European Christmas Markets
Wander through decorated market squares filled with handcrafted gifts, ornaments, seasonal foods, warm drinks, holiday music, and the unmistakable atmosphere of a traditional European Christmas.
Our Family Travel Group River Cruise
December 8–15, 2028
8-Day Viking River Cruise Budapest, Hungary → Regensburg, Germany
Join Our Family Travel for an unforgettable holiday-season journey through the heart of Europe. Sail the Danube with Viking, explore festive Christmas markets, discover historic cities in Hungary, Austria and Germany, and experience the traditions that make Europe especially magical at Christmastime.
A Holiday Journey Through Europe
Experience the magic of Europe's Christmas season while traveling through Hungary, Austria, and Germany aboard a Viking river cruise.
Our December 8–15, 2028 journey begins in Budapest, Hungary and travels west along the Danube through Austria before finishing in Regensburg, Germany.
Along the way, you'll experience the grand architecture and festive traditions of Budapest and Vienna, visit the Austrian town of Krems, explore historic Passau, and finish among the medieval streets and Christmas markets of Regensburg.
Scenic sailing through the Danube Bend and Wachau Valley adds another dimension to the journey, giving you time to relax aboard the ship while castles, vineyards, villages, and river landscapes pass by.
River cruising makes exploring Europe remarkably convenient. Your stateroom travels with you while Viking brings you close to historic cities, cultural landmarks, Christmas markets, and riverside communities throughout the journey.
The Magic of the Season
Europe takes on an entirely different character during the Christmas season. Historic squares glow with lights, festive markets fill the streets, and centuries-old traditions come alive throughout the cities and towns along the Danube.
Wander through decorated market squares filled with handcrafted gifts, ornaments, seasonal foods, warm drinks, holiday music, and the unmistakable atmosphere of a traditional European Christmas.
Experience Budapest, Vienna, Passau, Regensburg, and other communities shaped by centuries of European history, architecture, art, religion, and culture.
Sample regional Christmas specialties, pastries, roasted treats, sausages, sweets, and traditional warm beverages while exploring the markets and cities along the route.
Relax aboard the ship as you sail through the Danube Bend and Wachau Valley, watching villages, vineyards, churches, castles, and winter landscapes pass by your window.
Viking includes guided sightseeing designed to introduce travelers to the history, culture, landmarks, and character of the destinations visited during the cruise.
Unpack once and let the ship carry you from one destination to the next. Instead of repeatedly changing hotels and transportation, your floating hotel travels with you.
A Different Kind of Holiday Vacation
This journey gives you the chance to experience the beauty and traditions of the Christmas season without spending the week driving between cities, packing and unpacking, or coordinating multiple hotels. Viking handles the transportation while you enjoy the destinations.
Day by Day
Eight unforgettable days from Budapest to Regensburg, with Christmas markets, historic cities, guided experiences, and scenic sailing through some of the Danube's most beautiful landscapes.
Friday, December 8, 2028
Your Christmas on the Danube journey begins in Budapest, one of Europe's great river capitals. Settle aboard your Viking ship and begin experiencing the city's festive holiday atmosphere.
Saturday, December 9, 2028
Enjoy additional time in Budapest to discover the city's architecture, museums, thermal baths, historic neighborhoods, and Christmas traditions before continuing your journey along the Danube.
Scenic Sailing
Relax aboard the ship as the Danube winds through beautiful countryside and past picturesque riverside towns.
Sunday, December 10, 2028
Arrive in elegant Vienna and experience the city's celebrated Christmas season. Historic squares and grand buildings provide a spectacular setting for festive markets, handcrafted decorations, gifts, food, and traditional Austrian treats.
Monday, December 11, 2028
A second day in Vienna gives you more time to discover this remarkable city. Explore museums, admire imperial architecture, visit a café, enjoy a Viennese pastry, or return to the Christmas markets for more holiday shopping and sightseeing.
Tuesday, December 12, 2028
Visit the Krems region and discover Göttweig Abbey, an impressive Benedictine monastery overlooking the Danube. Highlights include its grand staircase, ceiling frescoes, library, and church.
