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Magical Danube

TUI’s Trusted Service Shore Experience Credit Included Save up to £600 per Couple

Embark on a breathtaking journey as you set sail along the magnificent Danube River. Aboard the TUI Skyla, you’ll be entreated to a harmony of luxury, tranquillity, and bespoke experiences tailored to your every need and whim.

From the enchanting melodies of an evening concert in Vienna to the serenity of a monastery tour paired with a wine tasting, your TUI River Cruise promises a symphony of unforgettable moments against the backdrop of the captivating Danube landscape.

Join us on a magical Danube River Cruise that guarantees a wealth of treasured experiences.

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Magical Danube Cruise Itinerary

Embark on an odyssey along the scenic Danube River, where each day unfolds with new adventures and discoveries. From the pleasures of a walking tour and cooking class to the historic charm of Devin Castle, your voyage is brimming with unique encounters and activities. Explore the fascinating Veste Oberhaus Fortress, or perhaps indulge in the Classic Vienna city tour. Whatever you choose, your cruise ensures an enchanting and enriching experience that will leave you with a lifetime of cherished memories. Join us for a luxury river voyage filled with extraordinary moments and captivating destinations.

Explore Budapest before your ship’s late evening departure.

Enjoy a combined walking tour and cooking class. Visit Devin Castle and partake in a wine tasting. Embark on the Bratislava City Train Tour. Visit a Slovakian family and their home.

Enjoy a walking tour of Krems. Embark on a monastery tour and wine tasting.

Visit one of Passau’s best taverns for an authentic beer-tasting experience. Visit the Veste Oberhaus Fortress. Go sightseeing by boat and bus with traditional beer and pretzels in between. Embark on a walking tour of Passau.

Visit the Mauthausen concentration camp and go on a memorial tour. Embark on a walking tour of Linz.

Enjoy an evening concert in Vienna. Enjoy Vienna’s Heurigen experience with scenic sights and delicious wine. Partake in the Classic Vienna city tour. Visit the Schonbrunn Palace.

Enjoy the Children’s Railway and dripstone cave tour. Embark on the Margaret Island tour. Be entreated to a traditional Hungarian dinner and a folklore show, followed by a short sightseeing coach tour around Budapest. Embark on the Budapest City Tour. Enjoy the exhilarating Hungarian horses, Csikos cowboys and countryside carriage rides excursion.

Magical Danube Cruise Ships

Aboard the TUI Skyla, you’ll experience the pinnacle of opulence, relaxation, and comfort. Our vessel boasts a multitude of amenities designed to fulfil your every wish, promising an unforgettable voyage along the most iconic river in the world.

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Tour the iconic Danube River and weave through its mesmerising landscapes with Crui.se

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Magical Danube Cruise Review

“Embarking on the Magical Danube cruise was like a dream come true for me. My trip was filled with captivating moments, from my visit to the splendid Schonbrunn Palace to my leisurely walks through the charming streets of Linz. The walking tour and cooking class in Bratislava was a delightful and unique experience that added an extra layer of charm to my voyage. If you’re seeking an adventure, look no further; this cruise offers an exceptional experience that left me in awe. I couldn’t be happier to have been a part of this wonderful journey!”

Other Danube River Cruise Deals

Join us on Europe’s second longest river, the Danube. Pass through 10 different countries lined with bicycle trails and historical hotspots. Choose your Danube delight!

Grand Danube

Our 14-night Grand Danube Cruise is the perfect blend of architectural heritage, culture, fascinating history and regional cuisine – let’s not forget the wine!

Prague and the Delights of the Danube

Take to the iconic Danube and explore some of Europe’s most historic culture and architecture with the Prague and the Delights of the Danube Cruise.

Christmas Markets on the Danube

Enjoy Christmas European style at the enchanting Christmas Markets and savour the tastes and sophistication of the season with handcrafted gifts and toys, hot mulled wine and tasty gingerbread and roasted chestnuts.

Blue Danube Discovery

Travel from Budapest to Vienna, Passau and Regensburg with majestic castles, cathedrals and Baroque abbeys for company whilst savouring delicious regional cuisine – this cruise is a feast for the tastebuds and the eyes!

Celebration of Classical Music River Cruise

Follow the inspirational route of some of the world’s most famous classical composers and hear their melodies harmonising with the current of Europe’s leading waterway.

Danube’s Christmas Markets River Cruise 2024

Experience the real essence of the festive season with a cruise that stops at Europe’s most iconic Christmas markets in 2024

Authentic Danube

Take to the world-renowned Danube River and discover the treasures she has to offer on your luxury boutique cruise.

Magical Danube FAQ

Find answers to some of the most common questions about river cruising here.

What countries will I visit on this cruise?

You will have the opportunity to visit Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany.

What is the Danube River, and why is it popular for cruising?

The Danube River is Europe’s second-longest river, known for its picturesque landscapes, historic cities, and cultural diversity. It’s popular for cruising due to the scenic beauty along its banks and the opportunity to explore multiple countries.

