With its three museums, the wealthy town of Klosterneuburg, 14km north of Vienna on a hill beside the Danube river, makes a great daytrip for art and wine lovers. Starting off as a Roman fortification, Klosterneuburg was revived by Charlemagne in early medieval times, and the foundation of the monastery has ensured its prominence – and a stead supply of excellent wine - ever since, attracting many affluent residents. Klosterneuburg is also the place where the famous writer Franz Kafka died in a sanatorium in 1924.
To get there, take the S40 train from Spittelau or Heiligenstadt to Klosterneuburg-Weidling station . Alternatively, bus N°239 from Heiligenstadt (handiest for the Gugging Museum) and N°240 from Handelskai also go to Klosterneuburg. Travel time is 10-15 minutes for all types of transport. There's also the free Essl Museum shuttle bus from Albertinaplatz 1 in Vienna; departures are at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00; buses return at 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 and 18:00; the ride takes 25 minutes and museum tickets can be bought on board.
For further tourist information see www.info.klosterneuburg.net. The Essl Museum is a short walk from the Stift Klosterneuburg monastery; the Museum Gugging can be reached on bus N°239.The three main sights in Klosterneuburg can be visited with a reduced k3 kombiticket costing €19; this remains valid for a year, so you can return and spread your visits. The combined ticket is for sale at all three venues as well as on the Essl Museum shuttle bus. See www.stift-essl-gugging.at for more information.