Scenic Sailing
Sail through the UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley and enjoy views of hillside vineyards, historic villages, churches, castles, and the surrounding Austrian countryside.
Wednesday, December 13, 2028
Cross into Germany and visit beautiful Passau, a historic Bavarian city situated where three rivers meet. Enjoy its Christmas market, seasonal specialties, historic streets, and festive yuletide atmosphere.
Thursday, December 14, 2028
Explore Regensburg, one of Europe's best-preserved medieval cities. Its historic streets, traditional Christmas markets, local food, and festive atmosphere provide a memorable finale to your journey.
Friday, December 15, 2028
Your Viking river cruise concludes in Regensburg. Say farewell to your fellow travelers and begin your journey home, or continue exploring Europe with an available post-cruise extension.
Please Note: Itinerary details and shore excursions are subject to change and may vary by departure. Final cruise documents and Viking's current itinerary will govern your sailing.
Viking Inclusive Value
Viking river cruises include many of the meals, beverages, sightseeing experiences, onboard amenities, and services that travelers would otherwise need to budget separately.
Included With Your Cruise
One complimentary shore excursion in every port of call.
Regional specialties along with familiar classics are included throughout your cruise.
Included with onboard lunch and dinner.
Specialty coffees, teas, and bottled water are available 24 hours a day.
Wi-Fi is included onboard. Connection speed may vary.
Viking includes applicable port taxes and fees.
Enrichment lectures, Destination Performances, and visits to UNESCO Sites are included in the journey.
Ground transfers are included when applicable Viking Air arrangements are purchased.
Your Home on the Danube
Viking staterooms are designed to keep the river and passing scenery close at hand.
Queen-size bed with luxury linens and pillows, with an optional twin-bed configuration.
Private shower, heated floor, anti-fog mirror, and premium Freyja® toiletries.
Bottled water is replenished in your stateroom each day.
Flat-screen television with Viking's onboard infotainment and entertainment system.
Telephone, safe, refrigerator, electrical outlets, and individual climate control.
Plush robes and slippers are available upon request.
Less Time Calculating Extras
Included meals, beverages, sightseeing, Wi-Fi, cultural programming, and many onboard amenities make it easier to understand the overall value of your Viking river cruise before you travel.
Please Note: Viking inclusions and amenities are subject to supplier terms and change. Stateroom amenities shown by Viking are based on Viking Longships; amenities may vary on other ships. Ground transfers are tied to qualifying Viking Air arrangements.
Choose Your Home on the Danube
From an economical river-view stateroom to a spacious suite with a private veranda, Viking offers several accommodation styles. We will help you compare the available categories for our December 8–15, 2028 sailing.
Great Value
A comfortable river-view accommodation with Viking's signature Scandinavian design and a half-height picture window.
Floor-to-Ceiling View
A river-view stateroom featuring a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door that opens to the river without taking up interior space with a walk-out balcony.
Private Outdoor Space
Enjoy a larger stateroom with a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door leading to your own private full-size veranda.
More Room to Relax
A two-room suite providing additional living space, a private veranda off the sitting room, and a French balcony in the bedroom.
Viking's Most Spacious Option
Viking's largest Longship accommodation combines generous interior space with an expansive wraparound veranda and panoramic river views.
Not Sure Which Category to Choose?
The right stateroom depends on how much time you expect to spend in your cabin, whether a private outdoor space matters to you, your preferred deck location, your mobility needs, and your vacation budget.
Tell us what matters most and we will compare the categories currently available for this sailing.
Ship & Category Information: The categories and approximate sizes above reflect Viking's typical European Longship accommodations. The specific ship and available stateroom inventory for this sailing are subject to Viking's assignment and availability.
Travelers with mobility concerns should let us know when requesting a quote. Deck location and elevator access can vary, and some lower-deck staterooms on Viking Longships may not have elevator access.
Travel Better Together
Enjoy everything Viking provides while also having the personal guidance, communication, and support of Our Family Travel before and throughout your journey.
