Why this road
The fastest route uses the same B3 but skips the villages, and in places like Dürnstein it simply goes round them. This version takes you through them: the old town of Dürnstein with its blue and white abbey tower, the fortified church of Weißenkirchen, the wine village of Spitz under its terraced hill, and the quieter, wooded stretch past Willendorf before you cross the Danube to Melk. It costs about ten minutes more and is the whole point of coming.
The route
- AKrems an der Donau
Leave Krems to the west through Stein, the old town quarter on the river, and join the B3.
- 1Dürnstein
The blue and white abbey tower right on the Danube, with the castle ruin above where Richard the Lionheart was held. Park outside the old town and walk in.
- 2Weißenkirchen in der Wachau
A wine village around a fortified church, the terraces climbing right behind the houses.
- 3Spitz
Wine village at the foot of the terraced Tausendeimerberg. A cable ferry crosses to the south bank here.
- 4Willendorf in der Wachau
The valley gets narrower and more wooded. This is where the famous Venus of Willendorf was found.
- 5Emmersdorf an der Donau
Here you cross the Danube on the bridge to Melk.
- BMelk
Melk Abbey sits on a rock above the town and the river. Park below the abbey.
Stops worth it
Plan 45 minutes for the lanes of the old town, the abbey terrace on the river and, if you have the legs, the climb to the castle ruin.
Twenty minutes in the village or at a wine tavern. In autumn the terraces above are golden.
The baroque abbey and its terrace over the Danube are the grand finale, plan at least an hour if you go in.
Light and the best time
The B3 runs west and south-west with the river on your left. The terraces on your right face south and are in sun almost all day. In the afternoon the sun comes from the south-west, lighting Dürnstein's tower and the river front as you arrive, and later it is in front of you, low over the Danube. Leave Krems around 3 pm and you reach Melk in the evening, when the abbey's west end with its twin towers looks out over the river and catches the last sun. In the morning there is often mist on the river, beautiful but grey.
April for the apricot blossom, May for green terraces, September and October for the wine harvest and golden colours. The road is open all year. Summer weekends bring tour buses to Dürnstein and Melk, and many wine taverns open only on certain weeks, check before you go.
By vehicle
Made for the roof down: a gentle river road, vineyards and wine villages, all at an easy pace.
Relaxed rather than sporty. For more curves, come back on the south bank or take a loop up into the hills of the Waldviertel.
Easy driving all the way, no passes, no tolls. Good for families.
Fine with a camper on the B3. The old towns are narrow, so park at the car parks outside and walk in.
Even better by bike: the Danube cycle path runs along both banks, flat and mostly away from cars. Ferries let you switch sides.
Good to know
No tolls, the route avoids motorways. Dürnstein's old town is closed to cars, use the car parks by the B3. Parking at Melk Abbey is paid. Small ferries cross the Danube at several villages, including car ferries, handy for a return on the south bank. Expect cyclists everywhere in summer.
Route checked against OpenStreetMap on 2 November 2026. Roads, closures and rules change: always check before you go and follow local signs.
Questions
How long does the drive through the Wachau take?
Just under an hour of pure driving from Krems to Melk, only about ten minutes more than the fastest route. With stops in Dürnstein, Spitz and Melk, plan a full afternoon or a whole day.
Which bank of the Danube is better to drive in the Wachau?
The north bank on the B3 has the famous villages: Dürnstein, Weißenkirchen and Spitz. The south bank is quieter, with views across to them. Many people go one way and return on the other.
When is the apricot blossom in the Wachau?
Usually in late March or April, depending on the weather. It changes every year, so check before you go.
Can I drive into Dürnstein?
No, the old town is pedestrianised. Park at the car parks by the main road and walk a few minutes.