Romantic Danube

4.3/5 Based on 6 Reviews No Booking FeesDedicated Cruise Advisor
Romantic Danube
Romantic Danube
Romantic Danube

Overview

Read 6 reviews and enjoy exclusive savings on Viking's 8 Day Romantic Danube. Visit Budapest’s Castle District and cross the famous Chain Bridge. Explore Göttweig Abbey, one of Austria’s most revered monastic centers, and make dumplings with Wachau Valley apricots. Visit historic Salzburg. Spend two days in Vienna and celebrate the city’s musical heritage at a concert featuring works by Mozart and Strauss. With medieval towns, grand cities and stunning scenery, this eight-day journey on the “Blue Danube” is one you are sure to love.
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US$2,399 per person
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Trip Length
Cruise Length

8 Days

Trip Starts
Cruise Starts

Regensburg

Trip Ends
Cruise Ends

Budapest

Trip Departures
Cruise Departures
Apr 2026 to Nov 2028
Countries Visited
Countries Visited:
Countries Visited
Rivers Sailed:
Cruise Line
Cruise Line
Viking
Cruise Ship
Cruise Ship
Viking Ve +7
Trip Reviews
6 Trip Reviews
Avg. Rating: 4.3/5
Ship Class
Ship Class

Viking Longship

Passengers
Passengers

190

Crew
Crew

50

Ship Launch
Launched

2015

Cruise Code
Cruise Code

VKRD1-R

Itinerary

Having escaped major damage during World War II, the picturesque town of Regensburg is one of Europe's best-preserved medieval cities, the oldest city along the Danube and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Old Stone Bridge, constructed in the 12th century, is a masterpiece of medieval engineering with its 16 arches. St. Peter's Cathedral is widely considered Bavaria's best Gothic architectural work. The old town's Neupfarrplatz square is a cross section of history—it was once a thriving Jewish quarter, a bustling marketplace and the site of Nazi book burnings.

Regensburg dates back to Roman times and was the first capital of Bavaria. Today, the city has a laid-back atmosphere and its warren of narrow alleys are a delight to explore. Amid its riverside streets is the small Alte Wurstküche tavern, the world's first sausage kitchen. It opened its doors in the 12th century to serve the construction workers of the Old Stone Bridge and St. Peter's Cathedral, making it the first fast-food restaurant ever. In line with Bavarian tradition, visits to the pub are customary for many of the locals and serve as a ritual of community life.

Founded by the Celts over 2,000 years ago, Passau is one of Bavaria's oldest cities. Known as the “City of Three Rivers,” it rests at the confluence of the Inn, Ilz and Danube rivers. The city has long enjoyed its strategic position and grew to great economic and political power because of it. The legacy of its past prosperity lives on in graceful arcades, colorful houses with rococo facades and the glorious baroque St. Stephen's Cathedral, home to one of Europe's largest pipe organs. Passau is also where two nations meet; it is here that the German-Austrian border begins.

Sail through a serene tapestry of terraced vineyards, forested slopes, 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 picturesque hillsides. Gaze upon the prolific grapevines and quaint wine-producing villages hugging the shores—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.

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.

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.

Vienna is considered one of Europe's greatest cultural hubs. Its art scene has long been established with the Hapsburg's collection of fine art, now housed at the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Today, Vienna's modern side showcases street art murals that don the side of buildings along the banks of the Danube. Ingrained in local life is the long-embraced tradition of coffeehouses; UNESCO includes Viennese coffeehouse culture on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritages. It is considered one of life's pleasures to while away an afternoon over an Einspänner coffee and a pastry.

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.

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.

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

Life On Board

Viking
 (117) Reviews
Total No. of River Cruises 68
A Viking river cruise is the discerning traveller’s dream. Whether you choose to visit Egypt, Asia, Europe or the Mississippi, our itineraries are designed to immerse you in the history and culture of each destination. With us, you could be exploring a local food market with our head chef one day and experiencing an exclusive more behind-the-scenes tour of a world-famous museum the next.

Our state-of-the-art ships take you right into the heart of each destination, and you won’t find any kids or ‘nickel and diming’ on board. In fact, our fares include everything you need - from meals, beverages and Wi-Fi to a culturally enriching shore excursion at every port of call. This unique combination of features has become affectionately known as ‘the Viking difference’.

