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
From
US $14,531 per person

Christmastime from Budapest to Basel

17 days
•
From Budapest to Basel
4.6 (234 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
From
US $14,531 per person
+ $528 Taxes

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

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

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:
Gold Operator
Avalon Waterways
River Cruise
Cruise scenic waterways for 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. Intro

    Introduction

  2. Day 1

    Budapest

    Budapest
    Meals
    Dinner

    Optional Activities

    • Explore Royal Palace grounds and photograph historical architecture
    • Browse Budapest Christmas markets and traditions
    Landmarks
    Royal Palace
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2
  3. Day 2

    Vienna

    Vienna
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Austrian Cookie Tasting while sailing

    Optional Activities

    • Royal Waltz Concert in Vienna
    Landmarks
    Danube River
    Bratislava
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2
  4. Day 3

    Vienna

    Vienna
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

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

    Optional Activities

    • Schönbrunn Palace Guided Excursion
    • Browse Christkindlesmarkt Christmas market
    • Relax in a Viennese café
    Landmarks
    Hofburg Palace (Imperial Palace)
    Vienna State Opera House
    St. Stephen's Cathedral
    Schönbrunn Palace
    Christkindlesmarkt
  5. Day 4

    Krems - Melk

    Krems - Melk
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

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

    Passau

    Passau
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided City Walk of Passau

    Optional Activities

    • Full-day Guided Excursion to Salzburg
    • Browse Passau's Christkindlesmarkt near St. Stephen's Cathedral
    Landmarks
    St. Stephen's Cathedral, Passau
    Salzburg
  7. Day 6

    Regensburg

    Regensburg
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided City Walk of Regensburg including Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and Porta Pretoria

    Optional Activities

    • Browse Regensburg's Christmas markets
    Landmarks
    Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall)
    Porta Pretoria
  8. Day 7

    Nuremberg

    Nuremberg
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Christmas Traditions Lecture onboard

    Optional Activities

    • Guided Sightseeing of Nuremberg with medieval architecture, gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle
    • Guided Tour of Nuremberg Rally Grounds
    • Browse Nuremberg Christmas Markets (Christkindlesmarkt)
    Landmarks
    Kaiserburg Castle
    St. Sebald Church
    Nuremberg Rally Grounds
  9. Day 8

    Nuremberg to Munich

    Nuremberg to Munich
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided City Tour of Munich including Nymphenburg Palace, Old Town Hall, and New Town Hall at Marienplatz
    Landmarks
    Nymphenburg Palace
    Marienplatz
    Munich New Town Hall
    Munich Old Town Hall
  10. Day 9

    Nuremberg

    Nuremberg
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Optional Activities

    • Stroll through Nuremberg's festively lit streets
    • Purchase last-minute Christmas gifts
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2
  11. Day 10

    Bamberg

    Bamberg
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bamberg including nativity scenes
    • Christmas Traditions Lecture onboard

    Optional Activities

    • Browse Bamberg's Christmas markets
    • Sample traditional German dumplings, sausage, and Bavarian ale
    Landmarks
    Bamberg
  12. Day 11

    Würzburg

    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 Excursion to Rothenburg
    • Käthe Wohlfahrt German Christmas Museum
    • Browse Würzburg Christmas markets
    Landmarks
    Würzburg Old Main Bridge
    Würzburg Fortress
    Prince-Bishop's Residence
    Rothenburg
    Käthe Wohlfahrt German Christmas Museum
  13. Day 12

    Miltenberg

    Miltenberg
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided Tour of Miltenberg including medieval half-timber homes and Germany's oldest inn
    • German Cookie Baking Demonstration onboard
    Landmarks
    Miltenberg
  14. Day 13

    Frankfurt to Rüdesheim

    Frankfurt to Rüdesheim
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Tour of the Mechanical Music Museum in Rüdesheim
    Landmarks
    Mechanical Music Museum, Rüdesheim
  15. Day 14

    Speyer to Heidelberg

    Speyer to Heidelberg
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided Tour including Heidelberg Castle and the Great Vat

    Optional Activities

    • Visit German Christmas markets in Heidelberg
    • Explore Speyer Christmas markets
    Landmarks
    Heidelberg Castle
    Great Vat
  16. Day 15

    Strasbourg

    Strasbourg
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

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

    Optional Activities

    • Guided Excursion to Alsace wine-country village
    • Wander Strasbourg's French winter markets
    Landmarks
    Strasbourg Cathedral
    La Petite France
  17. Day 16

    Breisach to Black Forest

    Breisach to Black Forest
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided Tour of Freiburg's medieval city center and Black Forest, OR Guided Tour to the Black Forest with local traditions and Christmas mood

    Optional Activities

    • Guided Excursion to Colmar
    Landmarks
    Freiburg
    Black Forest
    Colmar
  18. Day 17

    Basel

    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 1 day
Response rate
86%
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

  • Charles5.0•September 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
  • Julie5.0•August 2025
    Unforgettable, stress-free trip.
  • Klaus5.0•July 2024
    Led by Nour
    ship was excellent, food and drinks were great, adventures perfectly organized,all crew members were extremely...
    Show more

Sign up or log in to access your TourRadar+ savings

Dates & Availability

Select departure month and travellers

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
Upcoming departures
Hurry, deals only available for a limited time!
Ends on 16 Sep, 2026
  • From Sunday
    6 Dec, 2026
    To Tuesday
    22 Dec, 2026
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    Avalon Illumination
    From:
    US$14,531 per person
    Price based on Private Double Room
    Taxes
    $528

Want to read it later?

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

Why book with TourRadar?

    • Trusted and vetted operators
    • Rated excellent on
    • Best price guarantee
    • 24/7 customer support
    • Unlock exclusive TourRadar+ member savings

    To protect your payment and ensure your booking will be processed in United States, never transfer or communicate outside of the TourRadar website or app.

More benefits
Can’t find the answer to your question?
Reach out to the experts at Avalon Waterways with your enquiry, they usually respond within 1 day.
From
US $14,531 per person
+ $528 Taxes

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

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

Best price guarantee Learn More

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, F, E, J.

    Type C
    Austria, France, Germany and Hungary
    Type F
    Austria, Germany and Hungary
    Type E
    France and 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 December 16th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after December 16th, 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
  • Insurance

    Our travel protection from our award-winning partner, XCover, means you and your travel companions can book with peace of mind knowing there’s protection available in case your trip doesn’t go to plan. At checkout you will be able to select between different options in case you or the tour are eligible for insurance. In case no option is available, you are always able to purchase travel insurance outside of TourRadar.

    Checking which travel protection options are available for you…
  • 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