Melk Abbey – always worth a visit
We are very pleased that you intend to visit Melk abbey. The following information should familiarize you in advance with the organizational details to ensure best possible planning, but also generate some pleasant anticipation. What should you know about your arrival and your stay in Melk?
Abbey Visit
Open year-round – easy to reach
Flyer
The Benedictine monastery with its unique Baroque architecture combined with contemporary highlights can be visited year-round. Because of its close proximity to the highway A1, Melk abbey is a perfect destination for bus trips and, as part of UNESCO’s world heritage, a must see site for day trips and/or longer journeys. A visit of the monastery (with an entrance ticket) includes the Imperial Staircase, the Imperial Corridor, the abbey museum, the Marble Hall, the balcony, the library, and the abbey church (year-round), as well as the abbey park with the Baroque garden pavilion and many more accents (April to October), the Northern Bastion with the Wachau Lab and a panoramic terrace, as well as changing special exhibitions.
- Excellent destination for bus trips
- Guided tours are possible every day: in German, English and French (other languages on request)
- Short distance between the highway A1 and the abbey parking lot, which is free for abbey visitors (the parking ticket must be validated when buying the admission tickets) bus/visitor’s parking lot
- Infrastructure for big groups
- Abbey restaurant on the abbey grounds
- Ship station only a 5 minute drive away from the abbey parking lot
- “Gateway” to the Wachau region
Information for groups
Opening times
Abbey visits are possible every day ǀ with prior reservation
November – March between 9.00 am and 4.00 pm (last possible start of a guided tour)
April – October between 9.00 am and 4.30 pm (last possible start of a guided tour)
Reservations
Please make a written reservation for a group visit at tours(at)stiftmelk.at or by fax +43 2752 555 249.
If you need information or have questions concerning a visit, you can also reach us by telephone: +43 2752 555 232.
Your group will be booked at the desired or the next possible time. You get a confirmation for your reservation with a tour code (= reservation number).
2024
Price for groups of 20 or more persons: € 15.00 (per person, without guided tour) / € 18.50 (per person, with guided tour)
Price for groups under 20 persons: € 16.00 (per person, without guided tour) /
+ a flat fee of
€ 100,00 ( 1 - 10 persons)
€ 85,00 (11 - 14 persons)
€ 70,00 (15 - 19 persons)
Guided tour of the abbey park: € 90.00 (flat fee for groups of up to 25 persons), in addition to the entrance price.
Visit of the mineral collection outside its opening hours for groups of up to 25 persons – flat fee without guided tour: € 50.00
Complimentary tickets: Tour leader and driver get free entrance (ID card necessary).
Prices are valid until March 2025 and include entertainment tax levied by the town of Melk and 13% VAT.
Payment
Payment is possible in cash or with EC or credit card, on the spot. Payment by bank transfer is only possible, if you have a voucher contract with Melk Abbey. Bank charges for a foreign bank transfer must be paid by the voucher client. In case of default in payment the voucher contract will immediately be terminated.
Please make sure that the guided tour can start at the arranged time. The visit starts at the booked time slot! The registration of the groups at the information counter, as well as the purchase and the distribution of the tickets need to happen before the arranged start time. Please remember that you also need time before the visit to get the tickets in time. If the group can’t start at the booked time slot, please inform our reservation team (tel. +43 2752 555 232): in case of delay we try our best to arrange a new time slot for your visit, which can lead to some waiting time. On days with many visitors, a delayed entrance to the museum may be inevitable. In each and every situation we are always strive to attend to our guests in the best possible way. A guided tour is held for a maximum of up to 45 persons.
If your group has
46 or more paying visitors - you get 2 guides
91 or more paying visitors - you get 3 guides
136 or more paying visitors - you get 4 guides
Flat fee for max. one additional guide for smaller groups: € 120.00 (subject to availability)
A cancellation is possible free of charge up until 72 hours before the planned arrival (daily until 4.00 pm).
For a later cancellation a fee of € 50.00 is charged. In case of a no-show a cancellation fee of € 100.00 is charged.
Groups visiting Melk abbey will find ample bus parking space at the abbey’s visitors’ parking lot. The parking fee is included in the admission tickets to Melk Abbey for groups.
Please note that the parking ticket must be validated at the ticket office (first courtyard) when buying the admission tickets so that the parking lot can be exited free of charge.
Your required service will be noted and will take place if government regulations and organizational possibilities on site allow. This refers specifically to reservations for guided tours for groups.
We reserve the right to offer an individual visit without a guide for guests/groups that have booked a guided tour. Thank you for your understanding!
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and resulting government regulations we can’t always guarantee that your required or already booked service will take place as planned.
We would be pleased to offer an individual program for your group. It is possible to visit:
- IMPERIAL STAIRCASE | IMPERIAL CORRIDOR | ABBEY MUSEUM | MARBLE HALL | ABBEY LIBRARY | ABBEY CHURCH
- WACHAU LAB IN THE NORTHERN BASTION | PANORAMIC TERRACE | SHOP
daily | included in the entrance ticket to the abbey | 9 am – 5 pm | plan at least 30 minutes or more - SPECIAL EXHIBITION | COLUMNED HALL
daily | free entrance | 9 am – 4.30 pm - ABBEY PARK WITH BAROQUE PAVILION
April - October | included in the entrance ticket to the abbey | 9 am – 6 pm | NO DOGS ALLOWED – except assistance dogs
recommended duration of stay:
lower level & Baroque pavilion | 30 minutes
tour of the complete park | 30 - 60 minutes
Guided tour for group of up to 25 persons | reservation necessary | € 90.00 in addition to entrance fee - MINERAL COLLECTION
daily | 9.30 am – 1.30 pm & 3.30 pm – 4 pm | for groups of up to 25 persons ǀ visit without guide | € 50.00 in addition to entrance fee
Offers for school classes
Pupils and students
Secondary / Middle / High schools
The guided tour of Melk abbey starts in the Prelate’s Courtyard and takes the students up the Imperial Staircase to the abbey museum, the Marble Hall, the balcony and the library. The High Baroque abbey church, the most important room of the Benedictine monastery, can be visited individually without a guide.
Students learn about the abbey’s history, its former and present importance, as well as the tasks of the Benedictine monks, with the help of art treasures and multimedia elements.
The tickets includes the entrance (without guide) to the abbey park (April to October) and the Northern Bastion with the Wachau Lab – an exhibition created by the students of Melk Abbey Secondary School.
Duration of the guided tour: approx. 55 minutes
Price for school classes incl. guided tour, per student (10-19 years): € 9.00
Per 10 children 1 adult has free entrance (integrated classes may have more complimentary tickets for accompanying adults)
Additional adults: € 18.50 per person