AmaWaterways Christmas Markets on the Danube
7 nightsfrom £4,556 per person
AmaWaterways' Christmas Markets on the Danube suits travellers who want flights from the UK folded in and a week between Budapest and Vilshofen near Passau. It runs few December dates and costs more than Emerald on the same river, with fares from £4,556 per person.
Photo Carina · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Follow the ports in sailing order
| Port | Mooring | Christmas market |
|---|---|---|
| Budapest | Budapest gets two days at the eastern end of the route. | Vorosmarty Square Christmas Market |
| Vienna | Vienna gets one day in the middle of the week. | Vienna Christmas Market at Rathausplatz |
| Passau | Passau is the last call before Vilshofen on Budapest departures and the first call after it on Vilshofen departures. | Passau Christmas Market at the Cathedral |
Pick a December departure
- 29 Nov to 6 Dec 2026from £4,787 per person (2026)
- 30 Nov to 7 Dec 2026from £4,556 per person (2026)
- 6 Dec to 13 Dec 2026from £4,941 per person (2026)
- 13 Dec to 20 Dec 2026from £4,710 per person (2026)
Fares are the operator's published lead-in prices for the year shown. Check the cabin grade, any flight and the port charges before you book.
Do the same route by train
OBB's hourly Vienna to Budapest train has a published fastest time of 157 minutes. Passau, Linz and Vienna sit on the same main line, so a train trip can follow the river and add a night in Linz.
The ship calls at Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Weissenkirchen in the Wachau, Linz and Passau, then ends in Vilshofen, a small town downstream of Passau. Only four sailings touch December 2026, and the last leaves Vilshofen on 13 December. Bratislava, Weissenkirchen, Linz and Vilshofen have no town pages on this site yet.
AmaWaterways says it watches water levels and may change docks, excursions or ships when the river affects navigation.
Worth knowing
- Uniworld reported on 11 October 2026 that low water on the Danube kept one of its ships from reaching Budapest, so ask AmaWaterways about the river forecast a week before you fly.
Quick answers about AmaWaterways Christmas Markets on the Danube
When does AmaWaterways sail its Danube Christmas markets cruise in 2026?
AmaWaterways' Christmas Markets on the Danube has December-touching departures on 29 and 30 November and 6 and 13 December 2026, between Vilshofen and Budapest.
Where does the AmaWaterways Danube Christmas cruise start?
AmaWaterways' Christmas Markets on the Danube runs between Budapest and Vilshofen, a Bavarian town downstream of Passau, in either direction depending on the date.
Which towns does AmaWaterways Christmas Markets on the Danube stop at?
AmaWaterways Christmas Markets on the Danube sails the Danube over 7 nights and calls at Budapest, Vienna and Passau, in that order.
How much does AmaWaterways Christmas Markets on the Danube cost?
AmaWaterways publishes AmaWaterways Christmas Markets on the Danube from £4,556 per person (2026). That is the lead-in fare, so check the cabin grade and what it includes before you compare it.
When does AmaWaterways Christmas Markets on the Danube sail in December 2026?
AmaWaterways lists four departures of AmaWaterways Christmas Markets on the Danube in December 2026, leaving on 29 Nov, 30 Nov, 6 Dec and 13 Dec.