0 km — Melk
The start line and the biggest single sight on the route: a working Benedictine abbey rebuilt into Austria's largest Baroque monastery complex.
Melk in full
Route hub
Five stops, one river
Every real place on the route, in order, with what's actually worth stopping for at each one.
≈19 km — Spitz
A wine village built around the Tausendeimerberg — "the thousand-bucket hill" — one of the Wachau's most photographed terraced vineyards.
Spitz in full
≈23 km — Weissenkirchen
The Wachau's largest wine-growing community, built around one of Austria's oldest fortified church squares.
Weissenkirchen in full
≈29 km — Dürnstein
The blue church tower everyone photographs, and the hilltop ruin where Richard the Lionheart spent a very unhappy winter in 1192.
Dürnstein in full
≈36 km — Krems
The finish line: one of Austria's oldest cities, with an old town that rewards an extra hour if you've got the legs left for it.
Krems in full