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.
Church of St. Francis of Assissi in Vienna
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.
Visit the ornately decorated Melk Abbey
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.
Rathaus in Vienna
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.
Enjoy stunning views of the Austrian countryside
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!
The holiday of a lifetime. The company is Alaksa-owned and thhat makes a big difference to the experineces you get i.e. meet genuine First Nations tribes people. The amount of wildlife was beyond my expectation, and seeing everything on sucha small, intimate boat made it even more spoecial and unique.
Liz O
2 days ago
Adventure Life covered all the details in planning our trip to Ireland. Any questions we had were answered immediately. Any trip glitches, which always happen when traveling, were resolved immediately. There were no worries, just fun!
Kathleen Weller
2 days ago
It was an outstanding, up-close, educational vacation of nature, culture, history, animals and geology! It was everything they promised! Binoculars were plentiful on the boat, but I'm glad I brought my own. Food was excellent. Rooms had black-out shades. Pack/wear multiple layers of clothing (I carried a small backpack when off the ship). Crew were delightful and very accommodating! Remember to jump FEET FIRST first when taking the optional polar plunge! Spend as much time outdoors as you are able and ENJOY!!!
Janet Dutton
1 week ago
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
1 week ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.