Although our nostalgic boats do not go to Vienna, there are several options to use the river Danube to get to and from the Austrian capital, the city of music, cakes and fin de siecle architecture. Budapest – Vienna cruises and Vienna – Budapest cruises are equally popular riverway holidays for both the scenic routes and the historical cities along the way.

Budapest – Vienna Danube Cruise – 9 days (see more details below): Avalon River Cruise Budapest – Vienna, with the following ships: Affinity Ship, Panorama Ship

Vienna – Budapest Danube Cruise in 8 days  (see more details below) – SOLD OUT for 2013, sorry

All cruises from or to Budapest, Hungary: Budapest on European Cruises

Budapest – Vienna River Cruises

Budapest Vienna cruise: Hungarian Parliament

Budapest Vienna cruise: Hungarian Parliament – Cristian Blavand Photography

Budget Hydrofoil Cruise

The cheapest way to get to Vienna riverway is to use the once state owned ship company: only the Hungarian Mahartpassnave runs hydrofoils between Budapest and Vienna. Hydrofoils are not ships, you cannot get on the open deck. Instead, they are closed waterway vehicles, noisier than ships. But these cheap cruises run every day.

Budapest – Vienna Ship Cruises

There are also many fantastic river cruises with all the luxury you wish for, from Budapest to Vienna. Like this 9 day river cruise from Budapest to Vienna, with many city highlights:

Danube Cruise – 9 days from Budapest to Vienna

The Budapest Wien river cruise is a real treat with many beautiful sights in Budapest, Vienna, Linz, Melk, etc. The cruises are available in 2013 in the following months: April, August, October.

Bratislava on the Danube cruise

Bratislava on the Danube cruise – Miroslav Petrasko Photography

  • Budapest, Hungary: arrival in Budapest, guided sightseeing tour in Budapest, visiting the Fishermen’s Bastion lookout tower on the Buda Castle Hill, the Matthias Church, shopping in Budapest (Hungarian paprika, Herend porcelain, Hungarian folk embroidery, etc.), You are spending the following days in Budapest, Hungary: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3. On Day 3 there will be a welcome reception on the cruise ship.
  • Bratislava, Slovakia: cruising upriver on the Danube, you arrive in Bratislava. The two countries, Hungary and Slovakia share the river Danube for a 58-mile stretch. Visiting the Old Town of Bratislava with the Town Hall and Mirbach Palace as well as the Gothic St Martin Cathedral in a guided sightseeing tour. Day 4 of the river cruise is in Bratislava.
  • Dürnstein, Austria:  cruising upriver on the Danube you pass Vienna (returning here later) and visit the famous Baroque church called Stiftskirche in Durnstein. Day 5 of the river cruise is in Durnstein and Melk.
    Melk Abbey

    Melk Abbey – Budapest Vienna Cruise – Jeff Hutchison Photography

  • Melk, Austria: Melk is like a paradise, and must be one of the nicest section on the river Danube too. Guided tour in the historical, awe-inspiring Benedictine Abbey in Melk.
  • Linz, Austria: cruising to Linz in a beautiful scenery, fantastic landscapes. In Linz you will take a guided walking tour and then visit the Wachau Valley, to see the almost untouched natural beauty of Austria. Day 6 of the river cruise is in Bratislava.
  • Vienna, Austria: the last stop on the Danube cruise starting from Budapest is Vienna. The City of Music is full of beauty, elegance, delicious cakes and amazing concerts. As part of your Budapest Vienna river cruise, you will enjoy a sightseeing tour in the city, where you will visit one of the many lavish museums (palaces with luxurious interiors, arts museums, etc.), explore St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Wien, shop in the Kärntnerstrasse, and Vienna could not be complete without taking a chat in real Viennese café while nimbling a slice of the famous Sachertorte (Sacher chocolate cake). 3 Days in Vienna: Day 7, 8 and 9 will be spent in this gorgeous city with lots of things to do.
    Vienna on the Danube cruise

    Vienna by Night – Andre Icatus Photography

 

Vienna – Budapest Ship Cruises

There are of course on the other way around, from Vienna to Budapest, comfortable and scenic river tours, river cruises with all the relaxed atmosphere and luxury you wish for, rooms like hotel rooms, balconies, etc., from Budapest to Vienna. Like this 8 day river cruise from Vienna to Budapest, with many highlights in the cities on the way and in the natural landscapes.