Is complimentary Wi-Fi available onboard the ship?

Yes, free Wi-Fi is available for you to use on the ship.

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Freckle and Curl

TUI Danube River Cruise Review

We completed our 7 Day Tui ‘East Danube Explorer’ river cruise in July 2022. In this article we will look to give you a better idea on what to expect if you were to book a TUI river cruise or similar. We will provide you with insight into both the good and bad.

We booked our cruise only a few weeks before the cruise itself. As a result, we got ourselves a great deal. This appears to be usually the case with Tui packages. As you get closer to the time and if there is available space, the price will dramatically decrease. In our case it was around a 50% price reduction. At the time of writing, if you were to book the same river cruise 1 year out, you would expect to pay £1449 per person (excluding any sort of room upgrade). We paid £798 per person, and paid an additional £364 as a room upgrade. We did not opt to have the all inclusive drinks package which was £20pp per night (£280 for a couple for the week).

The price includes:

• Full Board  – breakfast, lunch and dinner at two restaurants and a range of drinks are included; standard tea, coffee and juices with breakfast, as well as soft drinks, beer and wine with lunch and dinner.
• £120 per person as credit towards daily excursions (eg: tours)
• Transfers to and from the airport

2. The Ship

Our tour was on the TUI Skyla. This ship features:

• 2 Restaurants (one formal, one buffet)
• Spa (spa pool, loungers, sauna)

We found the ship to be great and challenge the other cruise companies that target a more luxury market. All rooms and facilities appeared to be new and modern. Most importnatly when travelling it is quiet, and all you could hear when moving was the sound of the water.

Free WiFI is onboard but we found it to be fairly patchy and non-existent in our room. As a result, we had to rely on mobile data.

see here for more specifics

We paid an additional £364 for the room (cabin) upgrade and we are thankful we did. If you do not opt for an upgrade you will be placed in a standard room at the deck 1 level.. Whilst the room itself is much like the others available, what you lose is the view. You’re effectively below the water level and have two port windows to peak out of at the top.

We selected the ‘Deck 2 French Balcony Cabin’ the great benefit of this option is the sliding doors that open up. You can relax in the comfort of your own room looking out at an unencumbered view as the world passes by.

The room featured a large double bed that was very comfortable along with equally high grade pillows. A TV with a few English channels (BBC, Euronews, Comedy Central – some shows in english and some not). Unfortunately the casting feature on the TV did not work in our room, I think because of the poor WiFi. Mini fridge was a great feature that allowed you to pickup your own drinks/foods from the towns and store these away. We purchased beer, coca-cola and a bottle of bourbon on day one which allowed us to sit nicely with a drink at our french balcony.

Plenty of storage spaces to unpack you’re personal items and clothes. The bathroom was fairly standard with a sink, toilet (like on an airplane), and comfortable sized shower. Pressure on the shower was not a problem at all. All tap water on the boat was filtered which allowed you to drink from the tap without buying any sort of plastic bottle alternatives.

All three meals are inclusive every day and in many occasions have the opportunity to decide whether to eat at the port location or onboard. Spotted around the ship were also Coffee machines with treats such as biscuits.

Breakfast time is between 7am-9am. There is a buffet option where standard breakfast foods are available. This includes full english breakfast items (beans, bacon, scrambled eggs, mushrooms, hashbrown etc), cereals, yoghurt, continental breakfast, and pastries. In addition to the buffet you have the option to order from the Chef. Through the Chef you can order eggs cooked to your preference, eggs benedict, and omelettes. For drinks you will be served standard coffee, tea or you can grab yourself a juice. We aren’t the biggest breakfast eaters and usually don’t bother eating breakfast, however on the cruise we did every single day in order to fill up before the activities shortly following. One downside we found with the breakfast was there was a lack of fruit options. We are fairly healthy eaters and between the meals we felt we were missing some of the standard nutrients we expect in our daily diets. Therefore when the option for fruit was there, we stocked up when we ordered. For snacks, we also grabbed a couple pastries at breakfast to take with us in our bags during the excursions.

Lunch/Dinner

Both Lunch and Dinner and three course meals with an appetiser, main, and desert. For each part of the meal you were usually presented with 3-4 various options including at least one vegetarian option. In terms of taste we were pleasantly surprised for most of the options we selected. There was always a standard chicken or salmon option but we tried our best to try the more unique options when they were available.

One of the nights had a special ‘Indonesian’ menu that was considered experimental. This was by far the best meal we had aboard the ship. So much so that we ordered two mains each (staff were more than happy to oblige!). This makes sense as much of the cooks are Indonesian or from other Southern Asian countries, allowing them to flex their traditional dishes. What we were disappointed to see was the turnout for this option from the other passengers. What we noted was that a majority of passengers aren’t the most adventurous when it comes to their meals. We certainly hope this continues in the future and hope TUI really push this option to passengers as I think they could have done a better job to recommend it.

