Melk and the Wachau are at their best in spring (late March to May) and autumn (September to October). In spring, apricot trees line the valley roads in blossom and the vineyards are vivid green; in autumn, the harvest season fills the wine villages with activity and the beech forests above the valley turn gold. The abbey is open year-round but the guided tour programme is fuller from April onwards.
Summer is busy — cruise ship passengers and cycle tourists flood the valley from June to August — but the weather is reliable and the valley is genuinely beautiful even in peak season. Winter is quiet; most boat services stop and some restaurants close, but the abbey itself remains open and the crowds are minimal.