What is the typical length of river cruises starting in Passau along the Danube?

Danube river cruises from Passau range from 5 to 16 days. The most common choice is a 7-8 day journey. Vessels like the AMADEUS Riva and S.S. Maria Theresa take passengers through multiple countries along the river. The 8-day Classical Danube Cruise connects Passau to Budapest while longer trips such as the 16-day Beautiful Blue Danube route extends to Belgrade and the Danube Delta. As one TourRadar traveler noted: "The 8-day cruise was the perfect length to see the highlights while maintaining a relaxed pace."

What are the most popular destinations visited on Danube cruises starting in Passau?

Ships departing Passau stop at key European cities along the Danube. Vienna welcomes visitors with its palaces and museums while Budapest showcases its Parliament building and Chain Bridge. The UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley offers scenic river views. Most routes include Melk's Benedictine Abbey Bratislava's historic center and Linz, home of the traditional Linzer Torte. Many travelers choose pre-cruise stays at the Hotel Residenz Passau or Art Hotel Passau. As noted by a TourRadar traveler: "The boat was beautiful and the food was excellent stopping at amazing cities along the Danube."

What time of year is best for starting a Danube cruise from Passau?

The main sailing season from Passau runs April through October. July through September brings the warmest weather and biggest crowds. Fall visits to the Wachau Valley coincide with grape harvest season. December attracts visitors for Christmas market cruises in Vienna Bratislava and Budapest. Hotels like IBB Hotel Passau City Centre and Hotel Weisser Hase Passau fill quickly in high season. A TourRadar traveler noted: "September was perfect - not too hot or crowded and we got to see beautiful fall colors along the Danube."

What are the key landmarks to visit when starting a Danube tour in Passau?

Passau's main sites include St. Stephen's Cathedral which houses Europe's largest cathedral organ the Old Town Hall and the meeting point of three rivers: the Danube Inn and Ilz. Tour groups often take guided walks through the Old Town to see Baroque buildings and waterfront paths before boarding. Many guests choose the Hotel Residenz Passau or Art Hotel Passau for pre-cruise stays. As shared by a TourRadar traveler: "The walking tour of Passau was excellent - seeing where the three rivers meet and visiting the cathedral were definite highlights before we started our cruise."

Which hotels are commonly used the night before cruise departure in Passau?

Central Passau offers several pre-cruise hotel options. The Hotel Residenz sits near St. Stephen's Cathedral while the IBB Hotel Passau City Centre provides easy access to both train station and cruise docks. Other choices include the Art Hotel on the Inn River and Hotel Weisser Hase in Old Town. These properties are selected for their location near boarding points and tourist sites. A TourRadar traveler noted: "We stayed at Hotel Residenz before our cruise and loved being able to explore the old town on foot before boarding."

How do I get to Passau to start my cruise?

Passau connects to Munich International Airport by train or car with travel time around 2 hours. Direct trains run from major German and Austrian cities to Passau's central station. The cruise docks sit within walking distance of the Hauptbahnhof. Many cruise companies provide transfers from Munich Airport. Trains depart Munich for Passau every hour. As noted by a TourRadar traveler: "The train ride from Munich was comfortable and scenic plus the cruise dock was just a short walk from Passau's station."

Danube Cruises from Passau

Passau starts your Danube journey, exploring this beautiful three-rivers town. Don’s miss cruising to Vienna and Budapest, visiting Wachau Valley vineyards, touring Bratislava's fortress, and discovering Melk Abbey. Sail through Central Europe's heart, taste Austrian and Hungarian wines, and see baroque architecture float past. Starting from Passau means you're diving straight into Danube's most scenic sections from day one.