For drinks the Beer and Wine was flowing. It was unlimited and in most cases your waitress/waiter could not wait to supply you with an more drinks (very handy when you didn’t pay for the unlimited drinks package). There were a few different Beer options with a light and dark beer variation. For Wine you had both White and Red with each night having a different bottle from a new region. The quality was very good, and much better than what we expected (we expected the cheap stuff – it was not).

During the long cruise day where we were moving from Belgrade to Budapest, we had to be onboard for more than 24horus. As a result, they planned a gala night to make things a bit more interesting. This included a 6 course meal where you only had to make one decision regarding the main. This felt quite fancy with the little beautifully presented dishes. Bon appetite (I think staff are told they have to say this, and you will hear it so often it will become quite funny).

Our criticisms of the food are limited to a few different areas. The meat options usually didn’t hit the spot in portion size and the vegetarian options (like pasta) sometimes felt like it was a bit bland and missing ingredients. We would have also hoped for a bit more international flavour to mix things up. However, you can still eat off ship when you’re at the ports if you’re a very picky eater.

5. Port Time and Excursions

One thing that this cruise does is organise optional excursions for you to pick. Included in your ticket price we were given £120 each to use towards excursions. This paid for around 4 excursions. If you wanted more, then it was pretty reasonable priced at around £10-40 depending on how much is involved. There was usually 1 or 2 different excursion options available each day, one in the morning and then one afternoon/evening based excursion.

In all ports a historical walking tour was an option. The guided were local and would provide a wealth of knowledge and answer any questions that you may have. In our rooms we were provided with ‘Vox boxes’ which were little frequency radios with earpieces which allows you to hear the guide from a good distance away.

Each excursion had a rating on how hard the physical activity was (ie Walking). This allowed an individual to decide what they could and could not do. We are young (30) and fit so none of the walking was difficult for us, but for some of the older folk, they did struggle. So it’s best to fully understand the amount of walking that is involved.

If you’re not wanting to do an excursion and instead want to do your own thing that you can do that. That’s what we did in a number of ports. Maps are provided at the front desk which does highlight some key sights which was helpful, but in most cases we just opted for google maps and trip advisory to plan our day. When leaving the boat pay attention to the time you must be back onboard, otherwise you might be left behind.

We did 3 TUI excursions on our cruise:

Wine & History In And Around Novi Sad – Novi Sad, Serbia

Overview: Fortresses, ancient cities and wine houses are all part and parcel of a sightseeing tour in Serbia. This four-hour tour starts in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second largest city. Follow your guide on foot to the mighty Petrovaradin Fortress, perched right on the banks of the Danube. You’ll have an hour to explore and find out how this stronghold became a centre for art and music. Then you’ll hop on a coach and drive to the ancient city of Sremski Karlovci. Take a 30-minute guided walk through its pretty streets before arriving at a wine house – a winery. This city has a rich history of wine production, and you’ll have an hour-long tasting session to find out more about it before heading back to your ship at Novi Sad.

Bohemian Belgrade – Belgrade Serbia

Overview: You can see Belgrade’s bohemian side on this tour. For starters, you’ll be taken to one of the city’s music halls for a folklore performance. This hour-long show gives you a taste of Serbia’s mish-mash past, with songs played using traditional Slavic instruments and dancers kitted out in authentic outfits. After, you’ll be dropped in Skadarlija, AKA the Bohemian Quarter. This place is more of a street than a quarter, but its cobblestone lane is brimming with some of the city’s oldest restaurants and bars. There’s the option of snapping up a traditional snack at one of the eateries – like grilled Serbian sausages or meat skewers, washed down with wine. Then you’ll hop on the bus back to the ship.

Lepenski Vir Archaeological Site and Golubac Fortress – Donji Milanovac, Serbia

Overview: This tour ticks off a pair of Serbia’s must-see antique attractions. After a 15-minute drive from the port, you’ll arrive at Lepenski Vir – an 8,000-year-old archaeological site that’s been dubbed ‘the first city of Europe’. In the museum here, you’ll watch a video presentation about the history of the area. Then you’ll head into the main hall to see what’s left of the old settlement. These remains were discovered in 1960, and historians believe they date as far back as 6500 BC. You’ll see where the old huts used to stand, as well as artefacts like carved stone heads and tools. When you’re finished, you’ll travel to the town of Golubac’s waterfront fortress. This giant stronghold was built in the 14th century, and sits on the shore of the Danube. During a riverside stroll, your guide will tell you about the battles that took place here between Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. And before you start the journey back to the port, you’ll have some free time to explore the castle on your own.

6. Onboard Entertainment

An itinerary is set for each day with a number of different hosted and self hosted events throughout the day. Generally each evening the onboard musicians will provide a few hours of music whether it be a DJ set of 80’s classic hits or cranking out a ballad. On the first night in Budapest there was traditional dancers who put on a show for the guests in the main function room. During the day there was the odd Yoga session and some small games on the top deck (shuffleboard and a homemade mini golf course). Throughout the ship there was various board games, card games, and chess/checkers boards. We honestly didn’t do much of this, and rather entertained ourselves on top deck or in our own room, however people certainly did enjoy all of these.

