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Danube River Tours & Trips
127 Danube River trips. Tours from 12 tour companies. 70 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.
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127 Trips match your criteria (121 - 127 shown)
4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsLodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Highlights
- You’ll also see the 13th century Matthias Coronation Church (Budapest) and the Citadel on Mount Gellert
- Enjoy the scenic Danube Bend
- See the beautiful Cathedral of St. Stephen’s (Vienna)
11 days$236 / day
5/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsLodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Highlights
Go off the beaten path from Vienna to Nuremberg to Prague and uncover the scenic wonders and remarkable histories of the cities that rest along the Danube. As your adventure starts, castles, stunning architecture, natural wonders and rich history ensue.
10 days$400 / day
5/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsLodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Highlights
The shimmering waters of the fabled Danube River flow for thousands of miles through the very heart of Europe, silent witness to centuries of artistic achievement and historical events. This perfectly composed journey provides an immersive cultural tasting menu of four equally beguiling countries—ideal for first-time river cruisers as well as seasoned travelers seeking to experience yet another dimension of these much-loved destinations.
8 days$250 / day
5/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsLodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Highlights
This enchanting voyage provides a variety of captivating destinations as well as plenty of time to relax onboard as you cruise from Budapest to Nuremberg, and continue onward to exquisitely preserved Prague.
10 days$320 / day
5/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsLodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Highlights
Experience dynamic Budapest and imperial Vienna. Marvel at ravishing scenery as your luxurious ship glides through the Wachau Valley, celebrated as one of the world’s most beautiful landscapes, into Germany and past charming Bavarian villages. Exclusive treasures are plentiful on this delightful journey.
8 days$600 / day
4.8/5 Excellent
24 reviewsLodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Highlights
- Enjoy the Cruise along the Danube River by Emerald Star-Ships
- Visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral
- Visit to Hofburg Imperial Palace
8 days$243 / day
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By Intrepid Travel
premier
Why we love them
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsLodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Easy
Highlights
- Delve into the communist past and progressive present of the Pearl of the Danube - Budapest, a city often underrated by travellers
- Visit Novi Sad on the banks of the Danube River and maybe explore the Petrovaradin Fortress – one of the most important landmarks in the city with a great view over the river. Then, immerse yourself in the edgy street scene of Belgrade's Bohemian Quarter.
- Explore the sobering Tito’s Bunker in Mostar – an underground facility that served as Yugoslavia's ‘Atomic War Command,’ designed to house a skeleton government who would manage the country in the event of nuclear war.
10 days$153 / day
By Intrepid Travel
premier
Why we love them
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsLodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Highlights
- Cross the Chain Bridge in Budapest – known as the Pearl of the Danube – and take the funicular up to Buda Castle for beautiful views over Pest.
- Discover the rich biodiversity of Kopacki Rit Nature Park on a guided tour and explore the vast landscapes of Durmitor National Park with a guided hike.
- Wander through Belgrade’s Bohemian quarter and grand 19th-century boulevards before launching into a spot of nightlife. Then, take a daytrip to the artists’ haven of Zemun.
15 days$183 / day
By Intrepid Travel
premier
Why we love them
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsLodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Easy
Highlights
- Admire the restored architecture of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kotor in Montenegro on a climb along the ancient city fortifications. Then, discover the glittering Bay of Kotor in your free time.
- Stroll through Plitvice Lakes National Park – a stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site – marvelling at luminous lakes and azure waterfalls that look like they’ve been sketched by an artist.
- Hit the historic hotspot of Dubrovnik (otherwise known as King’s Landing of Game of Thrones fame) along Croatia’s Dalmatian coastline, then explore the white sands of the Elafiti Islands on a day trip with loads of free time to swim, relax or wander.
26 days$182 / day
By Intrepid Travel
premier
Why we love them
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsLodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Highlights
- Sip the famous Croatian Traminac Premium wine at a wine tasting at a 15th century family-run vineyard in quaint Ilok
- Witness Mostar's famous bridge divers hurl themselves from the stones of a bridge that has spanned the river here for centuries
- Sarajevo is one of the most scenically located cities in Europe. See the sights on a guided walking tour and learn about its recent history as a city under siege
22 days$213 / day
By Intrepid Travel
premier
Why we love them
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsLodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Highlights
- Visit five different countries on this trip – from the streets of Prague to the historic depths of Belgrade, you’ll get a sense of every city with local leader insights.
- Stay at a 13th-century castle in the Slovakian countryside, where you can relax at the spa and dine in style at the in-house restaurant.
- Savour a variety of local flavors with unique culinary experiences, including a beer tasting tour in the Czech Republic, a wine-tasting session in Serbia, a hands-on Pierogi cooking class in Poland, and street food delights in Hungary.
