Rhine River Cruise: Frankfurt to Budapest

A river cruise through the heart of Europe - from Germany’s financial capital through Austria’s imperial splendor to Hungary’s thermal baths. This route combines pre-cruise exploration with the best of each port.

Route Overview

Frankfurt (3 days pre-cruise) → Heidelberg (day trip) → Budapest (embark) → Bratislava → Vienna → Krems → Linz → Passau

Pre-Cruise: Frankfurt (3 Days)

Day 1: Arrival & City Exploration

Arrival: Frankfurt Airport (FRA)

• Take S8 light rail to Frankfurt Hauptwache (40 minutes, direct)

Brunch: Chinaski Tagesbar

• Address: Bockenheimer Landstrasse 1
• 12 min walk from city center

Afternoon Highlights:

• Goethestrasse - Luxury shopping (LV, Gucci, Miu Miu)
  • Tax refunds available at airport
• Main Tower - Observation deck with restaurant
  • Address: Neue Mainzer Str. 52-58
• Eurotower - ECB headquarters photo op

Historical Walking:

• Goethe House - Birthplace of Germany’s greatest writer
  • Grosser Hirschgraben 23-25
• Römerberg - Historic square with medieval buildings
• Römer (City Hall) - Historic coronation site
• Frankfurt Cathedral - Gothic architecture

Dinner: Klaane Sachsehauser

• Traditional German pork cutlet
• Hours: 12pm-12am

Day 2: Heidelberg Day Trip

Getting There: Train from Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof to Heidelberg

• Then Bus 32 (A Zone) to Bismarckplatz
• Tip: Bring cash for bus fare

Must-See Attractions:

• S-Printing Horse - Modern sculpture
• Bismarckplatz - Central square
• Theodor Heuss Bridge - River views
• Alte Brücke (Old Bridge) - Iconic photo spot
• Philosophenweg (Philosophers’ Walk) - Hillside path with castle views
• Heidelberger Schloss - Romantic castle ruins
• Hauptstrasse - Europe’s longest pedestrian street
• Heidelberger Marktplatz - Main market square

Day 3: Frankfurt Relaxation

Shopping:

• MyZeil - Striking modern architecture mall
• Skyline Plaza - Rooftop views
• Zeil Pedestrian Street - Main shopping thoroughfare

Photo Spots:

• Eiserner Steg (Iron Bridge) - Frankfurt’s love lock bridge
• Alte Oper (Old Opera House) - Beautiful plaza

Dining:

• Kaufhof rooftop restaurant - City views
• Paulaner am Dom - Traditional German beer hall near cathedral
  • Servers in traditional dress
  • Excellent Bavarian food

Budapest (2 Days)

Day 1: Embarkation Day

Schedule:

• 9:00 AM - Arrive Budapest Airport
• 10:00 AM - Transfer to Viking Port (45 min - 1 hour)
• 11:00 AM - Check-in begins
• 12:00 PM - Welcome buffet lunch
• 3:00 PM - Cabin access
• 7:00 PM - First dinner on board

Afternoon Independent Exploration:

• St. Stephen’s Basilica - Budapest’s largest church
  • Climb the dome for panoramic views
  • Tip: Modest attire recommended
• Shoes on the Danube Bank - Moving Holocaust memorial
  • Short walk from Parliament
  • Allow 30 minutes

Day 2: Full Day in Budapest

Included Tour (8:45 AM - 12:15 PM): Panoramic Budapest covering:

• Buda Castle Hill
• Matthias Church
• Fisherman’s Bastion
• Andrássy Avenue
• National Opera House
• Heroes’ Square
• Chain Bridge
• Great Market Hall

Afternoon Options:

New York Café - “Most Beautiful Café in the World”

• Opulent 19th-century interior
• Reserve for afternoon coffee

Széchenyi Thermal Bath - Budapest’s most famous bath

• Outdoor and indoor pools
• Tip: Bring swimwear and towel; lockers available
• Perfect after a morning of walking

Váci Street - Famous pedestrian shopping street

• Souvenirs, cafes, restaurants
• Allow 1 hour

House of Terror Museum - 20th-century Hungarian history

• Located on Andrássy Avenue
• Allow 1.5 hours
• Tip: Emotionally heavy - plan something light after

Evening: Dinner on board, sailing overnight

Bratislava (Half Day)

Included Walking Tour (2:30-4:30 PM):

• Old Town exploration
• Bratislava Castle views
• Main Square
• St. Martin’s Cathedral
• UFO Bridge observation deck (optional)

Quick Tips:

• Compact old town - walkable
• Try Bratislava rolls (trdelník)
• Good for Slovak souvenirs

Vienna (Full Day)

Included Tour (9:15 AM - 12:45 PM): Panoramic Vienna covering major highlights

Afternoon Independent Options:

Schönbrunn Palace - Imperial summer residence

• Gardens are free
• Book palace tickets in advance

Naschmarkt - Vienna’s famous food market

• Fresh produce, restaurants, antiques
• Great for lunch

St. Stephen’s Cathedral - Gothic masterpiece

• Climb the tower for views

Coffee Culture:

• Café Central - Historic literary café
• Café Sperl - Traditional Viennese atmosphere
• Café Sacher - Home of the Sachertorte

Evening: Return to ship for dinner

Krems (Half Day)

Included Excursion (8:25-11:25 AM):

• Göttweig Abbey - Benedictine monastery
  • Baroque architecture
  • Wachau Valley views
  • Wine tasting possible

Wachau Valley:

• UNESCO World Heritage wine region
• Apricot orchards
• Medieval villages

Linz (Half Day)

Included Walking Tour (9:45-11:45 AM):

• Hauptplatz - One of Europe’s largest main squares
• Old Cathedral
• Linzer Torte shops

Optional:

• Pöstlingberg - Hilltop pilgrimage church with views
• Ars Electronica Center - Digital art museum

Passau (Final Day)

Included Walking Tour (9:45-11:15 AM):

• “City of Three Rivers” - Danube, Inn, Ilz confluence
• St. Stephen’s Cathedral - Europe’s largest pipe organ
• Old Town cobblestone streets

Disembarkation: After the walking tour

Practical Tips

Packing Essentials

• Comfortable walking shoes (cobblestones!)
• Layers - weather varies
• Smart casual for ship dinners
• Modest attire for churches
• Power adapter (European 2-pin)

River Cruise Tips

• Embarkation: Arrives 12PM, rooms at 3PM - luggage stored
• Excursions: Book ship tours for convenience; independent for flexibility
• Tipping: Usually prepaid or added at end
• WiFi: Available on ship but can be slow

Money

• Germany: EUR
• Hungary: HUF (Euros often accepted)
• Slovakia: EUR
• Austria: EUR
• Tip: ATMs at each port; credit cards widely accepted

Best Time to Cruise

• April-May: Spring flowers, fewer crowds
• June-August: Peak season, longer days
• September-October: Harvest season, wine festivals
• December: Christmas markets along the route

Budget (excluding cruise fare)

• Pre-cruise Frankfurt (3 nights): ~€300-500
• Heidelberg day trip transport: ~€50
• Frankfurt meals: ~€150-200
• Shore excursion tips/extras: ~€50-100
• Souvenirs/shopping: Variable

From German efficiency to Hungarian hospitality, a Rhine-Danube cruise is Europe at its finest. The ship becomes your floating hotel while you wake up in a new city each day.