Melk, Austria: travel guide
Golden Baroque abbey above the Danube at the gateway to the Wachau
Gateway to the Wachau valley on the Danube, dominated by the golden Baroque Melk Abbey above the town.
About Melk
Melk is a small Danube town overshadowed, in the best way, by the vast yellow-and-gold Baroque abbey on the rock above it. The abbey is the reason most visitors come, with its library, church and terraces overlooking the river.
Below the abbey, a compact old town centres on the Rathausplatz, and the Danube cycle path runs along the riverfront. Melk is also the gateway to the Wachau valley, where vineyards and apricot orchards line the river and villages such as Dürnstein sit beneath ruined castles. Schallaburg Castle, with its Renaissance courtyard, is a short trip away.
It suits cyclists, river-cruise passengers and day-trippers from Vienna. Spring blossom and the early autumn harvest are good times to go.
- Country
- Austria
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Vienna
Last updated
Top places to visit in Melk
Melk Abbey (Stift Melk)
abbey · about 2.5 h · entry €14 (≈ ₹1,440)
Monumental golden-yellow Benedictine abbey above the Danube, a Baroque masterpiece with a frescoed library and marble hall.
Wachau Danube Viewpoint
viewpoint · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Riverside vantage over the terraced-vineyard Wachau valley, a UNESCO cultural landscape.
Schallaburg Castle
castle · about 2 h · entry €13 (≈ ₹1,390)
Renaissance castle south of Melk with an arcaded terracotta courtyard and exhibitions.
Dürnstein (Wachau)
historic town · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Blue-towered Baroque abbey church and Richard-the-Lionheart castle ruins over the Danube, upriver from Melk.
Abbey Park & Gardens
garden · about 1 h · entry €5 (≈ ₹530)
Baroque abbey gardens with a frescoed garden pavilion and Danube views.
Rathausplatz (Town Square)
square · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Pastel medieval town square below the abbey with cafés and the old town hall.
Danube Riverfront & Cycle Path
riverfront · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Starting point of the scenic Wachau stretch of the Danube Cycle Path.
Things to do
- Melk Abbey Guided Tour Tour · 1.5 h · from EUR 15 per person
- Wachau Danube Cruise (Melk to Krems) Sightseeing · 1.8 h · from EUR 33 per person
- Wachau Vineyard & Wine Tasting Food · 2.5 h · from EUR 40 per person
- Wachau Danube Cycle Tour Adventure · 4 h · from EUR 45 per person
- Dürnstein & Wachau Villages Day Trip Tour · 5 h · from EUR 65 per person
Day trips and tours
- Melk Abbey & Wachau Cruise 6 h · from EUR 79
Where to stay in Melk
- Altstadt & Abbey about EUR 120 per night
Small centre below Melk Abbey, walkable and close to the Danube pier.
Hotels
- Hotel Restaurant zur Post 3-star · EUR 90 to EUR 160 per night
- Hotel-Restaurant Zum Fürsten 3-star · EUR 85 to EUR 150 per night
- Hotel Wachau 3-star · EUR 95 to EUR 170 per night
- JUFA Hotel Melk 3-star · EUR 80 to EUR 150 per night
- Jugendherberge Melk 1-star · EUR 25 to EUR 70 per night
Where to eat
- Restaurant zur Post Austrian · about EUR 26 per person
- Zum Fürsten Austrian · about EUR 24 per person
- Wachauerstube Austrian · about EUR 20 per person
- Café-Konditorei Wachau Cafe, Bakery · about EUR 10 per person
Getting to Melk
Nearest airport: Linz (LNZ), about 85 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
Getting around
- Bus
- Walking
More in Austria
Frequently asked questions about Melk
- What are the main places to visit in Melk?
- Places covered in our Melk guide include Melk Abbey (Stift Melk), Wachau Danube Viewpoint, Schallaburg Castle, Dürnstein (Wachau), Abbey Park & Gardens.
- Where should I stay in Melk?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Melk: Altstadt & Abbey.
- How do I get around Melk?
- Ways to get around Melk covered in our guide: City bus, Walking.