Heart of the Danube: Budapest to Bavaria - Westbound 2026

8 days
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4.4/5 Great
100+ reviews  
87%
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River Cruise
Experience the scenic, romantic soul of old-world Europe on a river cruise along the Danube. Begin with a sumptuous gala evening at a Viennese Palace, and wind through dramatic river landscapes to discoveries in Munich, Dürnstein, Passau, Cesky Krumlov and Bratislava.
From$3,990
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Overview

Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy

Highlights

    • When your road is the Danube
    • it's enchanting... Austria
    • Slovakia
    • Hungary and Germany are linked by peaceful river landscapes dotted with storybook castles and romantic villages surrounded by stone terraced vineyards
    • where making world-class wines – and tasting them! – is an art. A wonderfully preserved medieval castle and town in the Czech Carpathian mountains are as awe-inspiring as the palaces and museums of Imperial Vienna. As you cruise from port to port
    • explore the cobblestone streets and market squares in the Old Towns of Bratislava
    • Cesky Krumlov
    • Grein
    • Passau
    • and Regensburg

What's this trip about?

    Experience the scenic, romantic soul of old-world Europe on a river cruise along the Danube. Begin with a sumptuous gala evening at a Viennese Palace, and wind through dramatic river landscapes to discoveries in Munich, Dürnstein, Passau, Cesky Krumlov and Bratislava.

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transport
Start City Budapest, Hungary
End CityMunich

Travel Themes

  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

Attractions

  • Bratislava
  • Budapest
  • Munich
  • Vienna

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE - An Imperial Evening at a private Vienna palace with dinner and classical performers Wine-tasting event at the village of Weissenkirchen, in Austrian wine country All gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Directors Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions – $1,520 Value Choice of sightseeing in Passau or medieval Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Arrive Budapest & embark ship

Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Budapest, Hungary.
 A transfer is included from Franz Liszt Budapest Airport directly to your riverboat, where embarkation begins at 4:00 PM. Enjoy a welcome toast before dinner onboard as your riverboat spends the night in Budapest.

MEALS : D

LODGING : ms Esprit

PORTOFCALL : Budapest, Hungary

Day 2 Explore Budapest

Your cruise begins this morning in Budapest, Hungary, which is split into the sections of Buda and Pest by the Danube River. A guided tour of the city begins with the Pest side and a drive along Andrassy Avenue to Heroe's Square and...

Day 3 Choices in & around Bratislava

Awaken this morning for a choice of activities in or near Bratislava, Slovakia's visually intriguing capital city. One is a walking tour of the cobblestoned, vehicle-free historic center of Bratislava; medieval, Baroque and modern a...

Day 4 Imperial Vienna

You have two morning sightseeing choices today, both preceded by a tour of Vienna's landmark sights: visits to the Imperial Treasury (the Schatzkammer) in the Hofburg, displaying priceless treasures from the House of Habsburg, inclu...

Day 5 Dürnstein, Krems and wine tasting

This morning, your riverboat docks in Dürnstein, in Austria's Wachau Valley, which offers you a choice of unforgettable sightseeing excursions. You may choose to explore the picture-perfect Austrian village of Dürnstein on a guided ...

Day 6 Grein or the Mauthausen Memorial

Arrive in the typically picturesque riverside village of Grein, Austria, for a choice of sightseeing in Grein or a visit to the Mauthausen Memorial. Your visit begins with a guided walking tour of the village, which includes views o...

Day 7 Passau or Cesky Krumlov

Awaken in Passau today for a choice of sightseeing in this riverside town in Germany, or an excursion to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. Once a Roman outpost at the confluence of three rivers, Passau is over 2,500 years old, a ...

Day 8 Journey Home

Tour ends: Vilshofen, Germany.
Fly home anytime. Transfers are included from the riverboat to Munich International Airport or Munich's main railroad station. You should allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Munich, Germany

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,990
Price per day$499
Last Updated: 3/7/2025
Departure Date
Finish Date
Double Standard
Single Standard
Double Luxury
Availability
04 Oct 2026
12 Oct 2026
$5,890
$6,140
$6,290

All prices are per person in U.S. dollars.

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Tauck Reviews & Ratings

4.4/5  Great
Excellent
16
Great
4
Average
0
Disappointing
3
Terrible
0
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Other Tauck Reviews

K

Kurlyk40

May 2024

Written on

Great Scenery but Accommodations Lacking for cost

My husband and I booked the Yellowstone tour with Tauck expecting so much more with the accommodations, food, and tour director based on the price point. We were sa...

S

Susan

Jun 2023

Written on

Nine Tours and Done

Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done o...

C

Cougess

Jan 2023

Written on

Skip this cruise - not worth it

My husband and I went on the Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles Trip jn October 2022. This was our third Tauck cruise with Ponnant but our first post covid and the...

Write a Review

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Logistics

Accommodation

Ship & cabin information
MS ESPRIT
MS ESPRIT One of five 361-foot (110-meter) riverboats in Tauck's Destination Fleet, ms Esprit accommodates no more than 118 guests, while similar-sized riverboats average about 160. Guest amenities inside her 14 lush 300-square-foot Tauck Suites include brocade upholstery, roomy walk-in closets with built-in drawers, spacious marble baths with full-size tubs, and two French balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows that open to idyllic riverscapes. She also sports seven 183-square-foot cabins, similarly furnished. Standard cabins (150 square feet) are cozy and comfortable and are similar in décor and style to our larger suites. 85% have floor-to-ceiling windows with real French balconies that open on to a balcony in the fresh air; all have in-room movies, minibar, adjustable heating and cooling, private bathroom and shower with pampering toiletries.
MS ESPRIT
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
ALL_AGES
Additional Information
[object Object]
Trip ID
tauck-RVW2026

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