Cruising along the Danube River is a great way to travel at a leisurely pace and watch the ever-changing scenery unfold as you slowly drift by. It’s a very relaxing way to visit some beautiful places and typically the ship stops right by the attractions as these were often built along the riverfront when transportation by boat was the norm. But the highlight is by far stopping along the way in charming historic towns and visiting these enchanting places.
Budapest, Prague and Vienna looked almost like they were plucked out of a storybook with their fairytale castles and cobblestone streets. It wasn’t hard to imagine a princess waving from a turret window. You really feel like you’re carried back in time!
A very popular cruise is the Christmas time one where all the streets are decorated, and the popular Christmas markets abound. We did our cruise in the summer, but I can picture how beautiful the streets would be with a dusting of snow and lit up by Christmas lights!
Danube River Cruise Itinerary
Like most river cruises our itinerary began and ended in different ports. This is a great reason to add both a pre- and post-cruise extension and explore two additional cities. We sailed from Budapest, Hungary, to Nuremberg, Germany, and added both a pre-cruise extension in Budapest as well as a post-cruise vacation stay in Prague, Czech Republic.
Both were well worth it, and we highly recommend spending extra time in Budapest and in Prague if you’ve come out to do this cruise. Of course, it’s possible to reverse the itinerary and start in Nuremberg and end in Budapest, or even continue to Bucharest, Romania. The reverse sailing is also available.
Budapest, Hungary
The Hungarian capital is a delight to visit. The city’s beautiful monuments flanking both sides of the Danube River have led to the central part of the city along the riverbank to be classified a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city’s most famous monument is the iconic Parliament building and it’s spectacular both day and night. Great views of it can be had from Fisherman’s Bastion on the Buda side of the city. Do take time to visit the parliament, it’s exquisite.
Budapest has a long rich history: From an early Celtic settlement it is now dubbed the Paris of the East with stunning architecture, thermal baths, delicious food and vibrant nightlife. It’s home to almost 2 million people with over 3 million in the metropolitan area of Budapest. The city got its name from combining of Buda, Obuda, and Pest when it became the new capital in 1873.
The Danube splits the city into two main areas: Buda and Pest. Buda is on the hilly side of the river and Pest is on the flat side. Our hotel was next to Fisherman’s Bastion on the Buda side.
This was a great location and we loved the fact that we could walk to most of the places we wanted to see. In fact, we were only about a half mile away from the Budapest Castle Hill Funicular. After visiting the castle complex, we recommend walking down or taking the funicular to see the Chain Bridge, a suspension stone bridge built in the 1800s.
Matthias Church is another important landmark on the Buda side and well worth a visit. It’s a Gothic church built in the 14thcentury. Nearby and under Castle Hill you’ll find the Labyrinth where Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler or in fiction Count Dracula) was imprisoned.
Gellért Hill is also on the Buda side, but we suggest that you make a day of it to give it the time it deserves. It’s a great place to go for scenic views of the Danube and it’s also where you’ll find the Gellért Hotel and Spa, one of Budapest most famous thermal baths. There’s even a wave pool, although we opted to relax in the warm healing water instead. There are other thermal baths in Budapest, but we wanted to go to this famous one and really enjoyed the experience.
Aside from the Parliament on the Pest side of the city, there’s also the Hungarian State Opera and St. Stephen’s Basilica where concerts are held regularly. Other points of interest include the Hungarian National Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts. You can also find the Holocaust Memorial Center housed in a former synagogue.
Next to the cruise port (on the Pest side) there’s a market which is a good place to go for a quick and inexpensive lunch. And every evening we feasted on hearty Hungarian specialty dishes (chicken paprikash, goulash, cabbage rolls, stuff peppers, and Hungarian strudel). All delicious!
Vienna, Austria
Vienna is one of the most enchanting cities we have visited. During our short time in the Austrian capital we visited elegant palaces and ornate churches. At the heart of the historical center you’ll find the Hofburg Palace where you can visit the Imperial Apartments, the Sisi Museum and the Spanish Riding School. And the impressive Cathedral of St. Stephen is less than a 10-minute walk from the palace. The locals affectionally call the church’s 446-foot-tall spire “Steffi”.
Of course, there are lots of other interesting places to see in Vienna but with only a day, it’s not possible to see them all. However, we did have time to visit the Belvedere Palace and Schönbrunn Palace. Both palaces date back to the 18th century and have extensive and well-manicured gardens.
Further, the Austrian capital has long been associated with the arts, especially music, with composers such as Mozart, Beethoven and Strauss. Since our ship was sailing late that day, we add plenty of extra time to roam around the city. And we stumbled upon a free classical concert taking place inside a church. The acoustics inside the church were amazing and the lavish décor transported us to another era.
It was an unexpected and delightful surprise which only cost us a few euros entry when they passed a basket for voluntary donations in appreciation of the concert. Like so many things, being at the right place at the right time and leaving some spontaneity in our plans paid off.