What we did enjoy was the first night when we left Budapest, the tour manager Tony gave a fact session as we first left the port along the Danube river in front of the beautiful lit up buildings including the parliamentary building. The same was also done when we were passing through the ‘Iron Gates’ which was absolutely stunning first thing after breakfast.

7. Demographics

If I asked you to imagine the type of people on a river cruise what do you imagine?…. well you’re probably spot on. River cruises in general do market and attract an older crowd and because TUI is British company you will end up with 95% of White British people above the age of 60. We are a 30 year old couple and we did stand out as a very strange sight to the rest of the passengers. Some other passengers would jokingly ask what us young people are doing and were very interested to get our thoughts on the trip, as we were an anomaly. Honestly we did expect to be much younger than the others but did expect to see maybe one or two couples of similar age (or below 45) but that certainly was not the case. It did not ruin the trip, but it did detract from the social side of things as it was always going to be a bit harder to fit in. Whilst we do live in the UK we are also still not British so that did add another component to feeling a bit like outsiders. Regardless we did not go into this trip expecting to meet a bunch of new friends or party it up. It was planned to be relaxing and fairly calm which it most certainly was. The crowd are fairly calm and level headed, so if you are used to a trip to Benidorm where you drink and party yourself into a coma, then look elsewhere, you won’t get what you’re looking for here. Same with if you’re under 55 and looking to make a bunch of mates on the trip, it’s going to be unlikely unless you do get along with much older people (eg: there was a lovely deaf couple celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary onboard). We must say though, that everyone we did talk to were really nice and certainly went out of their way to say hello. Our boat only had about 70 people onboard (max ~150) so you will see the same people and you will be on excursions with them (which has some forced mingling). Because of this, if you’re used to a normal big ocean cruiser where you can hide in the crowd, you won’t get that here. Many passengers are elderly and have mobility issues, so when on excursions or doing anything as a group just be prepared that it will be slower than what you’re used to.

8. Conclusion

Overall, the river cruise was a great value for money. It also ticked off a number of new places we had never been to before. There are a lot of different river cruise options, so definitely pick one where you prioritise the ports that sound interesting to you. TUI has done a fantastic job to have a more entry level cost to river cruising. In comparison to other companies running, TUI has undercut them by a hefty margin and I can’t see how others could really rationalise the extra cost. Would we do it again?…. at this stage probably not. It does feel like a one time thing for now (a once and done). However, that is not TUI’s fault, i think that’s more to do with the target demographic that this industry caters to. So until a river cruise company goes after working age people, we will give it a miss for now….. unless financially it makes more sense to do a river cruise to see new spots we want to get to. Are we glad we did it? certainly, definitely a novelty experience.

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Inside a TUI Skyla river cruise holiday along the Danube - from the ports to the ship

A cruise up the River Danube from Budapest to Bavaria on adults-only TUI Skyla takes in spectacular scenery, monks' wine, mighty locks, a ‘UFO Bridge’ and a cathedral organ with 17,774 pipes.

• 10:11, 20 Mar 2023

Turn on your computer or tablet and you’re usually greeted with a picture of magnificent scenery. Well, I’m sailing inside one of those screen images.

Cue the Schlögener Donauschlinge – a remarkable S-shaped bend in the River Danube near Linz, Austria.

I’d woken up at dawn on the cruise ship TUI Skyla and peered out from my French balcony window, checking Google Maps to see where we were. Only approaching the Schlögener Donauschlinge (Loop of Schlögen)! The kind of natural wonder that’s used for screensavers and the delight of Instagrammers. I had expected to miss it in the small hours.

You’re never far from the open top deck on a river ship and I was up in a flash (I knew I should have taken a moment to get dressed) to catch the Captain steering us along mirror-calm water between mist-wreathed hills and, literally, driving me round the bend in 180-degree arcs.

Another great start to another great day on board adults-only Skyla...

TUI’s model is to take a quality second-hand vessel and refurbish from bow to stern. The 154-passenger Skyla looks box fresh with a contemporary design that catches the eye as soon as you board via the airy atrium. Public spaces – two restaurants and two bars – ooze an upscale vibe and I liked the wellness area with Jacuzzi and sauna.

My French Balcony Suite was lovely, with a chaise longue, plenty of plugs and USBs, tea and coffee-making facilities and a wetroom-style bathroom.

Happy hours were spent with a cuppa, watching the scenery slip by, with the floor-to-ceiling windows open.

The seven-night voyage to four countries from Budapest, straddling the Danube magnificently, was well organised with a late lunch on board, set up for arrival.

I was ready to explore the Hungarian capital by mid-afternoon (sailaway was not till 9.30pm) and headed to the adjacent Central Market Hall and its array of stalls selling paprika in all forms, meat, meat and more meat, souvenirs and snacks, then strolled across the Liberty Bridge to check out the fabled Gellert thermal baths and the adjacent grotto chapel.

