Wachau wine tour from Vienna – abbey, Danube and vineyards in one day.
In just over an hour you are on the Danube. Your chauffeur drives you from Melk through the valley to Krems and stops wherever you like.
How does a Wachau Valley tour from Vienna with a private driver work?
A Wachau Valley tour from Vienna usually takes six to eight hours. After just over an hour’s drive you visit Melk Abbey, follow the Danube via Spitz and Weißenkirchen to Dürnstein and continue to Krems. You receive a fixed price per vehicle on request, including waiting time.
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Melk Abbey day trip with Dürnstein: the classic route in one day
Melk Abbey and Dürnstein combine easily in one day from Vienna. The drive to Melk on the West Autobahn takes around an hour and a quarter. From there the road follows the north bank of the Danube for around 35 kilometres through the Wachau to Krems.
Most guests start in Melk, because the abbey is quieter in the morning. Then you head downstream via Spitz and Weißenkirchen to Dürnstein, where you can stroll through the old town or climb up to the castle ruins. Krems follows in the afternoon, before the drive of around an hour back to Vienna.
If you prefer a calmer day, reverse the route and start in Krems. You then reach Melk in the afternoon, when many groups have already moved on. The chauffeur adapts the plan to your pace, even spontaneously on the way.
The Wachau is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Opening hours and guided tours of the abbey are listed directly by Melk Abbey.
A day in the Wachau Valley with a private driver
Departure
Pickup at your hotel or home in Vienna at around 9 am, drive along the West Autobahn to Melk.
Melk Abbey
Around two hours for the abbey, library and abbey park. The chauffeur waits in the car park.
Danube and Dürnstein
Drive through the valley, lunch in a village of your choice, a walk through Dürnstein.
Krems and return
Short stop in the old town of Krems, arrival back in Vienna in the late afternoon.
Wachau wine tour from Vienna: tasting on request
A wine tasting can be built in on request, and because the chauffeur drives, everyone in your party can taste at leisure. The Wachau is one of Austria’s best-known wine regions, especially for Grüner Veltliner and Riesling.
We do not work with fixed partner wineries. You choose the winery or Heuriger wine tavern yourself and book directly; we plan the time into the day and take you there. That way you decide whether it is a large estate or a small family-run business.
Bottles you buy go in the boot. Wi-Fi and water are on board, which is especially welcome on the drive back after the wine.
Wachau private tour: who the day trip suits
The Wachau trip is shorter than the drive to Hallstatt and suits many travellers. It is most often booked by:
- Adult children giving their parents a relaxed day with their own driver
- Couples who want to enjoy a wine tasting without having to drive
- Families with children; child seats are free of charge and breaks are possible at any time
- Business guests with half a day free after a congress in Vienna
- Groups of up to 21 people in the Sprinter, for example for company outings
Train, bus, boat or private car to the Wachau Valley?
By train and bus you can reach Melk and Krems, but for the villages in between you depend on timetables. In season, excursion boats also run on the Danube.
With a private driver you see more in less time, because waiting and changes disappear. A lovely combination: you take the boat for a stretch, and the chauffeur meets you at the pier. For older travellers this makes the day far more comfortable.
Similar days in the city are available as a private city tour of Vienna by car. For longer destinations, take a look at the Hallstatt day trip from Vienna or all day trips from Vienna.
The right vehicle with driver
up to 3 passengers · 2 suitcases
1–7 passengers · 6 suitcases
up to 3 passengers · 2 suitcases
9–21 passengers
Wachau Valley tour from Vienna – frequently asked questions
How much is a Wachau Valley tour from Vienna with a private driver?
You receive a fixed price per vehicle on request, including the drive and waiting time. The price depends on the length of the day, the vehicle class and your stops, not on the number of people travelling with you.
Can I see Melk Abbey and Dürnstein in one day from Vienna by car?
Yes, that is the classic route. Around two hours in Melk, the drive through the valley and a walk in Dürnstein fit comfortably into six to eight hours, including lunch. Your chauffeur handles the timing so you can simply enjoy the day.
How long is the drive from Vienna to the Wachau?
Around an hour to Krems or Dürnstein, and roughly an hour and a quarter to Melk. The stretch through the valley between Melk and Krems is around 35 kilometres long, with plenty of places to stop.
Is a wine tasting possible on a Wachau wine tour from Vienna?
Yes, on request we plan a tasting into the day. We have no fixed partner wineries; you choose the winery or Heuriger and book directly, and we take you there and wait. Because the chauffeur drives, everyone can taste.
