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Outdoors

Danube Cycle Path Wachau

You ride downstream through the Wachau on the north bank of the Danube, passing Aggsbach Markt below the Aggstein castle ruins, Willendorf, Spitz, Weißenkirchen with its fortified church and Dürnstein with its abbey and castle ruins, before reaching the old town of Krems. The route is mostly flat.

For The Reps · Updated

bike ride scenery for Danube Cycle Path Wachau near Wachau Valley
Photo: Donauradweg Wachau Valley, img 2 by Robot8A, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0). Via Wikimedia Commons.
Where
Wachau Valley, Austria
Distance
34 km one way (Emmersdorf to Krems)
Time
About 2 hours 40 minutes of riding
Difficulty
Moderate

The route

Danube Cycle Path stage 5, north bank: Melk (Emmersdorf) to Krems.

Start in Melk and cross the Danube bridge to Emmersdorf, where the north-bank stage begins. Buses serve Emmersdorf but do not carry bikes.

When to go

The tourist board suggests April to October for cycling in the Wachau, when the boats, the Wachau railway and the roll ferries are running.

Before you go

  • Ride one way and come back by boat: DDSG Blue Danube ships call at Krems, Dürnstein, Weißenkirchen, Spitz, Emmersdorf and Melk, and carry bikes for €3.
  • The Wachau railway between Krems and Emmersdorf carries bikes free of charge.
  • You can switch banks by roll ferry at Spitz-Arnsdorf and Weißenkirchen-St. Lorenz from April to October, or by the Dürnstein-Rossatz motor ferry all year.
  • DDSG advises booking cruises ahead at weekends, on public holidays and in peak season.

What to bring

  • Helmet
  • Spare tube, tyre levers and a pump
  • Water and snacks
  • Front and rear lights
  • A layer for descents and stops

Getting ready for it

Time in the saddle matters more than speed.

If you have not ridden for a while, do two or three rides of an hour or two first so your legs and your seat are used to it.

Staying safe

  • Much of this stage runs beside the B3 road, with detours through the villages, so expect traffic alongside you.
  • Low water can cancel scheduled cruises, and the tourist board lists works on the Stein-Mautern bridge with a further closure planned from 27 October 2026.
  • Wear bright clothing and use lights wherever there is traffic.
  • Check your brakes and tyres before you leave.

Route details checked September 30, 2026 against donau.com, donau.com, donau.com, ddsg-blue-danube.at and lower-austria.info. Rules and closures change, so check before you go.