Aboard the Viking Vilhjalm, enchanting landscapes, rich history, and festive holiday spirit converge on a journey along the Danube River. During an 8-day cruise, we’ll immerse in the magic of the holiday season, visiting captivating cities and Christmas markets along the way.

There are numerous additional excursions and options but the selection below is what my guest and I have chosen to experience on our Danube River Cruise.

While there, I aim to savor a local flavor in each city so I’ve included what foods I’ll be seeking in each city.

My Viking Journey

When not enjoying one of the excursions, onboard we’ll spend our days:

1. Cultural Enrichment: Viking is known for its cultural enrichment programs. Onboard, you’ll experience lectures, demonstrations, and performances related to the destinations you’ll be visiting.
2. Dining: Enjoy a variety of dining options, from casual to more formal settings. The ship often features regional specialties, allowing you to sample local cuisines as you cruise along the Danube.
3. Sun Deck Relaxation: The sun deck provides a comfortable space to relax and enjoy panoramic views of the passing landscapes. It’s a great spot to unwind, read a book, or socialize with fellow travelers.
4. Onboard Entertainment: Evenings may include live music, performances, and themed events. Check the daily schedule for details on what’s happening each night.
5. Cooking Demonstrations: Learn about local cuisines with onboard cooking demonstrations. This is a great way to bring a taste of the destinations you’re visiting back home with you.
6. Concierge Services: Viking river cruises often include a concierge service to help you plan your onshore activities, whether it’s arranging a guided tour or providing recommendations for independent exploration.
7. Socializing and Relaxation: Enjoy the company of fellow travelers in the common areas, including lounges and bars. You can share experiences, make new friends, or simply relax with a drink.

Day 1: Budapest, Hungary

• Arrive in Budapest
• Welcome aboard and introduction to the ship

Day 2: Budapest, Hungary

• Morning: Panoramic Budapest walking tour
• “Take in one of Europe’s great cultural capitals. Over the last few decades, Budapest has reemerged as one of the continent’s iconic cities, divided by the lilting Danube and connected by the graceful Chain Bridge. Meet your guide for a panoramic tour, beginning in modern Pest. Along the elegant Andrássy Avenue, the Champs-Élysées of Budapest, admire the Hungarian State Opera House. Drive through Heroes’ Square, a wide-open plaza of monuments and statues commemorating the Magyar state. Across the river, explore the more traditional Buda side of the city. Here you will visit the Castle District with its massive hilltop castle complex, the turreted Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church, named for the country’s most popular medieval king. From the heights of Buda Hill, enjoy fantastic views of the famous Chain Bridge, the first span to ever connect the two halves of the city when it opened in 1849.”
• Afternoon: Budapest Thermal Bath
• “Soak up the restorative powers of Budapest’s nourishing thermal baths and join the locals in a centuries-old tradition. Ancient Romans discovered the benefits of bathing in the thermal waters that flow through Budapest. As the city grew, the spouting springs were treasured and preserved so highly that not even the Communist government forbade their pleasures. Still today, they offer a regimen most residents of Budapest cannot do without. Accompany a dedicated guide to one of the city’s grand historic baths, immersing yourself in the therapeutic waters that have flowed here for centuries. During your visit, you might mingle with the locals taking a soak or observe some bathers as they pass the time with a game of chess in the pool. So revered have these waters been that many have been sheltered within facilities that exude a temple-like aura.”
• Local flavor: Hungarian goulash soup

Day 3: Bratislava, Slovakia

• Afternoon: Bratislava Christmas Market and Organ Concert
• “Stroll Bratislava’s Old Town and experience the Christmas market with an enchanting organ recital. Join your local guide and set off along the Amber Road, tracing the ancient trade route that once linked Northern and Southern Europe. Stop to view the Gothic-style Universitas Istropolitana, the first university founded in present-day Slovakia. Feel the festive spirit as you visit the old town on foot, admiring the illuminated main square. Around the square, you will see the rococo, late-Baroque Grassalkovich Palace, residence of the president, and the rose-hued Archbishop’s Palace, home to the mayor. Stop at the Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral and enjoy an organ concert of festive carols. Afterward, visit the Christmas market and walk among traditional stalls, brimming with yuletide treats, handcrafted Christmas ornaments, and more.”
• Evening: Beer Tasting and Dinner
• “Dine at one of Bratislava’s brewery houses and sample a selection of beers.Slovakia’s brewing scene is enjoying a surge in popularity, with a number of pubs offering a range of innovative beers alongside tasty traditional fare. Set off on foot to the Sladovna, House of Beer, a medieval pub in the heart of the Old Town. Enjoy a taste of one of its craft beers before continuing to the “Klastorny Pivovar,” or Abbey Brewery. Here, your local guide will explain the range of brews on offer, and you will enjoy two of its finest. Once a monastic cellar, and later a cinema hall, you will hear about the history of this magnificent building and its transformation into the establishment that it is today. Afterward, sit down for an evening meal of traditional local fare, accompanied by a glass of beer. With your appetite sated, return to your ship.”
• Local Flavor – Loksa, a potato pancake that’s filled with meat or poppy seeds

