Danube Cruises from Vienna
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10 best Danube river cruises from Vienna
Compiled by
MelissaVienna travel expert at TourRadar
- European Charm
- European Holiday Markets (2025) (Vienna to Nuremberg, 2025)
- Danube Capital Cities – FIDELIO Superior
- The beautiful blue Danube (port-to-port cruise) - BEETHOVEN
- Christmastime on the Danube (Westbound) 2026
- Magic of Advent on the Danube (Vienna - Nuremberg) (7 destinations)
- Vineyards & Palaces along the Danube (2026) (Vienna to Nuremberg, 2026)
- Lower Danube Discovery with Vienna & Transylvania 2027 - 22 Days (from Vienna to Bucharest)
- Lower Danube Discovery with Vienna & Istanbul 2026|2027 - 24 Days (from Vienna to Istanbul)
- Blue Danube cruise, Vienna-Vienna, MS Fidelio
Duration 9 days Destinations Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands Age Range All Ages Welcome River Danube Operator Europamundo From $2,610
15% Off- NZ$2,218You save $391
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
15% Off- NZ$9,899
Duration 8 days Destinations Austria, Slovakia, Hungary Age Range All Ages Welcome River Danube Operator Europamundo From $4,326
15% Off- NZ$3,677You save $649
MS Beethoven sails from Vienna's harbor to Melk Abbey and through the Wachau Valley. The 180+ nautical mile Danube voyage visits Bratislava and Budapest before returning to Vienna's Schönbrunn Palace district.
Duration 8 days Destinations Austria, Slovakia, Hungary Age Range All Ages Welcome Ship MS Beethoven River Danube Operator CroisiEurope River Cruises From
15% Off- NZ$3,283
Christmastime on the Danube (Westbound) 2026
4 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The ship was lovely and the food wonderful. We did what we set out to do--visit Christmas markets.”
Miriam, traveled in November
Duration 7 days Destinations Vienna, Wachau, Melk, Grein, Passau, Regensburg, Nuremberg Age Range Ages 8+ Ships Avalon ImpressionAvalon PassionAvalon Vista River Danube Operator Avalon Waterways From
15% Off- NZ$6,235+$353 upfront costs
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
15% Off- NZ$2,852
A luxurious 8-day cruise from Vienna's royal sites heads north along the Danube aboard S.S. Emilie through Austria and Germany. The 425km route includes medieval Spitz, the UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley, Passau's confluence of three rivers, and historic Nuremberg.
Duration 8 days Destinations Vienna, Spitz, Grein, Passau, Deggendorf, Regensburg, Nuremberg Age Range Ages 16+ River Danube Operator Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection From $8,299
18% Off- NZ$6,799You save $1,500
Duration 22 days Destinations Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania Age Range Ages 12+ Ship Scenic Crystal River Danube Operator Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours From $15,345
22% Off- NZ$11,945You save $3,400
Duration 24 days Destinations Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey Age Range Ages 12+ Ship Scenic Crystal River Danube Operator Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours From $19,655
17% Off- NZ$16,255You save $3,400
Blue Danube cruise, Vienna-Vienna, MS Fidelio
“More live music, it was always the same songs. Overall very good.”
Andrew, traveled in August
Duration 8 days Destinations Austria, Slovakia, Hungary Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Spanish Ship MS Fidelio River Danube Operator Crucemundo From
17% Off- NZ$3,799+$154 upfront costs
What people love about Danube Cruises from Vienna
- 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.
- Christmastime on the Danube (Westbound) 2026
The ship was lovely and the food wonderful. The staff did an excellent job. We did what we set out to do--visit Christmas markets. It was lovely.
- Danube Classics Vienna 2026
We enjoyed the tour but there was very little English used on the cruise. Long explanations would be given in German and maybe some times one or two sentences would be given in English. Also, there should be a warning that paid excursions are only in German with no English translations. However, we did enjoy our mini-suite, the food and the drink. Most of the staff were friendly and would speak to us in at least some English. We would go on another A-Rosa cruise but would seek much more information on destinations and where the ship will dock so we could do much more research before going on the cruise to make the destinations more accessible to us. We enjoyed the ship, appreciated the staff, and the facilities.
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."