty hiking and cycling through the vineyards – the offer is diverse and there are a wide variety of ways to discover the Wachau.

Classics: Danube navigation

The Danube is bustling with activity. Cargo ships, cruise ships and liners chug cheerfully up and down. We were able to experience first-hand how popular the boat trips are when we fought our way through the crowds at the boat landing stage in Krems on Sunday morning in bright sunshine. On the ship itself, the crowds spread out quite well and the hustle and bustle subsided after everyone had found a place with a view. Our tour took us from Krems, past Dürnstein with its well-known ruins and the striking blue collegiate church to Spitz. Relaxed travelling, fresh driving breeze (fabulous on a hot day) and great views of the passing villages and vineyards guaranteed.

How / Where:
Brandner Schiffahrt
scheduled trip with stops in Krems, Dürnstein, Weissenkirchen, Spitz, Emmersdorf, Melk
One way 23 Euro

Nobel: Heuriger on rails

If you don’t want to miss out on enjoyment on the go, the Wachau themed cruises (in the summer months) are the best choice. For more than 100 years, the Wachau Railway has been running in the middle of the beautiful vineyard landscape. The train ride through the Wachau can be enjoyed including regional catering (= wine taverns) and wine tasting in a beautiful dining car (Orient Express feeling). Although the train stops at various stations, you unfortunately don’t have enough time to explore the villages. The culinary and historical railway experience is in the foreground here.

How / Where:
Themed trains of the Wachau
Twice a week (Thursday afternoon and Saturday evening) from Krems
train station 59 Euro / adult incl. meals

Sporty: Cycling along the Danube

One of the best-known and best-developed cycle paths in Europe leads through the middle of the beautiful landscape of the Wachau – the Danube Cycle Path. By the way, the entire route leads from Donauschingen in Germany to Budapest. So you can continue the journey far beyond the Wachau by bike. We picked up our bikes at the Spitz train station and then cycled comfortably through the countryside to Krems. The Danube Cycle Path is either on well-developed cycle paths next to the road and on beautiful village roads. The route is mostly flat and can be ridden without much effort (you can see from my footwear that it is also suitable for “fair-weather riders” ;)). I particularly liked the fact that you always have the opportunity to make a spontaneous stop at a beautiful place. If you are out and about in the Wachau, you are guaranteed to discover all the highlights during the drive-through.

How / Where:
Bike rental at nextbike at Spitz train station 1 Euro for registration /
1 Euro per hour used / 8 Euro per 24 hours

Informative: With the Wachau Hiata through the vineyards

Wachau Hiata are mostly Wachau residents, who know the region like the back of their hand. The name Hiata comes from earlier times, when vineyard keepers – or Weinhiata – protected the precious asset of the region. With our Hiata we explored the Tausendeimerberg in Spitz on foot (Tausendeimer because the harvest on this mountain used to result in about a thousand buckets – logical, right!). The sweaty ascent was entertaining thanks to the informative inputs of Hiata and at the end we were rewarded with a phenomenal view over Spitz and the Danube. Ideal for people who would like to learn more about the region, viticulture, traditions and local culture. I now know, for example, that roses are planted in vineyards in order to diagnose plant diseases better and faster.

How/Where:Enquire
at the local tourist offices For groups of 6 people or more,
12 euros/person incl. wine tasting.

Unconventional: Segway Tour

So far, I’ve always smiled at people on Segways. I would never have come up with the idea of moving around with such a vehicle. Well, I couldn’t avoid it in the Wachau. In Spitz, entire vineyard tours can actually be completed by Segway. Anyone who thinks that’s easy is mistaken. On gravel paths it goes steeply up the slopes and then down again, which requires balance and also a little bit of courage. As an experienced skier, I luckily had the strange vehicle quickly under control (riding a Segway is like skiing. Honestly.). Unfortunately, the Segway and I didn’t become friends. There was no great enthusiasm. However, there are certainly enough people who will enjoy this offer. I prefer to explore the landscape with my own two feet. To each his own.

How / Where:
Strandcafé Spitz – the bush
One hour from 35 euros

What’s missing?

Unfortunately, there was no time for a stage on the Wachau World Heritage Trail. For around 180 kilometres, the hiking trail, designed as a high-altitude trail, leads through the 13 municipalities of the Unesco landscape and offers a spectacular landscape experience. I hope to return to the Wachau one day to complete at least a few stages. In contrast to the Segway, this would be totally my thing :D.

Note: I was invited to this trip by the destination Danube Lower Austria and the connoisseur rooms of Lower Austria – thank you very much for this. As always, my readers can be sure that I always represent my views and enthusiasm here.