10 best Danube river cruises from Passau

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River Cruise
Enchanting Danube (2026) (Passau to Budapest, 2026)
4.6 (11 traveler reviews)
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Slovakia Hungary
Age Range
Ages 16+
Ship
S.S. Maria Theresa
River
Danube
Operated in
English
Operator
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
30% Off
From $5,249
US$3,674per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Beautiful Blue Danube and Danube Delta (Passau - Passau) (19 destinations)
Duration
16 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Hungary Serbia Bulgaria Romania Croatia Slovakia+2 more
Age Range
Ages 8+
Ship
Amadeus Nova
River
Danube
Operated in
English, German
Operator
Lueftner Cruises
30% Off
From
US$4,645per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Cruising the Danube
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Hungary Slovakia
Age Range
Ages 18+
River
Danube
Operated in
English
Operator
Just You
30% Off
From
US$4,506per person
Price based on Private Single Room
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River Cruise
Danube Holiday Markets (2026) (Passau to Budapest, 2026)
4.5 (1 traveler review)
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Slovakia Hungary
Age Range
Ages 16+
Ship
S.S. Maria Theresa
River
Danube
Operated in
English
Operator
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
30% Off
From
US$5,699per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Danube Christmas Markets 2026
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"Simply excellent! Beyond expectations."
CAROLA, traveled in November
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Slovakia
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
A-ROSA DONNA
River
Danube
Operated in
English, German
Operator
A-ROSA
30% Off
From
US$645per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Danube Classics 2026
4.5 (2 traveler reviews)
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Hungary Slovakia
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
A-ROSA MIA
Regions
DanubeVienna Budapest Prague+1 more
Operated in
English, German
Operator
A-ROSA
30% Off
From
US$1,475per person
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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River Cruise
Classical Danube Cruise (Passau - Budapest) (8 destinations)
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Slovakia Hungary
Age Range
Ages 8+
Ship
AMADEUS Amara
River
Danube
Operated in
English, German
Operator
Lueftner Cruises
30% Off
From
US$2,775per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Danube City & Nature 2026
Duration
19 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Slovakia Netherlands Serbia Bulgaria Romania Hungary+2 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
A-ROSA FLORA
River
Danube
Operated in
English, German
Operator
A-ROSA
30% Off
From
US$4,115per person
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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River Cruise
Danube Classics 2026
4.5 (2 traveler reviews)
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Hungary Slovakia
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
A-ROSA RIVA
Regions
DanubeVienna Budapest Prague+1 more
Operated in
English, German
Operator
A-ROSA
30% Off
From
US$1,593per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Danube Christmas Markets 2026
5.0 (1 traveler review)
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Slovakia
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
A-ROSA RIVA
River
Danube
Operated in
English, German
Operator
A-ROSA
30% Off
From
US$645per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Handpicked adventures loved by our team
TourRadar Curated
River Cruise
Classical Danube (Passau - Budapest - Passau) MS Fidelio
4.7 (26 traveler reviews)
"We had a wonderful cruise."
Margie, traveled in July
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Hungary Slovakia
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
MS Fidelio
Regions
DanubeVienna Budapest Prague+1 more
Operated in
English, German,Spanish+1 more
Operator
Crucemundo
15% Off
From $1,964
US$1,670per person
+$124 upfront costs
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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River Cruise
Danube Classics 2026
4.5 (2 traveler reviews)
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Hungary Slovakia
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
A-ROSA DONNA
Regions
DanubeVienna Budapest Prague+1 more
Operated in
English, German
Operator
A-ROSA
15% Off
From
US$1,593per person
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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River Cruise
8 days - Imperial Danube (Passau - Vienna - Passau) MS VISTA MILLA 4*
4.5 (46 traveler reviews)
"Every crew member I met was friendly and helpful, the local guides were excellent, and the food was fantastic."
Steven, traveled in October
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Hungary Slovakia
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
MS VISTA MILLA (ex. Crucestar)
Regions
DanubeVienna Budapest Prague+1 more
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
Crucemundo
15% Off
From
US$1,817per person
+$124 upfront costs
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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River Cruise
Danube Rhapsody (Passau - Passau)
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Hungary Slovakia
Age Range
Ages 8+
Ships
Amadeus Brilliant AMADEUS Queen Amadeus Nova AMADEUS Amara AMADEUS Aurea+4 ships
Regions
DanubeVienna Budapest Prague+1 more
Operated in
English, German
Operator
Lueftner Cruises
15% Off
From
US$2,387per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Danube Discovery 2026
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Slovakia
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
A-ROSA FLORA
River
Danube
Operated in
English, German
Operator
A-ROSA
15% Off
From
US$998per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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