Danube Cruises from Vienna
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10 best Danube river cruises from Vienna
Compiled by
MelissaVienna travel expert at TourRadar
- Magic of Advent on the Danube (Vienna - Nuremberg) (7 destinations)
- European Holiday Markets (2025) (Vienna to Nuremberg, 2025)
- Christmastime on the Danube (Westbound) 2025
- Christmas on the Danube featuring a 6-night Danube River Cruise (Vienna to Wurzburg)
- Christmas Time on the Danube & Budapest 2025|2026|2027
- Capital Cities of the Danube (2026) (Vienna to Belgrade, 2026)
- Danube Capitals Splendour Superior
- The beautiful blue Danube (port-to-port cruise) (8 destinations)
- Christmas Markets on the Danube MS Fidelio
- Classic Danube, Vienna - Vienna, MS Swiss Splendor 5*
Magic of Advent on the Danube (Vienna - Nuremberg) (7 destinations)
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“Itinerary is pretty good covering the main attractions in Tunisia. Hotel are nice and food is also very good.”
SERGIO, traveled in November
Duration 7 days Destinations Vienna, Melk, Emmersdorf an der Donau, Passau, Regensburg, Roth, Nuremberg Age Range Ages 8+ Operated in English, German Ships AMADEUS QueenAmadeus Riva River Danube Operator Lueftner Cruises From
- NZ$2,606
European Holiday Markets (2025) (Vienna to Nuremberg, 2025)
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“The cruise included interesting and informative tours at each town and district that we visited each day.”
Kerryn, traveled in December
From Vienna's airport, transfer to S.S. Beatrice for a 599km voyage along the Danube through Wachau Valley. The route winds through Dürnstein, Linz, and Passau before reaching Nuremberg, with complimentary airport transfers at journey's end.
Duration 8 days Destinations Vienna, Durnstein, Wachau, Linz, Passau, Regensburg, Roth, Nuremberg Age Range Ages 16+ Ship S.S. Beatrice River Danube Operator Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection From
- NZ$9,899
The Imperial Palace complex in Vienna marks the starting point for this westward Danube cruise through the Wachau Valley. Ports include historic Melk Abbey, Passau's St. Stephen's Cathedral, and Regensburg's Altes Rathaus, ending in Nuremberg. Daily excursions showcase Christmas markets and cultural landmarks.
Duration 7 days Destinations Vienna, Wachau, Melk, Grein, Passau, Regensburg, Nuremberg Age Range Ages 8+ Ships Avalon ExpressionAvalon ImpressionAvalon Envision River Danube Operator Avalon Waterways From
- NZ$5,761+$305 upfront costs
Christmas on the Danube featuring a 6-night Danube River Cruise (Vienna to Wurzburg)
9 Reviews by TourRadar travelers
Duration 9 days Destinations Vienna, Emmersdorf an der Donau, Durnstein, Wachau, Passau, Regensburg, Nuremberg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Wurzburg Age Range All Ages Welcome River Danube Operator Collette From
- NZ$6,749
The Emerald Star-Ships sail 267 kilometers from Vienna's Ringstrasse to Budapest's Chain Bridge. The scenic Danube route includes Bratislava's Christmas markets, with expert-led tours in each capital city.
Duration 7 days Destinations Austria, Slovakia, Hungary Age Range Ages 12+ Ship Emerald Destiny River Danube Operator Emerald Cruises From $10,906
63% Off- NZ$4,077You save $6,829
The S.S. Emilie departs Vienna's Hofburg Palace, sailing east through Bratislava and Budapest to Belgrade's Karadjordjevic Palace. This 8-day route connects 4 capital cities along the Danube, featuring stops in Croatia's Ilok and Serbia's Novi Sad.
Duration 8 days Destinations Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia Age Range Ages 16+ River Danube Operator Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection From $6,899
20% Off- NZ$5,519You save $1,380
Embarking in Vienna, cruise visits Melk's Abbey, navigates UNESCO Wachau Valley to Dürnstein, then through dramatic Danube Bend to Esztergom and Budapest. Return journey via Bratislava covers 7 cities across 8 days aboard MS Splendor.
Duration 8 days Destinations Austria, Hungary, Slovakia Age Range All Ages Welcome River Danube Operator Europamundo From
20% Off- NZ$4,994
The beautiful blue Danube (port-to-port cruise) (8 destinations)
17 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Beautiful cruise with gorgeous scenery and various opportunities to explore lovely cities. Highly recommend!!”
Emma, traveled in July
An 8-day round-trip Danube cruise from Vienna visits Melk Abbey, Dürnstein, and Budapest. The MS Beethoven or MS Vivaldi covers 220 miles of scenic waterways, featuring guided tours and evening entertainment at major destinations.
Duration 8 days Destinations Austria, Slovakia, Hungary Age Range All Ages Welcome Ships MS BeethovenMS Douce FranceMS Vivaldi River Danube Operator CroisiEurope River Cruises From
20% Off- NZ$3,043
MS Fidelio sets sail from Vienna, passing Hofburg Palace and Opera House. The Danube route leads to Budapest's Parliament and Bratislava's Michael's Gate before returning to Vienna. Optional airport transfers available.