Day 4: Vienna, Austria

• Morning: Panoramic Vienna and Christmas Market
• “Discover the magnificent architectural highlights of Vienna, Austria’s elegant capital, during a festive tour.Set out on a combined motor coach and walking tour that focuses on the splendid buildings along the remarkable Ringstrasse, the gracious boulevard laid out on the site of the old city walls during the mid-19th century. Step back in time as you admire these elegant public buildings, grand residences, and imposing palaces. Pay a short visit to the Christkindlmarkt at the St. Charles Church. Known for its outstanding unique handicrafts and artistic decors, this atmospheric market will give plenty of opportunity for shopping and browsing its many stalls. Afterward, you will take a stroll through the stunning Christmas Market around the St. Stephen’s Cathedral. After a brief orientation tour, you may enjoy free time to explore at your leisure or return to your awaiting ship.”
• Local Flavor: Vienna schnitzel

Day 5: Krems, Austria

• Morning: Göttweig Abbey at Christmas
• “Experience a Benedictine abbey where monks work and worship during a Privileged Access visit to Göttweig Abbey. Enjoy the vistas of the splendid Wachau Valley and the Danube River during a scenic drive, before arriving at the abbey, standing in all its majesty atop a hill. The oldest part of the monastery, a small chapel in the inner courtyard, dates back to 1072 and it is usually closed to visitors. However, Viking guests are invited to step inside the chapel and enjoy the nativity scene, an important work by the monks. Admire the craftmanship and intricate carvings of the figurines as you discover more about the history of the abbey. After your delightful experience, you will return to your awaiting ship.”
• Local Flavor: drunken apricots (I’ll be interviewing a local apricot farmer and tasting a variety of apricot food items.)

Day 6: Linz, Austria

• Morning: Linz Walking Tour
• “Experience all the charms of this capital of Upper Austria during a walking tour.Founded by the Romans, Linz rose to prominence under the Hapsburg Empire. Today, it remains a vibrant cultural center. Set off on foot to explore the Danube’s south bank, passing the massive Brucknerhaus concert hall, named for the famed Austrian composer, and view the modern New Town Hall across the Danube. Continue to Linz Castle, considered the most beautiful museum in the province. In the Old Quarter, see the Market Hall, the Mozarthaus, where the composer wrote the Linz Symphony, the magnificent Renaissance Landhaus tower and the elegant facade of the Landestheater. At Hauptplatz, the city’s main square in the Old Quarter, you may step inside the New Cathedral if the church’s schedule allows and admire its ornate interior.”
• Afternoon: Austrian Countryside
• “Enjoy a sweeping culinary excursion through picturesque landscapes. Along the way, stop to sample the region’s delicious bounty. You will begin with a drive through rural farmlands outside Linz where fields are fed by Danube waters. Your destination is the small and tranquil village of Gutau, where life is lived at the easy pace of the seasons. At a local farm, a bread maker invites you to a demonstration and shows you how to bake your own loaves using local techniques. Continue to St. Oswald and its Mittendorfer Schnapsmuseum and distillery. Enjoy a tour of the facility to see how schnapps is made from locally grown ingredients. Learn more about the spirit at the museum, where you can sample three different flavors. Make a stop at Seyrhof to enjoy a farm-fresh plate of cured meats, bacon, cheese and bread before returning to your ship.”
• Local Flavor: linzertorte

Day 7 Passau, Germany

• Morning: Christmas Traditions in Passau
• “Stroll historic Passau, watch an Advent wreath demonstration and sample a yuletide treat—gingerbread. Known as “the city of the three rivers” and founded more than 2,000 years ago, Passau is one of the oldest cities in Bavaria. Your knowledgeable guide will take you through the stunning Old Town and pause to admire its imposing baroque cathedral. Along the way, gaze up at the twinkling lights and enjoy the scent of spiced gingerbread, sausages grilling and almonds roasting from street vendors. Stop and learn tips on how to craft the perfect Advent wreath and see how gingerbread is made at a local bakery. Afterward, enjoy free time to browse the stalls of local artisan craftsmen, who display all manner or handmade gifts from unique woolens, delicate glass ornaments and traditional wooden toys. After your tour, you will return to your awaiting ship.”
• Afternoon: Bavarian Farm and Countryside
• “Visit the rural reaches of Bavaria and hear local farmers reveal some details of their working lives.The rolling hills of Bavaria are home to some of Germany’s most fertile and prolific farms. Pigs and other livestock are raised among green pastures, producing some of the region’s most beloved products, from prized hams and sausages to milk and cheeses. Meet your guide and leave Passau for a scenic drive into the heart and soul of southern Germany. At a local farm, you will be met by a farmer, who will share stories of daily life with you and give you a tour of the pens and stables. You will find that life here is simple, yet these growers play an active role in the local community. After time to explore and see the animals, you will have a chance to sample some of the fresh-made products.”
• Local Flavor: gingerbread (I’ll be interviewing a baker as well as tasting at the Christmas Market.)

Day 8: Disembarkation in Passau

• Disembarkation in Passau
• Transfer to the Munich airport for departure

Follow my journey along the Danube on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, or through the Global Journeys with Jill Dutton podcast, or website.