Melk Abbey (Stift Melk) Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Melk Abbey. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Wachau Valley Small-Group Tour and Wine Tasting From Vienna

• Private Day Tour Trip Salzburg Hallstatt and Melk From Vienna

• Salzburg and Lake Region Small-Group Day Trip From Vienna

• Private Day Tour of Hallstatt and Salzburg From Vienna

• Private Full Day Trip to Hallstatt, Salzburg, and Melk From Vienna

Tickets to Melk Abbey start from €16 for adults and €8 for students and children. Audio guides are an extra €3.99, while guided tours have a €4 surcharge. Visitors can save money with family tickets, which cost €32 for adults and children ages 16 and under. Discounted tickets are also available for entry to Melk's abbey park only.

Yes, Melk Abbey is well worth visiting, whether you're taking a Danube River cruise or looking for a day trip from Vienna. Not only does this abbey offer a wonderful panorama of the river through the Wachau Valley, but it also has an especially extravagant baroque interior, particularly its famous library.

Per one customer who booked the Wachau Valley Small-Group Tour and Wine Tasting From Vienna, "This was my favorite day of an 11-day trip to Europe!  Marco was a delightful guide. There is a reason Melk Abbey is listed in the 1,000 Places to See Before You Die!  Loved the Wachau Valley - so beautiful!"

Most guided tours last around an hour, taking in star sights such as the Marble Hall, balcony, museum rooms, and the library. If you plan to take a more in-depth look at the site, consider staying longer to scope out the abbey park (open April–October) and other special exhibitions.

Melk Abbey can be reached by foot from the Danube River, where many sightseeing cruises stop, or from the Melk train station. It’s a 30-minute walk to the abbey from the pier and the station. Otherwise, drivers can leave their cars in the on-site parking lot for free.

There are some complicated rules about photography at Melk Abbey, so it’s best to check with the attraction if you want to get snap happy. Officially, photos are forbidden inside but allowed outside as long as the pictures are for private use—for example, on personal social media accounts.

Yes, Melk Abbey is still in use as a cultural and spiritual center, and monks still live, work, and pray there—as they have for hundreds of years. Select worship services and daily prayer sessions offer a way to experience the abbey’s ambiance and take place throughout the year.

Tourists can visit Melk Abbey year-round, but there are different timings and options for tours and unguided visits between the off-peak months from November through March. Tour timings and the need for prior reservations seem complicated, so it’s best to check directly with Melk Abbey before a visit.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting Melk Abbey. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Vienna:

• Schönbrunn Palace

• Hofburg Imperial Palace

• St. Stephen's Cathedral

• St. Peter's Church

• Historic Center of Vienna

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Vienna.