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Durnstein
Wachau Valley, Austria


Travel and LeisureFodorsUSA TodayNew York TimesNational GeographicWashington PostVogue
A ruined castle, a beckoning tower, and the region's best wines.
Located between the hilltop Durnstein Castle and the Danube, Durnstein is famous for growing the region's best wines, and its abbey, with its iconic bright blue tower. The 12th century Durnstein ("Dry Stone") Castle was where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned by Leopold V, Duke of Austria, in 1192 due to a dispute between the two Crusaders. The castle itself was reduced to ruins by Swedish Troops during the Thirty Years' War, but still offers rewarding views of the town of Durnstein, and the valley beyond.
Route for Durnstein tour

Popular Tour Itineraries Featuring Durnstein

Spend some time in Durnstein on a tour that takes in other cities in Austria and neighboring countries. Our vacation packages including Durnstein and other destinations throughout Austria and Europe hassle-free. We take care of getting you from place to place, accommodation, excursions and activities.

Austria Abridged Custom Itinerary
Austria Abridged
Vienna, Durnstein, Salzburg
8 Days
from$3,425 pp*
All Around Austria Custom Itinerary
All Around Austria
Vienna, Durnstein, Hallstatt, Salzburg, Kufstein, Innsbruck, Graz, Vie...
17 Days
from$5,950 pp*

* Starting price is per person, based on double occupancy in 3 star accommodation, in the most affordable month an itinerary is offered. Airfare to Europe is not included.

Click on your choice of itinerary, select number of travelers in your party, month of travel, and desired star level of accommodation to get an approximate price. Submit the enquiry form with any additional details and we can start planning your customized trip.

Things to do in Durnstein

Wachau Valley World Heritage Trail Small Group Hike
Wachau Valley World Heritage Trail Small Group Hike
Private Wine and Apricot Experience with Lunch from the Farm's Products
Private Wine and Apricot Experience with Lunch from the Farm's Products

Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Durnstein

How many days should we spend in Durnstein?

As Durnstein is quite a small town, we suggest to spend no more than 1 night there. However, if you are interested in the whole Wachau Valley region, Melk is probably a better town to stay in, as it has quite good restaurants and bars as well.

What's the best way to get around in Durnstein?

As Dunrstein is rather a small town, you can easily reach everything on foot.

What's the opening hours of the Durnstein Abbey?

It is open from 10am until 6pm and the ticket costs 6,5 EUR.

What's the opening hours of the Durnstein Castle?

The castle is open for everyone throughout the whole year and can be visited freely.

Can we use our credit card in the restaurants, places, etc?

Unfortunately it is quite common in Austria that the restaurants and other different places accept only cash. Thus we suggest to exchange some Euros in advance or in any of the local exchanges or ATMs.

Do you recommend taking a day cruise to visit some other sights along the river?

Definitely yes. The route of the river in the Wachau Valley is simply amazing and the landscape is beautiful.

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