My Avalon river cruise took me from Budapest in Hungary, to Vilshofen in Germany, but most of it was spent in the Austrian countryside exploring villages and nature.
We were able to take part in a variety of activities, which introduced us to the local culture, or simply relax and watch the stunning landscape pass by.
Below are my top recommended highlights to experience when on a Danube River Cruise through Austria.
Music is an intrinsic part of Vienna’s soul, so while there, make sure you experience an aspect of it. It may be attending a concert, exploring a music-themed museum or even meeting a local craftsperson. In my case, I had the opportunity to meet a local violin maker and learn about her craft as part of the Insider’s Tour of Vienna (an included excursion with Avalon).
The Viennese love their food, and there is no better way to explore it than by attending a cooking class. We made some delicious pastries and then enjoyed them freshly baked and still warm with a coffee. An added bonus is that I have the recipe and have since baked them at home.
Krems is an Austrian wine region, so a tour of a local winery is a must. Learning the history, tasting the wine, hearing the passion of the owner…all vital ingredients of a great tour!
Just imagine, you are relaxing on the Sky Deck of the ship, enjoying a nice glass of local wine while the stunning scenery of the Wachau Valley glides by. Rolling hills turn into craggy slopes, cute cottages mix with ancient castles, and you get to just relax and soak it all in.
It’s a foggy start to the day, but that just means the coloured buildings in Grein glow beautifully. This is a gorgeous town to explore. I highly recommend being guided around by a local, hearing her stories made the town truly come to life.
Life on a river cruise doesn’t have to be relaxing all the time. Our cruise offered several active tours, and we chose to go on a guided bike ride through the countryside to a local farm. Hearing from the farmer, being shown around his farm and tasting the fresh produce was fascinating.
A view this good made a strenuous hike up the wooded trails totally worth it. This is the famous Schlogen Oxbow, a dramatic horseshoe bend in the river and a highlight of our cruise through Austria.
The famous horseshoe bend - Schlogen Oxbow - a highlight of cruising through Austria.
