Viking Rivers Cruises – Christmas on the Danube (Hungary, Austria, Germany) 8 Days

Budapest, Hungary
Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. Riverside beauty and a vibrant cultural scene blend together in Budapest to form one of Europe’s most rewarding cities. Hungary’s enchanting capital straddles the banks of the Danube, with traditional hillside Buda on one side and modern Pest on the other. By day, stunning art nouveau buildings, stalwart castles and grand palaces set the stage for inspiring strolls and long soaks in thermal spas. By night, the shimmering lights of the Parliament building dance across the waters of the Danube, the Chain Bridge uniting it all as a dramatic centerpiece.

Shore Excursions – Christmas Market St. Stephen’s Basilica
Duration: 2 hours  
Delight in the twinkling lights of Budapest during the Christmas season and sample traditional Hungarian treats. Meet your guide and embark on a short drive to the illuminated St. Stephen’s Basilica, the city’s stunning neoclassical cathedral and one of Hungary’s biggest churches. Upon arrival, enjoy free time to explore the market on your own. This Advent Fair boasts a magnificent 60-foot tree; at its base, skaters twirl across the ice and mouthwatering delicacies are offered from its surrounding stalls; perhaps try a flavorsome goulash (traditionally spiced with paprika) or a delicious langos (a deep-fried flat bread that can be served with a variety of toppings). For a sweet treat, savor kurtosh, also known as “Hungarian chimney cake;” this soft baked donut is a favorite among locals. After your tour, you will transfer back to your awaiting ship.

Budapest, Hungary
The Christmas season adds another layer of beauty to the already romantic charms of Budapest. Nestled in the heart of Pest lies Vörösmarty Square, home to the city’s largest yuletide market. The enticing aroma of national specialties permeates the air as vendors display traditional and contemporary handicrafts. At the cozy St. Stephen’s Basilica market, mulled wine keeps revelers warm as nightly light shows illuminate the church’s facade. Across the Danube in Buda, Old-World allure mingles with festivities in Fő Square, where seasonal events and an outdoor ice rink entertain.

Scenic Sailing: Danube Bend
Take in one of Europe’s great cultural capitals and see its iconic sights. Over the last few decades, Budapest has reemerged as one of the continent’s iconic cities, divided by the Danube River and connected by the graceful Chain Bridge. Meet your guide for a panoramic tour, beginning in modern Pest. Along the elegant Andrássy Avenue, admire the National Opera House. Pass Heroes’ Square, a spacious plaza of monuments and statues commemorating the Magyar state. Across the river, explore the more traditional Buda side of the city. Here, visit the Castle District with its massive hilltop castle complex, the turreted Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church. From the heights of Buda Hill, take in views of the famous Chain Bridge. Afterward, enjoy free time to explore the enchanting Buda Hill Castle area at your leisure, before returning to your ship.

Shore Excursions – Panoramic Budapest
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes      
Take in the natural beauty of the fabled “Blue Danube” as you pass through the Danube Bend, considered one of the most beautiful sections of the river. Cruising this 40-mile stretch through northern Hungary, you will see peaceful farmland and an ancient castle that once served as hunting grounds for royals and visiting dignitaries. As you sail the passage between the Börzsöny and Pilis Ranges, you will marvel at the steep hills draped with bucolic forests. And delight in the majestic church domes peering at the waterway from inviting villages and historic cities.

Vienna, Austria
The yuletide season transforms Vienna’s beautiful squares into delightful Christmas markets. Festive lights illuminate the Old Town. The Schönbrunn market, set in front of the baroque Hapsburg summer palace, and Freyung market, nestled in the city center, are the perfect destinations for unique handmade decorations. Seasonal music and choral singing provide a merry ambience to holiday festivities in Am Hof Square, while the market at Belvedere Square mixes excellent shopping opportunities with views of the stately palace and adjacent lake to create a fairytale atmosphere.

Shore Excursions – Panoramic Vienna & Christmas Market
Duration: 4 hours   
Discover the magnificent architectural highlights of Vienna, Austria’s elegant capital, during a festive tour. Set out on a combined motor coach and walking tour that focuses on the splendid buildings along the remarkable Ringstrasse, the gracious boulevard laid out on the site of the old city walls during the mid-19th century. Step back in time as you admire these elegant public buildings, grand residences, and imposing palaces. Pay a short visit to the Christkindlmarkt at the St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Afterward, you will take a stroll through the stunning Christmas Market around Maria Theresien Platz. Known for its outstanding and unique handicrafts and artistic decors, this atmospheric market will give plenty of opportunity for shopping and browsing its many stalls. After a brief orientation tour, you may enjoy free time to explore at your leisure or return to your awaiting ship.

Shore Excursions – Vienna’s Sights Up Close
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes      
Travel like a local as you journey by subway and on foot to view the city’s main sights. Begin with a subway ride to Karlsplatz, where you will walk by the stunning opera building and see the famed Viennese coffeehouse, Café Sacher, and Albertinaplatz. The engaging walk also takes you by the Spanish Riding School, named for the Spanish horses that formed one of the bases of the Lipizzan breed, at Josefsplatz. Continue with your guide along Kohlmarkt, home to many luxury boutiques and the acclaimed pastry shop, Demel, established in 1786. Visit the Judenplatz Holocaust Memorial and then walk to one of the oldest squares in Vienna, Hoher Markt, where the historic Ankeruhr (Anker Clock) stands. Enjoy some free time at Stephansplatz before heading back to the ship via the subway.

