Travel With Me! Iconic Christmas Markets 2026 Now Booking!!

Did you read my series about my recent "Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps, Taste of Christmas Markets" cruise aboard AmaWaterways? I had a magical trip, so much so, that I want to do it again and again!

Since my 2025 group is sold out (now accepting a Wait List), I decided to go ahead and book a cruise in 2026. This time I will be on the Danube River. The Iconic Christmas Markets itinerary departs from Budapest on December 5, 2026 and flows through beautiful Vienna, Austria for one of the most coveted Christmas Markets and then on through Melk, Passau, Regensburg, Roth and finally Nuremberg.

Ready to feel all the Christmas feels? You will get them on this river cruise AND amazing food and wine, attentive and friendly service, tours as active (or not) as you are and so many special touches. You are a VIP on Ama!!

Here's more:

BUDAPEST

Home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Buda Castle quarter in Castle Hill and Heroes’ Square, Budapest offers an unmatched combination of culture and tradition. Today you have the opportunity to visit the Buda (hilly) side of the Danube River. On your tour, follow your guide through the city’s Castle District, where you will marvel at the fairytale turrets of Fisherman’s Bastion, gaze upon the breathtaking panorama below and see Matthias Church, renowned for its striking tower and colorful mosaic roof. You will also visit the city’s famed Christmas Markets. For a more active tour, hike to Budapest’s Castle Hill.

VIENNA, AUSTRIA

The “City of Waltzes” offers a treasure trove of gems just waiting to be discovered. Join a tour showcasing its regal splendors, such as the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs before concluding in Vienna’s historic city center.

Afterwards, you’ll visit the Christmas Markets where you can purchase delightful delicacies and hand-made gifts. If you prefer a more active adventure, then join a guided bike along the Danube River. In the afternoon, visit Schönbrunn Palace Christmas Market and its spectacular festive atmosphere. Cap the day off at the beautifully decorated Town Hall (Rathaus), Vienna’s largest Christmas Market.

MELK, AUSTRIA

High on a rocky outcrop lies the Melk Abbey, one of Europe’s most revered Baroque monasteries. Visit this magnificent and storied abbey, which now houses a museum chronicling its history and a famous library with countless medieval manuscripts. Alternatively, go on a guided bike ride around Melk. During the evening, enjoy a scenic cruise through the Strudengau Valley.

PASSAU, GERMANY

Join a walking tour of this 2,000-year-old city, noted for its Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture and St. Stephen’s. Go in search of Bavarian-style crafts at the Christmas Market. Or, for the active adventurer, join a guided bike tour along the Danube. Alternatively, you can travel through the serene Austrian Alps to Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart. Your full-day excursion in Salzburg includes a walking tour of the UNESCO-designated Old Town, its magnificent cathedral and its Christmas Markets.

REGENSBURG, GERMANY

Regensburg is one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Join a guided walking tour showcasing the city’s architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Praetoria, before visiting the Old Town Christmas market. As an alternate option, sample some of Bavaria’s specialties—beer, sausage and pretzels. Or bike to the base of Walhalla where there is a neoclassical white marble temple inspired by the Parthenon in Athens. For those in a more festive mood, spend the afternoon at Bavaria’s most beautiful and romantic Christmas markets at Thurn and Taxis, where you can watch artisans make their unique arts and crafts.

NUREMBERG, GERMANY

Enjoy a scenic morning cruise as the ship crosses the Continental Divide via the Main-Danube Canal to Nuremberg. Join a city tour of WWII highlights and then walk through Nuremberg’s cobblestone streets to the Imperial Castle and 900-year-old city ramparts. Alternatively, you can taste your way through the city with a Franconian specialties tour, which introduces you to bratwurst, rotbier (red beer) and lebkuchen (gingerbread). Later, you can visit Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt, one of the world’s largest and most famous Christmas markets.

More info here: https://trips.tripsbymary.com/

REMEMBER: Until December 31, 2024, SAVE $1000 per person!!

Call 919-817-4081 or email mary@tripsbymary.com to get started.

Mary Graham is your river cruise expert! As a Travel Advisor with. over 8 years of experience, Mary has your best interests at heart and will provide support and assistance from trip selection, through booking and continuing until you return from your amazing vacation.

Email: mary@tripsbymary.com

Phone: 919-817-4081