Iconic Christmas Markets with AmaWaterways
7 night Christmas Market cruise with shore excursions in Budapest, Europe’s most regal city; Vienna, The “City of Waltzes”; Passau, the “City of Three Rivers”; and medieval Regensburg and Nuremberg
| Style | Independent Package Freedom to explore at your own pace; unescorted | ||
| Departures | December 2025 – December 2026 | ||
| Themes | Grand Tours, Bucket List, River Cruises | ||
| Activity Level | |||
| What to Expect | This moderately-paced, escorted tour includes a reasonable amount of walking or hiking and requires an average level of physical fitness.Travel safely and confidently with our new health & safety protocols. | ||
| Already booked? | Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more. | ||
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Embark on a scenic cruise aboard the 5-star AmaWaterways ship, stopping to travel back in time as you wander along cobblestone streets through grand cities and historic towns adorned with twinkling Christmas trees and lined with wooden vendor stalls filled with handcrafted treasures. Experience the magic of roaming through these iconic Christmas markets that are plentiful and on full display for your pleasure. Discover Budapest’s Vörösmarty Square, where unique items sold in the market are traditionally handmade; Vienna, with its impressive Christmas markets that magically appear around every corner; Regensburg’s Christmas market at Thurn and Taxis Castle, considered one of Bavaria’s most beautiful and romantic; and Nuremberg’s festive Christkindlesmarkt, the largest and oldest Christmas market in Germany. Twinkling lights, the harmonic sounds of children dressed as angels singing festive carols, enticing aromas of hot-mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, sausages, and sweet treats of every kind, and timeless wonders and treasures await you on this enchanting journey through Europe.
Package includes
- Flights
- Cruise
- Coach
- Transfers
- Hotel
- Meals
- Guides
- Round-trip flights from New York (JFK) or Newark (EWR) on scheduled carriers, including taxes & fees
- Airport transfers
- 7 nights aboard 5-star AmaWaterways in an outside stateroom
- 20 Meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
- Wine, beer and soft drinks at lunch and dinner; sparkling wine and juices at breakfast
- Welcome Cocktail, Welcome Dinner, Captain’s Cocktail and Gala Dinner
- Sandwiches, snacks and refreshments served daily in the Main Lounge
- Sip & Sail Cocktail Hour
- Choice of daily shore excursions with personal headsets
- Entertainment on board
- Port taxes
Optional add-ons
- Flights from other cities are available. Request pricing when making your reservation
- 2 nights Budapest pre-cruise, 3 nights Prague post-cruise – please call for details
Why you'll love it
- Enjoy 7 nights aboard 5-star AmaWaterways cruise ship
- Explore Budapest's Christmas Markets as well as Fisherman’s Bastion, Royal Palace, St. Stephen’s Basilica, and Heroes Square.
- Discover Vienna, the “City of Waltzes”, on a guided tour including the Opera House, the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs, and Vienna's Christmas Markets.
- Visit one of Europe’s most revered Baroque monasteries, the Melk Abbey.
- Journey through the 2,000-year-old city of Passau, including the Bavarian-style Christmas Market.
- Have the opportunity to travel through the serene Austrian Alps to Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart.
- Wander one of Austria's most beautiful Christmas Markets in Salzburg.
- Tour the highlights of Regensburg, one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Witness artisans create unique crafts as Thurn and Taxis, one Bavaria’s most beautiful and romantic Christmas markets.
- Enjoy a scenic morning cruise as the ship crosses the Continental Divide via the Main-Danube Canal to Nuremberg.
- Have the chance to taste your way through Nuremberg with a Franconian specialties tour.
- For a more active exploration, embark on numerous bike tours around the cities.
Videos
Dates & Prices
Detailed Itinerary
To see full details, click the button to the right.
Day 1 Depart USA
- Your journey begins this evening as you depart from the USA
Day 2 Budapest, Hungary
- Arrive in Budapest, Hungary
- Embark on your river cruise and set sail
AmaLea or similarDinner
Day 3 Budapest
- Explore Budapest during a city tour
- Discover the Vörösmarty Square Christmas Market
- Have the opportunity to hike up Castle Hill
AmaLea or similarBreakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 4 Vienna, Austria
- See Vienna's highlights during a guided tour, including the Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs
- Visit the sparkling Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas Market
- Have the option to join a Vienna City bike tour
- Explore the illuminated Schönbrunn Christmas Markets
- Or, end the day at the Rathaus Markets
AmaLea or similarBreakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 5 Melk & Scenic Cruising
- Visit the magnificent Benedictine Abbey
- Or, pedal your way through Melk on a bike tour
- Cruise through the Strudengau Valley
AmaLea or similarBreakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 6 Passau, Germany
- Discover Passau during a walking tour
- Search for Bavarian-style crafts at the Christmas Market
- Or, embark on a River Inn bike tour
- Or, enjoy a full-day excursion in Salzburg, including its Christmas markets
AmaLea or similarBreakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 7 Regensburg
- Discover the architectural highlights and Christmas Markets of Regensburg during a guided walking tour
- Or, sample Bavarian specialties during a Tastes of Bavaria tour
- Or, bike to the base of Walhalla on a bike tour
- Explore the Thurn and Taxis Christmas Markets
AmaLea or similarBreakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 8 Nuremberg
- Cross the Continental Divide on a scenic morning cruise
- Discover WWII highlights during a Nuremberg city tour
- Or, taste your way through the city during a Franconian specialties tour
- Visit Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt, one of the world’s largest and most famous Christmas markets
AmaLea or similarBreakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 9 Nuremberg/USA
- Today, you'll be escorted to the airport and bid farewell to Nuremberg as you board your flight back home
- Your exciting journey comes to an end as you arrive in the USA later today
Breakfast
Cruise Ships
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Trip Details
- What should I know before I go?We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
- Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements?Please review the visa & entry requirements.
- Can I make changes to my trip?Want to upgrade your seats? Depart from another city? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
- Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions?To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at the time of travel.
- Should I purchase travel insurance?Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
- What's the fine print?Review the terms & conditions for this package.
What should I know about Austria?Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
What should I know about Hungary?Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
What should I know about Germany?Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
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