Is the trip suitable for elderly parents?
Yes, very much so. Driving times are short, the chauffeur stops close to entrances, and breaks are possible at any time. For more legroom we recommend the S-Class or V-Class.
Does the chauffeur guide us around the abbey?
No. The chauffeur drives you and waits, but is not a licensed guide. Guided tours of Melk Abbey are booked directly on site or through the abbey.
When is the best time to visit the Wachau?
Spring during the apricot blossom and autumn during the grape harvest are especially popular. The valley is lovely in summer too; then an early start in Melk is a good idea to avoid the busiest hours.
Can I take a boat for part of the way?
Yes, in season that is a lovely addition. You travel on the excursion boat and the chauffeur meets you at the pier. Please buy the boat tickets yourself; we plan the pickup around the timetable.
More questions from our guests
How many people can travel?
Up to 3 people in the E-Class or S-Class, up to 7 in the van and 9 to 21 in the Sprinter. The fixed price is per vehicle, so the share per person drops for groups.
Are child seats available?
Yes, free of charge. Give us the age or weight of your children so the right seat is fitted. With children, a break right on the banks of the Danube is well worth it.
Does the driver speak English?
Yes, our chauffeurs speak several languages, including English and German. Feel free to tell us your guests’ language if you are booking the trip for visitors from abroad.
How do I pay?
By credit card, bank transfer or cash. An invoice is available on request, also for companies organising the trip for congress guests or their team.
Can I take wine I have bought with me?
Yes, we stow the bottles in the boot. For larger quantities or several cases we recommend the van, which also has room for 6 suitcases.
Can I combine the trip with a transfer to Salzburg?
Yes. Instead of returning to Vienna, we continue to Salzburg after your day in the Wachau, at a fixed price for the whole route.
Where do you pick me up?
At any address in Vienna: your hotel, your home or a railway station. Pickup in the area around Vienna is also possible; just give us the address in your request.
Who runs the trip?
Vienna Chauffeur Service, run by Muhammet Alkac KG in 1100 Vienna, a licensed company for passenger transport with chauffeur.
Are entrance fees included in the price?
No. Entrance fees, tastings and meals are paid on site. Our fixed price covers the drive, the vehicle and waiting time.
Can we visit Göttweig Abbey?
Yes. Göttweig sits on the hill opposite Krems and fits nicely into the afternoon. It offers wide views over the Danube valley; just tell us how much time you would like to plan.
How far ahead should I book?
A few days ahead is ideal, a little earlier during the apricot blossom and the grape harvest. Short-notice requests are often possible.
Is there Wi-Fi in the vehicle?
Yes, Wi-Fi and water are on board. On the short drive to Melk that is enough to plan the day or buy abbey tickets online.
Do you also drive along the south bank of the Danube?
Yes. On request we drive one way along the north bank and return along the south bank, for example via Aggsbach and Mautern.
Will I pay more if there is traffic?
No, the agreed fixed price applies. No meter is running, and traffic on the West Autobahn or in the valley is not charged to you.
Can I give the trip as a gift?
Yes, many people book the day for their parents or friends. We send the details to you and, on request, to the recipients.
Can I do a half-day trip to the Wachau?
Yes. For a shorter trip, for example only to Krems and Dürnstein, four to five hours are often enough. We adapt the offer accordingly.
Can I have dinner at a Heuriger?
Yes. The chauffeur waits and brings you back to Vienna afterwards. Please make the reservation yourself.
Can I cancel free of charge?
Yes, up to two hours before the agreed pickup. If it rains, we are happy to move the trip to another day if a driver is available.
How old are the vehicles?
No more than 36 months. You choose the class: E-Class, S-Class, V-Class or Sprinter. The exact model depends on availability and may be a similar vehicle.
Is the Wachau worth a trip in winter?
Yes, especially during Advent in the small villages. Some restaurants and boats close in winter, which we take into account when planning.
Can I travel with a wheelchair?
Please talk to us in advance. We will check which vehicle is suitable and how boarding works best.
How do I reach the driver during the day?
You receive his phone number with your confirmation and can call him or send a WhatsApp message.
Where can we take you?
You will receive your fixed price by email – usually within a few minutes.
Chauffeur service, airport transfers and limousine service in Vienna. Fixed prices instead of a meter, around the clock.
- +43 699 172 32 607
- office@vienna-chauffeur-service.com
- Inzersdorfer Straße 97/6-7, 1100 Wien
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