Austria Small Ship Cruise Tours & Trip Packages

Austria Small Ship Cruise Tours & Trips

841 Austria trips. Tours from 123 tour companies. 1,451 reviews. 4.5/5 avg rating.

219 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Small Ship Cruise
The Blue Danube - Westbound 2024
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4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy

Visits

Bratislava, Budapest, Linz, Prague, Vienna

Highlights

  • Along the 'river of kings'... medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals... charming riverside villages... the Imperial treasures of the Habsburgs... lush Wachau valley vineyards... the music of Mozart...From Prague to Budapest
  • castles of all descriptions have watched over the landscape from their royal perches for centuries. On this 12-day journey featuring a 9-night Danube cruise
  • they remain lasting testimony to kingdoms and culture
  • ready to welcome you… during a private dinner in Lobkowicz Palace… an exclusive evening of Imperial entertainment at a private Vienna palace... in Baroque Salzburg and atop Budapest's Castle Hill... and exploring Vienna's Hofburg or Schönbrunn Palace. It'sa Blue Danube cruise to remember!

Themes

Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

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Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverboat - Southbound 2025
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4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy

Visits

Amsterdam, Bamberg, Bratislava, Budapest, Vienna

Highlights

  • Cruise along the River Danube from Budapest to Amsterdam on an amazing journey past grand cathedrals
  • medieval monasteries
  • castles and vineyards...Pass through five countries including the Netherlands
  • Germany
  • Austria
Show more

Themes

Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

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Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverboat - Southbound 2024
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4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy

Visits

Amsterdam, Bamberg, Bratislava, Budapest, Vienna

Highlights

  • Cruise along the River Danube from Budapest to Amsterdam on an amazing journey past grand cathedrals
  • medieval monasteries
  • castles and vineyards...Pass through five countries including the Netherlands
  • Germany
  • Austria
Show more

Themes

Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

Trip dates & details
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Grand European Cruise - Eastbound 2024
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4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy

Visits

Amsterdam, Bamberg, Belgrade, Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest, Vienna

Highlights

  • Travel like the royals of old on our grand eastern European river cruises combining Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverboat with Budapest to the Black Sea to create an unforgettable 25-day experience through the heart of Europe.This remarkable voyage virtually links the North Sea to the Black Sea via the Danube
  • Main and Rhine rivers
  • taking you through the Netherlands
  • Germany
  • Austria
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Themes

Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

Trip dates & details
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Danube Kingdoms: Bavaria, Austria & Hungary 2025
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4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy

Visits

Bratislava, Budapest, Linz, Munich, Vienna

Highlights

  • Explore Habsburg castles
  • medieval wine-towns
  • alpine peaks and lakes
  • Baroque monasteries
  • and enchanting cities on a 12-day journey through Germany
Show more

Themes

Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

Trip dates & details
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Christmas Markets Along the Danube - Eastbound 2024
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4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy

Visits

Salzburg, Vienna

Highlights

  • This Danube river cruise from Nürnberg to Vienna aboard ms Savoror ms Joy offers a new approach to discovering the magic of the Christmas Markets in Germany and Austria… a 700-year holiday tradition!Enjoy Tauck's signature sightseeing and exclusive events... gain insights from the personal experiences of your local guides as they recall the Christmas Markets of their childhoods... and celebrate the holidays with special yuletide events on the ship and off! Aboard your riverboat
  • decorated in holiday style
  • you can sample glühwein and other seasonal goodies. Attend a festive European Christmas dinner with all the fixings… and a performance byalumni of the Regensburger Domspatzen choir! Explore the Baroque architecture of 900-year-old Melk Abbey... have lunch at the Palais Pallavicini in Vienna
  • and takea tour of the Thurn und Taxis family's Palace of St. Emmeram in Regensburg
  • with a visit to its private Christmas Market – and more!

Themes

Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

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Heart of the Danube: Bavaria to Budapest - Eastbound 2025
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy

Visits

Bratislava, Budapest, Munich, Vienna

Highlights

  • When your road is the Danube
  • it's enchanting... Hungary
  • Austria
  • Slovakia
  • and Germany are linked by peaceful river landscapes dotted with storybook castles andromantic villages surrounded by stone terraced vineyards
Show more

Themes

Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

Trip dates & details
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Musical Magic Along The Blue Danube 2024
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy

Visits

Bratislava, Budapest, Linz, Prague, Vienna

Highlights

  • Walk in the footsteps of musical giants... like Mozart
  • Beethoven
  • Schubert
  • Liszt
  • Strauss
Show more

Themes

Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
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219 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Small Ship Cruise

Austria Reviews & Ratings

4.5/5  Excellent
1,451  Reviews
See all Austria tour reviews
Excellent
1,383
Great
570
Average
92
Disappointing
62
Terrible
15
T

Trusted Customer

Apr 2024

Written on

European Whirl

too fast, too many long bus rides, not enough free time. was forced to pair up with a very heavy smoker who did not give me a second of solitude. Sharing a room doe...

