← Wachau Marathon·3 nights

Vienna After Krems: Three Nights on the Flat

Rail from Krems to a city base for three nights, with the Prater avenue, the Belvedere and a harvest-season wine tavern, all on level ground.

Duration3 nights
TransitRegional train from Krems to Vienna; check ÖBB for the current timetable
DepartsKrems an der Donau

After the Wachau Marathon: Vienna

The Route: Krems → Vienna → Vienna Airport (VIE) Logistics: Regional train from Krems to Vienna, three nights in the city, then rail to the airport. Marathon Month: September Duration: 3 nights

Krems ──(regional train)──> Vienna ──(rail, S7)──> Vienna Airport (VIE)

The Wachau Marathon finishes in Krems on a Sunday, and Vienna is the obvious place to end the trip. Trains run between Krems and the capital, and the airport is on the same rail network.

September in Vienna: average highs are in the low twenties and the evenings cool quickly, which suits a long walk. The harvest is under way, so wine taverns on the city's edge are serving Sturm. The city's big museums are open all year. Check the days, since many close on a Monday.

Take a regional train from Krems to Vienna and check the ÖBB timetable for the journey time. Which Vienna station you arrive at depends on the service, so check it when you book. A Monday morning train will be busy with commuters, so reserve a seat or travel after the peak.

Nights One to Three: Vienna

Vienna has a lot of flat ground. The Prater Hauptallee is a long straight avenue of chestnut trees through the Prater park. It is level, with a gravel and paved surface, benches along its length, and it is the best place for a slow recovery walk. The Ringstrasse is another flat loop, and trams run around it, so a tired runner can walk a stretch and ride the rest.

The Belvedere is a baroque palace complex with a large art collection, including Klimt's The Kiss. The gardens between the Upper and Lower palaces are on a slope, so use the paths and the lift in the building. The Kunsthistorisches Museum has a large art collection and gives you somewhere to sit between rooms. Check opening days and ticket prices on each museum's own site, because both change by season and exhibition.

Stay at Hotel Sacher, behind the Opera, if you want a central address, or Hotel Daniel, near the Belvedere and the Hauptbahnhof, for easy rail connections. Check rates and availability for your dates.

For an evening, take a tram out to one of the wine taverns on the city's edge for a glass of Sturm and a plate of cold cuts. Check which are open that week. A Heuriger usually serves only the producer's own wine and a buffet.

Getting to Vienna Airport

The S-Bahn line S7 runs from Wien Mitte to Vienna Airport (VIE), and ÖBB long-distance services also stop at the airport station. Check the timetable and the journey time for your hotel, and leave a margin for a Monday-morning rush.