Krems: what to see, where to stay and how to get around

Now in Krems--:--:--

--°

Krems is one of the oldest towns in Austria, recorded as a settlement in 995, and it got rich trading wine and salt on the Danube. The old town is a long pedestrian street running from the Steiner Tor to the Marktplatz, with Gothic palaces and a church on the hill above. Wine is still grown inside the city limits, right up to the houses. About two hours on foot, then an evening at a Heuriger, a winemaker's own tavern.

A short history of Krems

Krems is first mentioned in 995, making it one of the oldest towns in Austria. In the Middle Ages it grew rich from the wine and salt trade on the Danube, and in 1463 it received its coat of arms from Emperor Frederick III. The town gate, the Steiner Tor, was built in 1480. Krems and its neighbour Stein merged into a single town, and their old town has been preserved almost as it was. In 2000 the Wachau Valley, whose eastern gateway is Krems, was declared a World Heritage Site.

The ten best sights in Krems

1
Steiner Tor
The gate tower is the symbol of Krems and the way into the pedestrian street
2
Gozzoburg
A medieval town palace with rare Gothic wall paintings
3
Piaristenkirche
On the hill above town; altarpieces by the Kremser Schmidt
4
Museum Krems
Town history and wine in a former Dominican church
5
Kunsthalle Krems
Big changing art shows in an old tobacco factory in Stein
6
Landesgalerie Niederösterreich
The twisted building on the Kunstmeile; Austrian art old and new
7
Karikaturmuseum
Cartoons and satire, easy to enjoy without German
8
Minoritenkirche Stein
A 13th-century church turned into a concert space
9
Jewish Cemetery
East of the centre; ask about access in advance, as it is usually locked
10
Göttweig Abbey
The abbey on the hill across the river; the view and the imperial staircase

sleepntripRated 8 or moreOnly hotels guests loved

At least 50 reviews and a score of 8, or they are not on our list.

Find a room

What is an audio walk?

Tours in Krems →

A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Krems:

Free walking tours in Krems

The old wine town

Steiner Tor · The gate was named for the road it opened west to Stein, once a separate town and now part of Krems.
Museum Krems · The Dominicans built their church here in the 13th century; today the church and its cloister hold the town museum, with a section on wine.
Marktplatz · Krems held market rights on the Danube trade route from the Middle Ages, which is why the old town is laid out as one long market street.
Gozzoburg · It was built in the 13th century by Gozzo, the town judge and a rich merchant, and its rooms keep wall paintings from his time.
Piaristenkirche · The altarpieces are by Martin Johann Schmidt, the baroque painter known simply as the Kremser Schmidt, who lived and worked in Stein.
Jewish Cemetery · The cemetery of the Krems community, which was destroyed in the Shoah, has a memorial at its entrance bearing the names of its murdered members.

The art mile of Stein

West of the old town, Stein is the second half of Krems: a narrow medieval street along the river, a gate at each end. Between the two, in an old tobacco factory and new buildings around it, the region set up the Kunstmeile, a row of museums a few minutes apart. This walk goes from the gate of Stein along the art mile and down to the boats. Half a day; one combined ticket covers several of the museums.

Kremser Tor · Stein had its own walls and gates facing Krems; the two towns were rivals for centuries before they were joined in 1938.
Kunsthalle Krems · The art hall opened in 1995 in the former tobacco factory of Stein, which gave the whole art mile its start.
Landesgalerie Niederösterreich · Opened in 2019, the twisting, tilted building was designed by the Vorarlberg architects Marte.Marte.
Karikaturmuseum · It holds a large collection of Manfred Deix, Austria's best-known cartoonist, whose grotesque Austrians mocked the nation's self-image.
Minoritenkirche Stein · The Minorite church was built in the 13th century and, after centuries as a storehouse, now serves as a concert hall called the Klangraum, the sound room.
Krems/Stein boat landing · Going upstream to Melk the boat takes far longer than the trip down, so many riders sail up and cycle back.

The eastern Wachau

Krems is the eastern gate of the Wachau, and its best-known stretch begins just upstream: Dürnstein with its blue tower and the castle where an English king was held for ransom. Across the river stands Göttweig, an abbey on a hilltop, and above Roman Mautern the vineyards climb in terraces. North of town the Kamp valley has its own wine country. A loop of about 50 km by car or bike, a full day with a climb to the ruin.

