Day Trip to Melk/Durnstein/Krems from Vienna
 

We would like to do a day trip to Melk/Durnstein/Krems from Vienna in May 2012. Have gone through most of the threads posted on site as well as other sites. Just need the following clarity / confirmation of what we are planning is the right way to do it as we do not want to be stranded without means of a public transport.
1. We will take a combi ticket from Vienna Westbahnhof.
2. Is there a family combi ticket available? If yes, what is the price?
3. Ticket will include train from Vienna - Melk. Approx. 1 1/2 hrs
4. Entrance / tour of the Melk abbey.
Is the guided tour of the Abbey in English which is at 11 am included in this combi ticket?
5. From Melk we take the boat to Durnstein or Krems.
Is the boat dock close to the Abbey or do we need to take a bus?
Is it worth breaking the boat ride in Durnstein or do we go directly to Krems.
Understand that there are 2 boat companies. Is the combi ticket valid on both companies? Where do I get the boat departure schedules from?
6. If we take a stop in Durnstein. I understand that it is easier to take a train or bus to Krems. On the oebb site I have tried to get the schedule of trains/buses between Durnstein and Krems but there are many variations for each of these places, which is the name I select for each of these places on the oebb site.
7. Likewise for Krems to Vienna train schedule, which is the station name I should select for Krems.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

Dear Fodorites,

Any info would help.

Thanks.
SKPKCP11

. From Melk we take the boat to Durnstein or Krems.
Is the boat dock close to the Abbey or do we need to take a bus?>

It is a short walk down to the dock but beware there are at least two boat docks - one for long-distance boats coming from Passau and one for the boats to Durnstein and Krems so get the right dock - my first time we did not and nearly missed our boat.

Durnstein to me was a real gem - the ruined castle where Richard the Lionhearted was gaoled after being nabbed returning from some Crusade dominates the cute town below. And yes there are trains from Durnstein to Krems - we actually walked the 3 miles or so thru vineyards so if into walking that is possible too. I would spend more time in Durnstein and less in Krems, a pleasant but large town not as romantic as Durnstein IMO.

Trains from Krems terminate at the Franz-Josef Bahnhof station in Vienna.

check out these sites for more details on the Danube - the Wachau Valley boats - www.ricksteves.com and http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id33.html - these should tell you at least one of the boat companies.

Thanks PalenQ. I have also written directly to the boat companies and I am awaiting their revert.
I need to do some maths, if the combi ticket is more economical or if we do directly on our own each thing i.e. buy train tickets, entrance to Abbey and boat ride ticket separately. Which one would be more economical?
oebb site has not indicated anywhere about this combi ticket for 2012.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

http://www.ddsg-blue-danube.at/engli.../e_lwac_fp.asp

check out what I thought was the main boat line - DDSG - Blue Daanube line for info on that.

Thanks PalenQ. Do appreciate the guidance and will surely look into it.
Currently the combi ticket is working out more.

Can we use the Einfach Raus ticket for Vienna-Melk and Krems-Vienna sector? We will buy the boat tickets and the entrance to Melk Abbey separately. Is it feasible to buy boat tickets in Melk at the dock itself? Kindly advise.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

We bought boat tickets at the dock - I think there is no problem ever getting on.

There is a third option for rail - from Durnstein take train or boat or walk to Krems then take a local train across the Danube to St Poletin, on a main rail line back to Vienna - of use if you want to arrive at West Bahnhof in Vienna rather than Franz-Josefs - St Poletin (sp?) where I based for several days is also a sweet regional town to meander around - I enjoyed it more than Krems.

You have various options for this trip.

For boats -

2 lines - Melk to Dürnstein or Krems

DDSG

www.ddsg-blue-danube.at

Brandner

www.brandner.at

In past years - their prices and schedules are almost identical.

Thhe DDSG ship usually the "Prinz Eugen" has a larger open top deck and more seating room.Probably better on a nice warm sunny day.
The Brandner boat - normally the "Austria" smaller upper open deck - main deck inside with large viewing windows and renovated not too long ago.

Both boats leave from adjacent docks in Melk. These are about a 15 minute walk from the Abbey and easy to find. If not using the combi ticket - both firms have ticket kiosks near to the dock.

On weekends - these boats get very full of weekend tourists - in June before school finishes here - many school classes make this trip weekdays

In your work to see the best option

Consider that the Einfach raus ticket does not allow travel before 9 am weekdays - this seriously shortens your sightseeing day.
It is also only good on regional trains - not the faster Railjet, IC etc.

Combi ticket is good for Brandner and DDSG boats. Info for it is usually found on the DDSG website not on oebb.

Abbey tours are in various languages including english - they take about 1 hour or just a little longer.

The Combi can be used anytime. While a little more , it allows you to leave Vienna as early as you wish. A plus.

