Danube Christmas Markets and Prague

Step aboard the Trafalgar Reverie, your floating home for your Danube Christmas river cruise, and settle in for the night. This evening, get to know your fellow travellers over dinner hosted by your Experience Director.

Discover both sides of Hungary’s capital today with your Local Specialist on a city tour. In historic Buda, head up Castle Hill and admire the Gothic spires, of Matthias Church before stepping onto Fisherman’s Bastion for sweeping views across the Danube. Cross into Pest to see Heroes’ Square, a tribute to Hungary’s national identity. Later, join your Experience Director and Experience Manager to explore Budapest’s Christmas markets at your own pace, where you could find local pastries, roasted nuts and mulled wine. Or choose an Optional Experience to explore the Jewish district, including a visit to the Dohány Street Synagogue.

Arrive in Bratislava for a Be My Guest experience and meet a head brewer for a tasting of traditional lagers, dark beers and local ales, followed by lunch at one of the city’s most celebrated microbreweries. In the afternoon, you can choose between two included experiences to deepen your understanding of the local sites and culture. Join a Local Specialist for a walking tour through the old town, passing through Michael’s Gate to see the Town Hall and St. Martin’s Cathedral. You’ll wander among wooden chalets as you explore Bratislava’s Christmas markets, filled with handmade gifts and local delicacies. Or you can choose to dive into history during a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience to hear powerful stories from the communist era and Velvet Revolution.

Welcome to Vienna, the former capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Get to know this buzzing city with a drive along the Ringstraße before exploring the old town’s Baroque architecture on foot with a Local Specialist. Pass imperial landmarks, admire festive displays in shopfronts and visit Vienna’s Christmas markets, where wooden stalls, mulled wine and hand-blown ornaments fill the historic streets. There’s free time to explore the Christkindlmarkt in front of the town hall, one of Europe’s most iconic settings. Choose to visit Schönbrunn Palace for an Optional Experience, where the courtyard transforms into a picture-perfect Christmas village. After a day of discovery, why not end the evening with an optional classical concert featuring the music of Strauss and Mozart?

Cruise through Austria’s Wachau Valley, a UNESCO-listed landscape of terraced vineyards, hilltop castles and riverside villages. Arrive in the historic town of Krems an der Donau and join a Local Specialist to visit the Kremser Adventzauber, where the old town glows with seasonal lights and stalls showcase regional crafts and Christmas specialities.

Spend the day in Linz, Austria’s third-largest city, known for its elegant main square and riverside charm. Join a Local Specialist for a guided walk through the old town and enjoy time to browse the Christmas markets, where handcrafted gifts and seasonal treats bring the square to life. Alternatively, choose an Optional Experience to Salzburg and step into the story of The Sound of Music. Visit Maria’s church in Mondsee and explore Salzburg’s baroque streets. Along the way, discover the city’s musical heritage and enjoy one of Austria’s most enchanting Christmas markets.

Join a Local Specialist for a walking tour through Passau’s medieval lanes and baroque squares before browsing the city’s Christmas markets, where merry stalls line the cobbled streets. Alternatively, choose a guided hike along the Ilz River and enjoy a more active perspective on this scenic region. Later, you can opt to join a Bavarian beer experience, complete with traditional folk music and freshly baked pretzels. Raise a stein with locals and take in the warm, welcoming spirit that makes Bavaria so memorable during the season.

Bid farewell to your captain and crew as you disembark the Trafalgar Reverie in Passau and travel to Prague by coach with your Experience Director. This afternoon, explore the ‘Golden City’ at your own pace – stroll through lantern-lit lanes, browse the Christmas markets or savour a spiced treat as you take in views from the iconic Charles Bridge.

This morning, step inside Prague Castle with your Local Specialist, visiting St. Vitus Cathedral and the charming Golden Lane. Stroll through the Old Town as the Astronomical Clock marks the hour and festive stalls bring the square to life. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to do as you wish, perhaps visit the Charles Bridge, shop for souvenirs or enjoy a crisp Czech Pilsner!

Your festive journey along the Danube and into the heart of Bohemia comes to an end this morning. After breakfast, take home memories of twinkling markets, riverside charm and stories wrapped in the spirit of the season.