That night-time departure was wonderful, slipping past illuminated riverside buildings, including Buda Castle and the Hungarian Parliament, with a full moon rising behind.

New day, new country! In Slovakia and off for a tour of capital Bratislava with insightful guide Luba, first on a rattly Dotto train to the hilltop castle with views of the wacky ‘UFO Bridge’.

Then into the Old Town to see lovely buildings and cafes and curious modern statues, including a Napoleonic-era soldier leaning on a bench and a Peeping Tom leering from a manhole.

New day, new country! Nation-hopping is one of the delights of a river cruise, plus the fact that ships generally moor in the heart of a town, so you step off straight into the action.

So, now in Krems an der Donau, Austria, I joined a coach tour with guide Christine to imposing hilltop Göttweig Abbey, a Benedictine monastery founded in 1083.

Abbey guide Astra took over and showed us the Imperial Wing, a five-star hotel for 18th century bigwigs. The huge entrance stairs and ceiling fresco are quite something, with an optical illusion in the ceiling as painted pillars appear to move with you.

Wine tasting was up next. I normally avoid drinking monks’ wine at 11am, as I don’t want to get into bad habits, but made an exception for what turned out to be two fine whites and a superb red.

New day, new country! Now we are in Passau, in Germany’s Bavaria, where three rivers – Danube (brown water), Inn (grey-green) and Ill (black) – meet, with the novelty of the colours separately flowing alongside each other for several hundred yards.

At the park by the confluence point it was not really discernible; I think you need a sunny day, or try from the 13th century Veste Oberhaus Fortress overlooking the city. Nonetheless, Passau is likeable and a tour with guide Ugur included impressive St Stephen’s Cathedral – half Gothic, half baroque after a fire rebuild – and its colossal organ, with 17,774 pipes.

Just as we were leaving, an organist cranked it up for a couple of minutes of tuning and a wall of sound engulfed me like a medieval Motörhead.

Being in Bavaria, I now had two missions – ein stein of cold German lager in a beer cellar and seeing blokes wearing lederhosen. Ja. Simple pleasures…

New day, old country! Back in Austria, we moored by the striking Lentos modern art gallery in Linz, the nation’s third largest city.

Surrounded by wooded hills and renowned for its steel-making, it reminded me a bit of Sheffield and prides itself on being a clean and green industrial and cultural city.

I took the 124-year-old No 50 tram – fact fans: it’s one of the steepest in the world with an 11.6% incline – up to 1,768ft Pöstlingberg Hill to take in the view and enjoy a coffee and local Linzer torte cake at the smart cafe (€7.20 return).

The tram down dropped me by the Ars Electronica Center, a ‘Museum of the Future’ with a dazzling 3D exploration of the solar system and galaxies and immersive robotic, AI, climate change, earthquake and technology exhibits.

Robots may be smart, but they can’t appreciate Austrian cake and coffee and a view (€11.50 ars.electronica.art ).

New day, old country! Still in Austria and capital Vienna for a whirlwind tour with droll guide Fritz, which took in the Ferris wheel from the 1949 Oscar winning film noir The Third Man, the house where Strauss played dominoes with pal Brahms, the grand Belvedere palaces, the National Library and the Spanish Riding School and its stables for the Lipizzaner horses.

On past the Sacher Hotel with its cafe selling scrumptious Sachertorte cake, we arrived at St Stephan’s Cathedral, which dates from the 12th century and is the beating heart of this elegant city. If you like an Art Nouveau public toilet (and who doesn’t?) they are round the corner.

New day, old country! Back in Hungary, there was time to explore Buda Castle and the Fisherman’s Bastion viewpoint before reluctantly packing my bag for the flight home.

In a word: excellent. I’ve been on river trips where it was a bit ‘school dinners’ but this was a cut above.

Verdastro restaurant is smart, with the adjacent Bistro a bit more casual and both offer great views.

If you want to sit in one and order from the other menu, it’s fine; the choices did not disappoint and came in sensible portions. The gala night of six courses was superb.

The kitchen tries to offer dishes from whatever country the ship is in and the included wines also feature local options.

Who knew Austrian wine was so good? Apart from those of us who went on the monastery trip.

The entertainment

No ocean cruise West End-style stage shows, but enough to keep you amused with quizzes, piano, karaoke and, on the last night, a brilliant comedy pianist who got to the Britain’s Got Talent semis was flown in.

The pleasant surprise

River locks are ugly concrete monoliths but genuinely interesting as ships squeeze in and are raised or lowered up to 60ft.

When we buddied up alongside Emerald Sun at the eye-of-a-needle Melk Locks in Austria it was a fun moment chatting to the passengers across the six-inch gap between the ships.

In a word (again): excellent. A particular shout out to cabin steward Win Thu, Raya on the front desk, bar staff Svitlana and Irina and cruise director Ian.

Get on board

TUI River Cruises offers a seven night Magical Danube full-board+ round trip from Budapest on TUI Skyla starting at £1,396 per person, calling at Bratislava, Krems, Passau, Linz and Vienna. Includes flights from Manchester on May 3, transfers, tips and service charges; Heathrow and Gatwick also available. Find out more and book at tui.co.uk/river-cruises .

