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Melodies of the Danube
- Taste of Christmas
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Melodies of the Danube – Taste of Christmas
Four countries in seven nights is no small thing, but this AmaWaterways cruise makes it feel unhurried. You’ll sail the Danube from Budapest to Vilshofen, with a different country practically every morning: Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Germany, each one dressed for the season. There’s a proper mix of pace here, too. Grand cities like Budapest and Vienna sit alongside smaller stops like Weissenkirchen and Bratislava, so you get the imperial palaces and the quiet vineyard villages in the same week.
4.72
from
164 reviews
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Cruise Line: AmaWaterways -
Ships: AmaBella + 3 more -
Duration: 6 Nights
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Departure: Nov - Dec
Melodies of the Danube – Taste of Christmas Prices
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Melodies of the Danube – Taste of Christmas Itinerary
From Budapest to Vilshofen, here’s how the week unfolds as you visit each port.
Day 1
Budapest, Hungary
Arrive in Budapest and settle aboard your ship as the city’s lights come on for the evening. It’s a gentle start, just enough time to toast the season before the week gets going.
Day 2
Budapest, Hungary
Spend the day exploring both sides of the city. On the Buda side, take in the Castle District, Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church. Cross to Pest for the Parliament Building, Heroes’ Square and the Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial. Whether you’d rather stroll, hike or keep things active is up to you.
Day 3
Bratislava, Slovakia
Bratislava’s Old Town was once the setting for royal coronations, and it’s an easy place to explore on foot. Choose between a tasting of traditional Slovak specialities or a guided hike up to Bratislava Castle for winter views over the city.
Day 4
Vienna, Austria
Vienna brings proper imperial grandeur: the Opera House, the former Imperial Palace and St Stephen’s Cathedral are all on the cards, or swap the walking tour for a bike ride through the city instead. There’s free time too, if you’d rather shop or wander at your own pace.
Day 5
Weissenkirchen, Austria
Weissenkirchen is your stop for local wines and festive apricot specialities, or you can join the Highlights of Durnstein Walking Tour and Wine Tasting or cycle through the valley’s winter vineyards toward Melk instead. Either way, the day ends at Melk Abbey, its frescoes glowing above the Danube.
Day 6
Linz, Austria
Today’s a choice of full-day trips and excursions: a “Cultural Mile” Bike Tour, Salzburg’s Sound of Music filming sites, the snow-dusted streets of Český Krumlov, or a closer look at Linz itself. Whichever you pick, there’s a whiskey distillery tour on offer to round off the day.
Day 7
Passau, Germany
Passau’s Gothic and Baroque streets are yours to explore on foot, or you can choose to bike along the Danube or hike up to the Veste Oberhaus fortress for winter views. Your ship then cruises on to Vilshofen for an exclusive holiday-themed Oktoberfest celebration, complete with Bavarian music, dancing and local beer.
Day 8
Vilshofen, Germany
Disembark in Vilshofen.
MELODIES OF THE DANUBE – TASTE OF CHRISTMAS HIGHLIGHTS
Danube River Cruise Deals
Four countries in one week doesn’t come around at this price too often. Why not see which date works best before this one fills up, or peruse our other cruise offers to find something that suits your tastes?
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Melodies of the Danube – Taste of Christmas Review
Melodies of the Danube – Taste of Christmas FAQs
Is this cruise one-way or roundtrip?
It’s one-way. You’ll sail from Budapest to Vilshofen, and this itinerary only runs in that direction, so it’s worth double-checking your flight home is booked into the right city rather than back to Budapest.
Do I need a visa for Austria, Germany, Hungary and Slovakia?
No, UK travellers don’t need a visa for any of these four countries. They’re all part of the Schengen area, so your standard 90-day visa-free allowance covers the whole trip. The EU is bringing in a new online travel authorisation called ETIAS later in 2026, but it isn’t a visa, and it hasn’t launched yet, so there’s nothing extra required to travel right now. Worth a quick check closer to your departure date in case that’s changed by the time you sail.
What currency will I need across these four countries?
Austria, Germany and Slovakia all use the euro, so that covers most of the week. Hungary is the exception, since it uses the forint, so it’s worth carrying a little local cash for your day in Budapest, even though some places will accept euros.
On Day 6 in Linz, can I do the Salzburg trip and the Český Krumlov trip on the same day?
No, they’re offered as alternatives rather than as a package. You’ll choose one of the three main options for the day, Salzburg, Český Krumlov, or a closer look at Linz itself, and there’s a whiskey distillery tour on offer afterwards to round things off.
Why was Bratislava once a city for royal coronations?
When Ottoman forces occupied Hungary’s previous coronation city in the 16th century, the Hungarian crown moved its ceremonies to Bratislava’s St Martin’s Cathedral instead. Between 1563 and 1830, a string of Hungarian kings and queens were crowned there, which is part of why the Old Town still feels so steeped in royal history today.
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