Viking has 70 award-winning river ships sailing all over the world, and we can’t wait to welcome you on board to discover the Viking difference for yourself.
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The Longship Fleet

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The Thinking Person's Cruise

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Serene Scandinavian Spaces

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Trip Reviews (6)

Viking River Cruises Reviews
Reviews 6 Reviews
Average Rating 4.3 out of 5
5 Star
33%
4 Star
67%
3 Star
2 Star
1 Star
Relaxing cruise on the Danube   1 , QLD, Australia, Aug 2024
Having previously sailed with Viking Cruises we were looking forward to this very much. The service on Viking ships is wonderful, the staff excellent and the food just much too good to resist but that’s okay you are on holiday after all! This was a lovely relaxing cruise down the Danube and the onboard entertainment was very nice especially the two read more young dancers who taught us how to waltz!

Compared to our previous Rhine and Rhone cruises we did find the optional tours seemed to take precedence over the included tours which in the main where mostly walking tours near the ship and the post extension in Budapest while being a lovely two days, included a tour that was basically a half hour walk round the hotel. We were also disappointed with the airport transfer as the Viking host did not turn up at the airport and even after being paged didn’t show so we checked in ourselves not a big deal except we were both unwell with a virus and this didn’t help.

All in all this cruise was very enjoyable and we met some lovely people and couldn’t fault the staff on the Viking Tor but would still put the Rhine and Rhone cruises first.
Easy and relaxing luxurious cruise down the Danube 3 , NSW, Australia, Jun 2017
Beautiful scenery, great ship with excellent staff and great food. Good choice of shore excursions with very good guides. We really enjoyed meeting our fellow travellers, even though by nature we are not very outgoing. Most were Americans, with the rest British and Canadian, Surprisingly, we were the only Australians. We were expecting a lot of old read more people but most were about our age -- 60-something! It cost a lot, but it's worth doing at least once.
Great trip on the Danube 1 , WA, Australia, Jul 2016
Great time of year to go cruising, the temperatures were perfect, not too hot or cold. Company on the cruise was good and really enjoyed the excursions too. Nuremberg, Vienna and Budapest were the highlights of the cruise. Would certainly recommend Viking everything was really well organised and the free drinks package was a bonus!
Viking river cruise Nuremburg to Budapest   2 , WA, Australia, Jun 2015
Had a great cruise, we're from Australia and others on the cruise were mainly from USA. Had a great time and we are still in touch with some fellow passengers. Found the ship and cabin very good, loved the under floor heating in the bathroom. Shore excursions and shore guides all of a high standard.

Booking through Global Journeys as part of our read more trip we received a full onboard drinks package (well used). Food was OK and service very good by the friendly staff on board. A plus for Viking cruises - we had trouble getting to the ship at the start of the cruise (owing to German road works) and upon getting to the ship, the cruise director refunded our Taxi fare in full!!! Well done Viking.

Great holiday, all sorted by Jemma at Global Journeys.
Very much enjoyed our first river cruise 2 , WA, Australia, Jun 2015
First river cruise and enjoyed very much, lovely cabin, first rate bathroom. Food on average very good, but would have liked more choice with buffet lunch i.e. Cheese and ham served at breakfast but not at lunch. All shore excursions were done well and on time and the service of guides very good. Staff on ship worked very hard although at times pushed read more to serve meals and drinks as required. Also there should be more training of staff as regard passengers who have the drinks Silver package on the cruise. We would not hesitate to recommend Viking cruises or to sail with them again.
Extremely happy with the service 3 , Australia, Aug 2014
We were extremely happy with the service before, during and after the holiday. We had a wonderful time on board and everything was looked after to a high standard for the entire time. My only gripe, (and this is a small one), was during the dinner service and the fact that despite the tables not 'being booked', people had actually tipped the staff so read more they remained at the same table and same (window) seats every night! It was great to have the option of eating alfresco or the more formal dining room. We saw a number of the cruise boats which did not offer this experience.
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Viking River Voyages (2026-28) Brochure

Viking River Voyages (2026-28)

Discover the world at a slower, more meaningful pace as you journey along iconic rivers and waterways across Europe, Asia, Africa and beyond. Viking’s thoughtfully designed ships and enriching experiences bring you closer to history, culture and everyday life, from the Rhine and Nile to the Mekong and the new Brahmaputra voyages in India. This brochure more is your invitation to explore the world’s rivers in comfort, depth and timeless style.

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Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Viking. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.

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