T

Trusted Customer

Apr 2024

Written on

European Whirl

It was definitely busy, but you get to see so much.

E

Emma

Oct 2023

Written on

Budapest to Prague Adventure

Csilla was superb! So knowledgeable and friendly. A great guide on a brilliant trip. A good mix of mini bus travel and train, which gave us a view of local culture a...

A

Amy

Aug 2023

Written on

Budapest to Prague Adventure

I found this trip enjoyable but repetitive. Lots of castles etc so depending on your preferences it could be amazing or a bit much. Not many arranged activities, mor...

Write a Review

Austria Tour Selection Trips

  • June through September are the best months for warm weather touring. December to April provides the setting for winter activities.
  • The magnificent mountains surrounding Innsbruck offer a wide choice of hiking opportunities, from gentle trails perfect for a relaxing family walk to challenging treks.
  • From spring to fall, certified guides lead free hikes to and through meadows, dense woods and scenic overlooks.
  • Most Austrian children begin to study English in the third grade. If you don’t speak German and need directions or other assistance, look for a youngster, who probably will be happy to practice the English learned at school.
  • Trains are a good way to get around in Austria. They’re usually spotless, run with set-your-watch punctuality and serve food that would be at home in many a restaurant.
  • If you’re a fan of “The Sound of Music” motion picture, which turned 50 in 2015, you might wish to take a tour of places in Salzburg associated with the story, and even spend a night or more at the original von Trapp home. It has been turned into a 12-room hotel which is furnished and maintained in the ambience of the time when the von Trapp family lived there.

Additional details

Common countries also visited on Austria tours

When it comes to traveling in Europe, an exciting part of planning a trip is the relative proximity of countries to one another. There is an extensive amount of diversity in lifestyle, culture and attractions within Europe and combining countries in a single trip gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in this diversity. Travelers can easily combine 2 or more countries in a single trip on a European tour, even one as short as 7-10 days.

With regards to Austria, the most common country that tour operators pair with Austria is Switzerland. The reasoning behind this is the draw of the expansive landscapes, intriguing cultures and the proximity of these two countries.

Additionally, Austria tours offer itineraries that include visits to surrounding countries such as Czech Republic, Hungry, Italy or Germany amongst others. Many tours that include some of these countries often visit the iconic cities of Budapest, Prague, Venice or Berlin.

Every tour is unique and there is certainly a tour that can fulfill your interests and desired experiences within Austria and one or more of the surrounding countries. Take the time to research one that fits your travel goals because a trip to this area of the world will enrich your life.

What is the weather like in Austria?

Austria is a country with varied geography including delightful mountain ranges and valleys. As such, it is a country that has a variable climate that changes throughout the seasons and location.

The summers in Austria can be quite pleasant and sunny, with temperatures ranging up to 90 degrees fahrenheit. Expect the winters to include more precipitation including rain and snow (depending on the location).

Fall and spring in Austria is in between winter and summer and can be more brisk and at times have some precipitation.

In general, the best time to visit Austria for a walking or biking tour or to visit a major city is April through October because it is more of a temperate, warm and at times dry time of year. For those looking to enjoy a winter vacation in the mountains, the months of December-March are advisable.

Who will enjoy visiting Austria?

Austria is a great destination for many different types of travelers. It is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, who enjoy skiing, hiking, biking, fishing, relaxing and enjoying the natural environment.

It is a lovely destination for foodies as it has a delectable food and wine scene, both within the major cities and in the countryside. For those that enjoy diving into history and culture, Austria boasts significant landmarks, museums and performances in Vienna and Salzburg. There’s something for everyone in Austria!

Top Austria travel tips

Below are a few travel tips for ensuring that your trip to Austria is unforgettable.

  1. Most Austrians speak a fair amount of English but as always, it’s a great idea to learn some of the local language (German) to connect with the locals more.

  2. In general, the prices include taxes and fees. That being said, at restaurants, there is an expected 5-10% tip on top of your bill.

  3. The water in Austria is extremely clean and delicious, so you can enjoy the local water. That being said, the wine and beer is also enjoyable too.

  4. Sundays are generally a day of rest, so many businesses will be closed on that day. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy some recreation and relaxation on your trip as well.

  5. Thoroughly research the season and location that your visiting and pack accordingly. For example, if you are going to visit the Alps in the winter, bring warm jackets and layers and/or ski gear. It’s best to pack things that are practical and necessary.

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