You can also get more information about the destinations at visithungary.com , slovakia.travel , austria.info and germany.travel .

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Viking River Cruises’ Romantic Danube: How To Make The Most Of Every Stop

River cruising is a popular way to get the ease and convenience of a cruise while enjoying a more intimate experience.

Viking River Cruises is one of the most recognized names in the industry, and we had the chance to take their eight-day Romantic Danube cruise in the wintertime. The cruise stops vary from year to year and season to season, but each version has stops in Germany, Austria, and Hungary.

During our trip, we wanted to indulge in one of our favorite travel hobbies: visiting different European Christmas markets . Not only did we immerse ourselves in many memorable Christmas markets, but we also explored some charming, beautiful, and historically important towns.

Viking River Cruises’ Romantic Danube offers so many different ways to optimize your time. Our experience was absolutely magical, and we wanted to share some suggestions for how to make the most of every stop on this unforgettable itinerary.

We were guests of Viking River Cruises on their Romantic Danube itinerary. All opinions expressed are our own and are based on our experiences.

Nuremberg, Germany

The Romantic Danube itinerary varies, sometimes beginning in Hungary and other times in Germany. The stops may vary slightly as well. But wherever your specific journey takes you along this beautiful river route, you’ll find a lot to explore.

Our itinerary began in the German city of Nuremberg . Steeped in World War II history, it witnessed the rise and fall of the Third Reich. History buffs can visit the Nazi Party Rally Grounds , the Nazi Documentation Center , and other historical sites.

But as the second-largest city in Bavaria (after Munich ), Nuremberg also has lots more to offer. The Old Town features beautiful half-timbered houses along with the medieval Imperial Castle . Art lovers can visit the home of German Renaissance artist Albrecht Durer , explore the Germanisches Nationalmuseum , and enjoy numerous art galleries around town.

The food is incredible in Nuremberg, so we recommend having at least one meal or hearty snack ashore. Don’t miss the city’s skinny German sausages served three to a roll or on a plate with sauerkraut or potato salad. Paired with a frosty local beer, it’s a perfect meal.

Stop by the open-air Hauptmarket in the city center for a colorful look at local produce, flowers, handmade gifts, and delicious food specialties. If you happen to be there during the holiday season , you’ll see the transformation of the Old Town into a winter wonderland where over 180 vendors make up the Christkindlesmarkt . Stalls display art, local products, handcrafted goods, and treats of the season. Glittering lights and fresh greenery enhance the festive atmosphere.

Regensburg, Germany

A well-preserved medieval city on the northern portion of the Danube River, Regensburg boasts some of the most interesting historic buildings in Bavaria.

The Altes Rathaus is a bright yellow building dating to the 1200s. The Thurn und Taxis Palace is the impressive residence of an aristocratic family that had amassed a fortune from postal operations in the early 1800s. During the holiday season, a Christmas market springs up on the castle grounds. The Porta Praetoria comprises the ruins of a gateway made of rough stone blocks dating to the 13th century. Neupfarrplatz, a Roman fortress built during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, was later home to one of the first Jewish communities in Germany. The ornate German Gothic Saint Peter’s Cathedral is worth seeing, too. Walk across the Old Stone Bridge, a pedestrian walkway over the Danube, and then turn to see the colorful clock tower.

A UNESCO World Heritage site , Regensburg also has great food. The Historische Wurstkuchl , or Historic Sausage Kitchen, is 1,000 years old and the oldest sausage kitchen in Europe, maybe even in the world. If you have time, sit a while at the Weltenburger am Dom , a restaurant and brewery right next to the cathedral. Try the amazing schnitzel with a beer from Weltenburg Abbey, the oldest monastery brewery in the world.

Passau, Germany

Right on the Germany-Austria border, Passau is a picturesque city. It’s known as the City of Three Rivers, since it’s where the Danube, Ilz, and Inn Rivers come together. Something you won’t find in many other places is a wasserstand , a chart depicting high water marks from floods in the city center. It’s drawn on a wall of the old town hall as a reminder that while being at the confluence of three rivers may be beautiful, it is not without risks.

Art is important to Passau, with the city’s modern art museum and a unique glass museum containing more than 30,000 European pieces of art glass. Check out the fun Artists’ Alley, where cobblestones painted in bright colors line the streets and darling boutiques hold plenty of unique souvenirs.

Passau is home to one of the largest pipe organs in the world, with almost 18,000 pipes. It resides in the gorgeous baroque Saint Stephen’s Cathedral. If the timing is right, you could catch a concert for an unforgettable experience.

Modern pleasures in Passau include the Klostergarten, a contemporary park that is home to farmers markets and gardens. It lights up at night with dramatic lighting, water features, and choreographed fountain displays, perfect for enjoying on an evening stroll.

