10-Day Danube Cruises
The 10-day journeys give you time to understand life along the Danube from Bucharest to Budapest. Our travelers tell us they love the variety - cycling through Belgrade's old quarters one morning, then exploring Bulgarian hill towns the next day. These longer trips let you visit places many miss, like Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi, where you'll share lunch with local families and step inside Orthodox monasteries. People who've taken this route particularly enjoy guided tours and free time to wander through places like Ruse, which has its elegant 1800s buildings, or take side trips to sites such as Vlad the Impaler's tomb.
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.
- 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.
Danube in Depth 2025|2026|2027
Nine riverside cities from Budapest to Nuremberg showcase their treasures over 10 days. The route encompasses Varkert Bazar, Schonbrunn Palace, and Imperial Castle, complemented by 27 Scenic Freechoice activities and an exclusive Palais Liechtenstein concert.
The Blue Danube Discovery with 2 Nights in Budapest 2026
A 500km Danube voyage from Budapest to Nuremberg unfolds over 10 days. Eight riverside cities await, including Vienna's Habsburg Palace and Melk's Benedictine Abbey. Seven nights aboard Avalon Tranquility II complement 2 Budapest hotel nights.
Danube 10 Day Tour Packages You'll Love
Danube Delights & Oktoberfest
Danube in Depth 2025|2026|2027
The Blue Danube Discovery with 2 Nights in Budapest 2026
Illuminations on the Danube (Eastbound) 2026
Delightful Danube & Prague (2026) (Budapest to Prague, 2026)
Danube Delights with Nuremberg & Munich
Danube Classics 2026
Danube Classics Vienna 2026
European Charm GO
Classical Danube (Passau - Budapest - Passau) MS Fidelio
What people love about 10-day Danube river cruises
- Classical Danube (Passau - Budapest - Passau) MS Fidelio
Great cruise, excelent meals and nice and hospitality crew. We enjoy de trip. Good cabins and the food was very nice. Thanks for the great trip.
- Danube Classics Vienna 2026
Love A’Rosa , excellent Service n meal .