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Danube Holiday Markets
7-Night Cruise from Budapest to Passau (or reverse)

Budapest to Passau (or reverse) - 8 days	For further assistance call 1-800-526-8539
Ship - Maria Theresa	Ask about our Travel Insurance

Detailed Itinerary: Budapest to Passau

Skip to Passau to Budapest itinerary

Day 1: Budapest, Hungary (Embarkation Day)

Arrive at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport where you will be transferred to the ship. (D)

Day 2: Budapest

Featured Excursion: Budapest city tour with Christmas Market

Explore Budapest, an enchanting city often referred to as the “Queen of the Danube.” Made up of two parts—Buda, the hills, and Pest, the flat lands - the city is divided by the Danube. It’s an architectural dream, which you will discover on your city tour. You will visit the UNESCO World Heritagedesignated Castle Hill district and see dramatic vistas from the 19th-century Fisherman’s Bastion. You will cross the famous Chain Bridge, an early-19th-century bridge that was the first to connect Buda with Pest. In the center of it all is the Christmas Market, where you will get to shop for traditional Hungarian wares and delightful holiday treats like apricot brandy and cinnamon-spiced gingerbread. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Gala)

Day 3: Bratislava, Slovakia

Featured Excursion: Bratislava city tour and Christmas Market

The heart and soul of Slovakia, Bratislava is full of surprises - many of which you will discover on your city tour. While Bratislava’s very first Christmas Market was only established in 1993, the Slovakians have quickly embraced the holiday traditions of their Austrian and Hungarian neighbors with stalls filled with folk handicrafts from the region. (BB, L, D)

Day 4: Vienna, Austria

Featured Excursion: Vienna city tour with National Library visit, Christmas Market, and Mozart and Strauss concert

This regal city becomes even more dazzling during the holidays. Vienna is a treasure trove of secular and sacred gems, many of which you will see during your panoramic city tour. You will travel the stately Ringstrasse and see St. Stephen’s Cathedral, where Mozart was married in 1782. You will also visit the Baroque State Hall of the Austrian National Library, said to be the most beautiful library in the world. Afterward, you will walk with your tour guides to two Christmas Markets. Austria’s most famous Christmas Market, with over 140 wooden huts, is set in front of City Hall. Macaroons with nutmeg and rum balls are two treats you won’t want to miss. You will also visit a smaller, but no less charming, Christmas Market at Freyung Square, which has taken place every winter since 1772. Later in the evening, you will celebrate the spirit of Mozart and Strauss in one of Vienna’s well known concert halls. (BB, L, D)

Note: On Mondays, Mozarthaus will be substituted for the Library.

Day 5: Krems - Senic Cruising through Wachau Valley

Featured Excursion: Göttweig Abbey with organ recital

You will visit the beautiful Benedictine Göttweig Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which has a spectacular location on a prominent hill on the eastern edge of the world famous Wachau Valley. While at the abbey, you will be treated to a special organ recital. After lunch, depart Krems and enjoy a scenic cruise through the heart of the UNESCO-designated Wachau Valley with its abruptly rising hills, nestling Baroque villages, and ancient monuments. (BB, L, D)

Note: The organ concert may take place in a different location if the Göttweig Abbey visit falls on a Catholic holiday.

Day 6: Linz ( Salzburg or Linz/Steyr)

Featured Excursions: Choice of full-day Salzburg with walking tour and Christmas Market -OR- Linz and Steyr with Christmas Markets

Spend the day in Salzburg, with a walking tour of Old Town. The magnificent cathedral there was inspired by St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. In the afternoon, visit Salzburg's Christmas Market. Located at the foot of the Hohensalzburg and around the venerable cathedral, it is a feast for the senses, featuring the warm aroma of mulled wine and Austrian pastries, the sights and sounds of holiday performances, and the colors and textures of traditional handcrafts. Or explore the beautiful towns of Steyr and Kinz. The unique ambience of Steyr truly shines during the holiday season, when brass concerts, tellers of fairy tales, and choir performances add to the enchantment at the Christmas Market in Old Town. In your free time, you might want to stop by the Christmas Museum, which features 14,000 Christmas ornaments. (BB,L, D)

Day 7: Passau, Germany

Featured Excursion: Passau walking tour, Christmas Market, and gingerbread-making and floral-decorating demonstrations

Your guided walk starts in the Medieval section of Passau and takes you past St. Stephan’s Cathedral, the New Residence, and Town Hall, to the confluence of the three rivers that converge in Passau. At Passau’s Christmas Market, set against the glorious backdrop of St. Stephan’s Cathedral, you will find unique crafts, including Bavarian-style houses and glass ornaments. As an added treat, you will attend a gingerbread-making and floral-decorating demonstration. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)

Day 8: Passau (Disembarkation Day)

