Melk
The town under the abbey, and the natural start line for the ride to Krems.
A small town with a very large neighbour
Melk itself is a modest market town on the Danube — the kind of place that would be a pleasant, unremarkable stop on the river if it weren't sitting directly beneath one of the largest Baroque abbey complexes in Europe. Most visitors' time in Melk splits between the abbey on the hill and the compact old town below it, with narrow streets built around a central square rather than a river-facing promenade.
Starting the ride here
If you're riding to Krems, Melk is the natural start: it's the western end of the Wachau's main cycling stretch, well served by rail from Vienna, and the town has multiple bike rental outfits set up specifically for one-way trips down the valley. See Melk Abbey's full history for what's actually worth the climb before you set off, and cycling practicalities for rental logistics.