Gartenhotel & Weingut Pfeffel Dürnstein

The views were excellent, the location was great, and breakfast was good. But the central heating made the room unbearably hot, so sleeping was impossible. The advertised “sofa bed” wasn’t a proper sofa bed and was extremely uncomfortable. I was also concerned when my credit card was photocopied at check-in. It felt insecure. I almost never leave negative reviews, but when I shared this feedback, the lady at the front desk seemed not to care and ignored me completely. I wouldn’t recommend staying here because of these comfort and security concerns.

The rooftop spa is modern, with a heated pool, saunas, and a quiet area. I also liked the restaurant and its excellent breakfast buffet. Our room was huge, with a balcony overlooking the Danube, a walk-in wardrobe, and a separate toilet and shower. It was the largest bedroom I’ve ever stayed in. The hotel sits in its own vineyard in the countryside, so don’t be put off by the bedroom photos. It’s a 20-minute walk to Durnstein, with no buses or taxis, so keep that in mind if you’re on a walking holiday. I wished I could’ve stayed longer than one night. They sell their own wine at reception.

As of July 2025, the hotel is a construction site, with workers around and noise starting at 6am. Nothing about this was mentioned on booking.com or Expedia, and I didn’t get a message from the hotel before arriving or when I checked in. I did notice a sentence about expansion on the hotel website, but it didn’t explain the scale, duration, or what guests should expect.

We had an amazing holiday, thank you for everything. The breakfast was top quality, and the rooftop spa was magnificent. The accommodations were impeccable, and the staff were courteous and professional. You can also rent bicycles on-site. Petra and Tomislav