Biking the Wachau Wine Region

When I went to visit my friend who lives in Austria, she asked me what I wanted to do. I told her that I wanted “an authentic Austrian adventure.” I wanted to avoid too many tourist destinations and join her in how she would see her new country. One of her favorite things to do, she said, was to go to the Wachau region. It was known for its wines, as well as its apricots. (Note: buy apricot preserves. You won’t regret it!)

She asked if I would like to rent a bike and travel between the towns that way. We were staying in Weissenkirchen (White Church), a little village on the Danube River. There was a paved bike path that ran along the road that followed the river. To the east of us was Durstein, where King Richard was imprisoned, the ruins of the castle still there. To the west of us was the small villages of Joching and Wosendorf. All of these towns had plenty of wineries and restaurants that served local wines.

We started by renting bikes from a rack—a very common sight through most of my Austrian visit. It cost us less than $20 to rent two bikes for a 24 hour period. After a quick seat adjustment, we decided to head to Durstein for lunch. Durnstein was a larger town, slightly touristy due to the ruins of the castle. It would offer a broader lunch selection, which helped us narrow our choice between where to go. A typical Austrian lunch is what my friends call “cold lunch.” Meats, cheeses, and bread served with a side of ale or wine. Mandy and I shared a charcuterie board. We each got a salad and a glass of wine. The wine in this region is usually a white wine, which made me happy. I prefer whites over reds!

After that, we wanted to explore the ruins—probably the only touristy thing I did! It wasn’t crowded, though, and we had fun climbing the path to where the castle used to be, taking pictures and enjoying the high vantage point of the Danube snaking below. After we got our blood moving a bit, we decided to leave Durnstein for more wine to the east of Weissenkirchen. The path took us through the vineyards and orchards that created the fruit for their wines. We were in no rush, stopping for pictures or just a small rest.

The other two villages did not seem to have any tourists, making me feel less like one! It was so relaxing to sit with Mandy as the sun began to set, watching the twinkle lights turn on, as we sipped on our wine and nibbling on some bread and cheese before heading to the next stop. Since these villages are not tourist destinations, the prices of the wine and food were reasonable. This is my favorite way to travel, and the best way to experience cultures: going to places outside of the tourist destinations and enjoying their local food and beverage. The Wachau wine region offers that in a lovely, picturesque setting.

Durnstein Ruins

Mandy Riding Through Vineyard

Meat and Cheese Plates

Authentic “Cold” Meals, According to My Friends

The Bike Path Spans Many Miles!