Cruise itinerary
7-Night Europe Cruise from Budapest
7 nights · Europe · 9 ports of call
7-night Europe cruise aboard Avalon Illumination, departing Budapest and calling at Bratislava, Vienna, Dürnstein, Wachau Valley Austria, Linz and Schlögen and 2 more.
- Free advisor
- No booking fees
- 10,000+ sailings
At a glance
- Cruise line
- Avalon Waterways
- Duration
- 7 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
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
- Day3
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
- Day4
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
- Day5
Dürnstein
A village in Austria's Wachau valley, set among terraced vineyards on a bend of the Danube. A blue-and-white baroque abbey tower marks its skyline, and the ruined castle above town is where Richard the Lionheart was once held captive.
- Baroque abbey
- Castle ruins
- Wachau vineyards
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
- Day6
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
- Day7
Schlögen
A hamlet on the Danube in Upper Austria, known for the Schlögener Schlinge, a dramatic double loop where the river doubles back between forested hills. River ships pass through this quiet stretch of the valley, prized for its walking trails and views.
- Schlögen Loop
- Danube valley
- Forest trails
Passau
A Bavarian city where the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers meet, near the Austrian border. Long a starting point for Danube cruises, its baroque old town centres on St. Stephen's Cathedral, home to one of the largest church organs in the world.
- Three rivers
- St. Stephen's Cathedral
- Baroque old town
- Day8
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
- 27 Aug 2026
- 10 Oct 2026
- 20 May 2027
- 13 Jul 2027
- 27 Jul 2027
Upcoming sailings of this itinerary — a NestCruise advisor confirms current availability and your fare.
7-Night Europe Cruise from Budapest FAQ
Which ports does this cruise visit?
This 7-night Europe cruise calls at Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Dürnstein, Wachau Valley Austria, Linz, Schlögen, Passau 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?
7 nights aboard Avalon Illumination.
When does this itinerary sail?
Upcoming departures include 27 Aug 2026, 10 Oct 2026, 20 May 2027 and 13 Jul 2027. A NestCruise advisor can confirm current availability.