This trip was really fun. It’s a bit of a drive to the first stop, but once there, Melk Abbey was well worth it. The wine tastings were informative, and good. Lunch was in a small village on the Danube, which was absolutely charming. In general, the drive along the Danube was beautiful.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Full-day accompaniment by expert driver/guide
- Wine tastings and local specialties
- 70-minute Danube river cruise (May to September only)
- Transport in luxury 8-seater vehicle
Excludes
- Lunch and drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- This tour starts from our tour office, located at Franz Josefs Kai 45 (Metro U2 / U4 Schottenring, take exit “Schottenring” or “Salztorbrücke”. Hotel pick up can be arranged upon request. Please contact the local tour operator directly.
Return
- This tour starts from our tour office, located at Franz Josefs Kai 45 (Metro U2 / U4 Schottenring, take exit “Schottenring” or “Salztorbrücke”. Hotel pick up can be arranged upon request. Please contact the local tour operator directly.
Itinerary
Leaving Vienna behind you, travel in a comfortable vehicle to the country’s best winemaking region, the Wachau Valley for a fully guided day tour. Renowned for its quality wines, stunning villages and breathtaking scenery, it is the perfect place to enjoy a day away from the city. You’ll see the whole of the Wachau Valley while learning about its fascinating culture and history and sampling local wine as well as some other delicacies like the valley’s famed local specialties. Besides the highlights, you’ll break away from the crowds to also see the more authentic and off-the-beaten-track landscapes. You also have the chance to visit the valley's oldest church, dating back to the year 987.
Arrive in the UNESCO-listed Dürnstein – a picturesque medieval town famous for being where Richard the Lionheart was held captive in 1192. There, enjoy some free time to explore the streets and the castle ruins.
Afterwards you'll go for lunch in a traditional family-run Austrian wine tavern (not included).
Enjoy a one hour river cruise on the famous Blue Danube between the small villages of Spitz and Melk. (Summer itinerary)
Before returning back to Vienna, you'll see Melk Abbey (Stift Melk) - entrance included during the winter months, a world-famous Benedictine abbey founded in 1089. Located above the town of Melk on a rocky outcrop, this impressive monastic site boasts stunning views of the Danube river down below. (Winter Itinerary)
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
Absolutelu wonderful !! A bit expensive but absolutely worth it
What a nice day! Regan was a great tour guide. His knowledge about wine was really impressive. We really enjoyed the restaurant in the little town that he picked for lunch. The Danube cruise was nice but very crowded. All in all, a great tour!
We had a great time! Our tour guide was knowledgeable and entertaining! We loved him!
Marco was our guide and he was absolutely amazing! However the actual entire wine experience wasn't what I had expected. As the water levels were low, we couldn't do the cruise which was fine as that was substituted with a Palace tour. We didn't go to any actual wineries where they would usually host and explain the process and wines, but rather just tasted wines which seemed to be at usual restaurants. The wines were explained by Marco only. I personally feel for the money spent it wasn't the wine tour I expected, just expected more
We bought this tour because we specifically wanted the Blue Danube River Tour and the wine tasting. The day we got there we all of a sudden found out that the river tour had been canceled. He said to us that a couple weeks before they had shut down the river because of a drought. We had up till 24 hours before To Cancel he could’ve at least let us know that when he knew it wasn’t happening instead they gave us a trip to an Abbey instead which we never would’ve done. We would’ve taken the day to go up to the mountains. We would’ve chosen a different day we complained about it to Vita. We actually went the next day and did a blue river tour on our own, which we had to pay for we were hoping via tour would live up to their name and their reputation and at least give us back a portion of our money that we had to use to go on the river tour instead, the owner of the Franchise and Vienna Lead said that they told that they couldn’t give us notice because they just found out that day, which was which was not what they told us and which was not true so buyer beware make sure you check that everything you’re buying is happening 48 hours before
Awsome day exploring the wine region with an excellent guide (Nick). The bikes were great and easy to ride and even though it rained we had a great day. Easy peddling for those non bike riders like myself and very nice wines make this a very enjoyable day trip.
Fun day visiting the Wachau wine country. Our guide took us to two nice wineries with views of both sides of the valley. We toured the abbey as the boat rides were not running due to low water levels but was okay as it was a rainy day. The stop in Durnstein was brief but enough to try the apricot products and walk up the street. Overall enjoyed the day and appreciated our guide’s knowledge of the area.
They sold us something they knew they weren’t going to deliver. We signed up for the river ride and weren’t told that they canceled it. They said we can’t change the website. It hasn’t been running for A few weeks. It was fraud.
We spent the day touring Wachau Valley with Ron and a small group. Low water levels on the Danube meant the river boat portion couldn't happen, but Ron adjusted the day by adding a third winery instead, which the group appreciated. He shared great history on Dürnstein and was easy to learn from throughout the day as he walked us through the region and the differences between the wineries. We visited Brustbauer, Lagler, and Rehrl-Fischer wineries — each had a distinct feel, making for a great way to compare styles across the valley. Would recommend this tour for anyone interested in wine and Wachau Valley history and scenery.
