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Melk River Cruises

About Melk

A small and picturesque town, Melk lies on the banks of the Danube in the state of Lower Austria, in the western end of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Wachau Valley about 50 miles west of Vienna. It is a mainstay on many a Danube river cruise and despite its small size, Melk offers visitors a great mix of architectural styles and historical attractions thanks to its rich and varied past. The town itself can be crossed in 20 minutes or less, but visitors have a great selection of cafes, restaurants and age-old points of interest. The main attraction is Melk Abbey, a gigantic Benedictine monastery built on a bluff overlooking the river.

Exploring Melk

Melk Abbey, known locally as Stift Melk is an enormous Baroque masterpiece, built on the site of a castle once owned by the Babenberger family. Striped in white and gold on its exterior and with an incredibly ornate interior, this Benedictine monastery is one of Europe’s finest examples of baroque architecture. It’s still a place of work and study for the order’s monks, who not only live by the teachings of St Benedict but also administer to the town’s faithful and play a role in organising the town’s cultural events. The halls of the abbey are lined with paintings of Austrian rulers, golden statues and pillars of red marble and lead to a library of over 80,000 books. These sagely tomes are wondrous enough but the library also boasts heavenly works by Austrian baroque artist Paul Troger on its ceiling, which date back to the 1700s, as well as an ornate balcony and a wealth of beautiful shelves. Considering its commanding location, the views from the abbey grounds are understandably impressive and the gardens, with their baroque pavilion, are another popular attraction in good weather.

Elsewhere in Melk’s historic town centre, visitors can find the Forsthaus, which holds the town’s archives, the Rathausplatz, where the Kolomanbrunnen fountain stands before the ornate wood and copper doors of the Rathaus (town hall) and the Haus am Stein, or House at the Rock, the oldest building in Melk. This hidden cottage dates back to the 1400s and stands on a rocky outcrop with an ancient, protected vine on its facade. The Old Post Office is another building of note worth visiting. Dating back to 1792 and decorated with a baroque relief, it’s now a convention centre. If you look closely enough on your trip around the town, you’ll be able to see some of the former city walls and the Schiffsmeisterhaus, which is notable because it bears a high water mark from where the Danube reached an incredible 19 feet above the usual level in 1501.

Melk tips

If after exploring the abbey’s vast and hallowed halls and the town itself, you’ve worked up an appetite, you’ll be pleased to know there’s a good choice of venues in which to sample the local cuisine. Favourites include light, crispy dumplings served on a bed of cabbage, and the town’s trademark dessert, Koloman cake.

Melk Itineraries

Linz

Gems of the Danube with Ljubljana & Zagreb

2 sailing dates May 2023 to July 2023
11 Nights From Nuremberg, Germany to , Zagreb
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Linz

Gems of the Danube with Zagreb & Ljubljana

8 sailing dates April 2023 to September 2024
11 Nights From Zagreb, to Germany , Nuremberg
Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £4199pp
Melk

Danube Christmas Markets with Prague

2 sailing dates December 2023 to December 2024
10 Nights From Prague, to Hungary , Budapest, Hungary
Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £3289pp
Belgrade

Grand Danube: Munich - Belgrade

2 sailing dates April 2023 to October 2023
10 Nights From Munich, to Belgrade

Flash Sale | Receive a FREE Premium drinks package PLUS NEW reduced prices - save up to £2,200 per couple. Book and pay in full to receive these price

Emerald Cruises logo FROM £2629pp
Budapest

Grand Danube: Belgrade - Munich

2 sailing dates April 2023 to November 2023
10 Nights From Belgrade, to Passau, Germany

Flash Sale | Receive a FREE Premium drinks package PLUS NEW reduced prices - save up to £2,200 per couple. Book and pay in full to receive these price

Emerald Cruises logo FROM £2629pp
Vienna

Prague & Danube Explorer: Budapest - Prague

9 sailing dates May 2023 to October 2024
10 Nights From Budapest, Hungary, Hungary to , Prague
Emerald Cruises logo FROM £2519pp
Melk

Christmas Markets Prague - Paris

1 sailing date November 2023
20 Nights From Prague, to Paris
Scenic River Cruises logo CALL
Amsterdam

Jewels of Europe - Prague - Paris

14 sailing dates April 2023 to August 2024
20 Nights From Prague, to Paris
Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £6849pp
Budapest

Jewels of Europe with Prague - Prague - Amsterdam

18 sailing dates April 2023 to October 2023
17 Nights From Prague, to Amsterdam, Netherlands
Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £5699pp
Budapest

Jewels of Europe - Paris - Prague

17 sailing dates May 2023 to October 2024
20 Nights From Paris, to Prague
Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £6759pp
Salzburg

Jewels of Europe - Paris to Budapest

21 sailing dates May 2023 to October 2024
17 Nights From Paris, to Hungary , Budapest, Hungary
Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £6099pp
Regensburg

Amsterdam & Splendours of Europe

3 sailing dates April 2023 to August 2023
16 Nights From Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Hungary , Budapest, Hungary
Emerald Cruises logo FROM £4759pp
Amsterdam

Amsterdam & Splendours of Europe

2 sailing dates July 2023 to August 2023
16 Nights From Budapest, Hungary, Hungary to , Amsterdam, Netherlands
Emerald Cruises logo FROM £4159pp
Bamberg

Amsterdam to Prague & Splendours of Europe

1 sailing date July 2023
19 Nights From Prague, to Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Vienna

Celebration of Classical Music -Budapest to Vienna

7 sailing dates April 2023 to June 2024
7 Nights From Budapest, Hungary, Hungary to Austria , Vienna, Austria

EXCLUSIVE OFFER | Receive €100pp FREE to spend on-board on any Europe 2023 river cruise. Save up to £1,200 per couple PLUS FREE flights from London and FREE overseas transfers* on selected sailings. Regional supplements from just £75pp.

AmaWaterways logo FROM £2489pp
Vienna

Celebration of Classical Music -Vienna to Budapest

7 sailing dates April 2023 to November 2024
7 Nights From Vienna, Austria, Austria to Hungary , Budapest, Hungary

EXCLUSIVE OFFER | Receive €100pp FREE to spend on-board on any Europe 2023 river cruise. Save up to £1,200 per couple PLUS FREE flights from London and FREE overseas transfers* on selected sailings. Regional supplements from just £75pp.

AmaWaterways logo FROM £2339pp
Budapest

Christmas Markets of Europe-Amsterdam to Budapest

1 sailing date November 2024
14 Nights From Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Hungary , Budapest, Hungary
Emerald Cruises logo FROM £3969pp
Bamberg

Christmas Markets of Europe -Budapest to Amsterdam

1 sailing date December 2023
14 Nights From Budapest, Hungary, Hungary to , Amsterdam, Netherlands

Flash Sale | Receive a FREEE Premium drinks package - offer ends 28 February 2023 | NEW reduced prices - save up to £2,200 per couple. Book and pay in full to receive these price

Emerald Cruises logo FROM £3669pp
Melk

Prague & Danube Explorer - Prague to Budapest

11 sailing dates May 2023 to June 2024
10 Nights From Prague, to Hungary , Budapest, Hungary
Emerald Cruises logo FROM £2519pp
Melk

Danube Christmas Markets - Vienna Roundtrip

2 sailing dates December 2023
10 Nights From Vienna, Austria, Austria to Vienna, Austria
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