Viking Rivers Cruises – Danube Christmas Delights (Hungary, Slovakia, 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.

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.

Shore Excursions – Panoramic Budapest
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes  
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 – 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.

Bratislava, Slovakia
The aroma of mulled wine and Slovakian delicacies mixes with the sound of Christmas carols to turn Bratislava’s historic Old Town into a winter wonderland during the holiday season. The medieval Bratislava Castle overlooks light-festooned streets that give the city a fairytale glow. Vendors in Hlavné Námestíe Square display authentic artisanal handicrafts, and a specially decorated Christmas tram adds to the holiday atmosphere as it transports visitors to the different fairs spread out around the city.

Shore Excursions – Bratislava’s Christmas Market & Organ Concert
Duration: 2 hours
Stroll Bratislava’s Old Town and experience the Christmas market with an enchanting organ recital. Join your local guide and set off along the Amber Road, tracing the ancient trade route that once linked Northern and Southern Europe. Stop to view the Gothic-style Universitas Istropolitana, the first university founded in present-day Slovakia. Feel the festive spirit as you visit the old town on foot, admiring the illuminated main square. Around the square, you will see the rococo, late-Baroque Grassalkovich Palace, residence of the president, and the rose-hued Archbishop’s Palace, home to the mayor. Stop at the Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral and enjoy an organ concert of festive carols. Afterward, visit the Christmas market and walk among traditional stalls, brimming with yuletide treats, handcrafted Christmas ornaments, and more.

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.

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.

Linz, Austria
Linz is today’s provincial capital of Upper Austria. The city’s famous Linzer Torte, the jam-filled cake topped with almonds, hails from here and can be found in any number of cafés and the stalls of the city’s Christmas markets. In the Old Town, the baroque architecture of the main square provides a stunning backdrop for its Christmas market as the scent of gingerbread fills the air. At the Volksgarten, a nativity scene provides an atmospheric feature with the sounds of classical music and moving figurines that tell the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Shore Excursions – Historic Linz at Christmas
Duration: 3 hours     
Immerse yourself in Linz’s festive spirit with a walk to explore its notable past and visit the Christmas market. Admire the city’s modern sites along the Danube by foot and learn the history of this municipality once owned by the Habsburgs. Continue along the bank to reach Old Town, where you can revel in the yuletide atmosphere and admire its baroque town houses until you reach the Hauptplatz. Here, you may step inside the New Cathedral, if the church’s schedule allows, and admire its ornate interior. Also hosted in the Hauptplatz is the local Christmas market. Browse market stalls brimming with handicrafts and seasonal delights, and marvel at the festive lights. Keep the cold at bay as you sip on a spiced, warm glühwein. Enjoy free time to browse the stalls and search amongst the handmade ornaments, pottery and jewelry for the perfect Christmas gift.

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.

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