12 days$378 / day
Best Danube River Tours by Duration
Best Danube River Tours by Price
Danube River Reviews & Ratings
The trip was well organised and well
The trip was well organised and well thought out. It was only a 10 day trip but we saw so much in that time. Our tour guide provided us with options of what to do i...
Brilliantly organised and value for money.
Brilliantly organised and value for money.
The trip was fun, interesting and you
The trip was fun, interesting and you experience a different culture to Western Europe.
They Made It Difficult For Me To Get Money Back
I booked a 981euro holiday with Intrepid in July 2017. They emailed me a few days after booking to tell me that trip was cancelled and that I was entitled to a refun...
Danube River Tour Selection Trips
- Because the Danube is Europe’s longest river outside Russia, you have several choices of routes.
- The most popular stretch flows from Nuremberg, Germany, to Budapest, Hungary (or reverse).
- Allow at least eight days for your cruise (for the Nuremberg-Budapest itinerary) and up to two weeks or more to sail farther into Eastern Europe.
- Going downriver – from west to east -- tends to be a smoother voyage, though seasickness is seldom a problem.
- To judge the best value as opposed to just the lowest price, watch for how many “extras” are included in the base rate – port excursions, alcohol, balcony cabins -- that could add to the cost.
- Many Danube itineraries include options for intriguing side trips away from the river – such as to Salzburg in Austria or to medieval Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic.
- You can combine a Danube river cruise with a Rhine river cruise through Germany all the way to Amsterdam via a canal replete with locks.
- For maximum privacy and comfort, consider splurging on a balcony cabin, where you can relax and watch the changing riverside tableau pass by.
- May through September is the most popular (and expensive) season on the Danube (September often offers the most pleasant weather with fewer crowds).
- Don’t overlook the magic of Yuletide cruises, when the entire region comes alive with colorful outdoor Christmas markets.
- Some Danube River cruise lines market almost exclusively to baby boomers aged 50 and up, while others also cater to younger passengers.
- If you plan on traveling alone on your cruise, check into policies on charging for single supplements; they might match you with a same-sex roommate to avoid the extra charge.
- Some luxury river cruise lines offer special evening events on shore – such as private concerts or dining in palaces – or provide complimentary bicycles for sightseeing and exercise.
Additional details
Danube River cruises and tours are available in a variety of lengths, either focusing on a specific section of the river or covering the entire distance. You will often see an itinerary listed as “Westbound” or Eastbound”. This can be helpful when determining your pre and post cruise activities.
The average length of a Danube River cruise is between one and two weeks. Longer Danube River cruises often also visit the Black Sea and a few other rivers in Europe - you’ll see so much of Europe in comfort gliding along the water, and only unpack once!
Many shorter departures along the Danube include cycling excursions, such as those with Butterfield and Robinson. If you travel on a Danube River cruise that’s 6 days or less, chances are you’ll begin or end in Budapest, Hungary visiting three or four other countries along either an Eastbound or Westbound route.
What to Wear on a Danube River Cruise
The Danube is one of the largest rivers in Europe, both by length and width. Given this, it will always be slightly cooler on the boat than on the shore.
Light layers should suffice for most of the year, heavier outerwear for the winter when it will commonly be snowing. Christmas markets are a very popular wintertime activity in Europe and many Danube River Cruises operate during this time, visiting markets along the way.
While most river cruises don’t have strict dress codes, they do cater to an older audience more likely to dress up for dinner.
Danube River Weather
The weather on the Danube is generally mild, though expect to encounter a lot of microclimates as you travel, regardless of the length of your trip. Since you’ll be passing through numerous countries and regions, it’s difficult to pinpoint an easy weather pattern.
The Danube is a popular destination year round - you have the joyous and magical Christmas markets in the wintertime, the lovely springtime with flowers blooming and sunshine peeking through, summertime when it’s warm and small towns and villages vibrant with tourists, and the fall when you can see beautiful changing leaves along the shore and up in the hills.
Weather on the Danube River in August
August is universally one of best months to travel. This is when you’ll find some of the best weather (in the northern hemisphere at least), and the crowds are not quite as heavy as the peak summertime months of June and July, but not so dissipated that certain activities and destinations are shut down to tourism.
In Europe and along the Danube, August is an ideal month, with temperatures ranging from the mid 60s to the mid 90s fahrenheit.
Weather on the Danube River in September
Like August, September is one of the more ideal times to travel. Even less crowds than August, and the weather is usually still warm, but not blazing hot. Expect lows in the 50s especially at night, and 60s and 70s during the day (fahrenheit). You also might get to see some early changes in nature from your cruise deck.
Weather on the Danube River in March
In March, expect the weather on the Danube River to be a bit nippy, though not unbearable. You will be spending time outside though, on the viewing deck, out on the water. So definitely bring a warm jacket so you can spend more time outside. Temperatures will be in the 40s and 50s, mid 30s at night.
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