River cruising docks in the middle of town every day: Budapest's parliament, Bratislava's old town, imperial Vienna, the vineyards and abbey of the Wachau valley, Linz and the three-river town of Passau. Small ships, calm water and no sea days; spring, autumn and the December Christmas markets are favourites.
Cruise route for your dates
7 days from Sat, Dec 5.
- Day 1 Budapest · board the ship
- Day 2 Budapest · a day ashore
- Day 3 Bratislava · a day ashore
- Day 4 Vienna · a day ashore
- Day 5 Wachau Valley: Melk & Dürnstein · a day ashore
- Day 6 Linz · a day ashore
- Day 7 Passau · leave the ship
Good to know
- River cruises end somewhere else: fly home from Munich, about two hours from Passau.
- Most excursions are included and walkable from the dock; bring comfortable shoes.
- Low or high water can mean a coach instead of the boat for a stretch; it's normal.
Eat this
Places the planner can use
Mark places as a must or something to skip. The itinerary is built only from this list; ★ marks the destination’s highlights.
One of Europe's largest thermal bath complexes, with steaming outdoor pools that stay open through winter.
A grand 1897 iron-and-glass market hall selling paprika, salami and langos from an upstairs food court.
Overgrown courtyard bars built into abandoned buildings, mismatched furniture and all — Szimpla Kert is the original.
Real Hungarian goulash is a paprika-heavy soup, not the thick stew served abroad — pair it with fried langos on the side.
The largest synagogue in Europe, with a moving Holocaust memorial garden in its courtyard.
A vast neo-Gothic riverside building housing the Hungarian crown jewels — guided tours cover the ceremonial chambers.
A hilltop palace complex and a fairy-tale terrace of white turrets looking straight across the river to Parliament.
Budapest's oldest bridge, lit gold after dark with Parliament and the castle glowing on either bank.
A steep climb above the Danube to the Liberty Statue, with the best single view of both Buda and Pest together.
Budapest's main pedestrian shopping street, running from Vörösmarty Square down toward the Great Market Hall.
Compact baroque lanes, St Martin's Cathedral where Habsburgs were crowned, and quirky bronze statues.
The square white castle above the river, with views across to Austria and Hungary.
Clifftop ruins where the Morava meets the Danube, once on the Iron Curtain.
Bryndzové halušky (potato dumplings with sheep cheese) and local beer.
The Habsburgs' summer palace, 1,441 rooms strong, with formal gardens climbing to a hilltop gloriette overlooking the city.
A Gothic cathedral with a glazed tile roof at the centre of the old town's pedestrian shopping streets.
A baroque palace complex holding Klimt's The Kiss, plus formal gardens between its two grand buildings.
Vienna's biggest and oldest market, stalls of Middle Eastern, Balkan and Austrian food side by side, plus a Saturday flea market.
A slice of dense chocolate sachertorte with whipped cream in a wood-panelled coffeehouse that's been open since the 1800s.
The former imperial palace, now housing the Sisi Museum and the Lipizzaner horses of the Spanish Riding School.
Golden baroque Benedictine abbey above the river with a famous library and frescoed church.
Blue-towered village where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned; climb to the ruins for the view.
Taste the valley's crisp whites and apricot brandy at a family winery.
Flat riverside bike path through vineyards and apricot orchards between villages.
Mozart's baroque city, the fortress and the Sound of Music sights, about 90 minutes away.
Fairytale Czech town in a river bend under a painted castle, two hours north.
Hands-on museum of art, science and technology that glows at night on the riverbank.
The city's lattice jam tart with coffee in one of Austria's largest squares.
Baroque cathedral home to one of the world's largest church organs, with noon recitals in summer.
The point where the Danube, Inn and Ilz meet in three different colours.