Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A popular way of exploring the region is by boat, particularly between Krems and Melk
(through the Wachau); it's also possible to travel from Passau (in Germany) to Vienna.
The most convenient time to take a boat trip on the Danube is between May and Septem-
ber, when boat companies operate on a summer schedule. Children receive a 50% dis-
count.
Brandner
( 07433-25 90 21;
www.brandner.at
; Ufer 15, Wallsee)
Services the Krems-Melk route one
to two times daily from mid-April to late October; stops include Spitz.
DDSG Blue Danube
( 01-58 880;
www.ddsg-blue-danube.at
; Handelskai 265, Vienna)
Operates boats
between Krems and Melk, stopping in at Dürnstein and Spitz, from April to October.
Bikes can be taken on board all boats for free.
CAR
The roads on both sides of the Danube between Krems and Melk, where the B3 and the
B33 hug the contours of the river, lend themselves well to touring. Bridges taking motor
vehicles cross the river at Krems (two crossing points), Melk, Pöchlarn and Ybbs. For a
beautiful route, see our driving tour (
Click here
)
.
TRAIN
Direct trains from Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof in Vienna to Krems are the easiest way into the
valley. Trains from Vienna's Westbahnhof direct to Melk go via St Pölten and don't fol-
low the Danube Valley. There is a seasonal rail service between Krems and Dürnstein but
this doesn't run often enough to be of much use. Most take the hourly buses between the
two towns that hug the Danube all the way.
Krems an der Donau
02732 / POP 23,900
Krems, as it's known to its friends, is the prettiest of the larger towns on the Danube and
marks the beginning of the Wachau. Enjoyable eating and drinking, an atmospheric his-
torical centre, rivers of top-quality wine from local vineyards and a couple of unexpected
museums attract the summer tourist crowds, but the rest of the year things can be pretty
quiet. Aimless wandering is the best plan of attack, dipping into churches and museums,
strolling the banks of the Danube and sampling the local tipples as you go.
Krems has three parts: Krems to the east, the smaller settlement of Stein (formerly a
separate town) to the west, and the connecting suburb of Und. Hence the local witticism:
Krems und Stein sind drei Städte
(Krems and Stein are three towns).
