The ocean rides shotgun
1 / 7 · Stefan Ellerich
Back to Discover river · GoSmart Experiences
Danube Christmas Markets · Danube
Markets glowing on the Danube
1 / 7 · Stefan Ellerich
Markets glowing on the Danube
Danube Christmas Markets · Danube
Culture Food Social
Ready to make it real?
Browse sailings, or let a GoSmart specialist plan this one with you.
Browse cruises Talk to a specialistWhy you’ll love it
Mulled wine in Vienna, gingerbread in Budapest, snow if you're lucky. A GoSmart cruise specialist matches you to the right ship, cabin, and sailing.
Why it works
You wake up docked in a different storybook city each morning, walk straight off the ship into a market square strung with lights, and warm your hands on a mug of gluhwein as the smell of roasting chestnuts drifts by.
Worth knowing
The markets run roughly mid-November to Christmas Eve, and most close for the season around December 24, so a late-December sailing can find them already shutting down. Late November through mid-December is the fullest window.
Bring your warmest layers, gloves, and waterproof boots. It is genuinely cold and often damp on deck and in the squares, and you will be standing outside a lot.
Keep the mug. Your mulled wine usually comes with a refundable mug deposit, and many travelers happily skip the refund because each city has its own design.
About the place
The classic run is Budapest, Vienna, and the Wachau Valley towns, and each market has its own specialty, so leave room in your bag and your stomach for regional treats you will not find at home.