The Prices of River Cruises to Austria
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There's a certain charm in seeing everything from the water. River cruises in Austria offer the perfect mix of serenity and excitement, taking you to fascinating cities, towns, and natural landmarks, all while you relax and enjoy the journey. From breathtaking views to captivating history, these cruises give you a front-row seat to the beauty of each stop, without ever having to lift your luggage.
In this article, we'll break down the costs of river cruises in Austria, highlight the best cruises available, and guide you through the most popular routes that make these tours such an unforgettable experience. We've analyzed a variety of options to find the best value for your river cruise, comparing prices, destinations, and amenities. Ready to set sail? Your next adventure is waiting!
Why does Austria appeal to river cruise passengers?
River cruises in Austria appeal to travelers for their relaxed pace, scenic views, and access to culturally rich, often less-touristed destinations. Vienna, Salzburg, and Graz offer plenty of amazing museums and sights to explore. Vienna is known for its strong classical music roots including being home to both Mozart and Beethoven.. Vienna, Salzburg, and Innsbruck are foodie destinations with fantastic cuisine and world-class restaurants. With easy, all-inclusive travel arrangements and immersive stops in culturally rich areas, river cruises provide a convenient and enriching way to explore multiple regions in comfort and style.
How much do River Cruises in Austria cost?
The average price per day for river cruises in Austria is $358, based on our analysis of 51 tours. While the overall prices can vary greatly, when we look at the daily price of these tours, the costs range from $91 to $889 per day.
Budget-friendly tours average around $115 per day, while higher-end luxury tours average about $644 per day.
Budget tours will usually provide less luxurious accommodation, have larger group sizes, and visit less expensive destinations. They will also sometimes have you pay for more activities on your own instead of including everything up front.
Mid-range tours often provide a step up in accommodation and transportation, and include more guided activities.
Luxury tours usually provide the highest levels of service, luxury hotels, more gormet food choices, comfortable transportation, and offer more all-inclusive payment options.
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The Best Cruises in Austria
Budget-Friendly Cruises
Budget-friendly and affordable river cruises in Austria average $115 per day, with daily prices from $91 to $190. Budget tours usually include hotels, meals, and activities that are not quite as nice as other tours. Often, they might only include transportation, lodging, and some activities, leaving you on your own to pay for meals and other attractions during the tour. This can be a very convenient and economical way to visit France without spending too much money, as it gives you control over the amount you spend on meals and extra services. If you're looking for a really great option, check out Danube Christmas Markets 2026 here.
Mid-Range Cruises
For typical river cruises in Austria that fall in the middle range of prices, the average cost is $314 per day. Daily prices range from $229 to $433. Taking this step up in price from the cheaper tours to mid-range will often get you plenty of extra amenities and service for a great price. These tours usually include very comfortable hotels, meals at delicious local restaurants, comfortable transportation, knowledgable guides, and entry to many of the top attractions. One of the best tours is 6 Day In Vienna Including Danube Valley And Bratislava.
Luxury Cruises
Luxury river cruises in Austria average around $314 per day, with daily costs ranging from $450 to $889. At this price, you'll be very well taken care of and pampered on your journey through the scenic destinations. Knowledgable guides, the best accommodation options, the finest restaurants, comfortable transportation, and quick entry into attractions are all part of the itinerary. Every luxury and detail has been planned and thought about so that you don't have to deal with any hassle, you simple show up and enjoy your vacation. One of the best luxury tours here is European Holiday Markets (2025) (Vienna to Nuremberg, 2025).
Which tour companies offer these trips?
A number of fantastic tour companies offer river cruises in Austria. These are a few of the best, because they offer the highest rated service, provide the best overall quality, and have the most five-star guest reviews to prove it.
A-ROSA
A-ROSA offers local river cruise tours through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, the Netherlands, and others. Most participants are adults and the tours range in length from 5 days to 3 weeks. The company appeals to travelers of all ages, with many tours focusing on families with children. Budget travelers will appreciate the relative affordability of the company's offerings.
Avalon Waterways
Focusing on river cruise tours through Germany, France, Hungary, and the Netherlands, Avalon Waterways is a well established tour provider. Most participants on their tours are adults and their tours range in length from 5 days to 4 weeks. Some of their offerings cater to families with children. Most of the tours provided by Avalon Waterways are high-end and luxurious with a top-tier level of service.
See All Tours from Avalon Waterways
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is a large company with a focus on river cruise tours through Germany, Austria, Hungary, and France. Most participants are adults and the tours range in length from 8 days to 3 weeks. The tours offered by Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection are usually luxurious, high-end, and provide a top-tier level of service.
See All Tours from Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
APT
APT is a large multi-national travel company which offers tours to destinations around the world. Some of their most popular destinations include Hungary, Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria. Some of their offerings cater to families with children. This company's tour offerings are generally priced lower than others, which makes them attractive for budget travelers. Travelers usually enjoy the tour activities such as snorkelling, whale watching, wine tasting, and water sports.
Departure Destinations in Austria
Wondering where tours launch from in Austria? With a variety of stops and destinations along the way, there's something for everyone.
Vienna
Vienna is the capital of Austria and its beautifully situated on the Danube River. It's an artistic city that has a long history of classical music including being home to such renowned musicians as Mozart and Beethoven. The city has many palaces and beautiful architecture.
The city has beautiful Baroque architecture and a livable atmosphere.
Linz
Linz sits on both sides of the Danube River and is filled with Baroque architecture and a great main square. There are art museums and many historic sights to visit. It's also a city that's filled with bakeries so make sure you sample the many sweet treats around town.
It sits along the Danube and is filled with charming cafes and beautiful architecture.
Salzburg
Salzburg a beautiful Austrian city near the border with Germany. It's part of the Eastern Alps and it has a beautiful old town that is filled with music and nice architecture. The city is the birthplace of Mozart and there are several museums relating to his life. Salzburg is also the setting for the famed Van Trapp family whose story is retold in the classic "Sound of Music."
This stunning city is known for its beautiful churches and hillside views.
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Other popular destinations for river cruise tours through Austria include Melk, Krems an der Donau, