Judging by the many new faces we saw while breakfasting each morning at Schloss Dürnstein, few people stay more than a night or two in this jewel of a town in Austria’s Wachau Valley. One day is a good start, but we had no trouble filling up four during our recent visit.

Dürnstein is an ideal base for exploring one of the world’s finest and most scenically dramatic wine regions. We enjoyed a day trip to Krems, to see its new Kunstmeile (Art Mile); go on a bike ride through vineyards to untouristy Mautern, where we indulged in some well-earned coffee and cake at Cafe Maria; and take a scenic cruise up the Danube from the stern of one of the Brandner line’s boats, sipping glasses of crisp Grüner Veltliner as we watched steep, terraced vineyards and unspoiled old wine towns glide by.

But if I had only one full day in Dürnstein, here’s how I would probably spend it.