Melk, Austria
After a morning of scenic cruising along the Danube River, we stopped in Melk which is known for its monastery. The Melk Abbey dominates the city and has been there for over 1,000 years.
It became a Benedictine monastery in 1089 and monks have continuously lived there since those days. In the 12th century the monastery became a major site for the production of manuscripts. One of the highlights is the huge library containing many manuscripts from medieval times. Following a fire, the abbey was rebuilt in the Baroque style in the 1700s.
From the abbey’s terrace, there are spectacular views of the town and countryside.
Passau, Germany
Known as the City of Three Rivers, Passau lies at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers and the best way to discover it is simply to walk around its narrow cobblestone streets. Some must-sees include the 14th century Old Town Hall and St. Stephan’s Cathedral. The cathedral’s organ is impressive, and we were treated to an organ concert during our visit.
Also, in the Old Town there’s a pedestrian shopping area which is located around Ludwigstrasse and Grabengasse.
For great views of Passau’s Old Town, go up to the hilltop fortress, Veste Oberhaus. It was built in 1219 in order to control commerce along the rivers. Inside there’s a museum about the history of Passau.
What’s more, all the river cruise ships are docked along the Danube River promenade which makes it easy to get back to your ship on your own.
Regensburg, Germany
Regensburg is one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities and is best explored on foot. See the Gothic Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Peter, the Old Town Hall and the 12th century stone bridge. The cathedral’s spires are 344 feet height (104 m) and dominate the old town’s skyline.
Also, do take the time to wander around Regensburg’s old town cobblestone streets and peek into the many shops.
Our cruise operator also offered an optional excursion to Weltenburg Abbey near Kelheim with a boat tour through the Danube Gorge. The scenery was lovely throughout the cruise. The monastery brewery has been making beer since 1050 and if you like that you can sample their famous dark brews.
Nuremberg, Germany
Nuremberg is a medieval city with a castle, fortified walls and watchtowers. We enjoyed wandering around through the historical center’s ancient streets and admiring the beautiful architecture.
The Imperial Castle of Nuremberg is a definite must-see. This castle complex dates back to the 11th century and is located high up on a ridge offering splendid views of the Old Town. Other places of interest include the medieval St. Lorenz Church and the Church of Our Lady, a Gothic style Church next to an open-air market.
The Nuremberg Christmas Market is famous, but even during the summertime vendors were selling Christmas decorations and ornaments. Of course, I bought one for our Christmas tree and every time I look at it, I’m reminded of our lovely Danube River Cruise.
As part of our cruise itinerary we had an included tour to Zeppelin Field, the former Nazi parade grounds. Zeppelin Field was chosen by the Nazi Party to hold its rallies and parades, and this was also where Hitler would address his followers. We also had a brief photo stop at the Palace of Justice where the Nuremberg war crimes trials were held. The cruise operator also offered a more in-depth World War II tour.
Prague, Czech Republic
Extending our vacation to Prague was the right thing to do. It’s a beautiful city with splendid architecture and a buzzing atmosphere. It’s a walkable city and in 2 or 3 days it’s possible to see most of the top attractions.
We loved our time in Prague, and we highly recommend adding a pre- or post-cruise extension to your river cruise. The Czech Republic capital makes the perfect add-on to a Danube or Elbe river cruise. Further, it’s a destination on its own, so we dedicated an entire post to this enchanting city. See it here
Conclusion
Overall, taking a Danube River Cruise was a lovely way to explore these beautiful European ports of call and this is something we would do again. It’s a popular way to explore some of the rivers of Europe and visit charming little towns and historical cities. We certainly plan on taking a few more in the future. We are interested by the other segments of the Danube River Cruise as well as cruising along the Rhine River where we would see more fairytale castles including the famous Neuschwanstein Castle which inspired Disney.
Good to know:
- Not all itineraries are the same, some focus on World War II sites while others don’t. It depends on the sailing date and the ship. Read the itinerary carefully and compare.
- At sometimes low and high-water levels may affect itineraries, but these are unpredictable.
Boats must be able to clear bridges and go through the locks and if there are issues with water levels, the cruise operator may have to bus from one stop to another to switch ships. We’ve never had this happen but assume it’s a rare occasion as water levels don’t seem to be seasonally predictable. - While there is an included excursion in each port of call, you will also have some free time in most ports. We suggest researching the places before leaving so you know where to go on your own. Obviously, if you prefer or are tired, you can also return to the ship.
- The river cruise operator offers excellent pre- and post-cruise extensions packages with hotel, transfers and excursions.
- Optional excursions are also available.
Recommended posts:
What You Need to Know About River Cruises
Why You Should Add Pre- and Post-Cruise Extensions to Your Cruise
2 replies on “Danube River Cruise: Budapest to Nuremberg with Prague Extension”
Interested in cruise from Budapest to Nuremberg this fall. Travel would be in Sept or early Oct. 2022. Would depart Austin TX so would need pricing on business class and tour.
Hi Jim, thanks for reaching out. However, I do not sell tours. We did this cruise with Viking Cruises and the information provided is based on our personal experience.