Depending when you travel the local Wachau trains ( example between Dürnstein Krems - may only run on weekends -
This year a new plan for them to run daily in July and August but just 3 times daily.



In Dürnstein the train station is Dürnstein/ Oberloiben

The bus runs daily - the stop you wish is Dürnstein Parkplatz Ost.
Dürnstein makes for a good stop for the boat journey,
Both lines stop at the same dock - just below the center of the village - 3 minutes and you are on the main walkway of the village.

Both train and bus stop are 5 minute walk from the village center.

The town mentioned above is not St. Poletin but correctly St. Pölten.

This is a very uninteresting town- only known for it being the capital of the Austrian state of Niederosterreich.
A regional town selected only as a capital when moved from Vienna due to its central location in the State .
Most state workers are there just for their work and quickly depart in the early time as possible- in the evening most things closing.
Not the best place for a tourist to spend time with so much elsewhere in the area.

some sites to review for added info

www.stiftmelk.at

www.wachau.at

www.duernstein.at

www.krems.at

Boats I think provide bicycles to passengers who want to cycle between docks - on bike paths hugging the Danube so to experience one of Europe's most popular and awesome cycling venues check that out - they did a few years back when I took the DDSG line at least.

http://www.ddsg-blue-danube.at/engli...iffRadPicknick

You can read about the Ship + Picnic + Cycle options! cycling gives a whole different aspect to one of Europe's most beautiful river valleys - the Wachau Valley, arguable the most scenic part of the whole Danube from sea to German hills!

Looking to the propsed day trip as outlined by the OP and especially with 2 young kids, adding a biking time is not the best thing in my opinion. Perhaps above poster is not familiar with the biking availability in the Wachau area ( Melk- Krems )the bike paths , and boat schedules.

For the past several years , a fine bike service is available to pick up and drop bikes exactly where you wish and at any time and at convenient locations - not just with the boat.

www.nextbike.at

Most travelers prefer this service -

cheap and convenient

1 euro for an hour - 8 euro for a day this summer.

A first time biker is not aware that a bike path exists on each side of the river - each with its own advantages and faults. Limited choices to cross the river -
for young kids and families perhaps not accustomed to longer bike riding - not an ideal option and certainly not the way to optimize sightseeing time.

The boat trip is fun - relatively quick- great views- food and drink available on board

thanks for that great info on biking and options for others if not the OP. One way to get across the river sans bridges is by the boat so boat bike things offer that possibility I guess. Get off where you want without having to cycle a long distance to get there due to lack of bridges or ferries.

Simplify your travel and add options by driving. You are then on your schedule not theirs and you go where ever you want, for how long you want.

Thanks all for the great inputs. As Molker suggested we will most probably take the Combi Ticket so that we get an early start. We had also planned to get off the cruise at Durnstein as we had read great reviews of the place. I hope it is worth it.

Just one quick query :
Is there a bus service between the Melk train station and Melk Abbey and also between Melk Abbey and the Ship station. We do not wish to be stranded as we would like to do the Melk-Durnstein-Krems as a day trip.
Please advise the must sees in Durnstein and Krems.

Through a separate post I will request for the must dos of Vienna.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

if posters take time and effort to carefully read postings - they find things like time for walking Abbey to Boat etc in prior advice.

Such things as Google maps and more to assist too.

It is a short walk as mokler did indeed say before from the train station to abbey - you can see the abbey from the train as it pulls into Melk station and also a short but longer stroll down to the boat dock - but there are more than one boat dock - you want the one not for long-distance boats but the other dock which if I recall correctly is close to the abbey - we went to the wrong dock once and had to scurry to the correct dock to board our K-D boat.

Thanks Molker & PalenQ for the clarity. All queries answered. Thanks a ton! To be honest not very savvy for using google maps.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

To find the correct Danube dock be sure to note which boat company you will be taking and then I think there should be signs with the company's name on them pointing you to that boat dock!

As i recall the local boats to Durnstein (do not miss Durnstein!) are closer to the town and are in a dead-end dock and the other port farther out into the Danube itself serving long-distance cruise ships - there are some islands or something you walk across if I recall correctly.

Thanks a ton PalenQ for the clarity.

Much appreciate it.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

<In his well-known novel The Name of the Rose, Umberto Eco named one of the protagonists "Adson von Melk" as a tribute to the abbey and its famous library>

good reading to whet your appetite for the fantastic Melk Abbey!

Thanks PalenQ. Will definitely try to look it up.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

Dear SKPKCP11


Please give as much detailed info as possible



I have read today with interest, your several questions over last few months. As I am travelling with wife and 2 kids (aged 4.5 and 9 yrs), this seems very interesting and common, as I am in Vienna for 3 nights and then 3 days in Salzburg.

