Danube River Cruises
Romance, power, and history await along the River Danube, sweeping through many stunning countries. Stop off and explore unforgettable cities, like Vienna and its classic architecture, Bratislava and its Old Town, and Budapest with its iconic Parliament building. Enjoy a walking tour with local guides during the day and kick back and relax on board in the evenings.
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Fabulous cruise and wonderful, kind, professional staff.
Danube Rhapsody (Passau - Passau, 13 destinations)The app is of a low standard. The information doesn't match what is shown on board which is very confusing. The removal of coffee facilities after dinner seemed very petty. Staff were very good.
Danube Classics Vienna 2026Europamundo is an excellent option for budget travellers with great value for money . The Hotels and accomodations are generally at main place and very good standards. Morning breakfasts are fantabulous. The conducted tour saves lot of unwanted spendings and excellent tour is offered st very easily affordable prices for general travellers from any part of the world. Keep it up.
European Charm GO
Traveler Photos & Videos from Danube Cruises
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- Splendours of Europe 2026/2027|2028
- New Year's Eve Cruise on the Danube - AMADEUS Imperial (Passau - Passau)
- Classical Danube (Passau - Budapest - Passau) MS Fidelio
- 8 days - Imperial Danube (Passau - Vienna - Passau) MS VISTA MILLA 4*
- Blue Danube, Vienna - Vienna, MS CruceNova
- The beautiful blue Danube (port-to-port cruise) (from Passau to Budapest)
- Christmastime on the Danube (Westbound) 2026
- Danube Classics 2027
- Danube Christmas Markets 2027
Table of contents
- The best Danube cruises
- See the Danube your way
- Danube tour companies
- Popular Danube Cruise Ships
- Where to start your Danube trip
- Discover Danube tours for every budget
- Cruises for every type of group
- Danube itineraries by length
- Traveler types and experiences
- Best time to visit
- Danube travel guides - curated by our experts
- Contact our Danube travel experts
The best Danube cruises
Compiled by
MelissaDanube travel expert at TourRadar
Danube Rhapsody (Passau - Passau, 13 destinations)
“Fabulous cruise and wonderful, kind, professional staff.”
Keri, traveled in June
Duration 8 days Destinations Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia Age Range Ages 8+ Operated in English, German Ships AMADEUS QueenAMADEUS Aurea River Danube Operator Lueftner Cruises From
- US$2,429
Danube Classics Vienna 2026
“Food was good and lots of it, the cabin was clean and comfortable. We had a great holiday!”
Nicholas, traveled in April
The A-ROSA DONNA carries passengers along historic Danube waterways. Highlights include Budapest's Chain Bridge, Vienna's Schönbrunn Palace, and Bratislava's Old Town, complemented by gourmet dining, evening entertainment, and guided excursions.
Duration 8 days Destinations Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Germany Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German Ship A-ROSA DONNA River Danube Operator A-ROSA From $1,931
22% Off- US$1,509
European Charm GO
“Enjoyed the tour very much. Accommodations were sufficient.”
Rebecca, traveled in March
Duration 9 days Destinations Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands Age Range All Ages Welcome River Danube Operator Europamundo From
22% Off- US$1,565
Classical Danube (Passau - Budapest - Passau) MS Fidelio
“The cabins were clean and well maintained with daily housekeeping including turn-down service. The food was excellent.”
Margaret, traveled in September
MS Fidelio traverses UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley vineyards and medieval castles. Guided tours showcase Vienna's Ringstrasse, Budapest's Parliament, and Bratislava's Old Town across 1,100 kilometers of scenic waterways with full-board regional dining.
Duration 8 days Destinations Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German, Spanish Ship MS Fidelio River Danube Operator Crucemundo From
22% Off- US$1,767+$145 upfront costs
Eastern Whispers GO
“Being able to get a large snapshot of Europe as a whole in a short amount of time.”
