Christmas on the Danube featuring a 6-night Danube River Cruise - Alternative

Welcome the winter season with a timeless trip down the Danube River. Relax as you are transported along beloved cities, where age-old culture is interwoven into seasonal specialties. Peruse handcrafted trinkets, traditional sweets, and infectious holiday cheer as you make your way through some of Europe’s most renowned Christmas markets. Your holiday tour begins with an overnight flight to Austria.

Arrive in Vienna, Austria’s capital city. As arrival times may vary, there’s no scheduled sightseeing today. For those arriving earlier in the day, you may relax in the ship’s lounge and enjoy refreshments until your cabin is ready in the late afternoon. You may also consider visiting Vienna’s Christmas markets.* Tonight, gather with your fellow travelers and celebrate the journey ahead with a welcome dinner on board your ship.

It is time to step off the ship and explore. After walking along the pier to reach your coach, join a local expert on a panoramic city tour and see Vienna's architecture, including Hofburg Palace, the Vienna Opera House, and the Ringstrasse. Then, discover the city on foot as you walk through its charming cobblestone streets towards the awe-inspiring St. Stephen’s Cathedral and festive Christmas market. The afternoon is yours to enjoy Vienna however you wish. Perhaps you’ll join an optional excursion to Schönbrunn Palace, the Habsburgs’ summer retreat, to soak in its festive atmosphere and courtyard Christmas market.

Spend the morning visiting the medieval cobblestone streets of Dürnstein, a town crowned by the remnants of a castle tied to Richard the Lionheart’s legend. Enjoy some time to explore the charms and character of this centuries-old town. Then, get a taste of local tradition at a Glühwein party before returning onboard. Relax as you journey through the Wachau Valley, admiring the scenery dotted with castles and hillside houses. Arrive in the quaint town of Melk and take a short coach ride to the 900-year-old Benedictine Melk Abbey. Step inside on a guided tour, exploring the ceremonial halls and the magnificent library with its frescoed ceilings before returning to your ship.

Amid the early morning light, cruise past scenic valleys and charming riverside towns to Passau, a 2,000-year-old fairytale city situated at the meeting point of the Danube, Inn, and Ilz rivers. This morning, it's your choice! Enjoy a leisurely paced guided walking tour of Passau, also known as the “City of Three Rivers,” and take in its ornate Baroque architecture, the cobblestone streets, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral, home to Europe’s largest church organ -OR- join a hike with a local guide up to the pilgrimage church Mariahilf** and be rewarded with spectacular views over Passau.

With an expert guide, discover Regensburg, one of Germany's best-preserved medieval cities. See the first stone bridge built over the Danube and the Porta Praetoria – a Roman gate built in A.D. 179. Stroll through the Old Town to Regensburg's charming Christmas market and marvel at the festive lights and decorations. Spend a free afternoon browsing and shopping at the brightly lit wooden huts holding seasonal ornaments, wooden toys, and local handicrafts. Or perhaps you’ll join an optional excursion and experience the beauty and magic of the romantic Christmas market at Thurn and Taxis Palace in Regensburg.

Cruise across the continental divide to Roth and make your way to Nuremberg, a city rich with medieval history. After walking along the pier to reach your coach, join a local expert on a panoramic tour for your first taste of the city. Continue exploring with a walking tour, strolling through Nuremburg’s historic streets for more than an hour as you see the Old Town, 900-year-old ramparts, and Imperial Castle. Your city tour concludes at Nuremberg’s 17th-century Christmas market, which is Germany’s oldest. Wander among the wooden booths of local goods, where perhaps you’ll shop for handcrafted nutcrackers or treat your taste buds to Nuremburg’s famous lebkuchen (gingerbread).

Disembark your ship in Nuremberg and continue on to Rothenburg, a town of medieval walls, fairytale houses, and Christmas markets. Join a local guide in nearby Würzburg, a historic Bavarian city nestled along the banks of the Main River. Embark on a leisurely paced walking tour exploring this Baroque city and its famous Würzburg Residence. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner and toast to the end of your journey along the Danube.

Say goodbye to Germany as your tour draws to a close.