Krems an der Donau Austria
Austria

2539 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

AmaWaterways (77 Cruises)

Cruise Ama AmaWaterways AmaMagna ship

AmaMagna

196 Passengers
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Avalon Waterways (39 Cruises)

Scenic Cruises (487 Cruises)

Scenic Amber.

Scenic Amber

169 Passengers
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Scenic Crystal.

Scenic Crystal

169 Passengers
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Scenic Jade.

Scenic Jade

169 Passengers
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Scenic Jasper.

Scenic Jasper

163 Passengers
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Scenic Jewel.

Scenic Jewel

169 Passengers
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Scenic Opal.

Scenic Opal

169 Passengers
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Scenic Ruby

Scenic Ruby

169 Passengers
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Uniworld Boutique River Cruise (28 Cruises)

maria theresa.

S.S. Maria Theresa

208 Passengers
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Viking River Cruises (1902 Cruises)

Viking Longship Gefjon.

Viking Longship Gefjon

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Viking Longships Aegir.

Viking Longships Aegir

238 Passengers
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Viking Longships Atla.

Viking Longships Atla

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Viking Longships Bragi.

Viking Longships Bragi

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Viking Longships Egil.

Viking Longships Egil

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Viking Longships Embla.

Viking Longships Embla

243 Passengers
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Viking Longships Gullveig.

Viking Longships Gullveig

243 Passengers
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Viking Longship Ingvi.

Viking Longships Ingvi

190 Passengers
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Viking Longships Jarl.

Viking Longships Jarl

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Viking Longships Lif.

Viking Longships Lif

238 Passengers
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Viking Longships Magni.

Viking Longships Magni

240 Passengers
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Viking Longships Skadi.

Viking Longships Skadi

240 Passengers
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Viking Longships Tor.

Viking Longships Tor

240 Passengers
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Viking Longships Var.

Viking Longships Var

240 Passengers
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Viking Longships Ve.

Viking Longships Ve

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Viking Longships Vidar.

Viking Longships Vidar

238 Passengers
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VIking Longship Vilhjalm.

Viking Longships Vilhjalm

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Viking Longships Vili.

Viking Longships Vili

240 Passengers
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Port of Krems, Austria | Cruise Port Guide

The vineyards herald the town. On the left bank of the Danube, terraces planted with vines climb the slopes in regular tiers, and it is between these dry-stone walls that Krems an der Donau appears, guardian of the eastern gateway to the Wachau, the wine valley listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. More than a thousand years of wine trade have shaped its lanes, and you can taste it as much as see it.

From Stein to Krems, One Single Stroll

River boats dock at Stein, the old boatmen's village now joined to Krems. Steiner Landstrasse, its main street, lines up pastel-hued 16th- and 17th-century houses, carved doorways and arcaded courtyards you can wander into at random. You pass St. Nicholas Parish Church and former churches converted into exhibition halls, before the street leads naturally into the heart of the town. The whole route is done on foot, on flat ground, in about twenty minutes without stops — but no one can resist stopping.

The Steiner Tor and the Old Town

You enter Krems through its emblematic gate, the Steiner Tor, built in the 15th century and flanked by two round turrets; it is the last surviving gate of the old town walls. Behind it, the pedestrian street Obere Landstrasse unfolds shops, cafés and baroque façades. Climbing the alleys to St. Vitus Parish Church, then up the covered staircase to the Gothic Piaristenkirche, you reach the heights of the old centre and glimpses over the rooftops and vineyards. Along the way, the Gozzoburg is a surprise: this 13th-century town palace, built by a wealthy municipal judge, is among the best-preserved medieval civic buildings in Austria.

The Art Mile

The contemporary side holds its own. Near the river, the district known as the Kunstmeile — the Art Mile — brings together several institutions, including a modern art gallery and a caricature museum with an expressive façade. The combination works: after the old lanes, these bright galleries offer a refreshing counterpoint, a few minutes' walk from the landing.

Wachau Wines and Jarred Apricots

You can't leave without tasting the local pride: the region's white wines, led by Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, grown on the terraces overlooking the Danube. The wine taverns of the old town serve them by the glass, with boards of cold cuts and cheeses. The other specialty comes in the form of a fruit: the Wachau apricot, made into jams, nectars, brandies and chocolates that travellers happily pack in their luggage. A few pointers for planning your stop:

  • climb up to the Piaristenkirche for the view over the rooftops and hillsides;
  • enjoy a tasting in a tavern on Obere Landstrasse or in Stein;
  • take an apricot-themed sweet break before heading back down to the river.

The Valley Just Beyond

The town often serves as a gateway for excursions into the Wachau: Dürnstein and the ruins of the castle where Richard the Lionheart was held captive, the baroque Melk Abbey upstream, and the wine villages strung out between river and cliffs. If your itinerary includes daytime sailing through the valley, settle in on deck: the landscape unfolds like a picture book, with vineyards, steeples and perched castles following one another on both banks.

A Parting Glass

As the boat pulls away from Stein, the vine terraces glow red in the evening light and the Steiner Tor disappears behind the rooftops. The port call will leave a distinct taste: that of a dry white enjoyed facing the Danube, in a town that has made the long view — a thousand years of wine, eight centuries of stone — its everyday art of living.

Frequently Asked Questions

At Stein, the old boatmen's town now merged with Krems. From there the whole walk into the city centre is flat and takes about twenty minutes without stops.
Walk up the Steiner Landstrasse with its 16th and 17th century houses, pass through the Steiner Tor, climb the lanes to the Piaristenkirche for views over the rooftops and vineyards, then come back down for a glass of white wine in a wine tavern.
The town's emblematic gate, built in the 15th century and flanked by two round turrets. It is the last survivor of the old town gates; behind it begins the pedestrian street Obere Landstrasse.
Yes, entirely and with no significant climb as far as the centre. Only the lanes rising toward the Piaristenkirche and St Vitus church take a little effort.
The white wines of the Wachau, above all Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, grown on the terraces above the Danube. Wine taverns serve them by the glass with cured meats and cheeses. On the sweet side, the valley's apricot appears as jams, nectars and chocolates.
The art mile: a district near the river gathering several institutions, including a modern art gallery and a caricature museum with a striking facade. It is a few minutes' walk from the landing stage.
A 13th-century urban palace built by a wealthy municipal judge, in the upper part of the old town. It ranks among the best-preserved medieval civic buildings in Austria.
Yes. Krems often serves as the gateway for Wachau excursions to Dürnstein, Melk Abbey and the wine villages. If your itinerary includes daylight sailing through the valley, though, the best seat remains the upper deck.
The euro and German. Krems is a proper town: cards are accepted everywhere and cash machines are easy to find, unlike in the valley's villages.
Reasonably. The caricature museum amuses older children and the pedestrian old town is easy to walk, but the call's main appeal, wine and architecture, is aimed mostly at adults.