Vienna, Austria
Renowned as the “City of Waltzes,” Austria’s capital city of Vienna is Europe’s center of classical music. Strauss and Mozart composed many of their finest pieces here. Vienna’s musical history is matched by the elegant, graceful architecture that lines the Ringstrasse, the wide boulevard encircling the Inner City. Baroque, neo-Renaissance, Gothic-Romanesque and other splendidly styled structures, from the Hofburg Palace to the Vienna State Opera, take the breath away with their grand facades. Vienna has a more intimate side too: inviting footpaths lead through green parks and its famed Viennese cafés sweeten any stay with coffee and the city’s delectable Sachertorte.

Krems, Austria
A small university town at the eastern end of the Danube’s Wachau Valley, Krems is surrounded by terraced vineyards. In its heyday, during the 12th century, Krems held even more importance than Vienna for its iron, grain, salt and wine trade. As to the latter, the city has played a long and celebrated part in the popularity of the Wachau’s wine culture; the valley’s south slopes in Krems are bathed in sunlight all day and create some of the best Riesling and Veltliner wines in the world. The city’s cobblestone streets, taverns, wine bars and coffeehouses have a timeless appeal.

Scenic Sailing: Wachau Valley
Sail through a scenic tapestry of hillside vineyards, charming towns and castle ruins in Austria’s Wachau Valley, celebrated as perhaps the most scenic stretch of the Danube. Journey 18 miles through this vast UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the river courses through idyllic countryside hamlets. Gaze upon the hibernating, wine-producing villages—the legacy of vintners that stretch as far back as Celtic and Roman times and an echo of the more than 30 monasteries that served as vineyards in Renaissance days.

Shore Excursions – Göttweig Abbey at Christmas
Duration: 3 hours  
Experience a Benedictine abbey where monks work and worship during a Privileged Access visit to Göttweig Abbey. Enjoy the vistas of the splendid Wachau Valley and the Danube River during a scenic drive, before arriving at the abbey, standing in all its majesty atop a hill. The oldest part of the monastery, a small chapel in the inner courtyard, dates back to 1072 and it is usually closed to visitors. However, Viking guests are invited to step inside the chapel and enjoy the nativity scene, an important work by the monks. Admire the craftmanship and intricate carvings of the figurines as you discover more about the history of the abbey. After your delightful experience, you will return to your awaiting ship.

Passau, Germany
Centered around the beautiful St. Stephen’s Cathedral, home to Europe’s largest pipe organ, the romantic market stalls of the Christkindlmarkt are a delight to explore. An array of handmade goods, from tasty treats to ornaments, offer a wealth of opportunity to take home a unique artisan gifts created by local craftsmen. Periodically throughout the festive season, the cathedral hosts yuletide concerts; the sound of choirs singing can be heard as their voices echo through the courtyard and the town’s narrow streets.

Shore Excursions – Christmas Traditions in Passau
Duration: 3 hours      
Stroll historic Passau, watch an Advent wreath demonstration and sample a yuletide treat—gingerbread. Known as “the city of the three rivers” and founded more than 2,000 years ago, Passau is one of the oldest cities in Bavaria. Your knowledgeable guide will take you through the stunning Old Town and pause to admire its imposing baroque cathedral. Along the way, gaze up at the twinkling lights and enjoy the scent of spiced gingerbread, sausages grilling and almonds roasting from street vendors. Stop and learn tips on how to craft the perfect Advent wreath and see how gingerbread is made at a local bakery. Afterward, enjoy free time to browse the stalls of local artisan craftsmen, who display all manner or handmade gifts from unique woolens, delicate glass ornaments and traditional wooden toys. After your tour, you will return to your awaiting ship.

Regensburg, Germany
The UNESCO World Heritage city of Regensburg is transformed during the holiday season as its medieval streets are donned with festive cheer. Narrow passageways open to hidden courtyards with stalls laden with handcrafted wares, including dolls, pottery and silk paintings. The scent of home-baked spiced gingerbread, cinnamon and glühwein fills the air. The world-famous boys’ choir, the Regensburger Domspatzen, was formed at the city’s cathedral in 975 and travels the globe, performing to admiring audiences internationally.

Shore Excursions – Regensburg Walking Tour & Organ Concert
Duration: 2 hours   
Soak up the splendor of one of Germany’s hidden gems with this magnificent walking tour of Regensburg. The city is one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site; its architectural charm dates back more than 2,000 years. Best explored on foot, take the opportunity to immerse yourself in Regensburg’s festive atmosphere as you admire the city’s twinkling lights. Witness historical sights that were untouched by World War II bombings, including the medieval stone bridge, the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and the Gothic-style St. Peter’s Cathedral, where you can marvel at the superb stained-glass windows. Delight in the charm of the Christmas market in front of the cathedral and enjoy the atmosphere of an organ concert at the Cathedral Parish Church, before heading back to your ship at your leisure.

Shore Excursions – Historic Regensburg & Jewish Heritage
Duration: 2 hours  
Discover Regensburg during a walking tour and learn more about the city’s Jewish heritage. This tour contains all the same elements as the regular Regensburg Walking Tour but adds stops at several Jewish-related sights. Meet your guide at the pier and set off on foot, admiring Roman-era ruins and the many landmarks that date back to the Middle Ages. Continue your journey, delving into the city’s Jewish heritage, with stops at important monuments. Learn more about its history at Neupfarrplatz, in what was once the Jewish Quarter. Here, where the Synagogue once stood, is the site of a striking memorial. You will also see the former residence of Oskar Schindler, who saved more than 1,200 Jews, and the tombstones at the Old Town Hall and the Stumbling Stones memorial. These small brass plaques on the pavement commemorate the Jewish residents who died in the Holocaust.

Regensburg, Germany
Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home. Or spend more time exploring, perhaps joining one of our extensions.