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Christmastime from Budapest to Basel with 2 Nights in Budapest

19 days
From Budapest to Basel
4.6
234 traveler reviews

No departure dates available

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Plan your adventure:
River Cruise
Scenic waterways and effortless exploration
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

    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2
  2. Day 2

    Budapest

    Meals
    Breakfast

    Included Activities

    • Guided City Sightseeing including Heroes' Square

    Optional Activities

    • Visit Chain Bridge
    • Explore Christmas market
    • Hike through hills above the Danube
    • Visit cafés and pubs
    Landmarks
    Heroes' Square
    Chain Bridge
  3. Day 3

    Budapest

    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner

    Optional Activities

    • Photograph on Royal Palace grounds
    • Visit thermal bath spas
    • Lunch at garden or rooftop eatery
    Landmarks
    Royal Palace
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2
  4. Day 4

    Vienna

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Austrian Cookie Tasting while sailing

    Optional Activities

    • Optional Excursion to Royal Waltz Concert
    Landmarks
    Bratislava
  5. Day 5

    Vienna

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

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

    Optional Activities

    • Visit Christkindlesmarkt Christmas market
    • Relax in Viennese café
    • Guided Optional Excursion to Schönbrunn Palace
    Landmarks
    Imperial Palace
    Vienna Opera House
    St. Stephen's Cathedral
    Schönbrunn Palace
  6. Day 6

    Krems - Melk

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided Walk of Krems
    • Guided Tour of Melk Benedictine Abbey including frescoed ceilings, statues, library, and ornate pipe organ
    Landmarks
    Melk Benedictine Abbey
    Wachau Valley
  7. Day 7

    Passau

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided City Walk of Passau

    Optional Activities

    • Browse Christkindlesmarkt Christmas market
    • Full-day Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg
    Landmarks
    St. Stephen's Cathedral
  8. Day 8

    Regensburg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided City Walk of Regensburg including Altes Rathaus and Porta Pretoria

    Optional Activities

    • Browse Christmas markets
    • Sample hot mulled wine, candied almonds, gingerbread, and bratwurst
    Landmarks
    Altes Rathaus
    Porta Pretoria
    Itinerary Image 1
  9. Day 9

    Nuremberg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Christmas Traditions Lecture on board
    • Guided Sightseeing of Nuremberg including medieval architecture, gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle
    • Guided Tour of Nuremberg Rally Grounds

    Optional Activities

    • Browse Christmas Markets of Nuremberg
    • Sample bratwurst varieties, gingerbread, and mulled blueberry wine
    Landmarks
    Kaiserburg Castle
    Nuremberg Rally Grounds
  10. Day 10

    Nuremberg to Munich

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided City Tour of Munich including Nymphenburg Palace, Old Town Hall, and New Town Hall of Marienplatz
    Landmarks
    Nymphenburg Palace
    Marienplatz
  11. Day 11

    Nuremberg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Optional Activities

    • Stroll through festively lit streets
    • Shop for Christmas gifts
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2
  12. Day 12

    Bamberg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

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

    Optional Activities

    • Browse Christmas markets
    • Sample traditional German dumplings, sausage, and Bavarian ale
    Landmarks
    Bamberg
  13. Day 13

    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
    • Visit Käthe Wohlfahrt German Christmas museum
    • Browse Christmas markets in Würzburg
    Landmarks
    Old Main Bridge
    Käthe Wohlfahrt German Christmas museum
  14. Day 14

    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 on board
    Landmarks
    Miltenberg
  15. Day 15

    Frankfurt to Rüdesheim

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Tour of Mechanical Music Museum in Rüdesheim
    Landmarks
    Mechanical Music Museum
  16. Day 16

    Speyer to Heidelberg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided Tour including Heidelberg Castle and Great Vat

    Optional Activities

    • Visit German Christmas markets in Heidelberg
    • Explore Speyer Christmas markets
    Landmarks
    Heidelberg Castle
  17. Day 17

    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 Optional Excursion to Alsace
    • Browse French winter markets of Strasbourg
    Landmarks
    Strasbourg Cathedral
    La Petite France
  18. Day 18

    Breisach

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided Tour of Freiburg medieval city center
    • Guided Tour to Black Forest

    Optional Activities

    • Guided Optional Excursion to Colmar
    Landmarks
    Black Forest
    Colmar
  19. Day 19

    Basel

    Meals
    Breakfast
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What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport
  • Free eSIM
    TourRadar offers the lead traveler (the person who booked) a free 1GB eSIM for the trip. The eSIM is redeemable only through the TourRadar app 72 hours before departure.

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Optional
  • Additional Services

Operated by

Avalon Waterways

4.6
(234 reviews)

Number of tours

492

Age Range

8 to 99 years old

Response time

within 2 days

Response rate

84%

Introduced in 2003, Avalon Waterways sets the standard in river and...

Read more

Sustainability Initiatives

Reduce Carbon Emissions

Animal Welfare

Supporting Destinations

Sustainability Programs

Other

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

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

Reviews from other tours by Avalon Waterways

  • Charles
    September 8th, 2025
    5
    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
    5
    Unforgettable, stress-free trip.
  • Klaus
    July 28th, 2024
    5
    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:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 288124

  • 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 June 10th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after June 10th, 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.

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