I’m heading to Vienna at the end of October, and have 7 days there in total. There is so much I want to see and do in the city, especially the art galleries and palaces, so already planning to go to Schönbrunn and Belvedere for example, but while I’m there I also want to get outside the city and see some other places in Austria.
I’m thinking of taking 2 day trips by train. I’ve looked at Salzburg which looks amazing, but a train there and back in one day seems it might be too far. I’ve also looked at Bratislava, but I think I want to save Slovakia for another time and focus on Austria.
Does anyone have any recommendations of some good places to go in October that give me a sense of life in Austria outside a major city (I like nature/history/art), that are maybe less than 2 hours away by train?
The city of Krems is the gateway to the Wachau wine region and is around 1 hour by train from Vienna. Take some time to walk along the pedestrian street, ‘Obere Landstraße’, where you’ll find plenty of places for coffee and cake or a bigger meal. Depending on how much time you have, once you have enjoyed the city of Krems you can tour through the entire Wachau Valley heading towards Melk (where I recommend visiting the famous Melk Abbey). You can choose to either take a ferry (the DDSG Blue Danube runs a few times a day), or you can take the Wachau Region train - the Wachaubahn - to Emmersdorf and connect to Melk from there by bus. It’s a beautiful part of Austria - full of lovely towns, wineries and stores to explore.
Thanks @Garry, appreciate all the info. I love the idea of getting a ferry and seeing a few different spots while I’m out that way. Melk Abbey looks amazing, I definitely want to see that -great recommendation!
Hey there! If you are planning a quick getaway, I highly recommend Pfaffstätten “Reb Lounge” or the one next to it (I forgot the name). You can hop on a train from Meidlinger Bahnhof and be there in 40 min. Imagine you are surrounded by breathtaking autumn colors and picturesque winefields. You can simply sit back, sip on a glass of wine or Sturm, and enjoy a delightful snack. It’s the perfect way to relax and soak up the beauty of the region.
@ck_explorer1000 I would say you can go to Bratislava in one day!
What I have recently done with my parents as a day trip was taking the Twin City Liner, a fast boat that goes down the Danube to Bratislava. Get on early in the morning, then you can explore Bratislava the entire day, and come back on the last departure on the Twin City Liner (or by train).
Walking around the old town, going to the Bratislava castle, and visiting the Blue Church were some of the highlights with my parents on our day trip. End it with a nice cold beer!