welterbesteig-wachau-winter-01-krems-duernstein
Hiking tour Starting from Krems, Hoher Markt
From Krems to Dürnstein, the hike winds through the historic districts of Krems and Stein—featuring a mix of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture—through wine cellar lanes and into the stone-terraced wine-growing landscape of the Krems Valley ("Kremstal" in German) and Wachau regions. At the end of the stage, the trail leads to the medieval town of Dürnstein with its famous castle ruins.
From Krems to Dürnstein, the hike winds through the historic districts of Krems and Stein—featuring a mix of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture—through wine cellar lanes and into the stone-terraced wine-growing landscape of the Krems Valley ("Kremstal" in German) and Wachau regions. At the end of the stage, the trail leads to the medieval town of Dürnstein with its famous castle ruins.
The stage from Krems to Dürnstein winds through one of the Wachau’s most impressive cultural landscapes, combining urban heritage with viticulture, nature reserves, and striking viewpoints. The starting point is the Hohe Markt, home to the historic Gozzoburg in Krems. Passing the Piarist Church, the trail leads up the Kreuzbergstiege into the Krems vineyards, where sweeping views of the Danube Valley and the surrounding vineyards define the scenic charm of the area.
Passing through the historic old town of Stein and the Stein wine landscape—distinctive even in winter—with its castle ruins, the route continues eastward along old wine trails. Crossing the Pfaffenberg, the route reaches the heart of the Wachau wine-growing region, which offers a scenic highlight in the form of the imposing Loibenberg vineyard. The Höhereck and Kellerberg nature reserves showcase the region’s unique ecological diversity, before a fascinating landscape of cliffs and forests with old pine and oak groves opens up below the Dürnstein castle ruins. Via the scenic Kuhberg, the trail finally leads down to the Kremser Tor and into the historic town center of Dürnstein.
As you hike along the Welterbesteig Wachau - Wachau World Heritage Trail, you’ll come to understand, step by step, why the Wachau has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage region. Along carefully curated World Heritage sites, the defining World Heritage highlights come into view—the interplay of the historic cultural landscape, traditional viticulture, extraordinary natural areas, and the Danube as a defining element.
The Welterbesteig Wachau - Wachau World Heritage Trail has also been awarded the Austrian Hiking Quality Seal. This certification stands for high-quality standards in route guidance, signage, safety, and infrastructure, and confirms the Welterbesteig Wachau - Wachau World Heritage Trail as a reliable and high-quality hiking experience in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Thanks to good rail connections, a relaxed and sustainable journey to the Wachau is easily achievable. Within the region, a dense network of public transportation ensures that all stages can be comfortably reached by bus, train, ferry, and boat. This also makes it very easy to combine different stages.
Be sure to bring enough food; there are no rest stops along the way.
Wachau Mountain Rescue emergency number: 140
From the Hoher Markt in Krems, with the Gozzoburg in the background, we head north toward the old Piarist monastery (now the Krems University of Applied Sciences) and its church, where a magnificent view of Krems’s old town awaits us. After the church, we turn right and then immediately left, heading downhill. We cross the old city moat and city wall and reach Alauntalstraße. Just a few meters further on, the Kreuzbergstiege—the most beautiful staircase on the World Heritage Trail—awaits us. Passing by old villas, we hike uphill toward Kreuzberg. At the end of the staircase, we turn left and enter the Ried Kögel and the Krems wine-growing region. A fantastic panoramic view awaits us.
The trail leads through the vineyards and down to the Krems University Campus. Down at the road, we turn right—with the university on our left—cross the street, and arrive at the Philosophensteig. Below the Steiner vineyards, we cross the Wachau Railway and reach the medieval Wiedentor (entrance to the Steiner vineyards). A few meters further on, we enter the Steiner wine cellar lane, lined with several wine taverns, and arrive at the Steiner Rebentor and the Frauenberg Church: a beautiful resting spot and viewpoint. Here, at the gate of the Mayr-Resch wine tavern, is the stamp station.
We continue along the wine cellar lane to the railroad tracks, walk down the steps, cross the street, and climb the stairs to the Stein Castle ruins and the Altenburg vineyard. Our path leads through the idyllic Steiner vineyards into the Förthofgraben. At a bend, we turn right and hike uphill to the Pfaffenberg, which marks the beginning of the Wachau wine-growing region. From here, we follow an old wine trail, pass the hamlet of Rothenhof, and enter the magnificent Loibenberg wine landscape with its stone terraces. On the Loibenweg wine trail, we hike through well-known vineyards such as Steinertal, Höhereck, and Kellerberg.
The summit areas of the Höhereck and the Kellerberg consist of species-rich dry grasslands and former pastures that are protected nature reserves. On the Kellerberg, we catch sight of the baroque Kellerschlößerl (the former pleasure palace of Dürnstein Abbey) and the Domäne Wachau. We leave the vineyards behind and enter a small, rugged landscape of rocks and woods. Following a narrow path, we reach the Dürnsteiner Kuhberg. Below it, we keep to the left and, after a few minutes, arrive at the Kremser Tor (also known as the Steiner Tor) and the historic district of Dürnstein.
In the parking garages in downtown Krems or in the paid parking lots outside Dürnstein. Please note the paid short-term parking system with zones in the downtown areas of Krems and Stein. For more information, visit the City of Krems website: www.krems.gv.at
Take the A1 to the St. Pölten interchange, then continue on the S33 to Krems or on the B3 to Dürnstein.
Accessible by train and bus
These locations can be reached seven days a week by bus No. 715. It is possible to return to the starting point of the hike.
On the north bank of the Wachau, bus line 715 runs between Krems–Spitz–Melk and Melk–Spitz–Krems. www.vor.at It connects to the train in Krems and Melk.
Be sure to plan a visit to one of the venues along the Kunstmeile Krems, such as the Kunsthalle, the Cartoon Museum, or the Landesgalerie Niederösterreich.
Dürnstein Abbey is an exceptional example of Austrian Baroque architecture. The blue tower is the landmark of Dürnstein and the Wachau region.
Leider können wir Ihnen zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt keine Wetterdaten für den Ort anzeigen.
Best of Wachau: You’ll find the most renowned and highly recommended restaurants and lodging options in the Wachau UNESCO World Hertige site at Best of Wachau.
For more information on places to eat and stay, visit www.wachau.at
Several restaurantsare open or have special winter menus during the winter months.
For easy and convenient tour planning, we recommend the Wachau-Nibelungengau-Krems Valley app. Simply download it for Android or iPhone.
Letzte Änderung: 8 Oct 2026