We help you understand the available stateroom categories, current pricing, promotions, deposits, payment deadlines, airfare options, and other important reservation details.
Instead of navigating every travel question alone, you have Our Family Travel available to help with cruise details, travel documents, flights, transfers, extensions, and trip preparation.
As departure approaches, we help keep travelers informed about important dates, payment deadlines, travel documents, destination information, and other details that help you prepare confidently.
Share the excitement of this special journey with other Our Family Travel guests while still enjoying the freedom to explore, dine, relax, and experience the destinations in the way that works best for you.
Your Vacation Is Still Your Vacation
Traveling with an Our Family Travel group does not mean spending every moment together. Participate in the shared experiences that interest you, explore independently when you prefer, and enjoy your vacation at your own pace.
Ready to Join Us?
Tell us who is traveling and what type of stateroom you are considering. We will review the current options for the December 8–15, 2028 sailing.
Now Booking
Viking fares vary by stateroom category, availability, airfare selection, occupancy, and the promotion in effect when you reserve. We will confirm the current options for our December 8–15, 2028 sailing and prepare a personalized quote for you.
River cruise pricing is based heavily on stateroom category and availability. As cabins sell, a particular category or fare may no longer be available at the price previously advertised.
Rather than publish a price that may be outdated when you are ready to reserve, Our Family Travel will check Viking's current inventory and prepare a quote based on the accommodations and travel options you prefer.
Reserving Your Stateroom
Tell us your preferred stateroom type, number of travelers, and any airfare or extension needs.
We will confirm current availability, fare, promotion, deposit requirement, and applicable booking terms.
When you are ready, the required deposit secures your reservation subject to Viking's booking terms.
We help you keep track of payment deadlines, documents, airfare, travel protection, and important trip information.
A quote does not hold a stateroom. Your preferred category remains subject to availability until the reservation and required deposit are completed.
Deposit requirements, payment deadlines, cancellation terms, and promotional conditions can vary. We will provide the terms that apply to your reservation before you authorize a booking.
Promotional fares, airfare offers, reduced deposits, and other Viking incentives may have booking deadlines and specific restrictions.
Start Here
Request current pricing and we will personally help you compare the Viking options available for our Christmas on the Danube group.
Request Your Personalized Quote
Interested in joining us aboard Viking? Tell us a little about who is traveling and the type of stateroom you are considering. We will personally review current pricing, availability, and applicable Viking promotions.
Please do not enter passport numbers, credit card information, or other sensitive payment information on this form. At this stage, we only need the information necessary to research your Viking cruise options and prepare your personalized quote.
If you decide to reserve, Our Family Travel will provide instructions for securely completing any additional information required for your booking.
December 8–15, 2028
Complete the form below and we will personally review current Viking pricing, stateroom availability, promotions, and the additional travel options you select.
No obligation to book. Submitting this form requests information and pricing only. A stateroom is not reserved until the applicable reservation requirements and deposit have been completed.
Protect Your Travel Investment
An international river cruise can represent a significant investment made well before departure. Travel protection is worth considering as part of your overall vacation planning.
Why Think About It?
This trip is scheduled for December 2028, which means many travelers will make deposits and payments well in advance of the actual sailing. Unexpected events can occur before departure or while you are traveling.
Depending on the plan selected and the circumstances involved, travel protection may provide benefits for certain covered situations involving trip cancellation, interruption, delays, baggage, medical expenses, or emergency assistance.
Some travel protection benefits or options may have time-sensitive purchase requirements. If you are interested in coverage, it is best to review your options soon after making your initial trip payment.
Need Help Understanding Your Options?
Our Family Travel can provide travel protection information so you can review available options and decide what makes sense for your trip.
Important: Travel protection plans vary in benefits, exclusions, limitations, eligibility requirements, and purchase deadlines. Coverage is not guaranteed for every situation. Always review the actual plan documents carefully; the terms and conditions of the selected plan govern coverage.
Prepare Before You Leave Home
Your phone can become one of your most useful travel tools in Europe. Mobile data can help with maps, reservations, messages, transportation information, and travel apps, while a VPN can add an additional layer of privacy when you connect to unfamiliar networks.
