This is the river cruise most people start with, and it is easy to see why. In seven nights the ship travels from Passau on the German border, through the Austrian Danube and the Wachau valley, to Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. The distances are short, the sailing is calm, and most days begin with the ship already moored in the middle of a town.
The first half of the week is the quieter part: Passau's old town on its point between the rivers, then Linz, then Melk Abbey and the Wachau. The best sailing of the week is usually here. This is a stretch to enjoy from the ship: itineraries cruise the terraced vineyards between Melk and Krems in daylight, letting you soak in the Danube's finest scenery straight from the top deck. The second half is the big cities. Vienna normally gets a full day; Bratislava is small enough to see on foot in a morning; and the arrival into Budapest, past the Parliament building, is one of the great river approaches in Europe.
The route runs in both directions and as a round trip, and the ports included vary from operator to operator. The stops listed here are the ones that come up most often. Check the itinerary of the sailing you are considering; we can help with that.
The week, stop by stop
- Day 1 Passau Most itineraries
Embarkation. Some ships board at Vilshofen, about 20 km upstream, and sail to Passau the next day. - Day 2 Linz Most itineraries
Often a base for full-day excursions to Salzburg or Český Krumlov rather than a visit to Linz itself. - Day 3 Melk Most itineraries
Some ships moor at Emmersdorf on the opposite bank and take passengers to the abbey by coach. - Day 3 The Wachau Seen from the ship
Sailed in daylight between Melk and Krems on most itineraries; worth being on deck. - Day 3 Spitz and Weissenkirchen Some itineraries
Occasional mooring for wine tastings and walks. - Day 3 Dürnstein Most itineraries
Often a short stop combined with Melk on the same day. - Day 3 Krems Some itineraries
- Day 4 Vienna Most itineraries
Usually a full day; some itineraries stay into the evening or overnight for a concert. - Day 5 Bratislava Most itineraries
A compact old town, explored on foot. - Day 6 Esztergom Some itineraries
Short stop or passed at the start of the Danube Bend. - Day 6 Visegrád Seen from the ship
Seen from the river on the Danube Bend; occasional stops. - Day 6 Szentendre Reached by coach
Usually reached by coach from Budapest rather than by ship. - Day 7 Budapest Most itineraries
Usually a full day, often with an evening sailing past the floodlit Parliament. Disembarkation on day 8.
Days are typical. Many itineraries sail the other way, from Budapest to Passau, and many are round trips from Passau, Vilshofen or Budapest that stop at the same places in a different order. The order of Melk and Dürnstein, and whether Linz, Esztergom or Krems is included, varies by operator and by sailing date. Longer versions start further upstream at Regensburg or Nuremberg, which brings in the Main–Danube Canal.
Who sails this route
These cruise lines sail the classic week, or a close version of it that passes through Passau. They are listed alphabetically. The guide is independent: lines do not pay to be included, and the list includes lines we do not book with.
| A-ROSA | From Passau |
|---|---|
| Amadeus River Cruises | Passau to Budapest, either direction, and round trips from Passau |
| AmaWaterways | Vilshofen (near Passau) to Budapest, either direction |
| APT | Nuremberg to Budapest via Passau; also longer voyages from Amsterdam |
| Avalon Waterways | Vilshofen (near Passau) to Budapest |
| CroisiEurope | Passau to Budapest |
| Emerald Cruises | Budapest to Munich, boarding or leaving the ship near Passau |
| Riverside Luxury Cruises | Passau to Budapest, either direction, and longer round trips from Passau |
| Saga River Cruises | Regensburg to Budapest via Passau, either direction |
| Scenic | Munich (from Passau) to Budapest, either direction |
| Trafalgar | Budapest to Passau, either direction |
| Travelmarvel | Passau to Budapest with time in Munich, either direction |
| TUI River Cruises | Passau to Budapest, and round trips from Budapest calling at Passau |
| Uniworld | Passau to Budapest, either direction |
| Viking | Passau to Budapest, either direction; also from Regensburg |
| VIVA Cruises | Round trips from Passau, taking in Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava |
Checked in November 2026 against the lines' own published itineraries and those of their agents. Itineraries, ports and sailing directions change from year to year; check the sailing you are considering, and we can help with that. If a line is missing, tell us.