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Do some research before you leave home to see what the highlight of each Christmas market is. I did a lot of my research on TikTok and Instagram so I could see what the person was talking about. Even 10 days out from my trip, the app was fairly accurate with what the temperatures would be, which ranged from the 20s to the high 40s, and what the day would look like. On the Danube, you can visit destinations like Vienna, Austria and Passau and Regensburg, Germany. Alternatively, on the Rhine, destinations of interest include Amsterdam; Cologne, Germany; Mannheim, Germany; and Strasbourg, France.
Experience pure magic on the Danube or Rhine with Viking Cruises on a Christmas Market river cruise!
In Budapest, the Christmas market in the square in front of St. Stephen's Basilica was a good mix of crafts, decorations and tasty food to try. On the other hand, the Christmas market in Bratislava was more of a food market with just a few stalls for buying goodies to bring home with you. If you can, I suggest bringing at least two pairs of outdoor shoes in case your waterproof shoes can't handle the snow or a few days of rain in a row.
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You'll sail on one of Viking's state-of-the-art Longships which moor in the heart of towns so you're close to all the sights. Back onboard, the ships are beautifully decorated and the daily program will feature special events such as Christmas music performances, tree trimming and cookery demonstrations. A mesmerising view at the perfect time of day, a natural phenomenon that must be seen to be appreciated, or a heart-pumping activity in a place rarely visited. Stroll the medieval, UNESCO-listed city’s streets and learn about Regensburg’s history.
Viking Christmas market cruise on the Seine
If you don't want to keep your mug, you can return it and get back a euro or two. On my Viking cruise, we were told that some markets are starting to sell mass-produced goods from China. If you want to support local artisans, ask the vendor or look for stickers that say where the products were made. For days exploring the ports, I wore jeans and waterproof boots with long cozy socks, plus a thermal long-sleeved shirt under a sweater.
Day by Day
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Accessories like a warm hat or ear warmers, gloves and a scarf were also helpful. I was most impressed by Vienna, which had two, but the one near City Hall is the one that makes most of the viral TikTok videos and Instagram reels. The City Hall Christmas market is the larger of the two in the city center and is more photogenic. They are about a 10-minute walk from each other and have different foods to try and souvenirs to buy. Explore this multicultural city’s highlights and shop for gifts at the Christmas market.
The itinerary ends with a transfer to Prague and an overnight stay in the Czech capital known as the "city of a hundred spires". Think of Viking river cruises' Christmas markets' itineraries and is likely that Germany and Austria will spring to mind. Viking's new itinerary, Christmas on the Seine starts and finishes in Paris, where the ship moors overnight, providing plenty of time to see all the sights. Flowing through grand capital cities, including Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava, the Danube is another big Viking river cruise Christmas markets destination. So much so, the line has a pair of all-new week-long festive itineraries to choose from. The Christmas on the Danube sailing runs between Budapest and Regensburg, with the chance to see the Hungarian and Austrian capitals.
Viking Christmas River Cruise with Dazzling Markets Along the Danube
Before going on this cruise, I had a hunch that a river-based tour might be one of the best ways to visit a lot of different cities and Christmas markets in a relatively short period of time. Among the delights of Viking’s 16-day Malta, Morocco and the Mediterranean cruise is an underground expedition inside Spain’s Nerja Caves. Follow your guide around this archaeological marvel, where artefacts indicate human and animal habitation as far back as 25,000 BC.
Viking is small enough you can meet all the other passengers in conversations, meals or mingling and that is the main focus of the first night as the ship sets sail. Viking is about meaningful interaction with other guests, the staff and the culture and history of each stop along the way. On most days, the ship sails at night then docks during the day for exploration. Each night, each cabin receives a detailed overview of the next stop complete with key sites, tours, docking, and departure information.
How do I get a good deal on a Christmas market cruise?
Explore the Czech Republic’s beer-brewing heritage; admire the city’s architecture. Taste a selection of delicious local wines, including the highly acclaimed Riesling. Enjoy a glass of champagne while exploring the festive Christmas markets in Reims.
This means that getting to/from the main attractions is really easy in many ports. Discover these 15 unforgettable things to see and do on a Viking river or ocean cruise in Europe. Learn about the history, craftsmanship and intricate detail of Meissen’s famous porcelain. We were there just before sunset so we were able to see it with some natural sun and then with sparkling lights in the town below as we exited after dark. We learned we were experiencing a UNESCO World Heritage Site called Wachau, when we sailed the stretch of the Danube River between Melk and Krems, Austria. It was really neat to see a candy maker expertly work a pile of yellow tinted hot sugar over and over again, and watch it turn to solid white in front of our eyes.
Take part in time-honored European holiday traditions on this 10-day cruisetour. Revel in Berlin’s festive atmosphere and discover the treasured recipe for Dresden’s famous Christstollen. Shop for handmade porcelain in Meissen and spend two days in Prague, delving into the city’s Jewish history while its famed Christmas market exudes an abundance of good cheer. Starting in late November through Christmas every year, the cities and towns along the Danube, Rhine, Seine and other rivers set up markets that display each region's holiday traditions. Many of the most popular river cruise lines with ships based in Europe schedule festive cruises to take travelers to shop and dine at these seasonal markets.
Viking Cruises has been perfecting this itinerary longer than anyone in Europe (since 1997) and is expert at blending culture, history and an abundance of Christmas cheer. The market season in Europe runs from about November 30 to December 22, essentially three weeks to taste, celebrate and learn. They all showed off the major church in the city center and described how the city navigated various wars. So I used the tours to help navigate to the city center, then ventured off on my own with my travel companion.
