Deals of The Week•Asia on the Rise  Up to 50% OFF

Deals end: 3 Jun, 2026

Switch to the app and book faster and easier!

Where?
When?
2
Select Date

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0

Where to?

Traveling when?

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Who is travelling?

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0

Christmastime from Budapest to Basel

17 days
•
From Budapest to Basel
4.6
234 traveler reviews
  • Parliament building by the river at sunset.
  • A grand palace by the river with a reflection at sunset.
  • City square with historical buildings and a castle atop a hill.
  • Castle on a hill with scenic reflections in a river.
  • Historic building with horse-drawn carriage passing by.
    View all
  • Equestrian statue in front of a grand building.
  • A city square with a church and traditional buildings.
  • A yellow baroque abbey on a riverbank, lush trees around.
  • Half-timbered building on a bridge over a scenic river.
  • Aerial view over a town with a cathedral and red rooftops.
    View all

No departure dates available

No dates, no problem! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive:

  • Travel inspiration for similar adventures
  • Alerts of the newest adventure deals

By submitting this form, I agree to the TourRadar T&Cs and Privacy policy.

You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter, check your inbox!

It seems you have entered this contest already! Keep an eye on your inbox for the winner.

Plan your adventure:
Gold Operator
Avalon Waterways
River Cruise
Scenic waterways and effortless exploration
Group Tour
Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity
Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 30 - 160
Ages 8+
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Budapest

    Meals
    Dinner

    Optional Activities

    • Photography at Royal Palace grounds
    • Explore Budapest's Christmas traditions
    Landmarks
    Royal Palace
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2
  2. Day 2

    Vienna

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Austrian Cookie Tasting while sailing

    Optional Activities

    • Royal Waltz Concert (optional excursion)
    Landmarks
    Bratislava
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2
  3. Day 3

    Vienna

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided City Tour of Vienna's gilded landmarks including Imperial Palace, Vienna Opera House, and St. Stephen's Cathedral

    Optional Activities

    • Christkindlesmarkt Christmas market browsing
    • Viennese café relaxation
    • Guided Optional Excursion to Schönbrunn Palace
    Landmarks
    Imperial Palace
    Vienna Opera House
    St. Stephen's Cathedral
    Schönbrunn Palace
  4. Day 4

    Krems - Melk

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided Walk through Krems
    • Guided Tour of Melk's Benedictine Abbey including frescoed ceilings, statues, library, and pipe organ
    Landmarks
    Wachau Valley
    Melk Abbey
    Itinerary Image 1
  5. Day 5

    Passau

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided City Walk of Passau

    Optional Activities

    • Christkindlesmarkt Christmas market browsing
    • Full-day Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg
    Landmarks
    St. Stephen's Cathedral
  6. Day 6

    Regensburg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided City Walk seeing Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and Porta Pretoria

    Optional Activities

    • Regensburg Christmas markets browsing
    • Seasonal treats at Christmas markets
    Landmarks
    Altes Rathaus
    Porta Pretoria
  7. Day 7

    Nuremberg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Christmas Traditions Lecture on board
    • Guided Sightseeing of Nuremberg with medieval architecture, gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle (choice 1)
    • Guided Tour of historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds (choice 2)

    Optional Activities

    • Christkindlesmarkt Christmas markets browsing
    • Bavarian fare sampling including bratwurst, gingerbread, mulled blueberry wine
    Landmarks
    Kaiserburg Castle
    Nuremberg Gothic Cathedral
    Nuremberg Rally Grounds
  8. Day 8

    Nuremberg to Munich

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided City Tour of Munich including Nymphenburg Palace and Old and New Town Halls of Marienplatz
    Landmarks
    Nymphenburg Palace
    Marienplatz
  9. Day 9

    Nuremberg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Optional Activities

    • Explore Nuremberg's festively lit streets
    • Shop for Christmas gifts
    • Ask Cruise Director for activity suggestions
  10. Day 10

    Bamberg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bamberg's medieval historic sites
    • Nativity scenes browsing (miniature to life-size)
    • Christmas Traditions Lecture on board

    Optional Activities

    • Bamberg Christmas markets browsing
    • Traditional German dumplings, sausage, and Bavarian ale tasting
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2
  11. Day 11

    Würzburg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided Sightseeing Tour of Würzburg including Old Main Bridge, fortress, and baroque Bishop's Residence

