3 Best Hotels in Durnstein, Day Trips from Vienna

One of the most famous hotels in Austria, this 17th-century early-Baroque castle on a rocky terrace with exquisite views over the Danube was once the preserve of the princes of Starhemberg. Since then, many a regal visitor and a bevy of celebrities have enjoyed its classic elegance and comfort. The best rooms face the river and all are elegantly decorated, in grand style. Biedermeier armoires and country antiques grace the public rooms. The restaurant is nestled under coved ceilings; tables on the outside terrace overlook the lovely Danube.

Built up around the former church of a vast 700-year-old convent, this noted inn overlooks the Danube. The beautifully furnished interior, with antiques, open fire, grandfather clock, and bowls of fresh roses makes this one of the most romantic hotels in the Wachau Valley. Though all rooms are spacious and comfortable, the balconied guest rooms in the newer part of the house have more modern furnishings. Wander through the grounds among the roses, oleanders, and fig trees, all set against the dramatic backdrop of ancient stone walls.

Nearly under the shadow of the Baroque spire of Dürnstein's parish church, this popular hotel-restaurant welcomes you with a lovely, sunny-yellow, flower-bedecked facade. Owned by the same family since 1729, the inn—named after the minstrel famous for tracking down Richard the Lionheart—has a large garden, which is quite the treat in the heart of town. The simply furnished, country-style rooms are of medium size. The hotel's restaurant offers hearty Austrian food, and in summer, meals are served in the pretty courtyard under a huge chestnut tree.