Klosterneuburg: Abbey, City History and Nature

If you’re looking for a hotel in Klosterneuburg, your travel plans may influence your choice of destination: the abbey and museums offer cultural highlights, historical trails take you through the city’s history, and Aupark and Eichenhain Nature Park offer opportunities to spend time outdoors. Science and local wine taverns are also among the possible interests for your trip. The places and activities below can help you plan a stay around your interests and the time you have available.

Abbey, Literature and Art

In the former Hoffmann Sanatorium, where Franz Kafka died, a memorial room commemorates his stays at the University Clinic in Vienna and at Dr. Hoffmann’s Sanatorium. Items on display include letters, photographs, documents and mementos. An extensive, freely accessible library contains works by Kafka, secondary literature and translations into numerous languages.

Tours and guided visits at Klosterneuburg Abbey begin in the Sala terrena. The Abbey Museum spans exhibits from the Babenberg family tree to the Modern Gallery. A wine cellar tour takes visitors through 900 years of wine production; afterwards, wine tasting is available at the Abbey Wine Shop, housed in a 13th-century vaulted cellar.

Art from the period after 1945 is also part of the cultural offerings: ALBERTINA KLOSTERNEUBURG makes a large part of the ALBERTINA Museum’s collection of art from this period accessible to the public. Selected highlights from the sculpture collection are displayed on the upper floor; specific exhibitions may change.

Exploring the City’s History on Foot

The two historical trails differ in the number of stops and the distance covered. The “Lower Town” historical trail is a circular walk with 17 stops that begins at Niedermarkt. The “Upper Town” historical trail has 20 stops and is approximately 3 km long. At the Klosterneuburg City Museum, the permanent exhibition “Once Upon a Time …” tells the story of the city’s origins. It was developed with children in mind and begins with two mammoth teeth that are approximately 8,000 years old.

Outdoor Trails and Nature

Aupark Klosterneuburg is a recreational area connecting the city with the floodplain forest. At various stops, the nature trail introduces children to nature through play. The 5.6 km Aupark running route is suitable for runners and Nordic walkers.

Eichenhain Nature Park has around 36 km of marked hiking trails. One entrance in Klosterneuburg is located by the Upper Town Cemetery. A total of 115 varied hikes are available in the Klosterneuburg region. One specific route is the Klosterneuburg – Kollersteig – Leopoldsberg – Josefinenhütte – Josefsteig – Klosterneuburg loop, which is described as taking 1.5 to 2 hours. You can compare this named route and its estimated duration with the wider selection of hikes in the region.

There is also a specific distance for a cycling tour: the Klosterneuburg Genussradtour is 33.5 km long and starts at Happyland. It passes through Eichenhain Adventure Park and offers views of Klosterneuburg and the Danube. As the route may change, check the current route before setting off.

Science and Local Cuisine

The VISTA Science Experience Center in Maria Gugging offers an interactive exhibition, workshops and talks about research at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA). The exhibition “Science in the Making – How Is Tomorrow’s Knowledge Created?” can be explored independently and free of charge during opening hours. Workshops and tours are offered regularly, are free of charge and require advance booking. Exhibition content and programs may change, so check the specific offerings in advance.

Local food and drink experiences include Klosterneuburg’s Buschenschanken, also known as Heurige (traditional wine taverns). They serve guests regional specialties from traditional local cuisine.

Getting to the Abbey

S-Bahn line S40 runs from Vienna’s Heiligenstadt station towards Klosterneuburg-Kierling. From there, it is a 15-minute walk to Klosterneuburg Abbey. Bus routes 400 and 401 run from Heiligenstadt station to the Klosterneuburg–Stiftsgarten stop; from there, a ten-minute walk through the gardens leads to the visitor entrance at the Sala terrena. Check the timetables before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Untertullnerbach, Gablitz, Irenental, Purkersdorf, Gramatneusiedl, Tullnerbach-Lawies, Schwechat-Mannswörth, Himberg

For the broader travel overview: Vienna Surroundings.