Vienna has lovely surroundings. The Danube valley that lies west of Vienna offers some of the most beautiful landscapes of Austria: its hills are covered with vineyards and dotted with historic small towns, castle ruins, baroque churches, and medieval abbeys. Here are some suggestions about the best places to visit within easy reach of the capital city. You can make the trip in a day; if you can, however, take a few days to visit these sites. They are located along the same route and deserve an unhurried visit.

• Die Wachau (Wachau Valley)

• Stift Melk (Melk Abbey)