Mautern · As Roman Favianis it was where Saint Severin founded a monastery in the 5th century, in the last years of Roman rule on the Danube.
Göttweig Abbey · Founded in 1083, the Benedictine abbey has a grand imperial staircase whose ceiling Paul Troger painted in 1739.
Dürnstein Abbey · The blue and white baroque tower was restored to its original colours in the 1980s, and it has been the emblem of the Wachau ever since.
Dürnstein castle ruin · Richard the Lionheart was held here in 1192-93 by Duke Leopold V of Austria, after quarrelling with him on the Crusade, and released for a huge ransom.
Weißenkirchen · It is the largest wine-growing community in the Wachau, and its church on the hill was fortified against Turkish raids.
Loisium · The aluminium cube of the visitor centre was designed by the American architect Steven Holl, over a maze of old wine cellars.

sleepntripJules Verne, 1872 · us, 2026Around the world for $80 a night

A quality hotel in every city. We checked every room for you.

Find a room

Getting to Krems and getting around

Krems station · Direct trains to Vienna in about an hour; the old town is five minutes away
Krems/Stein boat landing · Wachau boats to Dürnstein and Melk; bikes come along

Cheap eats in Krems

Krems is a wine town first, and the food follows: the evening classic is a Heuriger, where a winemaker opens his own tavern and serves the new wine with cold cuts, cheese and spreads. During the day the pedestrian street is full of quick counters. Sausage stands, pretzels and noodle boxes cost a few euros; coffee and cake runs a little more.

Rudi's Würstelstand · Käsekrainer and bread, about €5-6
Mario Brezel · Fresh pretzels, about €2-4
Café Konditorei Raimitz · Apricot cake and coffee, about €7
Stadtcafé Ulrich · Breakfast by the Steiner Tor, about €8-12
Noodle King · Noodle boxes, about €8-11
Schnitzelpalast · A big schnitzel near the station, about €10-14

Museums in Krems

Landesgalerie Niederösterreich · Austrian art from Schiele to today
Karikaturmuseum · Cartoons, comics and satire
Kunsthalle Krems · International shows in a tobacco factory
Museum Krems · Town history and wine
Gozzoburg · Gothic wall paintings, guided visits

Nature and day trips near Krems

Dürnstein castle ruin · Rocky climb with the best Wachau view
Weißenkirchen · Walk up through the terraces
Mautern bank · Quiet south-bank path among apricot trees
Göttweig hill · Hilltop view over the whole Danube plain

Things to do in Krems with kids

Karikaturmuseum · Funny pictures need no German
Wachau boat trip · Sail to Dürnstein and come back by bike or bus
Dürnstein castle ruin · A castle-prison to climb to
Loisium · Underground cellar walk with light and sound

Where to eat in Krems

Hofbräu am Steinertor · Beer, schnitzel and goulash by the gate
Kaiser von Österreich · Austrian cooking with Wachau wines
Schmid's · Restaurant in the old town
Markt.SPIEL · Modern bistro near the market
Heuriger evening · Look for a pine branch over a winemaker's door

sleepntripWonders of the world12 wonders, and a hotel near each

For every wonder: a nearby city, a route and a hotel up to $80.

To the wonders

Frequently asked questions about Krems

What is there to see in Krems?

The top sights in Krems are Steiner Tor, Gozzoburg and Piaristenkirche. The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.

How many days do you need in Krems?

Three to four days are enough to see the best of Krems without rushing, including at least one walking tour.

Is there a free walking tour in Krems?

Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Krems, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: The old wine town.

How do you get to Krems and get around?

The main ways are Krems station and Krems/Stein boat landing. Full details are in the transport section on this page.

Where to stay in Krems, and for how much?

sleepntrip shows only rooms in Krems that meet nine conditions: a good location, high guest scores, cleanliness, and a price of up to $80 a night for two. Pick your dates and see what is free.

Looking for a hotel in Krems for your dates?

Only rooms that meet nine conditions, up to $80 a night.

All hotels in Krems

Plan a trip across AustriaWaltzes, lakes and Alpine peaks→