Regan was a wonderful host. The first vineyard we foisted was fantastic with great stories, wine and food. Weather was stupendous but the scenery and little towns we visited, like durnstein, were wonderful!
Great trip learning about Austria's wine history in Wachau Valley. Although the river cruise was cancelled due to low water levels, Marco made the experience great. Marco was very knowledgeable about the region and easy to talk to. Would recommend for a future tour.
We were not informed prior to leaving that there was a substitition of Melk Abbey for the Danube cruise. The bicycle tour that left just prior to us was told they were doing a Danube cruise, but our guide told us we could not do it. No one in our group was interested in Melk. Lunch at Melk was substandard and expensive. Also did not realize our tour guide was also going to be doing the wine tasting, as opposed to someone from the wineries. Also, difficult to see outside the van with 8 adults inside.
We had an awesome day exploring the Wachau Valley with Ron. He was a fantastic guide—friendly, knowledgeable, easygoing, and made the whole day feel relaxed and fun. The scenery was beautiful, the wineries and wines were excellent, and the small-group format made the experience even better. Ron shared just the right amount of information about the wines, the region, and the history without making anything feel too formal. We also really enjoyed our visit to the beautiful town of Dürnstein. It was a great addition to the day and gave us some time to walk around, explore, and take in the atmosphere of this charming little town along the Danube. It was a great mix of wine tasting, sightseeing, beautiful scenery, and simply enjoying the Wachau Valley. We never felt rushed and really enjoyed the entire day. Definitely one of the highlights of our trip. Highly recommend this tour—and Ron was terrific!
Ron was our tour guide and was very friendly and knowledgeable. A perfect day visiting 2 vineyards, shopping local shops and having lunch in a lovely garden restaurant. Ending with a boat cruise on the Danube, relaxing with a cup of coffee. Wonderful day trip!!
An incredible, intimate trip to the Wachau wine region with Mario as our guide! He was very knowledgeable about every detail of the experience. We visited 2 wineries, stopped for lunch at a Heuriger, and at a local town. Highly recommend doing this trip while you’re in Vienna!
Marco was a great guide, well versed in Austrian history and the Wachau Valley, vineyards and all the wines we tasted. The group was 6, great conversations and an excellent way to see the Danube, the countryside, and many castles and monasteries. Highly recommended!!
This day trip to the Wachau Valley from Vienna was superb and something everyone should consider if you have a free day and want to get out of the city. Tim was our guide and he was extremely knowledgeable about the region, the history, and the wines. He was also flexible in adding an additional route at the end since none of us had pressing schedules. We were in a group of about five and were presented with more wine tasting varieties, primarily Grune Veltliner but also Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc, than I had expected. Early in the day we did an hour cruise on the Danube which was a welcome escape from the Summer heat. We also had time in the middle to explore the village of Durnstein and to have lunch at a great restaurant (lunch is paid for by the traveller). We stopped at two or three vineyards during the trip and had a full plate of charcuterie (included in the trip) late in the afternoon to go along with even more wine. Overall it was a full and very pleasant day. Tim was great!
Wachau Valley was one of the highlights of our Austrian holiday. The combination of rolling vineyards, picturesque villages, historic castle ruins, and the Danube River made for an unforgettable day. Dürnstein was especially charming, and the local wines were excellent. Whether you’re interested in history, wine, or simply beautiful scenery, this is a day trip I’d highly recommend. It’s the perfect escape from the city and a must-do when visiting Austria. The private tour was the best and value for money.
Tim was awesome! He was so knowledgeable and was able to adjust the trip to meet our needs! Be sure to ask for him! What a fun day!
Wonderful wine tasting tour with van (max tour size 8) ride, lunch (not included in price) and visit to the charming medieval walled city of Durnstein. Great guide and lots of wines tasted. Highly recommended.
Great day of wine tasting in a very well organized and planned event. Tastings were amazing and the opportunity to spend time on the river and exploring the local culture was a great added bonus.
Tim was great! Witty and informative. Beautiful spots to stop off! Little more time in Durnstein would have be nice. Pick up from hotel should be included in your price and also some water bottles in car wouldn’t go a miss (especially considering it’s a wine tour). Over all good day but very expensive for what it is!
I would give this trip a “20” (on a scale of 10) if I could! Tim, our guide, was so knowledgeable and fun! We ended up with a small group due to 100 degree heat and he let us set the pace of the day and we never felt rushed! This, by far, one of the best days of our vacation!
