A short, storybook drive along the Danube between Melk and Krems, past terraced vineyards, apricot orchards, a great baroque abbey, and riverside wine villages.
25 mi / 40 km
1 day
April to October
Easy
Right
Toll-free
Iconic stops
Melk Abbey
A magnificent baroque Benedictine monastery above the Danube.
Spitz
A wine village beneath the terraced "1,000-bucket hill" vineyard.
Weissenkirchen
A picturesque riverside village at the heart of Wachau wine country.
Durnstein
A blue-towered abbey and castle ruin where Richard the Lionheart was held.
Krems an der Donau
The lively eastern gateway town with a medieval old quarter.
Stops on the map
Each numbered marker matches the list above, linked in driving order from 1 to 5. Hover or tap a marker to see the stop name, scroll to zoom, and download the map as an image.
Prefer turn-by-turn navigation? Open the full route in Google Maps with all 5 stops loaded as waypoints in driving order. It opens in a new browser tab.
Tolls & fees
The riverside B3 through the Wachau is toll-free. Austrian motorways require a vignette, so buy one if you use the A1 to reach the valley.
No tolls to estimate
Enjoy the drive. Budget instead for fuel, ferries, and parking.
Traffic & road alerts
The valley is compact and popular. Weekends and the spring apricot blossom draw crowds; go early and consider crossing the river by the small car ferries.
Best maps & planning
Plan your drive and check the latest conditions with these trusted maps and official resources.
Driving tips
- Buy an Austrian motorway vignette if you drive the A1 to reach the valley.
- Taste the crisp local Gruner Veltliner and Riesling at a riverside heuriger.
- Use the little car and passenger ferries to hop between both banks of the Danube.
Distances, tolls, and seasons are curated planning references and can change. Always confirm current tolls, opening dates, and closures with the official sources linked above before you travel.