Chiang Mai

1. 1

   Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

   The UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley extends 36 km along the Danube from Krems to Melk, its steep slopes covered in terraced vineyards that have been cultivated since Roman times. This is Austria’s premier wine region: Grüner Veltliner and Riesling thrive on the valley’s unique microclimate and loess soils, producing wines recognized worldwide. In April, the valley turns white with apricot blossoms — Wachauer Marille (apricot) is a protected origin product used in brandies, jams, and dumplings. Scenic cycling and boat cruises along the Danube pass medieval villages, ruined castles, and baroque churches clinging to hillsides.

2. 2

   Old City Temples

   A UNESCO World Heritage component, the Altstadt preserves an ensemble of medieval and baroque architecture along narrow cobbled lanes. The Steiner Tor — a pointed Gothic gate tower — is the last surviving section of the city’s medieval fortifications and Krems’s most recognizable landmark. Landstraße, the main pedestrian thoroughfare, connects Krems to its twin settlement Stein through a continuous stretch of burgher houses, churches, and small squares. The Pfarrkirche St. Veit anchors the skyline, while ground-level vinotheques, craft shops, and coffee houses maintain the streets’ lived-in character.

3. 3

   Night Bazaar & Markets

   Krems’s cultural corridor stretches along the Danube from the Kunsthalle (featuring rotating contemporary and modern art exhibitions) past the Karikaturmuseum (Austria’s only museum dedicated to cartoon, caricature, and satirical art) to the Forum Frohner. This is deliberate cultural programming by a small city that punches above its weight — each institution occupies a converted industrial or historic building, maintaining the architectural integrity of the waterfront. The annual Donaufestival in May brings performance art, electronic music, and experimental theater to venues along the Mile.

4. 4

   Elephant Nature Park

   Crowning a hill south of Krems, this Benedictine monastery has produced wine since 1083 — nearly a millennium of continuous viticulture. The current baroque complex, rebuilt after a 1718 fire, features a grand imperial staircase with ceiling frescoes by Paul Troger and panoramic terraces overlooking the Danube valley. The monastic winery produces respected Grüner Veltliner and Riesling under the Stift Göttweig label, available for tasting in the abbey shop. The view from the terrace — vineyards, river, and valley dissolving into haze — defines the Wachau visual experience.

5. 5

   Doi Inthanon National Park

   One of Central Europe’s most significant Gothic civic buildings, the Gozzoburg dates to the 1260s and contains some of the earliest secular frescoes north of the Alps. Named after Judge Gozzo, who built it as a status symbol rivaling noble residences, the building’s vaulted halls and painted chambers have been painstakingly restored. The frescoes depict courtly scenes, heraldic devices, and decorative patterns that provide rare evidence of 13th-century bourgeois culture. Open for guided tours, it offers an intimate encounter with medieval Krems that most visitors overlook.

Editor-curated picks carried over from our original guide. Where a full place guide exists, the card links to it.