We booked a small-group tour of the Wachau Valley, and it turned out to be just the two of us and our driver, which made the experience feel very personal and relaxed. Our guide/driver was excellent—friendly, knowledgeable, and very informative, sharing lots of fascinating history throughout the day. We began with a visit to Melk Abbey. While the time inside the abbey was quite short, as the tour of the abbey museum was not included in the itinerary due to time limitation, it was still impressive to see such a magnificent place. From Melk, we took a ferry to Spitz, which was a lovely and scenic way to experience the Danube and the surrounding area, with castles and vineyards along the way. Next came a wine tasting, where we were offered four to five samples. The wines were outstanding, showcasing the incredible quality of the Wachau region. After that, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at another winery. It was the perfect meal for a hot summer day—fresh, light, and full of flavor, accompanied by a glass of crisp white wine, which made the setting even more enjoyable. Later, we visited Dürnstein and hiked up to the castle ruins where Richard the Lionheart was once imprisoned. The hike was quite steep, especially in the heat, but absolutely worth it—the views over the Danube and the valley were breathtaking. Our final stop was another winery with a view of the Dürnstein Castle across the river, where we tasted more delicious wines while enjoying spectacular scenery. The Wachau Valley itself was stunning—lush, green, and incredibly picturesque. Despite the intense heat (around 37–38°C / 100–101°F), the tour was very comfortable thanks to the air-conditioned vehicle, which was a real relief between stops. Overall, this was a fantastic experience. Great guide, excellent wines, beautiful landscapes, and well-organized logistics. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to experience the best of the Wachau Valley in a single, memorable day.
The experience was worth it and great. The guide was amazing and knowledgeable! We loved and enjoyed it!
Fantastic day! We were lucky to have both Ron and Cade as our guides. They were personable and knowledgeable. Loved the wineries and had a great lunch at their recommendation. Enjoyed the relaxing boat ride.
This tour was fantastic! The highlight of our 3 week European trip! The wine tastings were excellent, and the towns we visited were beautiful. The river cruise was really special. I highly recommend this tour!
Such an incredible day with a very friendly guide!! Best experience
Fantastic day trip out from Vienna. Tour guide was great! The 1 hour boat cruise down the river was an amazing touch and then the tour vineyards we went too were delightful. Great way to explore a little more.
Everything about this trip was fantastic. The van ride was comfortable. All the details were taken care of and our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. We loved the boat ride, the visits to the small towns and both the wine tastings were fantastic. I can’t recommend this to a highly enough.
Ron was very knowledgeable about the area and accommodating of the four couples throughout the day. There was a good balance of activities.
Fabulous excursion outside Vienna. Great history lessons along the way. The wine tastings were on the money. Wish we had just a little more time to check out Durnstein.
Marco did a great job. He was a very safe driver and very knowledgeable about the area and wines. The Danube River cruise was beautiful and relaxing. We had a lot of fun and definitely recommend this day trip.
Fun experience outside of Vienna. Begins with a 1 hr 20 minute drive to get on a boat along the Danube. That cruise ride is an hour. Then the driver picks you up and takes you to a winery. After that you have lunch (meal not included). You visit one more winery and then go back to Vienna which is an hour drive. We would have preferred visiting one more winery and not doing the boat ride. Although the Danube is nice, for the price, we spent a lot of time traveling so would have preferred to maximize the wine tour. The tour guide, Tim, was great-very knowledgeable and helpful. The wines we tasted were excellent.
Very enjoyable small group tour led by a very knowledgeable guide. Marco was kind and patient and always accomodating.
We had a great trip with a great guide and great people. This is highly recommended for anyone who appreciates wine.
Guide camilo had wonderful charm and knowledge. The wine and scenery was beautiful. Nice small group of 8. Great time! Highly recommend!
Very good experience. He looks very knowledgeble....................................................
Great experience with Marco! He was very knowledgable and provided great support throughout the day!
We had an amazing day exploring the Wachau Valley with Tim. I went with three friends, and he made the entire experience fun, seamless, and memorable. He was the perfect mix of knowledgeable and entertaining, keeping things engaging without ever feeling overly formal. We visited two great wineries and enjoyed a beautiful cruise on the Danube—everything was perfectly organized so we could just relax and enjoy. Highly recommend Tim if you’re planning a Wachau Valley tour—he truly made the day special.
Before booking, I had read about Wachau Valley and contemplated venturing on my own. I’m glad I chose this tour. I wanted to see the Melk Abbey and do some wine tasting so it is a great way to accomplish both. Our guide was great. Provided info about the area as well as the wines. Overall highly recommend.
Tony was an excellent guide, host, and driver. He made the day warm and special and we learned so much. It was clear that he has developed great relationships with the local vintners that we visited. We were warmly welcomed and tasted some exceptional wines. Highly recommend!
Our travel guide was very knowledgeable about not only wines, but history and other bits of information. It made our experience truly wonderful! I would highly recommend this for everyone.
It includes some history, culture, wine tasting. And in the winter a tour through Melk Abbey, which I preferred over the summer river tour. Also we had time for a Christmas Market.
Great tour! Encompassed more than what we were expecting. The small group was wonderful and the transportation fantastic
Excellent tour and our guide, Marco, was outstanding! We really loved the stop at Melk Abbey. We definitely recommend this tour!
This was my favorite day of an 11 day trip to Europe! Marco was a delightful guide. There is a reason Melk Abbey is listed in the 1,000 Places to See Before you Die! Loved the Wachau Valley - so beautiful! The trip was well-organized.
This was our favorite tour of the trip. Two small wineries with tastings. Excellent wine and discussion with the wine makers. Melk Abbey and Durstein for lunch in between.
We had a wonderful time and enjoyed our guide despite the poor weather. The two wineries we went to were great and gave us a good foundation when we go visit on our own. Our host was lovely, very personable and read the vibe of our trip perfectly!
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