Austria · DANUBE RIVER CRUISES
A city cruise, a lunch cruise and the run upstream to Melk are three different afternoons. These 15 compare the routes, the boats and whether the food is worth the supplement, each priced and timed.
Use your skip-the-line ticket to enter Vienna’s Danube Tower and ride the express lift to observation decks 150 meters high. Enjoy 360-degree views over Vienna and the Danube, then add time for the revolving café or restaurant. The ticket covers entry only, so the slide, food, and reserved dining are extra.
“Walked right in and headed straight to the top. Definitely recommend!”
Travel by coach from central Vienna through the Wachau Valley, stop in Dürnstein, and cruise from Spitz toward Melk during the April to October season. Choose the option with Melk Abbey admission for a guided visit, or use that time for Melk town. Guides such as Tommy, Eric, and Claudia have led past departures.
“Don't miss this trip. Fabulous scenery! Excellent bus transportation and guide. Riverboat ride fantastic! Great views for about an hour. Do not miss going for lunch the restaurant food there was outstanding. I highly recommend the penne with vegetables and a grilled piece of chicken is what I had was awesome. And of course, sign up for the Abby incredible tour of the Abbey and of course the gardens were very nice. We love the trees. They look like mushrooms. Our guide. Claudia was outstanding so I hope you get her. She was excellent. Fantastic trip. Don't miss it , One of the best trips I've ever had with Viator…”
Spend about eight and a half hours touring the Wachau Valley from Vienna by air-conditioned bus and, in summer, boat. Visit Krems and Dürnstein, enjoy free time in Melk, and tour Melk Abbey with the all-inclusive option. English and Spanish guides, including Tommy, Ava, Eric, and Claudia, have led recent departures.
“I loved the trip to Wachau Valley and to Melk Abbey. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable, talking to us in English and Spanish. Everything run smoothly. Thank you. :-)”
Spend three hours aboard the MS Vindobona, MS Blue Danube, or MS Wien as Vienna’s canals and Danube glow after sunset. You can watch the scenery from the upper deck, follow live camera views on a screen, and order freshly prepared Viennese food from Roman Loos’s onboard restaurant. Food and drinks cost extra, and sightseeing commentary is not provided.
“Amazing trip, not too long, or too short. Some amazing photo opportunities. The crew were amazing”
Board the MS Wien or Hundertwasser-designed MS Vindobona at Schwedenplatz for a 3.5-hour cruise through Vienna’s Danube and Danube Canal. You’ll see Prater greenery, Danube Island, modern towers, two lock systems, and historic canal architecture. German and English assistance is available, with food and drinks sold onboard.
“A very enjoyable afternoon cruising the Danube with a very attentive staff taking care of delivering food and drinks quickly and efficiently.”
Cruise from the DDSG Blue Danube ticket office past Vienna’s modern skyline, Danube Tower, Millennium Tower, and canal sights. Choose the shorter route to Schwedenplatz or continue through the Prater area on the longer cruise. Viennese food is optional, drinks cost extra, and children ages 0 to 9 cruise free.
“Excellent! The food was delicious, the boat, crew, journey and views were fantastic. I would recommend this excursion. ☀️😝😁”
Travel from Vienna to Bratislava by air-conditioned coach, meet a local guide such as Adela, and see Michael’s Gate, St. Martin’s Cathedral, Primate’s Palace, Grassalkovich Palace, and more. You’ll have several hours to explore alone before returning to Vienna by Twin City Liner catamaran. Lunch and the optional castle ride cost extra.
“Good tour with plenty of spare time to look around Bratislava on your own. The tour guide was very informative and amusing and she gave us a good introduction to the main sites in Bratislava.”
Ride the express lift 150 meters up Vienna’s tallest landmark for 360-degree views over the city, the Danube, and Danube Park. Allow 30 minutes for the basic visit, or several hours if you add coffee, cake, or a meal in the rotating tower restaurant. Book the restaurant separately.
“Enjoyed Lunch, with my husband lovely views! Good food and wine beautiful zrestaurant good Service!!”
Spend 5.5 hours cruising from Krems through the UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley on a DDSG Blue Danube ship. Enjoy wide river views, vineyards, castles, monasteries, and an onboard restaurant serving regional dishes. Choose a basic cruise or add breakfast, brunch, schnitzel, or wine tasting.
“Really enjoyed the boat journey out Melk. The 1015 boat was very busy and, on a sunny day, the outdoor space was limited but we did find a bench.”
Spend three hours cruising the Danube from Handelskai with a freshly prepared brunch buffet, live music, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. Music may be provided by Caroline Kreutzberger, Nikos Pogonatos, or Edmund Hauswirth. Drinks cost extra, and the cruise returns to its starting pier.
“Das Buffet war nichts besonders: Nur croissants und Pancake als süsses Frühstück. Nur Weissbrot, keine andere Arten. Als Nachspeise nur ein Fruchtsalat aus der Dose. Keine Kuchen. Meine Freundin, die ein paar Wochen davor, die Aktivität gemacht hatte, erzählte von einem reichen Buffet mit einem Schokobrunnen. Was ist passiert zwischen Anfang März und den 25. April, damit die Leistung so unterschiedlich sein kann?”
Spend 3.5 hours aboard the MS Admiral Tegetthoff, cruising from Vienna’s Reichsbrücke toward the Greifenstein lock and back. A country band supplies live music and line dancing while the crew serves a BBQ buffet with ribs, burgers, vegetarian dishes, vegan sides, and dessert. English and German are supported.
“Adorei o barco o passeio tudo perfeito mais a comida ficou um pouco a desejar”
Take control of a private electric island boat on Vienna’s Old Danube. Your host will explain the easy joystick controls, provide a water map, and help you set off. Anchor for a swim or relax on board. The boat carries up to eight people and is wheelchair accessible.
Board the MS Admiral Tegetthoff at Vienna’s Reichsbrücke for a 3.5-hour Italian evening on the Danube. You’ll cruise toward the Greifenstein lock, enjoy pasta, antipasti, meat, vegetarian, vegan, and sweet dishes, then return with a singer and DJ providing the soundtrack.
“Ruoka oli hyvää! Tunnin lyhyempänä risteily olisi ollut täydellinen. Pimeä tuli nopeasti, maisemia ei sitten enää voinut ihailla. Hieno miljöö laivalla!”
Board MS Vienna at Pier 6 by the Reichsbrücke for a two-hour loop cruise through Vienna. You’ll pass DC Tower, Millennium Tower, Danube Tower, and other modern landmarks. This is a cruise-only ticket, with freshly prepared meals, schnitzel, strudel, and drinks available to buy onboard.
“In reality, the cruise was not interesting because there was little to see.”
Board the MS Admiral Tegetthoff at Schifffahrtszentrum Pier 7 for a 3.5-hour Danube cruise built around ABBA’s biggest songs and a Swedish smörgåsbord. ABBA Chiquita Revival provides the live music, while dinner includes köttbullar, salmon steak, wild boar, and more. Drinks cost extra, and the ship returns to the starting point.
“It was a lovely evening - the food was good - but the buffet was poorly set up - it would have been nice if the same dishes had been on both sides. The information that the dishes would be replenished might have encouraged some people not to put mountains on their plates. But overall it was a really lovely evening.”
Pick a palace, a mountain or a concert hall.
