Cruise itinerary
5-Night Europe Cruise from Budapest
5 nights · Europe · 7 ports of call
5-night Europe cruise aboard Avalon Illumination, departing Budapest and calling at Bratislava, Vienna, Krems, Wachau Valley Austria, Linz and Vilshofen.
- Free advisor
- No booking fees
- 10,000+ sailings
At a glance
- Cruise line
- Avalon Waterways
- Duration
- 5 nights
- Region
- Europe · Western Europe · Danube
- Departs
- Budapest
- Returns
- Vilshofen
How NestCruise works:we're advisor-led, not a booking engine. No fares are listed and there are no booking fees — tell an advisor your dates and party and they price your exact Avalon Illumination sailing, typically within 24 hours.
Where this voyage takes you
- History & Culture
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day1
Budapest
Hungary's grand capital, split by the Danube into hilly Buda and flat Pest. River ships moor in the centre, within reach of the neo-Gothic Parliament, the thermal baths at Széchenyi and the panoramic ramparts of Fisherman's Bastion.
- Parliament Building
- Széchenyi Baths
- Fisherman's Bastion
- Day2
Bratislava
Slovakia's compact capital on the Danube, within sight of both Austria and Hungary. A hilltop castle overlooks a small, walkable old town of pastel facades, baroque squares and the Gothic St. Martin's Cathedral where Hungarian kings were once crowned.
- Bratislava Castle
- Old Town
- St. Martin's Cathedral
- Day3
Vienna
Austria's imperial capital on the Danube, long the seat of the Habsburgs. River ships call within reach of Schönbrunn Palace, the Hofburg and St. Stephen's Cathedral, in a city famed for coffee houses, classical music and grand ringstrasse architecture.
- Schönbrunn Palace
- St. Stephen's Cathedral
- Coffee houses
- Day4
Krems
A town at the eastern gateway to Austria's Wachau Valley, where the Krems River meets the Danube. Its medieval old town and the nearby Göttweig Abbey anchor a wine region known for Grüner Veltliner and terraced vineyards.
- Wachau vineyards
- Göttweig Abbey
- Steiner Tor gate
Wachau Valley Austria
A stretch of the Danube in Lower Austria between Melk and Krems, a UNESCO cultural landscape. The Wachau Valley is known for its terraced vineyards, riverside villages, hilltop abbeys, and apricot orchards along a famously scenic reach of the river.
- Terraced vineyards
- Dürnstein village
- Apricot orchards
- Day5
Linz
An Austrian city on the Danube between Salzburg and Vienna, with a large baroque main square at its heart. A pair of funiculars and a tram climb the Pöstlingberg hill above town, and it serves as a river gateway toward the Salzkammergut lakes.
- Main Square
- Pöstlingberg hill
- Danube promenade
- Day6
Vilshofen
A small Bavarian town on the Danube in Lower Bavaria, often a river-cruise stop for its preserved historic core. Vilshofen's pastel market square and riverside setting make it a gateway into the surrounding Bavarian Forest countryside.
- Stadtplatz square
- Danube promenade
- Bavarian Forest
Upcoming departures
- 15 Aug 2026
- 14 Nov 2027
Upcoming sailings of this itinerary — a NestCruise advisor confirms current availability and your fare.
5-Night Europe Cruise from Budapest FAQ
Which ports does this cruise visit?
This 5-night Europe cruise calls at Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Krems, Wachau Valley Austria, Linz and Vilshofen.
How many days are spent at sea?
This is a port-intensive itinerary with no full days at sea.
Where does this cruise depart from?
It departs from Budapest and ends in Vilshofen.
How long is this cruise?
5 nights aboard Avalon Illumination.
When does this itinerary sail?
Upcoming departures include 15 Aug 2026 and 14 Nov 2027. A NestCruise advisor can confirm current availability.