May I request you to kindly post your final itinerary with the places you are visiting and site seeing etc etc..... It would be very very helpful for me and others who plan a similar trip

Cheers
Salil

"3 nights in Vienna and 3 days in Salzburg" - well I would add 3 days to Vienna and 3 nights to Salzburg for starters!

Thanks PalenQ

Unfortunately my bookings in Vienna are already done.
We reach Vienna on the 28th afternoon and will check out on the 1st... so kind of 3 days. We check in Salzburg on the 1st afternoon and plan to leave by train on the 3rd night.

Since SKPKCP11 has asked several queries and all the posters have assisted and I found his trip interesting, have requested SKPKCP11 to post his final itinerary, so that Can use most of it.

A bit more information:

It is not that easy to get from the train station to Melk Abbey. I got lost and had to follow a couple of Americans who were reading instructions from a Rick Steves guidebook, so suggest that you have some sort of directions to get from train station to abbey. The way is not marked and goes through some medieval lanes and roads, so it's not a direct path.

At the abbey, there are two tour groups, one in English and one in German. Their departure times are staggered but very close, like one leaves at 11 and the other at 11:15 (so they don't run into each other!).

If you want to do the boat tour of the Wachau Valley, you HAVE to do the 11/11:15 tour in order to get to the boat dock in time to catch the boat. Bring a lunch as you will not have time enough to do a sit down lunch.

To get to the boat dock from the abbey, go downhill to the "main drag", turn right and go all the way to the end, then turn right again. At the end of the main drag there is a Chinese restaurant (I think). The proprietor's young daughter will be happy to give you directions to the boat dock - in Chinese.

Durnstein: if you want to visit the castle at the top of the hill, there are two ways up/down. One is easier than the other; the bad one is almost like having to walk up a perpetual staircase. How to find the easier path? From the boat dock, get to the "main drag" of Durnstein. Once there, turn right. GO PAST THE OLD GATE. Take the first road on the LEFT, which is a fairly wide road between houses. (Believe that the way that is marked to go up to the castle is the bad road - you can come DOWN this way)

I'll see if I have some photos to help explain.

Thanks for posting this 'easytraveler' - will be heading there in September and you have helped immensely with my planning.

With Melk Abbey sitting high above the village of Melk, it is about impossible not to easily find it with no trouble.
Simply depart the station walking downhill toward the main part of the small town. You will soon find the pesestrain zone with cafes, shops etc. simply turn right on the pedestrian zone and walking slightly up hill on streets toward the Abbey. If I remember correctly small signs help you. Note that Abbey in german is the word Stift .
10 - 15 minute walking time -

Note that you may tour the Abbey on your ownin summer at anytime . No need to wait for a tour unless you wish.
With or without the tour you see the same things.

For the Danube boat cruise with DDSG or Brandner -
simply walk down from the Abbey through the pedestrian zone to the corner where you find the major 2 lane highway of the area. Simply turn right there ( do not cross the bridge as this way leads to the Danube passenger multi day cruise boats.
Follow the roadway several hundred meters to a Gas Station on the left side ( perhaps a BP station ) walk on the roadway just past the gas station to the boat docks -
trip may be 10- 15 minutes.

For Melk info including a Map/ Stadtplan

www.melk.gv.at

print the map if you wish to assist you.

Thousands make this waqy with no troubles.

For Dürnstein- Perhaps the above poster has not been on the castle paths lately.
The way now with information signage in german and english to explain those invoved in the times pertaining to Richard the Lionhearted.
Dürnstein boat dock from Melk - immediately turn right as you leave the boat dock - you walk several hundred meters on a paved promenade along the Danube. Fine picture taking opportunities along this way of the Blue Steeple , old homes etc.

You will find a paved pathway just before the small ferryboat on the left side.
Take this pathway , passing the Alter Klosterkeller heuriger and simply stay on this way till the top passing the nice markers as you go. This the easy way. .

Here are some photos (labelled "Getting Up to Durnstein Castle Ruins) on worldisround):

http://www.worldisround.com/articles/371394/index.html


Molker: I was up there last year. The easy way and the hard way were pointed out to me by a local resident with whom I had struck up a conversation.

The American couple in Melk had lived and worked in Europe for about 20 years. The third member of their family was their son who was visiting from attending some European university (I forget which one), so all three are quite familiar with European towns and roads.

I just didn't think it was necessary to fill in all these minor details.

We all have our opinions. Certainly I'd follow Molker's on Austria any day.

Dear SKPKCP11

It seems you dont want to share the itinerary, though you have asked all the posters for all information for several months.

This doesnt look very appropriate.

Salil

Dear Fodorites,

Thanks for the valuable info.