Duration 5 days Destinations Austria, Hungary, Slovakia Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German, Spanish Ship MS Fidelio River Danube Operator Crucemundo From $1,763
50% Off- NZ$881+$128 upfront costsYou save $881
Classic Danube, Vienna - Vienna, MS Swiss Splendor 5*
36 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The ship was quite comfortable, the food was excellent and the itinerary was excellent.”
Pascal, traveled in October
From Vienna's Handelskai pier, the ship heads to Melk's Benedictine Abbey and medieval Dürnstein. The route includes Budapest's thermal baths and Bratislava's historic center before returning to Vienna, visiting 3 countries along the Danube.
Duration 8 days Destinations Austria, Hungary, Slovakia Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German, Spanish Ship MS Swiss Splendor River Danube Operator Crucemundo From $3,565
30% Off- NZ$2,496+$247 upfront costsYou save $1,070
What people love about Danube Cruises from Vienna
- Classic Danube, Vienna - Vienna, MS Swiss Splendor 5*
We booked very late so our room was very basic but matched the price paid - similar to a simple bedroom in a caravan. The staff were excellent and couldn’t do enough for passengers. Food delicious every day. The laid back atmosphere of the boat suited us well and we met some wonderful people on our journey.
- European Holiday Markets (2025) (Vienna to Nuremberg, 2025)
We travelled the Danube River from Vienna to Nuremburg on the Holiday Markets cruise visiting lots of interesting and historic towns along the way. The cruise included interesting and informative tours at each town and district that we visited each day as well as free time to wander through the towns and visit the wonderful Christmas Markets. One of the highlights of the tour was the beautiful Christmas Market at the Thurn and Taxis Castle. Another memorable aspect of the trip was the friendly and attentive staff, as well as the excellent food and comfortable accommodation. I would recommend everything about our experience on the Uniworld SS Beatrice and the staff at Tour Radar who organised the booking for us.
- The beautiful blue Danube (port-to-port cruise) (8 destinations)
It was good and I hope to take another river cruise in the future. Thank you.
What our customers ask about Danube Cruises from Vienna
What's the best time to start a Danube tour from Vienna?
For Danube tours from Vienna the most reliable time to travel is between April and October. The sweet spot falls between May and September when temperatures are pleasant and daylight extends well into the evening. Many travelers also choose the festive period from late November through December to experience Vienna's Christmas markets. A TourRadar traveler noted: "We started our cruise in Vienna in early September which was perfect - comfortable temperatures around 70°F/21°C and smaller crowds at major attractions like Schönbrunn Palace and the Belvedere."
What are the common embarkation points in Vienna for Danube tours?
Three main locations serve as departure points for Danube cruises in Vienna: the Handelskai pier near Reichsbrücke bridge, Nussdorf dock in the 19th district and Wien City terminal close to Schwedenplatz. Your cruise line determines the exact location. Uniworld operates from Handelskai while CroisiEurope typically uses Nussdorf. A TourRadar traveler shares: "Embarkation at Handelskai was very smooth with great views of Vienna's skyline as we departed. The ship docked at an ideal location for exploring the city beforehand."
What are the must-see attractions on the first day in Vienna before departure?
Key sights to visit before your cruise include the grand Hofburg Imperial Palace complex the towering St. Stephen's Cathedral and the renowned Vienna Opera House. Tour operators often provide pre-cruise trips to Schönbrunn Palace or the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Food enthusiasts should stop at Café Sacher or Hotel Imperial for authentic Viennese coffee culture. A TourRadar traveler notes: "Starting in Vienna was perfect - we had time to visit the stunning Schönbrunn Palace and enjoy authentic Sachertorte before boarding our ship at 6 PM."
What's included in the meal plans on cruises departing from Vienna?
Danube cruises generally provide full board dining starting with dinner on embarkation day through breakfast on departure. The menu combines Austrian dishes like Wiener Schnitzel with international options. Cruise lines such as Emerald Cruises and CroisiEurope include wines and beers with lunch and dinner at no extra cost. According to a TourRadar traveler: "The food selection starting from our first dinner in Vienna was excellent with plenty of local Austrian dishes to try."
What are the most popular stops after departing Vienna on Danube river cruises?
The route from Vienna typically includes stops at the UNESCO World Heritage Wachau Valley Melk Abbey Budapest and Bratislava. Ships pause at picturesque towns like Dürnstein and Melk in the Wachau Valley. Budapest offers visits to its Parliament Building and Fisherman's Bastion. CroisiEurope's Beautiful Blue Danube cruise schedules overnight stays in major cities letting passengers explore both daytime attractions and nightlife.
What types of shore excursions are available when departing from Vienna?
Before departure cruise lines offer guided tours through Vienna covering Schönbrunn Palace the Spanish Riding School and traditional coffeehouses like Café Central. Evening options include classical music performances at venues such as Musikverein or Kursalon Wien. A TourRadar traveler reports: "Our guide Natalia in Vienna was awesome providing fascinating insights into the city's imperial history."