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This cruise explores the offshoots of the Rhine and the gently curving Moselle leads to Cochem, where the quaint old town resembles a fairy-tale. On the Main there's another unique beverage to try in Bamberg, which is famous for producing a beer using smoked malt. The itinerary ends with a transfer to Prague and an overnight stay in the Czech capital known as the "city of a hundred spires". Flowing through grand capital cities, including Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava, the Danube is another big Viking river cruise Christmas markets destination.
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Ships offer an indoor pool and a Jacuzzi to use before or after your trips ashore. 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. Viking had scheduled a cooking class for us, creating traditional Viennese crepes with a berry reduction to go with it during the afternoon.
Christmas Markets in Vienna
There was a very nice top deck, but since it was December and too cold to be outside - the only time it was in use was the day the ship sailed passed many castles on the river. In Vienna, Austria, the whole city comes alive with lights and a festive spirit. One thing not to miss here is the extra-charge excursion to a local winery, where you will celebrate the year's harvest and vintage. Day two will bring you to Rouen, where you are invited to join Christmas Eve dinner and midnight mass. If you have free time, be sure to stop in at La Couronne, the oldest operating restaurant in France and the place that inspired Julia Child to start cooking.
Christmas River Cruise Route along the Danube
While a bit smaller, the market outside of the St. Stephen’s Basilica also has hundreds of stalls lining the square, as well as a skating rink and weekend folk dance shows. One of the oldest cities in Poland, Poznan has been dazzling guests every holiday season for centuries. The town's Old Market Square transforms into a wintry escape with snowflakes, winter delicacies, and handmade trinkets. Merchants sell a variety of carefully crafted toys and decorations, but it's the vendors selling delectable pierogies, smoked cheeses, and warm goulash that really stand out.
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Many of the places we visited for a couple of hours in the evenings (like Rudesheim and Speyer) were small enough that you could easily wander around the city center and grab a gluhwein in about an hour. River cruising in Europe is great because so many cities are built right ON the large water ways. This means that getting to/from the main attractions is really easy in many ports. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. It's also a good idea to know the currency of each destination you're going to.
Strasbourg Christmas Market in France
The International Ice Sculpture Festival happens each year around the same time as the market, making the heart of Poznan truly a Christmas wonderland. The Helsinki Christmas Market welcomes over 300,000 people each year to discover the over 120 chalets and attractions decorating the city's Senate Square. You'll, of course, find the traditional market stalls and hot mulled wine at every corner, but the market also appeals to a more modern crowd with countless vegan options and even a wood-heated sauna. After picking up a few handmade wooden lanterns, take a spin on the old-time carousel near the towering Christmas tree. Journey under the tree-canopied pathways of East Princes St. Gardens with a mulled wine in hand taking in the joyous sights at Edinburgh's Christmas.
Most Fairytale Christmas Town
Each market sells an abundance of food, and the food options change from town to town. 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. I brought a pair of fleece-lined Crocs to wear off the ship in a few ports where the weather was warmer with no precipitation. Middle and Eastern Europe is often colder than Western Europe, the latter of which has a milder winter season.
The state room TVs came equipped with a selection of movies and TV shows that you could watch for free. We felt compelled to start re-watching Downton Abbey, and also watched a pretty cool documentary about Vikings before bed each night. The ship I was on was the Viking Idi, which holds just under 200 passengers. The state rooms are built with function in mind, with either two twin beds or one queen, depending on how you're traveling.
Viking Announces New River Cruise and Christmas Market Departures - Cruise Industry News
Viking Announces New River Cruise and Christmas Market Departures.
Posted: Mon, 29 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
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.
The cruise ends in Amsterdam, where you can choose to visit the Rijksmuseum, the Rembrandt House Museum or the Van Gogh Museum, along with taking a scenic canal cruise through the city. Included with the cost of the cruise are all of your meals and most drinks, free Wi-Fi, all onboard activities and port fees. Headsets are also included for excursions if you choose to go with the group for tours rather than venturing off on your own. My Christmas market favorites were consistently the beautifully illuminated concession stands. You're able to fly into the city, of course, but I extended the trip beforehand in Munich and Stuttgart, Germany.
Today's Praha, as this city of 1.3 million is called, is firmly a tourist destination, with high quality shops, restaurants with top chefs, a historic center designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and important museums. It's not unusual to see Austrians, Germans, Russians and Americans following tour guides (with those ubiquitous raised umbrellas) through Prague Castle and the warren of cobblestone streets that make up Old Town. Berlin is home to one or more Christmas Markets in each of its 12 districts, giving tourists a variety of options to join the holiday festivities. You’ll join hundreds or thousands of residents in beautifully decorated town squares, all there to enjoy the music, food and shopping that highlights these markets.
Onboard gratuities and group transfers to and from the airport are also included. The cruise continues into the Netherlands at Maastricht, where you can explore the city and its Christmas market, or head to Aachen, Germany, for festive fun. Alternatively, you can visit Valkenburg's underground Christmas market, located inside a cave. The last stop of the cruise is Antwerp, Belgium, where you can enjoy a concert, a beer tasting and time to enjoy the city at your leisure.
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