We recently took a day trip from Vienna to see Melk Abbey and the Danube Valley. It was a really enjoyable day in such a beautiful part of Austria.

As we were on holiday in Vienna we decided that we should definitely visit the UNESCO listed Melk Abbey. Not only had a friend recommended visiting it, but a few guide books also stated that such a trip was a must.

We shopped around online and decided to book the trip with a company called Vienna Sightseeing Tours. The itinerary even included a boat trip on the Danube River too.

Vienna to the Danube Valley

We were picked up from our hotel early in the morning by a courtesy car. This ferried us off to a meeting point in Vienna. Once we boarded the coach and the guide introduced himself it was time to set off for the Wachau Valley.

The journey lasted about 90 minutes with the guide us giving plenty of details on the places we were passing. The scenery certainly was amazing and we passed vineyards, forested hills and a few castles too.

Spitz

Once we arrived in Spitz we were told that the boat had been delayed. We took this as an opportunity to have a quick look around Spitz.

Spitz is a very small market town on the bank of the Danube. The town is overlooked by Hinterhaus Castle and is surrounded by vineyards. The town also has a nice promenade walk along the river.

Boat trip on the DDSG Blue Danube

Once the boat arrived we quickly made our way to the top deck to marvel at the scenery en-route to Melk Abbey.

The journey took 90 minutes and it was an absolutely spectacular journey. While sipping on some Austrian wine we appreciated the scenery along the banks of the Danube. We passed lots of hillside castles and the little towns of Willendorf and Emmersdorf.

A highlight of the trip was the view of Schloss Schönbühel. This castle looked so imposing on the banks of the Danube. I must remember to return to see it properly one day.

The town of Melk

After disembarking from the boat, we got on the bus towards Melk Abbey. We had some time to spare before visiting the abbey, so we walked downhill to the town of Melk.

The main street of Melk was full of little cafes, restaurants and bars. Even in the centre of town you couldn’t help but notice Melk Abbey towering above all the buildings.

After getting something to eat we scaled the steps back up to Melk Abbey. A good way to shake off a few calories!

Melk Abbey

Melk Abbey is a Benedictine monastery and is the resting place of Saint Coloman of Stockerau and some members of the House of Babenberg.

The guided tour took us through the museum, abbey church and the library with its priceless medieval manuscripts. It’s worth noting that you are not allowed to take photos in the library.

Just before we entered the library we took some time to admire the superb views of the church and the surrounding area.

After leaving Melk Abbey we had a walk around its beautiful gardens. It was really pleasant wandering around the grounds with the baroque garden pavilion in the background.

Return to Vienna and final thoughts

It was then time to get back on the coach and return to Vienna. We had such a great time on our day trip to Melk Abbey and the Danube Valley.

The highlight of the day for us was the boat trip on the Danube river. It was just so nice to relax on deck and watch the scenery pass us by.

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