10-Day Danube Cruises

Insider tips: Recommended 10-day Danube itineraries

Compiled by

MelissaDanube travel expert at TourRadar

• 10 Days Danube River Cruise, incl. Budapest and Munich

  The grand Danube itinerary spans 10 days with 7 nights cruising and 2 hotel nights. From Budapest to Munich, visitors take in 8 ports, including UNESCO treasures like Wachau Valley and Andrássy Avenue, culminating in the legendary Oktoberfest celebration.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    Budapest

    Get to Budapest before 5 PM for ship boarding. Your first evening includes Hungarian folklore shows. Take a light jacket for the evening deck events. The next day starts with a guided tour of Heroes' Square and Buda Castle District. Use your afternoon to climb Gellert Hill. It's a 40-minute walk up but offers stunning Danube views. Plan to reach the top before sunset for the best photos.

    
  • Day 3

    Bratislava

    You'll reach Slovakia's capital by mid-morning. The Old Town walking tour runs about 2 hours on uneven medieval streets so pack good walking shoes. At 3 PM you'll have coffee and cake with local residents. A nice touch is learning basic Slovak greetings. The locals will appreciate your effort.

    
  • Day 4

    Vienna

    Start your day at the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Get there early to beat the crowds at the Habsburg collections. If you like biking the afternoon tour along Danube Island is perfect for casual riders. You'll pass the famous Prater Ferris wheel which makes for great photos.

    
  • Day 5

    Wachau Valley

    This UNESCO valley is the most beautiful part of the trip. Visit Göttweig Abbey for wine tasting before sailing past terraced vineyards. You can hike up to Dürnstein Castle ruins in the afternoon. The path is steep but doable. Bring water and good shoes especially if it's been raining.

    
  • Day 6

    Passau

    Passau sits where three rivers meet: the Danube Inn and Ilz. Take the morning tour to see St. Stephen's Cathedral with Europe's biggest church organ. Cyclists can enjoy the flat well-marked Inn River path in the afternoon.

    
  • Day 7

    Regensburg

    Take a full day to explore medieval Regensburg. The morning tour includes trying local sausages at the historic Sausage Kitchen by the Stone Bridge. For afternoon activities bike to Walhalla monument on an easy riverside path. Just watch for wind on the return trip.

    
  • Days 8-10

    Munich & Oktoberfest

    From Regensburg it's 90 minutes to Munich. Tour the city's main spots like Marienplatz and Nymphenburg Palace. For Oktoberfest go early as the tents fill up fast especially on weekends. The festival grounds get crowded so stay with your group and pick an easy-to-find meeting spot.

    

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• 10 Days Central Europe River Cruise, incl. Budapest and Prague

  Twelve destinations unfold across 10 days along the Danube. The itinerary showcases Budapest's Heroes' Square, Vienna's Hofburg Palace, and Melk's Benedictine Abbey, combining 7 nights of luxury cruising with 2 nights in Prague.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    Budapest, Hungary

    Get started in Budapest where your ship stays overnight. Board before 5 PM on the first day. Start day two with a morning hike to Gellért Hill before the crowds fill the trails. Your afternoon guided tour includes Heroes' Square and the Parliament Building. Looking for a local experience? Visit Széchenyi Baths at night when it's less crowded.

    
  • Day 3

    Bratislava, Slovakia

    You'll arrive in Slovakia's capital around lunchtime after a morning cruise. A 2-hour walking tour takes you through Old Town. Walk up to Bratislava Castle to watch the sunset over the Danube. Just remember to wear good shoes the cobblestones can be tricky.

    
  • Day 4

    Vienna, Austria

    The ship reaches Vienna early morning. Your city tour starts at 9 AM covering Hofburg Palace and St. Stephen's Cathedral. Want to avoid crowds in your free time? Take tram D to Belvedere Palace instead of busy Schönbrunn. The evening classical concert is optional but worth it for the historic settings.

    
  • Day 5

    Wachau Valley & Melk

    Today's scenic highlight is the UNESCO Wachau Valley. Stop in Dürnstein where you can climb to the castle ruins that once held Richard the Lionheart. Visit Melk's Benedictine Abbey in the afternoon. A TourRadar traveler notes: "The views from the abbey terrace over the Danube are breathtaking but bring a light jacket as it gets windy up there."

    
  • Days 6-7

    Linz & Passau

    Day 6 takes you through Linz's medieval old town and Hauptplatz square. On day 7 you'll cruise past the Schlögen Oxbow bend to Passau. Take a guided walk through this City of Three Rivers and try to catch the noon organ concert at St. Stephen's Cathedral.

    
  • Days 8-10

    Regensburg & Prague

    Explore medieval Regensburg in the morning before a 4-hour coach ride to Prague. Take time to discover Prague's hidden spots. One traveler shared: "Walking through Vinohrady neighborhood at sunset gave us a real feel for local life plus amazing views over the city from Riegrovy Sady beer garden."

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• 10 Days in Central Europe, incl. Munich and Budapest

  This 10-day river voyage visits 8 riverside cities, including UNESCO-listed Regensburg, Melk's Benedictine Abbey, and Vienna's Palais Liechtenstein. Special concert performances complement guided tours of Budapest's thermal baths.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    Munich, Germany:

    Visit Schloss Nymphenburg early at 9 AM to avoid crowds. One traveler notes, "The palace gardens are less crowded in the morning, making it perfect for photos." Head to Marienplatz later for the 11 AM or noon Glockenspiel show. You can get the best view from Café Glockenspiel's second floor.

    
  • Day 3

    Munich to Regensburg:

    Take the 2-hour regional train to Regensburg. Cruise check-in starts at 3 PM, giving you time to explore the medieval center. Use the train station lockers (€5-8) to store your bags while sightseeing.

    
  • Day 4

    Regensburg:

    Take the morning excursion to Weltenburg Abbey by ferry through the Danube Gorge. The abbey's beer garden offers beautiful river views. Make sure to try their dark beer which they've brewed since 1050.

    
  • Day 5

    Passau:

    Start your morning walking through the "City of Three Rivers." Visit St. Stephen's Cathedral for the 12 PM organ concert (not on Sundays). Walk up to Veste Oberhaus fortress in the morning for the best city views before it gets hot.

    
  • Day 6

    Melk and Dürnstein:

    Visit Melk's Benedictine Abbey at 9 AM before the crowds arrive. Enjoy afternoon sailing through the UNESCO Wachau Valley from the sun deck. In Dürnstein, take the 20-minute uphill walk to see the castle ruins where Richard the Lionheart was held captive.

    
  • Day 7

    Vienna:

    Take the first shuttle into Vienna's center. Book the 8:30 AM tour at Schönbrunn Palace to beat the crowds. A frequent visitor suggests: "Skip the palace café and head to nearby Café Dommayer for authentic Viennese coffee and strudel at local prices."

    
  • Day 8

    Bratislava:

    Your ship docks near Old Town. Join the morning walking tour when the streets are quiet. The walk up to Castle hill takes about 15 minutes. Wear good shoes as the cobblestones can be slick.

  • Days 9-10

    Budapest:

    Watch the sunrise arrival into Budapest from the deck. Visit Széchenyi baths when they open at 6 AM to enjoy them with locals. On your last morning, stop by the Central Market Hall (opens 6 AM) before heading to the airport.

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