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One of the mightiest castles peering over the Danube is Durnstein Castle, around a 15-minute drive from Krems. This infamous medieval fortress is where Richard the Lionheart was incarcerated by Austria's Leopold V in the 12th century. Legend has it that on his return from the Crusades, King Richard refused to share his spoils with Leopold and tore up the Austrian flag, leading to his imprisonment. On an included Panoramic tour of Budapest with Viking, you can take in fantastic views of Szechenyi Bridge from Buda Hill, in Buda's sublime Castle District. Viking offers a Privileged Access shore excursion to the Alma Deutscher Mozart & Strauss performance, which takes place at the exquisite Wiener Konzerthaus. You’d disembark your current vessel, get bussed past the trouble area, and then board a different ship to continue your journey.
17 injured after river cruise ship hits wall in northern Austria - Baird Maritime
17 injured after river cruise ship hits wall in northern Austria.
Posted: Sun, 31 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Budapest, Hungary
Surrounded by dashing amber-hued buildings, the Outdoor Thermal Pool is the warmest spot, heated to °F (36-38°C). There's also the balmy Leisure Pool, the Indoor Medicinal Pool, plus plunge pools. Saunas, steam rooms and spa treatments, such as couples' massages, are also available. Take home a memento from your time here by picking out a handmade soap made from water from the Gellert Baths, also in Budapest, containing nourishing avocado oil. The second-largest city in Bavaria, after Munich, Nuremburg is perfectly situated near the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, which means it's actually a great stop on multiple Viking river cruise itineraries. Crammed with Gothic churches, timber-clad houses and charming squares, plus three miles of medieval city walls, dotted with original watchtowers.
Jewels of Europe with Prague - Salzburg or Cesky Krumlov (from Amsterdam to Prague)
With overnights in Vienna, Passau and Budapest, enjoy more time to fully explore. The winter season is an ideal time to visit, with fewer travelers and easier access to landmarks. Among the companies offering cruises along the Danube are A-ROSA Cruises, with whom we have partnered to bring you our remarkable river cruise. A-ROSA has 20-plus years of experience in sailing couples, families, groups and solo travellers along some of Europe’s loveliest rivers in laidback style, giving you lots of freedom to explore port stops at your own pace. Although you can arrange it yourself, river cruise lines will offer these city stays as an add-on package to the cruise, which includes hotel accommodations, transfers, some meals and tours, with plenty of free time to explore on your own. Best of all, land programs offered by the cruise lines will be fully escorted by a cruise director who will look after your every need.
Enchanting Danube ( (Budapest to Passau,
Christmas Markets are big in Germany, but virtually every European city features at least one market, so it’s a great way to get into the holiday spirit and get your shopping done. Outside of winter, temperatures on the Danube range from 40s to 60s in the spring and fall, to high-70s and 80s in the height of summer. The crisp spring air welcomes new growth, with flowering fields and many cities featuring Easter markets, while summer will be the height of festivals and special events.
This quaint Bavarian city is a visual feast and a history lover's dream, with half-timbered medieval, Romanesque and Gothic architecture. A highlight is the 900-year-old Stone Bridge, with its striking 16 arches crossing the Danube to the old town. Here, the spiky 13th-century Regensburg Cathedral, with its twin spires poking above terracotta rooftops, is home to the oldest boys' choir in the world, the Regensburger Domspatzen. The beautiful Szechenyi Bridge straddles the Danube, linking the two sides of the Hungarian capital, Buda and Pest. This chain suspension bridge is most spectacular at night, when lit up against a dark sky. Opened in 1849, the bridge became the first to be built across the Danube in Hungary.
With a length of almost 2,900 kilometers, the river runs from the Black Forest to the Black Sea and crosses ten countries on its journey. Accordingly, there is a lot to see and experience on a river cruise on the Danube. With Vienna and Budapest, two of Europe's most beautiful and important cities lie on the banks of the Danube, their magnificent buildings bearing witness to their centuries-old history. But travelers should also have seen historic cities such as Regensburg, Passau, Linz and Bratislava.