    Optional Activities

    • Guided Optional Excursion to Rothenburg
    • Käthe Wohlfahrt German Christmas Museum visit
    • Würzburg Christmas markets browsing
    Landmarks
    Bishop's Residence
  12. Day 12

    Miltenberg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided Tour of Miltenberg's medieval half-timber homes and Germany's oldest inn
    • German Cookie Baking Demonstration on board
  13. Day 13

    Frankfurt to Rüdesheim

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided Tour of Mechanical Music Museum in Rüdesheim
    Landmarks
    Mechanical Music Museum
  14. Day 14

    Speyer to Heidelberg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided Tour of Heidelberg Castle and Great Vat (choice 1)
    • Guided Tour visiting local German Christmas markets in Heidelberg (choice 1)

    Optional Activities

    • Speyer Christmas markets browsing (choice 2)
    Landmarks
    Heidelberg Castle
  15. Day 15

    Strasbourg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • City Sightseeing including Gothic cathedral with stained glass, ancient murals, and astronomical clock
    • La Petite France District visit

    Optional Activities

    • Guided Optional Excursion to Alsace wine-country village
    • Strasbourg French winter markets browsing
    Landmarks
    Strasbourg Cathedral
    La Petite France
  16. Day 16

    Breisach to Black Forest

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided Tour of Freiburg's medieval city center (choice 1)
    • Guided Tour to Black Forest experiencing local traditions and Christmas mood (choice 2)

    Optional Activities

    • Guided Optional Excursion to Colmar village
    Landmarks
    Black Forest
  17. Day 17

    Basel

    Meals
    Breakfast

Want to read it later?

Download this tour’s PDF brochure and start tour planning offline

What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Optional
  • Additional Services

Operated by

Avalon Waterways

Gold Operator
Rating
4.6(234 reviews)
Response time
within 2 days
Response rate
76%
Cancellation policy

Avalon Waterways Ship

  • Avalon Illumination
    Avalon Illumination
    Part of Avalon's cutting-edge fleet of Suite Ships®, the Avalon Illumination came onto the river cruising scene with a bang. This… Read more
    Built
    2014
    Guests
    84 - 166
    Crew
    47
    Length
    135 m / 443 ft
    Suites
    67
    Staterooms
    16
    Gross Tonnage
    2775 gt
    Beam
    12 m / 39 ft
    Cruising Speed
    12 kn / 22 kph / 14 mph
    Staterooms / SuitesDeck PlansDining

Reviews from other tours by Avalon Waterways

  • Charles
    September 8th, 2025
    We would like to thank our Statesman Attendee that took care of all our needs in our room 107. He was friendly and...
    Show more
  • Julie
    August 7th, 2025
    Unforgettable, stress-free trip.
  • Klaus
    July 28th, 2024
    ship was excellent, food and drinks were great, adventures perfectly organized,all crew members were extremely...
    Show more
Can’t find the answer to your question?
Reach out to the experts at Avalon Waterways with your enquiry, they usually respond within 2 days.

No departure dates available

No dates, no problem! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive:

  • Travel inspiration for similar adventures
  • Alerts of the newest adventure deals

By submitting this form, I agree to the TourRadar T&Cs and Privacy policy.

You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter, check your inbox!

It seems you have entered this contest already! Keep an eye on your inbox for the winner.

Plan your adventure:

Earn while you share

With TourRadar RISE, you can earn commission when someone books a tour through a link you share — like this one.

Good to Know

Tour ID: 288043

  • Currencies
    €
    Euro
    Austria, France and Germany
    Ft
    Forint
    Hungary
    Fr.
    Swiss Franc
    Switzerland
  • Plugs & Adapters

    As a traveler from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, J.

    Type C
    Hungary
    Type E
    Hungary
    Type F
    Hungary
    Type J
    Switzerland
  • Vaccines
    • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
    • Tick-borne encephalitis - Recommended for Austria.Germany.Hungary.Switzerland. Ideally 6 months before travel.
    • Hepatitis A - Recommended for Hungary. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Hepatitis B - Recommended for Hungary. Ideally 2 months before travel.
  • Visa
    • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
    • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • Payment information
    • For any tour departing before September 3rd, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after September 3rd, 2026, a minimum payment of $250 is required to confirm your booking with Avalon Waterways. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 95 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • The following cards are accepted for "Avalon Waterways" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Accessibility
    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.
  • People also viewed

Keep Exploring Europe

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec