Cruise itinerary
16-Night Danube Cruise from Brussels
16 nights · Danube · 17 ports of call
16-night Danube cruise aboard Emerald Sun, departing Brussels and calling at Amsterdam, Cologne, Rüdesheim am Rhein, Miltenberg, Wertheim and Würzburg and 10 more.
- Free advisor
- No booking fees
- 10,000+ sailings
At a glance
- Ship
- Emerald Sun
- Cruise line
- Emerald Cruises
- Duration
- 16 nights
- Region
- Danube · Europe
- Departs
- Brussels
- Returns
- Budapest
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 Emerald Sun sailing, typically within 24 hours.
Where this voyage takes you
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day1
Brussels
- Day2At sea
- Day3At sea
- Day4
Amsterdam
The Dutch capital, laced with concentric canals and gabled merchant houses from its 17th-century golden age. Most river sailings depart from here, leaving time for the Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House or a stroll through the Jordaan before lines cast off.
- Rijksmuseum
- Anne Frank House
- Jordaan canals
- Day5At sea
- Day6
Cologne
A Rhineland city dominated by its twin-spired Gothic cathedral, the tallest in Germany when built. River cruises call beside the old town, where the cathedral, riverside promenade and 12 Romanesque churches sit within easy walking distance.
- Cologne Cathedral
- Old town
- Rhine promenade
- Day7
Rüdesheim am Rhein
A wine town on the Rhine in Germany's Rheingau, set among steep Riesling vineyards. Its narrow Drosselgasse lane is lined with taverns, and a cable car rises to the Niederwald monument overlooking the river gorge.
- Drosselgasse lane
- Niederwald monument
- Rheingau vineyards
- Day8
Wertheim
A timber-framed town in Baden-Württemberg where the Tauber River joins the Main, a frequent river-cruise stop. Wertheim is known for its half-timbered old town, the ruined hilltop castle above the rivers, and its long glassmaking heritage.
- Hilltop castle
- Half-timbered old town
- Glass museum
- Day9
Würzburg
A Bavarian city on the river Main, at the start of Germany's Romantic Road. The hillside Marienberg fortress overlooks the old town and the vineyards along the river, while the baroque Residenz palace anchors the centre with its grand frescoed staircase.
- Marienberg Fortress
- Würzburg Residenz
- Old Main Bridge
- Day10
Bamberg
A Bavarian town built across seven hills above the river Regnitz, its medieval and baroque core preserved as a whole. A painted town hall stands on an island mid-river, and the town is known for its smoked Rauchbier and many small breweries.
- Old Town Hall
- Bamberg Cathedral
- Smoked beer
- Day11
Nuremberg
A Bavarian city on the Pegnitz with a walled medieval core and an imperial castle above it. River ships call here along the Main–Danube corridor, within reach of the old town's half-timbered houses and the famous grilled Nürnberger sausages.
- Imperial Castle
- Old town walls
- Nürnberger sausages
- Day12
Regensburg
A Bavarian city on the Danube with one of Germany's best-preserved medieval centres. River ships call within walking distance of the 12th-century Stone Bridge, the Gothic cathedral and a tangle of lanes lined with patrician towers.
- Stone Bridge
- Regensburg Cathedral
- Medieval old town
- Day13
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
- Day14
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
- Day15
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
- Day16
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
- Day17
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
Upcoming departures
- 20 Apr 2027
- 1 Oct 2027
- 29 Oct 2027
Upcoming sailings of this itinerary — a NestCruise advisor confirms current availability and your fare.
16-Night Danube Cruise from Brussels FAQ
Which ports does this cruise visit?
This 16-night Danube cruise calls at Brussels, Amsterdam, Cologne, Rüdesheim am Rhein, Miltenberg, Wertheim, Würzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau, Linz, Melk, Dürnstein, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest.
How many days are spent at sea?
3 days are spent at sea; the rest are in port.
Where does this cruise depart from?
It departs from Brussels and ends in Budapest.
How long is this cruise?
16 nights aboard Emerald Sun.
When does this itinerary sail?
Upcoming departures include 20 Apr 2027, 1 Oct 2027 and 29 Oct 2027. A NestCruise advisor can confirm current availability.