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Blue Danube Discovery
- Taste of Christmas
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Blue Danube Discovery – Taste of Christmas
Budapest to Nuremberg in seven nights, and every day on this itinerary earns its place. AmaWaterways‘ Blue Danube Discovery – Taste of Christmas River Cruise sails the Danube through four countries, taking in Bratislava’s coronation history, imperial Vienna, the stunning Wachau Valley and Melk Abbey, the three rivers of Passau, medieval Regensburg, and the neoclassical Walhalla monument before finishing in Nuremberg with the city’s famous Christmas market.
4.81
from
224 reviews
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Cruise Line: AmaWaterways -
Ship: AmaBella + 2 more -
Duration: 6 Nights
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Departure: November
Blue Danube Discovery – Taste of Christmas Cruise Prices
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Blue Danube Discovery – Taste of Christmas Cruise Itinerary
Budapest to Nuremberg, heading west and north through some of the Danube’s most celebrated cities and landscapes. There’s a lot packed into seven nights, and it all lands well.
Day 1
Budapest
You board in Budapest and settle in as the city’s holiday lights reflect on the Danube.
Day 2
Bratislava
A walking tour explains why Bratislava earned its title as the Coronation City of Kings, or, if food is more your thing, the Tastes of Slovakia experience offers a more flavour-led way into the city. Those with energy to spare can hike up to Bratislava Castle for the views.
Day 3
Vienna
Vienna gets a full day, and it deserves it. The Imperial Vienna tour takes in the Opera House, the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs and St Stephen’s Cathedral. If you’d rather cover more ground on two wheels, a guided bike tour is available, with free time in the afternoon.
Day 4
Dürnstein
The Wachau Valley is the backdrop, and it’s a particularly good one in the winter light. In Dürnstein, choose between a walking tour with a wine tasting and apricot treats, a hike up to Richard the Lionheart’s former fortress, or an apricot and sweets tasting. The ship then cruises through the UNESCO Wachau Valley to Melk, where a tour of the Benedictine Abbey awaits, alongside a guided bike ride option and a hike for those who want the most active version of the day.
Day 5
Passau
Two very different days are on offer here. Those who disembark at Linz can take a full-day excursion to Salzburg, exploring the historic centre, Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square and the Old Market. Those who stay on board cruise to Passau, the City of Three Rivers, with a walking tour of its Gothic and Baroque architecture and St Stephen’s Cathedral, a castle hike to Veste Oberhaus Fortress, a Passau bike tour or a River Inn bike tour.
Day 6
Regensburg
Regensburg is one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The guided walking tour takes in the Old Town Hall and the ancient Roman Porta Praetoria. A Tastes of Bavaria tour covers beer, sausage and pretzels, while the bike tour heads out to Walhalla, a neoclassical white marble temple inspired by the Parthenon.
Day 7
Nuremberg
The morning brings a scenic cruise along the Main-Danube Canal to Nuremberg. Ashore, the medieval city tour covers the Imperial Castle, Albrecht Dürer’s home and Market Square. For those who want to go deeper into the city’s history, a WWII tour visits Zeppelin Field and the Nuremberg Trials museum. A Tastes of Franconia tour offers Nuremberger Bratwurst, Rotbier and gingerbread as the day’s alternative.
Day 8
Nuremberg
Disembark in Nuremberg.
BLUE DANUBE DISCOVERY – TASTE OF CHRISTMAS HIGHLIGHTS
Danube River Cruise Deals
Budapest to Nuremberg with Vienna, Salzburg and the Wachau Valley in between. Browse our latest AmaWaterways sailings and find the departure that works for you.
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Blue Danube Discovery – Taste of Christmas Cruise Review
Blue Danube Discovery – Taste of Christmas FAQs
On day five, is the Salzburg excursion instead of Passau, or in addition to it?
The Salzburg excursion is a full-day alternative to the Passau programme, not an addition to it. Guests who take the Salzburg option disembark at Linz for the day trip inland. Those who remain on board cruise to Passau and choose from the city’s own excursion options. You can do one or the other, not both.
What is the Main-Danube Canal, and what is the crossing like on day seven?
The Main-Danube Canal is a waterway that connects the Danube to the Main river, linking the Black Sea to the North Sea by inland waterway. The morning cruise along it on day seven is the ship’s transit to Nuremberg, and the canal’s locks and engineering make it worth being on deck for.
What is Walhalla, and what does the bike tour to visit it involve?
Walhalla is a neoclassical white marble temple above the Danube near Regensburg, built in the style of the Parthenon. The bike tour on day six rides out from Regensburg to reach it. It’s offered as an alternative to the UNESCO city walking tour and the Tastes of Bavaria food tour.
What is the Porta Praetoria in Regensburg, and why is it significant?
The Porta Praetoria is one of the oldest surviving Roman structures in Germany, built around 179 AD as the northern gate of the Roman military camp Castra Regina, which later became the city of Regensburg.
Do I need visas for the countries on this itinerary?
No. The itinerary covers Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Germany, all of which are Schengen Area members. UK citizens can travel without a visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. From 2025, UK travellers need to register with ETIAS before entering Schengen countries.
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