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
20% Off
From $3,449
US$2,759per 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
20% Off
From
US$6,666per person
Price based on Private Double 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
20% Off
From
US$5,899per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Imperial Danube – FIDELIO Standard
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Hungary Slovakia
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Regions
DanubeVienna Budapest Prague+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Europamundo
20% Off
From
US$1,817per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Imperial Danube – FIDELIO Superior
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Hungary Slovakia
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Regions
DanubeVienna Budapest Prague+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Europamundo
20% Off
From
US$2,440per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Danube Intensive 2026 (13 destinations)
1.0 (1 traveler review)
Duration
15 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Hungary Croatia Serbia Slovakia
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
A-ROSA FLORA
River
Danube
Operated in
English, German
Operator
A-ROSA
20% Off
From
US$2,594per 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+
Ships
Amadeus Nova AMADEUS Amara AMADEUS Aurea+2 ships
River
Danube
Operated in
English, German
Operator
Lueftner Cruises
15% Off
From $3,020
US$2,567per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Danube Mini Cruise 2026 (including Durnstein)
4.0 (1 traveler review)
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Passau, Wachau, Vienna, Durnstein, Melk, Linz
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
A-ROSA DONNA
River
Danube
Operated in
English, German
Operator
A-ROSA
15% Off
From
US$470per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Danube City & Nature 2026
Duration
19 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Slovakia Croatia Serbia Bulgaria Romania Hungary+2 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
A-ROSA FLORA
River
Danube
Operated in
English, German
Operator
A-ROSA
15% Off
From
US$4,364per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Danube Enchanting Christmas 2026
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Slovakia
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
A-ROSA BELLA
Regions
DanubeVienna Budapest Prague+1 more
Operated in
English, German
Operator
A-ROSA
15% Off
From
US$1,060per 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)
"Outstanding food throughout the voyage. High compliments to the chef and his staff!"
Gord, traveled in October
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 $1,971
US$1,675per person
+$124 upfront costs
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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River Cruise
Danube Classics 2027 (including Hoorn)
4.5 (2 traveler reviews)
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Germany Netherlands Austria Hungary Slovakia
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
A-ROSA DONNA
River
Danube
Operated in
English, German
Operator
A-ROSA
15% Off
From
US$1,296per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
8 days - Imperial Danube (Passau - Vienna - Passau) MS VISTA MILLA 4*
4.5 (46 traveler reviews)
"Superb tour, staff, food and cabin made this a truly excellent experience."
ROGER, traveled in May
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$1,823per person
+$124 upfront costs
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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River Cruise
Imperial Danube – VISTAMILLA Intermediate
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Hungary Slovakia
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Regions
DanubeVienna Budapest Prague+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Europamundo
15% Off
From
US$2,310per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Danube Rhapsody (Passau - Passau) (13 destinations)
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Hungary Slovakia
Age Range
Ages 8+
Ships
AMADEUS Queen Amadeus Nova AMADEUS Amara AMADEUS Aurea+3 ships
River
Danube
Operated in
English, German
Operator
Lueftner Cruises
15% Off
From
US$2,465per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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