11 nights · Germany Bavaria · River cruise · Departs Passau (Germany) · Visiting Bratislava, Kalocsa, Mohacs, Aljmas, Belgrade, Donji Milanovac, Golubac, Novi Sad, Ilok, Osijek, Budapest, Hainburg an der Donau, Vienna, Melk · Aboard Viva Cruises on the VIVA Two
Image courtesy of Viva Cruises ©
This river cruise sails the Danube, departing Passau.
| Cruise line | Viva Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | VIVA Two |
| Duration | 11 nights |
| Port calls | 15 |
| Departures | 2 sailings |
| From fare | $3,443 per person |
| Year built | 2023 |
| Guests | 190 |
| Cabins | 95 |
| Crew | 52 |
| Length | 135 m |
| Beam | 12 m |
| Cruising speed | 12.0 kn |
Passau sits where the Danube, Inn and Ilz meet, their contrasting waters framing one of Bavaria’s most handsome old towns. Walk its baroque lanes to St Stephen’s Cathedral, famed for its historic organ. From the fortress of Veste Oberhaus, rooftops and rivers unfold in a memorable view. Passau rewards a leisurely call: explore on foot, pause beside the water, and watch three waterways shape the city’s character.
Bratislava rewards a day ashore with a walkable old town, a lively Danube waterfront and a castle above the river. Explore the lanes around Michael’s Gate, then climb to Bratislava Castle for wide views across the city and beyond. Pause at a café terrace before following the riverside promenade. Slovakia’s capital is compact, making its historic centre easy to discover on foot.
Kalocsa rewards a shore visit with two Hungarian essentials: paprika and a remarkable ecclesiastical heritage. Set on the Great Hungarian Plain, this compact city has been an archbishopric for nearly a thousand years. Visit the cathedral and Archbishop’s Palace, then explore the Paprika Museum to discover the spice that defines local cuisine. Colorful embroidery and painted folk art offer a glimpse of life beyond the Danube.
Mohács sits on the Danube in southern Hungary, where river life meets a turbulent past. The town is known for the 1526 Battle of Mohács, a defeat that reshaped Hungary. It also hosts Busójárás, a UNESCO-listed pre-Lenten festival of carved masks, bells and lively processions. Visit the battlefield memorial, then stroll the riverside streets or sample paprika-rich Hungarian cooking. Mohács rewards travelers willing to look beyond Budapest.
Aljmaš is a small Danube village with a compelling reason to come ashore: the Shrine of Our Lady of Refuge. Its white church overlooks the river, drawing pilgrims to a sanctuary rebuilt after the Croatian War of Independence. Beyond the shrine, the quiet eastern Slavonian landscape offers broad water views and a glimpse of village life. Step inside, then take time to enjoy the Danube’s unhurried pace.
Belgrade stands where the Sava meets the Danube, a strategic crossroads shaped by centuries of conquest and commerce. From the riverfront, Kalemegdan Fortress commands wide views over both waterways and the city’s layered skyline. Below it, cafés, markets and pedestrian streets reveal a capital that feels energetic, not polished for visitors. Come ashore for history, strong coffee and a distinctly Balkan pace; Belgrade rewards those who explore beyond the main square.
Donji Milanovac brings you to the Danube’s most dramatic passage, where wooded cliffs close around the river in Đerdap Gorge. This Serbian town lies within Đerdap National Park, where wooded slopes frame the river. Nearby, Lepenski Vir preserves traces of a prehistoric community, including distinctive sculptures and dwellings. Come ashore for deep history, broad river views and a rare look at the Iron Gates.
At Golubac, the Danube meets the Iron Gates gorge beneath the towers of Serbia’s most dramatic medieval fortress. First recorded in 1335, Golubac Fortress guarded a strategic passage between the Balkans and Central Europe. Explore its restored walls, then follow the river road into Đerdap National Park. There, wooded slopes and limestone cliffs frame the water. From the fortress heights, the Danube’s immense scale comes into focus.
Step ashore in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city, and the Danube is never far from view. Across the river, Petrovaradin Fortress commands the skyline, its ramparts holding centuries of history and sweeping views over the water. In the compact centre, café-lined streets lead to Liberty Square, the Cathedral of the Name of Mary and lively markets. Come for the architecture; stay for a city that feels distinctly Serbian, confident and easy to explore.
Ilok sits above the Danube in Croatia’s far east, where vineyards meet a long, contested history. From the riverfront, climb into the walled old town and explore Odescalchi Castle, now home to a museum and gallery. Then visit the celebrated Ilok Cellars, where wine-making tradition is closely tied to Traminac, the region’s signature white wine. This small port is best savoured slowly, with time for a tasting and broad Danube views.
Osijek, on the Drava River in eastern Croatia, offers a quieter, more spacious city break than the Adriatic ports. Begin in Tvrđa, its compact Baroque quarter, where cobbled lanes and Habsburg-era buildings frame cafés, museums and galleries. Follow the riverfront promenade, then look for the soaring Church of St Peter and St Paul in the modern centre. Local menus lean on freshwater fish and paprika-rich Slavonian cooking; nearby Kopački Rit offers wetlands and birdlife.
Budapest makes a memorable arrival, with the Danube dividing hilly Buda from lively, level Pest. From the river, the Hungarian Parliament’s Gothic Revival façade commands attention, especially after dark. Cross the Chain Bridge to explore Castle Hill, or stay in Pest for cafés, markets, and celebrated thermal baths. Allow time to linger: Budapest’s pleasures are best discovered on foot, over a long lunch, and beside the water.
Near Austria’s border with Slovakia, Hainburg sits on the Danube’s southern bank, about 50 kilometres east of Vienna. Walk beneath its medieval gates and along remarkably intact town walls, built to guard this frontier settlement. Above the rooftops, the ruins of Hainburg Castle crown Schlossberg, with broad views across the river and surrounding countryside. Bratislava lies just beyond the border. This compact stop rewards visitors with history, river scenery and an easy independent stroll.
Arrive in Vienna by river and give the city more than a passing glance. Its imperial centre rewards a slow walk, from St Stephen’s Cathedral to the grand Ringstrasse boulevards. Set aside time for Schönbrunn Palace, once the Habsburgs’ summer residence, or choose the Kunsthistorisches Museum for its remarkable collections. Then take a seat in a traditional coffeehouse; in Vienna, coffee and cake are part of the city’s daily ritual.
Melk stands at the western end of Austria’s Wachau, a UNESCO-listed Danube valley. Its vineyards, apricot orchards and medieval towns make the river journey especially rewarding. High above the water, Melk Abbey commands attention with its baroque church, imperial rooms and celebrated library. Founded as a Benedictine monastery in 1089, it remains active and ranks among Austria’s most memorable cultural landmarks.
Passau sits where the Danube, Inn and Ilz meet, their contrasting waters framing one of Bavaria’s most handsome old towns. Walk its baroque lanes to St Stephen’s Cathedral, famed for its historic organ. From the fortress of Veste Oberhaus, rooftops and rivers unfold in a memorable view. Passau rewards a leisurely call: explore on foot, pause beside the water, and watch three waterways shape the city’s character.
Published August 30, 2026
Last updated October 11, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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