Viking Ocean Cruises
Follow the pedestrian path to walk across the bridge or take one of the city's yellow taxis, with landmarks such as Buda Castle, home to the Hungarian National Gallery on one side, and Szechenyi Square on the other. Viking offers a Heurigen Dinner shore excursion where you can sample all the best wines and foods this region has to offer. Coursing through Germany, Austria, Hungary and seven other countries all the way to the Black Sea, the Danube is the soul of Central Europe. Join us along these culture-rich banks, whose scenic vineyards, ancient monasteries and elegant cities have inspired travelers for centuries. Iconic cities like Budapest, Vienna and Prague are just a few popular examples to tack onto your cruise.
Grand European Tour
Travel through the modern city of Amsterdam in Western Europe on the Danube that slowly descends into Eastern Europe passing historic landmarks, such as Salzburg (the city of music), and trendy hipster-style destinations such as Budapest. Take a Danube river cruise adventure if you enjoy history, exquisite food and unforgettable experiences. This collection of European river cruises (and European river cruise lines) will sweep you away into a dreamlike space filled with new experiences, sights, sounds, smells and gastronomic encounters. Made up of a tapestry of verdant forests, terraced vineyards and Renaissance castles, Austria's wine country is unfathomably beautiful. Situated between Melk and Krems, this swathe of the Danube runs for around 18 miles and witnessing it is one of the best things to do on a river cruise. You could soak in the views as you sail the river, capturing landmarks on camera, including the 12th-century Aggstein Castle, perched on a hilltop, with the sprawling Hinterhaus ruins on the opposite side.
Go Glam to Attend the Vienna State Opera
For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. Crowds are a little thinner, the wine-producing regions host harvest festivals and you will see fall foliage colors along the way. With cooler and shorter days, you also may not be able to enjoy the top deck of the ship as much as you would like. (After all, is there anyone who can't hum a few bars of the "Blue Danube Waltz"?) Meandering southeast from its origins in Germany's Black Forest, the Danube isn't Europe's longest river -- the Volga takes that honor. But, on its 1,775-mile course to the Black Sea, it flows through, or borders, 10 countries -- more than any other river in the world. Discover the delights of Vienna and browse the museums or enjoy a Viennese pastry.
Too high and ships can’t sail under the bridges; too low and ships can’t operate. Accelerated snow melt, heavy rain and drought are the chief interrupters of river itineraries, but cruise lines are adept at handling disruptions and have contingency plans in place. Your ship may organize special events, such as bringing dancers onboard to perform the Viennese Waltz while in Austria or hosting a lecture on Bavarian beer by a local expert in Germany.
Vienna Staatsoper, or State Opera, is home to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Vienna State Ballet, with a jam-packed program of 350 annual performances. Listen to the magical sounds of Mozart, Beethoven, Strauss and Vivaldi played out by some of the world's top conductors and performers. You could also join a behind-the-scenes 40-minute guided tour to learn about the history and architecture of this 19th-century Renaissance-style building, including the Tea Salon, Marble Hall and the richly decorated auditorium. The pastel-hued Göttweig Abbey is nestled in an emerald-green forest with superb views of the Wachau Valley from its hillside location near Krems.
While most river cruise lines pause cruising between January and mid-March, a few will sail during these months, giving them a year-round presence. Cruising during low season means fewer crowds and lower cruise fares, and you’ll see the cities and towns in a much different light. When it comes to European river cruising, the Danube is unequivocally a popular choice, as it traverses through multiple countries, offering a variety of landscapes, cultures and a wealth of history. Due to its popularity amongst all cruisers, practically every river cruise line sails along the Danube, so there are fortunately lots of choices to choose from.
Good Housekeeping's seven-night itinerary sails in September, when the weather should still be balmy and dry, but the summer hordes have gone home. Its banks are lined with dramatic, unspoiled landscapes, postcard-perfect towns and villages, and grand, opulent cities. Take a river cruise down this majestic river and you’ll encounter some of the world’s most stunning countryside, including the UNESCO-protected Wachau Valley, along with an array of fascinating cultures. Following in the footsteps of the world's greatest ever composers, visiting bucolic vineyards and exploring Renaissance castles are among the best things to do on a Danube River cruise. This extraordinary waterway is Europe's second-largest river, winding 1,775-miles southeast from Germany's Black Forest to the Black Sea, with a river cruise presenting the best way to explore it. From the end of November to mid-December, Danube ships operate Christmas Markets cruises.
