The best time to visit Austria on a Danube River cruise is during the shoulder season, either March-May or September-November, when the weather is warm but not too hot and there is noticeably less tourist crowding in the major cities.
Summer can also be a great time to visit if you don’t mind the hotter weather and crowds. Unless you are an avid skier, then we recommend avoiding the frigid winter months in Austria.
At a Glance:
Peak season (June-August): Warmest weather, but also most crowded Shoulder seasons (Spring and Fall): Fewer hours of daylight, cooler temperatures, and less crowded tourist areas. Ski season (December, January, and February): Very limited selection of cruises but ideal for winter sports.
Spring
March through May marks the beginning of cruising season on the Danube River. Travelers in Austria during the spring will have the chance to take walking city tours, nature hikes, wine tastings, and concerts.
However, it’s worth noting that due to higher levels of rainfall and snow melting, some rivers will have higher water levels. The flooding might make it impossible for cruise ships to navigate under some of the lower bridges and through locks along the Danube. If this happens, the operator will dock the riverboat until water levels go down and use luxury motor coaches to transport travelers through their itinerary.
Summer
If you’re planning on cruising the Danube River through Austria in June, July, and August, know that it tends to get hot and crowded during this time of year in central Europe. The weather reaches the highest temperatures of the year along with the most hours of daylight.
This is a great time of the year to hike as the temperatures are at their warmest. It’s a good idea to pack a small jacket and a raincoat to keep you comfortable in any weather, as it may occasionally get a little chilly, with a chance of rain. Activities such as city tours, concerts, and wine tastings are the most popular attractions during this time.
Fall
Austria from September to early November is great for visiting, as there is little rainfall and the water levels are generally navigable. Warm temperatures during the daytime and little rainfall make autumn a very comfortable season. Activities and attractions available during this season are largely the same as the summer.
Winter
There are very few Danube River cruises during the month of December and no cruises between January and February. The vibrant Christmas markets are the main attractions during the month of December, featuring traditional hot food and drinks, handmade souvenirs, and cultural celebrations everywhere.
Balls are also in season during winter time for those who are interested in arts. Visitors hoping to ski can enjoy the sport until March in Austria, yet the best snow is typically during January and February.
Get in touch with our travel experts to design the best experience cruising the Danube River!
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
2 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
4 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
5 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.