Wachau World Heritage Trail
Gourmet Hiking between the Danube, Vineyards, and World Heritage 🍇🌊🥾
The Wachau is a place where nature, culture, and indulgence meet in perfect harmony. On the Wachau World Heritage Trail, you hike through one of Austria’s oldest and most beautiful cultural landscapes, accompanied by the steady flow of the Danube and the rolling hills of the Danube Valley 🌿✨. Between Krems and Melk, you will experience a week of hiking defined by panoramic paths, historic sites, and culinary highlights.
From the very beginning, you’ll feel the unique character of the region. The trails lead through lush vineyards and sunny apricot orchards, past dry-stone walls and rugged cliffs that repeatedly offer glimpses of the mighty Danube below 👀🌄. High above the valley, breathtaking panoramic views open up over terraced vineyards, quaint villages, and the shimmering ribbon of the river winding through the landscape.
Charming Wachau villages like Weißenkirchen, Spitz, and Dürnstein invite you to linger 🏘️💚. The view up to the Dürnstein ruins, perched high above the vineyards, is particularly striking, offering an incomparable panorama of the Danube Valley 🏰. Finally, in Melk, the monumental Abbey awaits you—its baroque splendor serving as a magnificent finale to this hiking journey ⛪✨.
Indulgence plays a central role on the World Heritage Trail. Whether it’s a glass of Wachau wine at a Heuriger (wine tavern) 🍷, a tasting of fine schnapps, or the famous apricot crepes—here, every hiking day becomes a culinary experience 🍽️😌. The included Danube boat cruise offers a completely new perspective on the landscape and provides a relaxing conclusion to your hiking week 🚤🌞.
The daily stages are manageable and follow well-maintained paths and narrow vineyard trails. While the Wachau hills are not high, some climbs are steep and require sure-footedness 👣⛰️. You will be rewarded with peace, vast horizons, and impressive vistas. Thanks to the balanced route, this trip is perfect for leisure hikers and anyone looking to combine nature and culture—even four-legged companions will feel right at home here 🐕💛.
The Wachau World Heritage Trail is a hike for all the senses. A journey through history and landscape, set to the rhythm of the Danube and the ease of pure enjoyment. Those who travel here take home more than just beautiful photos; they carry with them a deep sense of deceleration and joie de vivre ✨🍇🌊.
Day 1
Arrival in Krems
Arrival in Krems
Hotel (example): Hotel unter den Linden
Day 2
Krems – Dürnstein, ‘Vineyards’
Walk up into the vineyards to the tower with view on blue Danube, the city Krems and impressing monastery Göttweig. Cross the hills to the cozy Fesslhütte and reach the Dürnstein ruins on a trail with great views before reaching the banks of the Danube.
Hotel (example): Sänger Blondel
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Day 3
Dürnstein – Weißenkirchen, ‚Heart of Wachau’
Take the ferry from Dürnstein to Rossatz. Continue past the largest apricot growing area of Austria, on old tracks up to Seekopf with stunning views to the Alps. Optional take a walk along Danube through orchards to the ferry.
Hotel (example): Kirchenwirt Wachau
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Day 4
Day off in Weißenkirchen, „Wachauer Dolce Vita“
Surrounded by sunny vineyards and green forests the mighty gothic parish church of Weißenkirchen is remarkable sight. The wine grower villages Joching, Wösendorf and St. Michael form together with Weißenkirchen the biggest wine grower community of Wachau. Visit museums, beautiful walking trails or take a boat tour on Danube. Enjoy a glass of Wachauer wine in one of the wine taverns. Or do a short hike on the Achleiten circuit to stop by the winegrower!
Hotel (example): Kirchenwirt Wachau
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Day 5
Weißenkirchen – Spitz, ‘Wine terraces‘
The wine trail leads you out of Weißenkirchen, past small cellar alleys and up into the unique wine landscape high above the Danube. On the World Heritage Trail, you hike through the heart of the Wachau. At the landmark of Spitz, the “Red Gate”, you descend into the famous wine village beside the Danube.
Hotel (example): Gasthof Goldenes Schiff Spitz
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Day 6
Spitz – Melk, ‘Ruin Aggsbach’
Cross the Danube by ferry to Maria Langegg. Here you follow St. Jacob’s trail to ruin Aggsbach. Visit the fortress with scenic views across the Danube valley and stop for a snack. Down you walk to Aggsbach where you catch the coach to Melk.
Hotel (example): Hotel Post Melk
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Day 7
Melk – Krems, ‘Danube Cruise’
Visit the impressive monastery with beautiful grounds before you board the Danube boat. During the cruise to Krems you pass the highlights of the week, see all the vineyards as well as Spitz and Dürnstein.
Hotel (example): Hotel unter den Linden
Day 8
Departure or extension
Requirements for hikers
You walk mainly on well maintained trails and some paved vineyard paths. Depending on the route, you can make the stages more comfortable or more challenging. The peaks in the Wachau region are not high, but steep in places. Surefootedness therefore is required in some places. This week offers a perfect blend of nature, culture and culinary delights.
Summary
- Total approx 58 km over 5 hiking days
- 7 nights
- Breakfast
- Luggage transfer
- Boat trip from Melk to Krems (starting mid-April)
- Wine tasting
- Travel documents and GPS data
- Service hotline
- from 939,- € per person
- Transfers not included (approx. €12 per person)
Facts about the Wachau World Heritage Trail
- The Wachau World Heritage Trail is a long-distance hiking trail in the Danube Valley of Lower Austria
- It leads through the Wachau cultural landscape
- The Wachau has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since the year 2000
- The trail runs along both sides of the Danube between Melk and Krems
- The total length is approximately 180 kilometers
- The World Heritage Trail is divided into 14 stages
- The route connects historic towns such as Melk, Spitz, Weißenkirchen, Dürnstein, and Krems
- The landscape is characterized by terraced vineyards, apricot orchards, rock formations, and Danube floodplains
Climate in the Wachau
Culinary Highlights in the Wachau
Wachau cuisine is defined by regional agriculture, viticulture, and traditional Austrian cooking. The region is famous for the Wachau Apricot, which is enjoyed fresh or processed into jams, dumplings, and various desserts. Typical dishes include apricot dumplings (Marillenknödel), the Heurigenjause (a traditional cold platter), savory spreads, and seasonal specialties. Internationally renowned are the Wachau wines, especially Grüner Veltliner and Riesling grown on steep terraced vineyards. A visit to a Heuriger (wine tavern) or a winery is an essential part of the regional culinary experience.