Wachau Wine Tours
The Wachau is Austria’s grandest wine country: a UNESCO stretch of the Danube where Grüner Veltliner and Riesling grow on steep stone terraces above the river, past the blue abbey tower of Dürnstein and the apricot orchards, best seen on a day from Vienna. Compare the top-rated Wachau wine tours below, then read our notes.
Wachau wine tours from Vienna
Formats: day trips from Vienna with two wineries, a tasting and lunch; Danube boat cruises with wine; small-group premium winery tours; bike-and-wine days along the river; visits combining Melk Abbey and the vineyards.
What you taste: Wachau Grüner Veltliner and Riesling across the ripeness tiers – Steinfeder, Federspiel and the powerful Smaragd – plus the wines of neighbouring Kamptal and Kremstal, with apricot everything.
Price: roughly 90 to 150 dollars for a day trip from Vienna with two wineries and lunch; less for a Krems or Dürnstein tasting.
Grüner Veltliner and Riesling on the Danube
Between Melk and Krems, the Danube cuts through steep hills terraced with vines, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape. Two grapes rule: peppery, mineral Grüner Veltliner, Austria’s signature white, and taut, age-worthy Riesling. The Wachau grades its dry wines by ripeness – light Steinfeder, classic Federspiel, and rich, powerful Smaragd – a system you’ll taste your way through on any good tour. The neighbouring Kamptal (Langenlois) and Kremstal make the same grapes superbly.
The villages, the abbey and the apricots
The scenery is half the point: Dürnstein, with its blue-and-white abbey tower and the castle ruin where Richard the Lionheart was held; Spitz and Weissenkirchen among the terraces; and the great baroque Melk Abbey above the river. The Wachau is also famous for its apricots (Marillen) – in jam, dumplings and schnapps – and many tours add a tasting or a river cruise.
How to visit
From Vienna the Wachau is about an hour, an easy full-day trip with a driver so you can taste freely, often with a Danube boat leg. Autumn, at harvest and during the new-wine season, is the loveliest time. Base in Krems or Dürnstein to go deeper. See our Vienna wine page for the city’s own Heuriger.
How we choose
We list only experiences with a strong rating over a meaningful number of reviews and free cancellation where available, and we favour small-group and family-run hosts. FindEatLocal earns a commission when you book through GetYourGuide or Viator links on this page; it doesn’t change the price you pay. More about how we choose.
FAQ about Wachau Wine Tours
Frequently asked questions
What wine is the Wachau known for?
Grüner Veltliner and Riesling - some of the world’s best dry whites - grown on steep Danube terraces and graded Steinfeder, Federspiel and Smaragd by ripeness.
Can I visit the Wachau from Vienna in a day?
Yes; it is about an hour away, and day trips include transport, two wineries with tastings, lunch and often a Danube boat cruise.
What is Smaragd?
The Wachau’s ripest, most powerful category of dry wine (named after a local emerald lizard) - the top tier of its Grüner Veltliner and Riesling.