Disembark the ship in Passau and transfer to Munich Airport for your flight home, or extend your stay in the beautiful city of Munich. (CB or BB)

Departures & Pricing

Detailed Itinerary: Passau to Budapest

Skip to Budapest to Passau itinerary

Day 1: Munich Airport, transfer to Passau, Germany (Embarkation Day)

Arrive at Munich  Airport where you will be transferred to the ship in Passau. (D)

Day 2: Passau

Featured Excursion: Passau walking tour, Christmas Market, and gingerbread-making and floral-decorating demonstrations

Your guided walk starts in the Medieval section of Passau and takes you past St. Stephan’s Cathedral, the New Residence, and Town Hall, to the confluence of the three rivers that converge in Passau. At Passau’s Christmas Market, set against the glorious backdrop of St. Stephan’s Cathedral, you will find unique crafts, including Bavarian-style houses and glass ornaments. As an added treat, you will attend a gingerbread-making and floral-decorating demonstration. (BB, L, Captain’s welcome Dinner)

Day 3: Linz (Salzburg), Austria

Featured Excursion: Full-day Salzburg with walking tour

Linz is the gateway to your full-day excursion to Salzburg. It’s hard to imagine the hills becoming even more alive with the “sound of music,” but at this time of the year, they do. The alpine elegance of this Baroque town is in perfect harmony with its lovely setting between two hills. You will become acquainted with magical Salzburg on your walking tour of Old Town. Its magnificent cathedral was inspired by St. Peter’s Cathedral at the Vatican. In the afternoon, visit Salzburg’s Christmas Market, located at the foot of the Hohensalzburg Fortress and around the venerable cathedral. (BB, D)

Day 4: Cruising the scenic Wachau Valley, Krems

Featured Excursion: Göttweig Abbey with organ recital

You will visit the beautiful Benedictine Göttweig Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which has a spectacular location on a prominent hill on the eastern edge of the world famous Wachau Valley. While at the abbey, you will be treated to a special organ recital. After lunch, depart Krems and enjoy a scenic cruise through the heart of the UNESCO-designated Wachau Valley with its abruptly rising hills, nestling Baroque villages, and ancient monuments. (BB, L, D)

Note: The organ concert may take place in a different location if the Göttweig Abbey visit falls on a Catholic holiday.

Day 5: Vienna

Featured Excursion: Vienna city tour with National Library visit, Christmas Market, and Mozart and Strauss concert

This regal city becomes even more dazzling during the holidays. Vienna is a treasure trove of secular and sacred gems, many of which you will see during your panoramic city tour. You will travel the stately Ringstrasse and see St. Stephen’s Cathedral, where Mozart was married in 1782. You will also visit the Baroque State Hall of the Austrian National Library, said to be the most beautiful library in the world. Afterward, you will walk with your tour guides to two Christmas Markets. Austria’s most famous Christmas Market, with over 140 wooden huts, is set in front of City Hall. Macaroons with nutmeg and rum balls are two treats you won’t want to miss. You will also visit a smaller, but no less charming, Christmas Market at Freyung Square, which has taken place every winter since 1772. Later in the evening, you will celebrate the spirit of Mozart and Strauss in one of Vienna’s well known concert halls. (BB, L, D)

Note: On Mondays, Mozarthaus will be substituted for the Library

Day 6: Bratislava, Slovakia

Featured Excursion: Bratislava city tour and Christmas Market

The heart and soul of Slovakia, Bratislava is full of surprises - many of which you will discover on your city tour. While Bratislava’s very first Christmas Market was only established in 1993, the Slovakians have quickly embraced the holiday traditions of their Austrian and Hungarian neighbors with stalls filled with folk handicrafts from the region. (BB, L, D)

Day 7: Budapest, Hungary

Featured Excursion: Budapest city tour and Christmas Market

Explore Budapest, an enchanting city often referred to as the “Queen of the Danube.” Made up of two parts - Buda, the hills, and Pest, the flat lands—the city is divided by the Danube. It’s an architectural dream, which you will discover on your city tour. You will visit the UNESCO World Heritagedesignated Castle Hill district and see dramatic vistas from the 19th-century Fisherman’s Bastion. You will cross the famous Chain Bridge, an early-19th-century bridge that was the first to connect Buda with Pest. In the center of it all is the Christmas Market, where you will get to shop for traditional Hungarian wares and delightful holiday treats like apricot brandy and cinnamon-spiced gingerbread. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)

Day 8: Budapest (Disembarkation Day), transfer to the airport

Disembark the ship  and transfer to airport for your flight home. (CB or BB)

Departures & Pricing

Advisements:

• A valid passport is required for travel. Passports must be valid at least 6 months after the last day of travel.
• Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
• Holiday markets generally open from the begining of Advent until December 23. The cruise operator reserves the right to substitute appropriate sights and excursions in keeping with the celebrations of the season.

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