Vienna is one of Europe’s most elegant capitals, with plenty to discover within the city itself. But its location also makes it perfect for exploring the surrounding landscape, towns, and historic sites. With direct trains to many destinations, and the possibility of river trips, you can reach many locations, both within Austria and across the border. These are a few of the best day trips from Vienna by train (or boat).
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Melk Abbey
The historic town of Melk is best known for its abbey, a magnificent example of Baroque architecture. Perched high above the banks of the Danube River, Melk Abbey is part of the Wachau Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site, and boasts richly ornamented buildings, including the famous library.
Melk is an easy train ride of around an hour from Vienna Westbahnhof. Or, if you’d like to combine your visit with a boat ride, you could try an organised Wachau, Melk Abbey, and Danube Valleys Tour.
Read more – Exploring Melk Abbey, A Day Trip From Vienna.
Krems
Krems sits at the eastern gateway to the Wachau Valley, surrounded by vineyards. Explore the old town with its medieval streets and historic buildings, enjoy a wine tasting, or walk up to viewpoints overlooking the Danube. The town is also a centre for contemporary art – don’t miss the Kunstmeile Krems (Art Mile), a road full of museums and galleries.
Regular trains from Vienna Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof take about 1 hour, departing frequently throughout the day.
Baden Bei Wien
Baden bei Wien is one of the UNESCO-designated Great Spa Towns of Europe. As well as its thermal baths, it is famed for its historic rose gardens and its elegant villas. The town has long been a retreat for Viennese residents, including Ludwig van Beethoven, who composed parts of his Ninth Symphony here.
Today you can stroll through the Kurpark, enjoy the largest rose garden in Austria, and visit the Beethovenhaus. And of course you could just relax in the warm spa water of the Römertherme.
Baden is one of the easiest Vienna day trips, with regional trains from the city centre taking just 25–35 minutes.
Eisenstadt
Eisenstadt, the capital of Burgenland, is a charming town with a strong musical heritage. Its main attraction is the Baroque Esterházy Palace, where Joseph Haydn worked for much of his life. The palace’s concert hall, the Haydnsaal, is considered one of the finest in the world.
The town also boasts quiet streets, welcoming taverns, and views toward the Austrian Alps in the distance.
The train ride to Eisenstadt from Vienna Meidling is just under an hour.
Vienna Woods
The Vienna Woods (Wienerwald) form a vast natural playground just outside the city. This region of rolling hills, forest trails and beautiful scenery is perfect for hiking, cycling, or simply escaping into nature. Highlights include the Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz, the Seegrotte underground lake, and panoramic lookouts over Vienna.
Many parts of the Vienna Woods can be reached by regional trains or local buses in 20–40 minutes. A popular destination is Rekawinkel (around 30 minutes from Hütteldorf Bahnhof), with several hiking trails close to the train station.
Klosterneuburg Abbey
Just north of Vienna is Klosterneuburg Abbey, a grand monastery with centuries of history, impressive art collections, and a renowned wine cellar. The abbey’s architecture spans the medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods, and its treasury contains some of Austria’s most important religious artworks.
The town itself is pleasant to wander around, with shops, restaurants and museums.
Klosterneuburg is an easy day trip from Vienna, the journey taking 15–20 minutes from Heiligenstadt station.
Carnuntum
Carnuntum is a little trickier to get to, but a rewarding destination for Roman history enthusiasts. Once a major Roman city, Carnuntum is now an archaeological park with several buildings reconstructed to show how they would have looked in ancient times. The site is immersive and family‑friendly, offering a rare chance to walk through full‑scale Roman buildings rebuilt on their original foundations.
To get to Carnuntum take a train from Wien Mitte to Petronell-Carnuntum, then walk to the site (approximately 1 km). From here you can also walk to some minor Roman ruins, and there is a shuttle bus to take visitors to the Museum Carnuntinum.
Read more – Discovering Roman Vienna: Vindobona And Carnuntum.
Bratislava
Vienna’s location in the far eastern corner of Austria means that cross-border day trips are also possible. One popular destination is Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. The historic old town is filled with pastel‑coloured buildings, lively squares, and cosy cafés. And above it all stands Bratislava Castle, which houses the Slovak National Museum of History, and allows sweeping views across the Danube and the surrounding hills.
You can reach Bratislava in two different ways. The quickest is by train from Vienna’s Central Station, which takes just under an hour. Alternatively, you can take a boat trip between the two cities, with a travel time of around 75 minutes.
Brno
Just across the border in the Czech Republic, Brno is a vibrant university city with a relaxed atmosphere, striking architecture, and excellent food. Some of the main attractions are Špilberk Castle, the Petrov Cathedral, and the functionalist Villa Tugendhat. The city centre is walkable, and full of cafés, markets and quirky museums.
The train journey from Vienna Central Station takes around 1 hour 30 minutes, but check times carefully as there are only a few direct trains a day.
Organised Day Trips From Vienna
If you want to visit places that are not accessible by public transport, or if you just like to have everything arranged for you, you may choose to join a guided tour. Take a Wachau Valley Day Tour with Wine Tasting, Salzburg and Alpine Lakes Tour, or Castles around Vienna and Underground Lake. Or, if you’re looking for a boat trip, try a Dürnstein and Wachau Cruise. There’s lots to choose from!