Melk, Austria

As the Romantic Danube cruise moves into Austria, you’ll spot the Melk Abbey standing grandly atop a hill overlooking the Danube. More than just an abbey, it’s a complex comprising seven courtyards, a beautiful church, and a library with over 90,000 volumes and rare manuscripts.

Melk is located in the Wachau Valley , where small towns and monasteries flourished during the Renaissance. The scenery is stunning. Several castles — including Schloss Schallaburg , Schloss Artstetten , and Schloss Schonbuhel — beg to be explored, and the ruins of other castles dot the landscape.

If you’re interested in local food and beverages like we are, the Wachau Valley is renowned for its apricots and wine. In addition to excellent wines made from grapes such as riesling and gruner veltliner, apricot wine, apricot dumplings, apricot cake, and some unique items made with saffron are also local specialties.

Krems is the town at the other end of the valley and is sometimes part of the Romantic Danube itinerary.

Vienna, Austria

Vienna is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There are so many things to see, do, and eat that you will not want to waste a moment of your time there.

We have to put the Viennese culinary culture at the top of our list. Famous desserts like sacher torte and apple strudel, gorgeous coffeehouses, incredible farmers markets, delicious street food, and a wide range of restaurants provide many opportunities to sample local delights. Most people don’t know that Vienna is also home to its own wine regions, making the local wine a great option to try.

Music is another highlight of Viennese culture. The City of Music has many venues from which to choose. The Musikverein , Vienna State Opera , Wiener Konzerthaus , and Schonbrunn Palace offer concerts featuring everything from the classical music of Mozart and Strauss to jazz, pop, and rock. There are also cafés, bars, and nightclubs offering food, drinks, and music in a more intimate setting.

World-renowned palaces like Schonbrunn and the Hofburg as well as sacred spaces like Saint Stephen’s Cathedral and Karlskirche impress with their magnificence.

Of course, Vienna also offers gorgeous Christmas markets in stunning venues like the City Hall, Belvedere Palace, Maria Theresien Square, and Schonbrunn Palace, among others.

Animal lovers can check out the elegant Lipizzaner stallions performing at the Spanish Riding School or visit Vienna’s Tiergarten , the oldest zoo in the world.

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is actually three different cities: Buda and Obuda on the west side of the Danube  River and Pest on the east side. That only adds to the intrigue of this unique destination.

The quieter Buda side has hills and a funicular, which you can ride to the top for a panoramic view of the Pest side. The City Park is a lovely place to stroll, with botanical gardens, a municipal zoo, the Budapest circus, and a museum of agriculture. There’s also a huge timer containing sand that takes a year to go from the top to the bottom. It’s started all over again every New Year.

The Great Market Hall features three floors of local produce, prepared delicacies, crafts, and souvenirs. If you like to shop, be sure to stroll along Vaci and Kiraly Streets, pedestrian roads full of touristy joints as well as fun local shops and cafés.

Budapest has several spas and thermal baths in which you can relax while also getting your history fix; many of these structures have been around since Ottoman times.

Budapest also boasts several phenomenal holiday markets, including the Advent Feast at the Basilica , considered among the best Christmas markets in Europe.

The folks at Viking River Cruises know that the spectacular Hungarian Parliament Building is a vision at night. They generally provide an opportunity to see it while you’re on the water and make a picture-perfect memory to last a lifetime.

What To Know Before You Go

Viking River Cruises offers several excursions as well as a variety of add-ons. Be sure to take time before your departure to explore what interests you and book anything extra well in advance because space is often limited. While the ship is comfy, the service delightful, and the onboard activities lots of fun, be sure to get out and explore at every stop. There is so much awaiting you on your Romantic Danube journey.

Electrostal History and Art Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• (0.19 mi) Elektrostal Hotel
• (1.21 mi) Yakor Hotel
• (1.27 mi) Mini Hotel Banifatsiy
• (1.18 mi) Elemash
• (1.36 mi) Hotel Djaz
• (0.07 mi) Prima Bolshogo
• (0.13 mi) Makecoffee
• (0.25 mi) Amsterdam Moments
• (0.25 mi) Pechka
• (0.26 mi) Mazhor

Sights of Elektrostal, Moscow region

Table of contents:, history of the city, park of culture and leisure, historical and art museum, october cultural center, kristall ice palace, memorial complex, museum and exhibition complex.

2024 Author : Harold Hamphrey | [email protected] . Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

In the Moscow region there is a small cozy town Elektrostal. Its sights for the most part have no historical value due to the fact that the city has a relatively small history. But for a visiting tourist or city dweller, they will be of interest. There is something to see, where to go to have an exciting leisure time.

Today the population of the city is 158 thousand people. Until the beginning of the 20th century there were several small workers' settlements here. After the opening of the electrometallurgical and equipment factories, the place began to be called the natural boundary of Calm. The construction of the railway made this settlement accessible, and workers and families flocked here to earn money. In 1925, the station was named Elektrostal, and the rapid increase in population allowed the village to receive the status of a city.

The founder of the city is a prominent Russian industrialist Nikolai Vtorov. It was he who opened the plant here, creating, in fact, a city-forming enterprise that is still operating. In Soviet times, it was a closed facility, and it was not easy to get to work here.