Vienna – Budapest Danube Cruise in 8 days

The cruises are available in 2013 in the following months: April – May, July – August, October.

The Wien Budapest river cruise is full of amazingly beautiful tours, landscapes and sights to take in. In addition, you will have a peace of mind to have gourmet foods aboard the cruise ship and more pleasures. Let’s see what the river cruise schedules are like:

The scenic Danube cruise starts in Vienna, then goes a bit upriver to see the nearby attractions in the neighbouring towns like Melk, Linz, and then the cruise continues down the river, with a final stop and a spectacular entree into Budapest, divided into two by the river Danube and with a riverfront which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

Vienna Fiaker

Vienna Fiaker at Hofburg Palace – Fred Gilderick Photography

  • Vienna, Austria: the first stop on the Danube cruise starting from Vienna to Budapest is Vienna, where such world classics of music lived and worked like Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss, making Vienna known today as the City of Music, Vienna is full of charm, history, delicious cakes and amazing concerts. As part of your Vienna Budapest Danube cruise, you will enjoy a sightseeing tour in the city of Vienna, where you will visit the top attractions of Wien, like the posh Hofburg Palace, or the impressive Vienna Opera House, the majestic sights along the ring road called Ringstrasse, and the awe-inspiring St. Stephen’s Cathedral. These are just a few of the attractions your river cruise package includes. Shopping in the boutiques of Kärntnerstrasse, and visiting a real Viennese Cafe for a mouthwatering Apple strudel or chocolaty Sacher Torte is also on the menu. You will spend 3 Days in Vienna: Day 1, 1 and 3 will be spent in this gorgeous city with lots of things to do.
  • Melk, Austria: Melk is a fantastic place with a richly decorated Benedictine Monastery you can explore in a guided tour which is also part of your Danube cruise deal from Vienna to Budapest. Day 4 is spent in Melk and in the next town, Durnstein.
  • Durnstein, Austria:  cruising upriver on the river Danube the next stop is Dürnstein with a famous blue and white Baroque church called Stiftskirche, sitting on the riverbank of the Danube. Basically this part of the cruise, Melk and Durnstein, leads you through one of the most scenic natural part of the river Danube, the well preserved Wachau Valley. Optional trips are available to explore the area a bit more. Consult with your river cruise guide to learn more about the available side trips and excursions.
    Bratislava in the 19th century

    Bratislava 1827 – Karoly Marko’s Painting

  • Bratislava, Slovakia: cruising now down the river Danube from Austria you arrive in Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia (the former capital of Hungary for many centuries). The two countries, Hungary and Slovakia are bordering the river Danube for a 58-mile stretch. Visiting the Old Town of Bratislava with the Town Hall and Mirbach Palace as well as the Gothic St Martin Cathedral in a guided sightseeing tour is part of your river cruise package. Day 5 of the 8 day Vienna Budapest river cruise is spent in Bratislava.
  • Budapest, Hungary: the next city on your cruise is the final destination. The only stop on our cruise where the river Danube flows right through the heart of the city with a dramatic sight. Hills on your left, plains on your right and 19th century architectural beauties on both sides: the Buda Castle, the Hungarian Parliament, the domes of the St Stephen’s Cathedral, the Gresham Palace, the historical bridges all make a wonderful sight and make your river cruise to Budapest like a crescendo in an opera piece. Budapest will feel less polished than Vienna, but full of life, vibration, living history and a mixture of faded and restored beauty. Day 6, 7 and 8 are spent in Budapest of the 8 day Vienna Budapest river cruise. Budapest city tour is included in the price of your river Danube cruise.
Budapest Danube sights: Market Hall

Budapest Danube sights: Market Hall – Miroslav Petrasko Photography

 

You can book your Budapest – Vienna, or Vienna – Budapest cruises via our tour partner. Price comparison of Budapest – Vienna and Vienna Budapest cruises is also available to check the cruise prices of world famous cruise lines like AMA Waterways, Uniworld, Viking River Cruises, Sea Cloud Cruises, etc.

Further details and booking Budapest river cruises 2013 outside Budapest is here: BOOKING Hungarian cruises in 2013