Danube Christmas Delights | Viking River Cruises | Dec 7, 2024
Danube Christmas Delights!
December 7th - December 14th 2024
Pass through Europe’s most enchanting countries, stopping to explore cultural capitals and fairy-tale villages. Savor Austro-Hungarian cuisine, admire the Wachau Valley’s beauty and explore Central European cities. Take part in European holiday traditions and experience the region’s renowned Christmas markets. Breathe in the scents of traditional fare and admire the handiwork of local artisans—perfect for bringing home to your family and friends!!
What's Included:
- One complimentary shore excursion in every port of call
- Beer, wine & soft drinks with onboard lunch & dinner
- Plush robes & slippers (upon request)
- Premium Freyja® toiletries
- Private bathroom with shower, heated floor & anti-fog mirror
- 24-hour specialty coffees, teas & bottled water
- Visits to UNESCO Sites
- Free Wi-Fi
Itinerary
Day 1 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, astounding art nouveau buildings, stalwart castles and glittering palaces set the stage for awe-inspiring strolls and long soaks in thermal spas. By night, a nostalgic glow settles in as the city’s lights dance on Danube waters, the Chain Bridge uniting it all as a dramatic centerpiece.
Day 2 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:
Christmas Market at St. Stephen's Basilica
Budapest Thermal Bath
Budapest Castle Hill City hike
Day 3 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. Vendors in Hlavné Námestíe Square display authentic artisanal handicrafts, and a specially decorated Christmas tram transports visitors to the different fairs spread out around the city.
Shore excursions:
Bratislava's Christmas market and organ concert
Beer tasting and Dinner
Day 4 Vienna, Austria
The yuletide season transforms Vienna’s beautiful squares into delightful Christmas markets. 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.
Shore excursions:
Panoramic Vienna & Christmas market
Festive Schönbrunn Palace
Mozart & Strauss Concert
Day 5 Krems, Austria
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 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.
Shore excursions:
Göttweig Abbey at Christmas ( A working Monastery with a hand-crafted nativity scene )
Day 6 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:
Linz walking tour
Mauthausen memorial site
Linz Christmas market
Český Krumlov at Christmas
Day 7 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 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:
Visit the rural farms in Bavaria
Christmas traditions in Passau
Visit Neuschwanstein Castle by plane
Day 8 Passau, Germany