EllenMcMahon, traveled in November
Duration 8 days Destinations Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Hungary Age Range All Ages Welcome River Danube Operator Europamundo From
22% Off- US$1,462
The A-ROSA DONNA sails from Passau through UNESCO's Wachau Valley. The itinerary features extended stays in Vienna (28 hours) and Budapest (24 hours), with visits to Esztergom's basilica and Bratislava's baroque quarter.
Duration 8 days Destinations Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German Ships A-ROSA DONNAA-ROSA BELLAA-ROSA MIAA-ROSA RIVA River Danube Operator A-ROSA From
22% Off- US$1,218
Danube Explorer & Highlights of Budapest
“We had a great time on the cruise”
Prabha, traveled in July
Duration 10 days Destinations Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany Age Range Ages 12+ Ship Emerald Sky River Danube Operator Emerald Cruises From $4,495
13% Off- US$3,895
See the Danube your way
More travel styles:
Danube tour companies
Popular Danube Cruise Ships
Where to start your Danube trip
River cruises for every budget
Cruises for every type of group
Who are you traveling with?
Danube itineraries by length
Traveler types and experiences
Solo Travelers641 tours- Couples676 tours
- Seniors (50+)541 tours
Best time to visit
- Fall / Autumn 2026
The Danube's wine culture shines in fall with special wine-focused sailings that our travelers love. The season starts with Oktoberfest in Vilshofen - you'll try local beers while folk musicians play nearby. The Wachau Valley looks great this time of year; you can taste Rieslings and Grüner Veltliners right where they grow, often at old monastery wineries like Schloss Gobelsburg. Some guests mix it up by cycling through the autumn vineyards before stopping at Weissenkirchen's estates, where local winemakers share their techniques. The hiking works well in fall - trails up to Bratislava Castle and along Budapest's hills offer perfect temperatures for walking, plus you get those rich fall colors along the river.
- September 2026 88 tours
- October 2026 popular 125 tours
- 115 tours
- Winter 2026 / 2027
Winter along the Danube brings something special - Christmas markets and local traditions that come alive. Our most popular cruises start in Passau, taking you through Salzburg's old town when it's dusted in snow. You'll warm up with mulled wine tastings and traditional pastries between walks. The Vienna portion includes evening concerts in 12th-century monasteries, where Mozart and Strauss pieces sound even better in winter. Our customers especially enjoy splitting their Budapest time between guided Castle District tours and relaxing visits to the thermal baths. The winter routes add nice seasonal touches - there's Bavarian folk dancing, a stop in Oberndorf where Silent Night was first sung, and some fascinating optical illusions in Melk Abbey's library.
- December 2026 popular 96 tours
- Spring 2027
Danube spring cruises from Passau and Vienna earn high marks from our travelers in April. These routes showcase the Wachau Valley with its vineyards and cycling routes.. The spring weather proves ideal for outdoor exploration - whether you're climbing to Dürnstein's castle ruins or pedaling the scenic stretch between Melk, Krems, and the surrounding villages. Our guests appreciate how the tours balance cultural immersion with active options - perhaps starting with a morning soak in Budapest's thermal baths, followed by an afternoon walk through the Castle District when temperatures are mild or dividing time in Vienna between imperial palaces and cycling adventures on the Danube island.
- March 2027 87 tours
- April 2027 154 tours
- May 2027 popular 167 tours
- Summer 2027
Danube summer cruises blend rich cultural experiences with active outdoor pursuits that consistently earn high marks from our travelers. The top routes combine Vienna's museums and palaces with excursions in the Wachau Valley. Many sailings include options to cycle Bratislava's waterfront paths, or explore Vienna's grand boulevards when cafe tables spill onto the streets. Our guests often mention how these summer voyages balance cultural sites with cooling breaks - from Budapest's thermal pools to wine tastings in old stone cellars beneath the city.
- June 2027 175 tours
- July 2027 popular 186 tours
- August 2027 170 tours
Danube travel guides - curated by our experts
Contact our Danube travel experts
Rebecca
Expert in Danube at TourRadar
Rebecca is one of our seasoned Danube Travel Experts. Reach out to us to get all your questions about Danube tours answered!
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