Dear Salil,

Regret the delay in reverting as I have not been very active lately. I do not have any tight itinerary as I am not holding any bookings for any attractions. We are looking at 3 days in Vienna out of which 1 day will be devoted to Melk trip, 1 day to Schonbrunn & its surroundings i.e. zoo & Prater and 1 day to Ring area. Am yet not very clear on what are the best attractions to cover in the ring area and what to skip as we are with kids and beyond a certain point they will not enjoy the museums and also not sure what route to take which is the best and fastest. Guess we will take it forward once we are there. But will certainly try to do the Hofburg Palace. We will give a skip to the Vienna Boys Choir (which is only on Sunday) and the Spanish Riding School but will try to cover atleast 1 museum time permitting. In an earlier post I had indicated the attractions of the Ring area which we wanted to cover but was advised that it is next to impossible to do them in 1 day. Had earlier wanted to do an evening show and also the Grinzing area but not a good idea with kids and also we are not wine drinkers. Hence, have dropped it. Will keep sometime for the Naschmarkt.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

If you are looking for things especially for children, there is also the ZOOM museum for children:

http://www.wien.info/en/vienna-for/f...s/museums/zoom

You have started so many threads that it's difficult to remember what has been recommended to you before.

Thus, I can't remember if Zanoni&Zanoni's gelato has been recommended to you before or not. It too is a fun place for children to see the mounds of gelato and the servers in their funny hats.

http://www.zanoni.co.at/

Thanks Easytraveller for the recommendation. Seriously doubt how much can be done in such a short period. Do you recommend to start the Ring Tour from Hofburg Palace? Have read about Zanoni & Zanoni in another poster's thread and in some trip reports.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

Hi, SKPKCP11: I'm sorry but you have me confused, which Ring Tour is this? Is it a tour run by a tour group?

Hello,

I wonder if any of you would kindly check into my plan for a day-visit to Wachau valley and point to me if there's anything that doesn't seem feasible to you?

1. Train from Vienna to Melk

2. Boat trip from Melk to Durstein

3. Durstein to Krems (at this point, getting there on foot as suggested by PalenQ, the thought of little stroll through the vineyards sounds very appealing to me. But is it true that there's this local train running between Krems and Durstein? Is that the section that will be covered by a combi-ticket if I were to purchase a combi-ticket?)

4. From Krems taking train back to Franz-Joseph station, Vienna.

In addition, I wonder do we have better to have all tickets reserved/purchased in advance or it shouldn't be any problem to get the train & boat tickets as we get there?

Many thanks in advance!

there should be no problem buying individual tickets as you go along but I think the combo saves you money - there was a train between Durnstein and Krems but someone I believe says it may not be running and there is a bus instead.

I recommend that you buy the combi ticket. This quick and easy - economic.
No reservation needed at all. Just go to the Vienna Westbahnhof train station ( easy access via ubahn lines U-3 and U-6 to a stop in the lower level of the Bahnhof. Then to ticket counter to buy your ticket - english spoken.

train schedule is found at

www.oebb.at

Taking a eary train allows more time at Melk Abbey and then onward to the boat.

A bus goes about one time per hour from Durnstein to the Krems train station in the center of town.
Schedule is timed to co- ordinate with the train back to Vienna.

A train exists from Durnstein to Krems but this runs only about 3 times per day - often less convenient and only weekends and holidays. charge for bus and train for this trip is just a few euro ( not included in combi ticket )you can pay bus driver.

Walking - this is about 10 kilometers / 6 + miles from Durnstein to Krems- part of the walk along the frequently used bike path -
not worth it in my opinion for optimum use of time during this day.

Bus schedule also at
www.oebb.at

Note that the train from Krems to Vienna makes its terminus at the Franz Josef Bahnhof - this is not the same as your departure station.
Quick ride on the streetcar D to the very city center along the Ring in 5-10 minutes.
The D found in front of the train station.
You want the one direction Sudbahnhof.

If you want to train back to Westbahnhof for some reason then take the shuttle train from Krems to St-Poletin, a train stop on the mainline back to Vienna Westbahnhof.

I believe above poster refers to the town of Sankt. Pölten/ St. Polten- it is not St- Poletin on this route.
Traveling this way requires much more time and also a transfer of train to reach Vienna.
The initial train from Krems to St. Polten is normally a small older regional train lacking comfort anf makes numerous stops on its routing.
The direct Krems - Vienna train I mention to Franz Josef Bahnhof above is a newer double decked train with bathroom facilites.Not just much faster but allows travelers options to have choices of stops in Vienna for connections to public transport

at Heiligenstadt to UBahn line U-4 to such areas as Schwedenplatz, Landmitte, Stadt Park , Karlsplatz / Opera

at Spittelau

to UBahn U-6- westbahnhof, Wahringer strasse etc.

and Franz Josef Bahnhof to mentioned Streetcar D.