We are planning a trip to Germany, Austria this summer. Was wondering if it is possible to take a train from Hallstatt to Melk in the morning and still have time to cruise the Danube from Melk to Krems in the afternoon? Then could you take the train into Vienna on the same day? Any help would be appreciated.

You can find schedules for the train

www.oebb.at

and boat cruise

www.ddsg-blue-danube.at

You must start early in the morning to accomplish this - note boat leavings from melk.
From melk train station to the boat docks should take 15-20 minutes not an easy task if you haul luggage but at least all slightly down hill.
If you are going to be in Vienna, this trip is much better done as a day excursion from Vienna without a need to worry about luggage and much more time is available to see such sights as the melk Abbey, Dürnstein and much more.
the above ddsg website offers various combi ticket arrangements for this from Vienna - a good deal.
If at all possible make this tour as it is most interesting and informative through a most beautiful portion of Austria and the Danube.

Hello Sparki:

I agree entirely with Molker about visiting Melk on a day trip by train from Vienna. We did this in December and found the timing very comfortable. Gradyghost

I was just in Krems. Instead of taking a boat ride, consider renting a bicycle and cycling the excellent and well-marked bike trail along the river. My family and I did so, and it was a marvelous ride. 44 kms from Melk to Krems, an easy and lovely ride. Trouble is, I don't know of a place where one may rent bikes 'open jaw', picking them up in Melk and returning in Krems or vice versa. Might be worth researching. The Lonely Planet guidebook states that one may rent bikes at the respective train stations, but that's obsolete information...by about ten years, I was told in Krems!

Biking this section of the Danube is best done in the direction melk- krems- not just slightly downhill but most bike traffic is in that direction. In summer this path gets busy with vacationers.
With limited sightseeing time, I would not recommend the biking as it takes some time but country side and villages are very beautiful.

The DDSG site I ave above has a bike option as part of their combi tickets.
Various other firms will deliver and pick up bikes in this area.

Lonely Planet book must be very old as the trin system does not offer this for several years.

My thought exactly, Molker...but it was the 2008 edition!

I found a bike shop close to the train station at Krems that rented bikes. He advised me that the railway people had been out of the bike rental business for a decade.

Just for information about bikes. one firm will deliver and pick up bikes for you.

www.rentawachaubike.at

also not far from the ship station at krems is a Bike rental place.
This on the street that runs along the Danube going upstream several hundred meters. Name something like R and R or similar.
The tour boats on the river and regional train along the Wachau area will accept bikes for transit too - very convenient.

We have decided to rent the car in Munich and drop it off in Vienna to have the flexibility. Thanks for your help.

If you rent the auto please check the drop-off charge. This is a fee for picking up the auto in one country and dropping off in another.
Also think about the Danube cruise melk- krems- leaving the auto in Melk will require a return there to get it. The roundtrip probably 6 hours or more and really does not consider any time at other stops in this area.The return tip upstream much slower due to current of the river.

Is Melk worth an overnight? We do not care for Vienna but will be arriving into that city and prefer to overnight in a smaller city with scenic beauty.

Hi Sparki -

I would skip Melk and just take the train to Vienna. Melk is kind of boring, but Vienna is lovely. There is much more to explore.