The Wachau, a wine valley listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers one of Europe’s most popular family bike rides: a flat path running along the Danube between Krems and Melk, beneath terraced vineyard hillsides and medieval villages.
A flat path between vineyards and the Danube
From Krems an der Donau, the cycle path follows the Danube for about 35 km toward Dürnstein, Spitz and Weissenkirchen, before reaching Melk and its famous baroque abbey. The route, almost entirely flat and largely separated from car traffic, passes through typical wine villages overlooked by terraced hillsides.
Getting the family ride right
With barely 100 m of cumulative elevation gain over the whole route, this ride poses no difficulty for young kids pedalling on their own. The ferries crossing the Danube between several villages make it easy to shorten the ride or vary the route depending on the group’s energy.
When to go
April to October, with early spring bringing the apricot blossom typical of the Wachau, while autumn coincides with the grape harvest in the surrounding vineyards. Summer remains rideable but busier with tourism.
Good to know
Krems an der Donau, well served by train from Vienna, offers a wide choice of accommodation, with convenient access to Melk to combine the ride with a visit to its baroque abbey, one of Austria’s most-visited monuments.
