Melk Austria
Austria

2323 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

AmaWaterways (271 Cruises)

Cruise Ama AmaWaterways AmaBella ship

AmaBella

160 Passengers
3500 tons
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AmaLea.

AmaLea

156 Passengers
3500 tons
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Cruise Ama AmaWaterways AmaMagna ship

AmaMagna

196 Passengers
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Cruise Ama AmaWaterways AmaMora ship

AmaMora

156 Passengers
3500 tons
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Cruise Ama AmaWaterways AmaReina ship

AmaReina

162 Passengers
3500 tons
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Cruise Ama AmaWaterways AmaSonata ship

AmaSonata

162 Passengers
3500 tons
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Cruise Ama AmaWaterways AmaVerde ship

AmaVerde

161 Passengers
3500 tons
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Avalon Waterways (433 Cruises)

Cruise AVA Avalon Waterways Expression ship

Avalon Expression®

166 Passengers
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Cruise AVA Avalon Waterways Illumination ship

Avalon Illumination®

166 Passengers
2775 tons
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Avalon ImageryII.

Avalon Imagery II®

128 Passengers
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Cruise AVA Avalon Waterways Impression ship

Avalon ImpressionSM

164 Passengers
2775 tons
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Avalon Passion.

Avalon Passion®

166 Passengers
2775 tons
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Avalon Tranquility II.

Avalon Tranquility II®

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Cruise AVA Avalon Waterways Visionary ship

Avalon Visionary®

128 Passengers
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CroisiEurope (108 Cruises)

Cruise CE Croisieurope MS Beethoven ship

MS Beethoven

178 Passengers
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Cruise CE Croisieurope MS France ship

MS France

157 Passengers
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Cruise CE Croisieurope MS Modigliani ship

MS Modigliani

159 Passengers
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Emerald Waterways (389 Cruises)

Emerald Astra

Emerald Astra

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Emerald Dawn.

Emerald Dawn

227 Passengers
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Emerald Luna .

Emerald Luna

227 Passengers
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Emerald Sky.

Emerald Sky

227 Passengers
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Emerald Star.

Emerald Star

227 Passengers
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Emerald Sun

Emerald Sun

227 Passengers
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Riviera Travel (42 Cruises)

Scenic Cruises (342 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 Opal.

Scenic Opal

169 Passengers
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Tauck Cruises (41 Cruises)

 ms Joy

ms Joy

173 Passengers
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Uniworld Boutique River Cruise (425 Cruises)

River Beatrice.

River Beatrice

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S.S Marlene.

S.S Marlene

154 Passengers
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River Beatrice.

S.S. Beatrice

207 Passengers
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maria theresa.

S.S. Maria Theresa

208 Passengers
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Viking River Cruises (272 Cruises)

Viking Longship Gefjon.

Viking Longship Gefjon

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Viking Longships Baldur.

Viking Longships Baldur

240 Passengers
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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 Mimir.

Viking Longships Mimir

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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 Longships Vili.

Viking Longships Vili

240 Passengers
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Port of Melk, Austria | Cruise Port Guide

Long before docking, a saffron façade catches the eye: two twin towers, a green dome, three hundred metres of buildings set on a rocky spur above the Danube. Melk Abbey doesn't just dominate the small town at its feet; it opens the Wachau, the listed wine valley where the river threads its way between terraces and villages for some thirty kilometres. River ships moor a few minutes' walk from the centre: here, the whole visit unfolds at a stroller's pace.

Following the Coloured Tiles

Melk came up with a delightful idea to guide its visitors: coloured glass tiles set into the pavement. The blue ones lead from the landing to the fountain on the main square; the yellow ones take over toward the abbey. Along the way, the town unrolls its pastel façades, wrought-iron signs and pastry shops where temptation goes by the name of apricot strudel — the Wachau is Austria's orchard, and its Marillen are the pride of every kitchen.

Nine Centuries Above the River

In 1089, Margrave Leopold II entrusted his castle to Benedictine monks. They have never left. The community has lived behind these walls through the centuries, and the current building, a Baroque masterpiece erected in the early 18th century by architect Jakob Prandtauer, celebrates this continuity with dazzling confidence. It is a leisurely fifteen-minute walk up from the quay; the slope is gentle and the panorama rewards every step.

Library, Marble and Vertigo

The tour of the state rooms culminates in two places you won't forget. First, the Marble Hall, where a trompe-l'œil painted ceiling opens a sky over the banquets of old. Then the library: tens of thousands of old volumes beneath gilded woodwork, in a subdued light that commands silence without any sign asking for it. Between the two, a balcony terrace juts out over the Danube — the view stretches over the town's rooftops to the first vineyards of the valley, and cameras gather there.

The Church, a Grand Finale

The tour ends with the abbey church, an outpouring of gold, frescoes and stucco where Austrian Baroque reaches its point of incandescence. Even visitors saturated with European sanctuaries pause beneath the dome. The abbey gardens, with their pavilion of exotic frescoes and linden-lined paths, then offer a welcome breather before heading back down.

The Time That Remains

Depending on the ship's schedule, there is often an hour left to stroll. It is well spent: a coffee on a terrace in the square, a little shopping — apricot jams, valley wines, gingerbread — or simply a bench by the water watching the cyclists on the Danube Cycle Path, which links Passau to Vienna and makes Melk one of its most popular stops. Many cruises follow the afternoon with sailing through the Wachau: the best seat will then be on the upper deck, left bank then right bank, waving to Dürnstein and its hilltop ruins.

An Image That Lingers

On departure, the abbey accompanies the ship for a long time, saffron against a changing sky, before disappearing behind a bend in the river. What remains is a singular impression: that of a place where faith, knowledge and landscape made a pact nine hundred years ago and still honour it. Stops of a few hours rarely leave such a clear feeling of having touched something permanent.

Frequently Asked Questions

A few minutes' walk from the centre. The whole call happens at walking pace: no shuttle is needed.
On foot, about fifteen minutes at an easy pace on a gentle slope. Melk had a charming idea for guiding visitors: coloured glass tiles set into the pavement. Blue ones lead from the landing stage to the fountain on the main square, yellow ones take over toward the abbey.
Three unforgettable spaces: the Marble Hall, whose trompe-l'oeil ceiling opens an imaginary sky; the library, with tens of thousands of old volumes under gilded woodwork; and the abbey church, an outpouring of gold, frescoes and stucco. Between them, a balcony terrace juts out above the Danube.
It dates to 1089, when Margrave Leopold II handed his castle to Benedictine monks. They never left. The present building is a Baroque masterpiece raised in the early 18th century by the architect Jakob Prandtauer.
There is often an hour left, and it is easily filled: coffee on a terrace on the square, some shopping (apricot jam, valley wines, gingerbread), or simply a bench by the water watching the Danube cycle path go by.
Apricot strudel. The Wachau is Austria's orchard and its Marillen are the pride of every kitchen; the village pastry shops make them their speciality.
The euro and German. The abbey draws large numbers of visitors, so cards are accepted everywhere, including at the monastery shop.
No, the slope is gentle and the walk takes about fifteen minutes from the quay. The tour of the state rooms does involve stairs, which matters for travellers with reduced mobility.
Reasonably. The coloured tiles in the pavement amuse children and the abbey gardens, with their pavilion of exotic frescoes, provide a breather. The tour of the state rooms does test younger children's patience.
Many cruises follow Melk with an afternoon sailing through the Wachau. The best seat is then the upper deck, port side then starboard, to salute Dürnstein and its hilltop ruins.