Today Elektrostal is a promising industrial city with a great future and a heroic past. It bears the proud name "City of Military and Labor Glory".

You can learn about the sights of Elektrostal with descriptions and photos here. There are places for walking, outdoor activities and cultural development.

Those who come to the city by train are met by a monument to the metallurgist. It was installed in November 2017 for the 100th anniversary of the Elektrostal plant. The attraction is made in the style of constructivism. The monument quickly won the love of the townspeople, because this city is supported by ordinary workers.

Elektrost altsy and the founding father of the plant, Nikolai Vtorov, are honored. In 2002, a monument was opened in honor of him, which became a landmark of the city of Elektrostal. The bronze sculpture is installed on the site where once stood a monument to the leader of the world proletariat, V. I. Lenin. Times change, characters change. Today, the plant, founded a century ago, is the largest in Russia. Vtorov himself, whose fortune was estimated at 60 million rubles in gold, according to Forbes magazine, was the owner of the largest capital at the beginning of the century. He was a banker, an industrialist, an entrepreneur, a man of action.

The monument was erected byinitiative of the townspeople who wished to perpetuate the monument to the great man.

One of the popular places for spending weekends and evenings among citizens and guests of the city is the Park of Culture and Leisure. Here you can ride attractions for children and adults, play slot machines, rollerblade or bike. The park is divided into two zones. Fans of unhurried walks in the fresh air make a promenade on the Quiet Alley, and those who prefer outdoor activities flock to the Entertainment Alley. The park has a summer stage, where concerts and cafes are regularly held.

Until 1999, there was no central museum among the attractions of Elektrostal in the Moscow Region. The expositions were exhibited in schools, the house of culture, in factory museums. The city was closed, so there was no large influx of tourists and visitors. The appearance of the historical and art museum made it possible for residents and guests of the city to learn a lot of useful information about their native land, the formation of the production process, and the difficult years of the war. The exposition consists of paintings by local artists, historical artifacts, household items, documents, books and much more. The collection is updated regularly. It also hosts outdoor exhibitions, which are always popular with the townspeople.

One of the main attractions of Elektrostal, the photo of which is available to almost every resident or visitor, is the Main Alley. On herpassers-by like to stroll along shady paths, townspeople rest by the fountain after a hard shift at the plant. Flower beds are the decoration of the alley. In 2006, a flower festival was held here for the first time, which has become traditional. Each enterprise of the city and private individuals give residents a real composition of fresh flowers, which pleases with bright colors all summer long. A riot of colors, aromas and a flight of fantasy reigns here. Walking through the park, you can see Snow White with a basket, a bright well, a multi-tiered cake made from fresh flowers, hearts of lovers or a fabulous house. It is almost impossible not to take a photo against the background of these compositions.

There is a cultural center in the city. It hosts performances by local creative teams and visiting stars, performances and circus performances.

In 1971, the ice palace "Crystal" was opened in the city. Almost immediately, a children's and youth hockey team was organized, which gained sports fame. This is the home sports arena for the Elektrostal hockey team. Matches of different levels are held on the ice.

There are sections for children who go in for hockey or figure skating. Citizens come here with their families to cheer for their favorite team or go ice skating.

Elektrostal is a city with a heroic past. During the war years, more than 12 thousand citizens came to the recruiting station and went to the front to defend their homeland. Almost 4 thousand of them did not return from the battle. To these heroesdedicated to the memorial complex with the inextinguishable Eternal Flame, opened in 1968

But the electricians took part in the war in Afghanistan and Chechnya. By decision of the city authorities, their memory is also immortalized in the memorial complex.

It has become a good tradition for newlyweds to lay flowers at this monument.

In 1999, a museum and exhibition complex was opened in the city, where, in addition to the exhibition hall, there are numerous circles for children, classes for young people, and a creative workshop. Various festivals, exhibitions, city holidays and other events are held within the walls and on the territory of the complex, which attract many spectators.

Listing the sights of Elektrostal, it is impossible not to mention the temples. There are several of them in the city: the church of St. John of Kronstadt, St. Andrew's Church, the hospital church of St. Panteleimon. Another new church is being built. In appearance, the temples look ancient, monumental, in the Novgorod style. But they were all built at the end of the 20th century.

Let there be no ancient artifacts among the sights of Elektrostal. But on the other hand, all of them are connected with the history of the city, with everyday work and military exploits of ordinary residents.

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ELECTROSTAL HISTORY AND ART MUSEUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

• (0.19 mi) Elektrostal Hotel
• (1.21 mi) Yakor Hotel
• (1.27 mi) Mini Hotel Banifatsiy
• (1.18 mi) Elemash
• (1.36 mi) Hotel Djaz
• (0.07 mi) Prima Bolshogo
• (0.13 mi) Makecoffee
• (0.25 mi) Amsterdam Moments
• (0.25 mi) Pechka
• (0.26 mi) Mazhor