A travel eSIM can provide mobile data abroad without relying entirely on hotel, airport, restaurant, or other public Wi-Fi.
For a trip through Hungary, Austria, and Germany, having mobile data available can be especially useful when accessing maps, reservations, transportation information, messaging apps, translation tools, and other travel resources.
Use coupon code OFT10 when purchasing an eligible Saily plan.
Before purchasing, confirm that your phone supports eSIM technology and is able to use another mobile network.
International travel often means connecting to networks you do not control at airports, hotels, cafés, cruise terminals, and other public locations.
A VPN creates an encrypted connection between your device and the VPN service, helping add privacy to your internet traffic while you are connected.
An Easy Travel Routine
A VPN is one layer of online security. Continue using strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, software updates, and good judgment while traveling.
Our Family Travel Tip
Download the apps, create your accounts, confirm compatibility, and test everything while you are still at home. It is much easier to solve a setup problem before you arrive overseas.
Before You Book
Have questions about traveling with our group, Viking river cruising, airfare, staterooms, or preparing for Europe? Here are answers to some of the questions we expect travelers to ask most.
This trip is available to travelers who would like to join the Our Family Travel group for the December 8–15, 2028 Viking Christmas on the Danube sailing, subject to Viking availability and booking requirements.
You are welcome to travel as a couple, with friends or family, or on your own.
No. One of the advantages of this trip is that you can enjoy the social benefits of traveling with familiar people while still vacationing at your own pace.
Join shared activities when they interest you and enjoy independent sightseeing, dining, or relaxation when you prefer.
Airfare should be quoted separately unless your specific Viking offer expressly includes an airfare promotion.
If you are interested in Viking Air, let us know on the quote request form. We can review the current options available for your departure city.
Yes. Travelers may be interested in arriving early in Budapest, extending their stay after Regensburg, or adding another European destination.
Viking may also offer pre- and post-cruise extensions. Available programs and pricing can change, so we will review the current options when preparing your quote.
That depends on your budget and the features that matter most to you. Some travelers prioritize the lowest available fare, while others prefer floor-to-ceiling river views, a private veranda, a higher deck, or the additional space of a suite.
Tell us what matters most and we can compare the available categories for you.
Requesting a quote does not hold or reserve a stateroom.
When you decide to book, we will confirm the current fare, availability, required deposit, payment deadlines, and applicable Viking terms before completing your reservation.
This is an international trip through Europe, so appropriate international travel documents will be required.
Entry requirements can change before 2028. Our Family Travel will provide travel-document reminders as departure approaches, but each traveler is responsible for meeting the requirements that apply to their trip.
December in Central Europe is winter, so travelers should be prepared for cold temperatures and changing weather while exploring outdoor Christmas markets and historic cities.
Comfortable walking shoes, warm layers, gloves, a hat, and weather-appropriate outerwear will be important parts of your packing plan.
Please tell us about any mobility or accessibility considerations when requesting your quote.
River cruising and historic European destinations can involve walking, uneven surfaces, stairs, gangways, and varying accessibility. Stateroom and deck location may also be important when selecting your accommodations.
We recommend that travelers consider travel protection as part of their vacation planning, particularly for an international trip booked well in advance.
Coverage, exclusions, eligibility, and deadlines vary by plan. Some benefits or options can also be time-sensitive, so it is best to review the available information soon after making your initial trip payment.
Start by completing our Christmas on the Danube quote request form. Tell us who is traveling, the stateroom category that interests you, and any airfare or extension options you would like us to research.
We will review current Viking pricing and availability and contact you with your options. There is no obligation to book simply because you requested a quote.
Still Have Questions?
River cruising may be new to you, and you do not have to figure everything out on your own. Send us your questions or request a personalized quote and we'll help you understand the options.
Our Family Travel Group River Cruise
December 8–15, 2028
Viking • Budapest, Hungary → Regensburg, Germany
Experience European Christmas markets, historic cities, scenic Danube sailing, and the traditions of Hungary, Austria, and Germany while traveling with the support of Our Family Travel.