Danube Christmas Markets River Cruise

Day One

Early departure from North Wales as we travel south to Folkestone for a Eurotunnel crossing to Calais. On arrival in Calais we continue our journey through France and into Belgium and onto our overnight hotel in Ypres, a charming town steeped in history. See the market square dominated by the huge Cloth Hall and tonight pause at the Menin Gate where at 20:00 each evening the Last Post is sounded to honour of those who perished in the war and has done so since 1929.

Day Two

After breakfast, we depart Ypres and continue our journey through Belgium into Germany, arriving at our overnight hotel in Frankfurt. During our stay, Frankfurt's Christmas Markets will be taking place, where you can soak up the festive atmosphere of one of Germany's oldest and most beautiful markets. Stretching from the Römerberg and historic Paulskirche to the banks of the River Main, the markets are filled with traditional stalls and seasonal delights. Be sure to sample local specialties such as Bethmännchen, a marzipan pastry topped with almonds, or warm up with a glass of hot apple wine, a regional favourite.

Day Three

Today we depart Frankfurt and travel to the charming town of Passau, where we board our A-ROSA RIVA cruise for the next four nights. After settling into your cabin enjoy dinner this evening as we set sail and cruise towards Vienna, passing through the magical UNESCO World Heritage Wachau in the morning.

Day Four

There will be time to relax and enjoy the onboard facilities this morning before we arrive in Vienna in the early afternoon, ready to spend a full day exploring this UNESCO World Heritage City. Our guided tour will take us to some of Vienna's most beautiful plazas, each transformed into enchanting Christmas markets, where the aroma of festive biscuits and hot punch instantly evokes the holiday spirit. We begin with a drive along the Ringstrasse, the city's grand circular boulevard, passing many of Vienna's iconic sights. Afterwards, we enjoy a gentle stroll through the city centre, visiting the Christmas markets, including the stunning Christkindlmarkt on the square in front of the Town Hall. Following the guided tour, there will be plenty of time to wander through the narrow passages between the stalls, searching for souvenirs and festive treats. We return to the cruise in the evening and set sail towards Dürnstein.

Day Five

This morning, we arrive in Dürnstein, one of the most famous stops along the Austrian Danube. We will take a guided walking tour through the cosy, car-free alleys of Dürnstein's historic centre. In the afternoon, we reboard our cruise and sail towards the town of Melk, where the magnificent Benedictine Abbey rises majestically on a hill, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. Admission to the Abbey is included where you can take in the stunning panorama from the 60-metre-high terraces before exploring the impressive baroque interior and its richly decorated rooms. We depart Dürnstein this evening and continue our journey towards Linz.

Day Six

We arrive in Linz this morning and enjoy a guided walking tour of this historic city. Highlights include the grand Renaissance-style Landhaus and the Mozarthaus. Linz becomes even more enchanting during the festive season with its many Christmas markets. We will stroll among the stalls, sampling local treats, picking up beautiful gifts and savouring the irresistible aroma of sausages grilling over charcoal. A visit to one of Linz's Christmas markets adds a special charm to the run-up to Christmas! We rejoin our cruise this evening as we set sail for the final time back to Passau.

Day Seven

We disembark this morning at Passau and begin our return journey by coach through Germany, arriving at our overnight hotel in Frankfurt. En route, we stop in the charming town of Bernkastel-Kues. With its festive decorations and backdrop of medieval half-timbered houses, the Christmas market here is truly special. The combination of the historic old town and the holiday atmosphere invites you to take a leisurely stroll through the winding alleyways, browsing the many stalls filled with seasonal delights and handcrafted treasures.

Day Eight

This morning we depart the hotel and travel to our final overnight hotel in Brugge. After settling in, you will have the evening free to enjoy Brugge's Christmas Market. Browse around the stalls and seek out the best bargains, a great chance to get those unique stocking fillers and lovely Belgian chocolates. Enjoy all the festivities amongst the magnificent architecture of the city's timber buildings highlighted by twinkling lights galore and see the famous Belfry, one of the city's most prominent symbols, towering above the bustling Christmas markets below. Perhaps take a stroll through the picturesque narrow cobbled streets and maybe a cruise on the canals or a horse drawn carriage ride through the city.

Day Nine

Following breakfast, we check out of our hotel and make our way back to the UK via the Eurotunnel, arriving back in North Wales later in the day.

B=Breakfast Included, L=Lunch Included, D=Dinner Included