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.
Top-rated wine tours in the Wachau
The best Wachau Valley wine tours to book
Wachau Valley wine tours, compared. The Wachau is the Danube valley west of Vienna, a UNESCO landscape of terraced vineyards known for Grüner Veltliner and Riesling; most tours are full days from Vienna, by bus, boat or bike.
| Experience | Length | Rating (reviews) | Best for | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wachau Valley and Melk Abbey Tour with Danube Boat Trip | 8.5 hours | 4.5 (1,661) | The classic day | Check availability |
| Grape Grazing: Wachau Valley Winery Bike Tour | 11 hours | 4.8 (515) | By bike | Check availability |
| Small-Group Wachau Valley Day Tour with Wine Tasting | 9 hours | 4.7 (456) | For wine lovers | Check availability |
Our pick: the Wachau Valley and Melk Abbey Tour with Danube Boat Trip, rated 4.5 from 1,661 reviews on GetYourGuide.
Ratings and review counts as shown on GetYourGuide in October 2026. Check the listing for live prices and availability.
How to choose
The Wachau Valley and Melk Abbey tour with a Danube boat trip is the most reviewed day out, though wine is only part of it. For the vineyards themselves, the small-group premium winery tour is the wine lover’s choice. If you like cycling, the grape grazing winery bike tour rides between wineries along the river.
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.
Which wine tour is best in the Wachau?
On GetYourGuide the most booked is the Wachau Valley and Melk Abbey Tour with Danube Boat Trip, rated 4.5 from 1,661 reviews. Also highly rated: the Grape Grazing: Wachau Valley Winery Bike Tour and the Small-Group Wachau Valley Day Tour with Wine Tasting. The table above compares them by length, rating and who they suit.
What does a wine tour cost in the Wachau?
In October 2026 prices on GetYourGuide started from about €119 per person, and most of the top-rated options cost between €119 and €199. Longer experiences with a meal, private options and day trips cost more. Check the listing for the live price.