Day trips from Vienna
The Wachau runs by train and boat along the Danube, Bratislava runs straight there by train — neither fits into half a day.
- Wachau — Melk and Krems
- 1 h by train to Melk
- Price, Wachau
- €88
- Bratislava
- 1 h by train
Two destinations fit into a day from Vienna, each its own way: the Wachau-Ticket runs by train to Melk, then by boat down the Danube to Krems, while the Bratislava-Ticket runs straight there by train, no change. Both are planned as a day on their own.
The Wachau — Melk and Krems
The Wachau-Ticket covers a second-class train from the Westbahnhof to Melk, the entry ticket for Melk Abbey, and a DDSG Blue Danube boat from Melk to Krems down the river — all for €88. The train to Melk takes 1 h; the boat back is slower than the train, since it runs upstream, so the day is planned morning to evening.
Bratislava
The Bratislava-Ticket is a return fare on the REX train via Marchegg, from the Hauptbahnhof, for €19; the journey takes 1 h one way. The ticket's first day also works as a day pass for public transport inside Bratislava, so you move on the moment you step off the train, with nothing else to buy.
How long each takes
Train for both; the Wachau adds the Melk–Krems boat on the way back to the station. Time given is one way.
What to know in advance
- The Wachau-Ticket and Bratislava-Ticket are bought on ÖBB's site or at the counter — both combine transport with, for the Wachau, the entry ticket, so there is no separate payment on the spot.
- The DDSG boat doesn't run all year. The season is limited to the warmer months; outside it Krems and Melk connect by train alone, with no boat leg.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
Which day trip from Vienna is best without organised transport?
Bratislava — by train, no guide and no change, with a return ticket that also works as a day pass in the city itself.
Can the Wachau and Bratislava be done in one day?
Not sensibly. They run in opposite directions from different stations, and each wants a full day on its own.
Does the Wachau-Ticket include the Melk Abbey entry fee?
Yes — the train, the abbey ticket and the boat to Krems are all in the one price, €88.
Ready for Vienna?
Where to next
Where to stay in Vienna
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The Wachau · 60 km
→Thirty-six kilometres of Danube, terraced vineyards and an abbey on the rock above
How well does Vienna suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
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