SKPKCP11

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

SKPKCP11

Dear Fodorites,

Any info would help.

Thanks.
SKPKCP11

PalenQ

. 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.

PalenQ

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.

SKPKCP11

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

PalenQ

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.

SKPKCP11

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

PalenQ

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

PalenQ

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.

molker

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

PalenQ

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.

PalenQ

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!

molker

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

PalenQ

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.

CUFFLNX

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.

SKPKCP11

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

molker

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.

PalenQ

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.

SKPKCP11

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

PalenQ

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.