Danube Valley

The Danube is at its romantic best just west of Vienna. Mix a cruise with a bike ride through the Danube's Wachau Valley, lined with ruined castles, beautiful abbeys (including the glorious Melk Abbey), small towns, and vineyard upon vineyard. Much of the valley has a warm fairy-tale glow, but a trip here isn't complete without the chilling contrast of a visit to the Mauthausen concentration camp memorial.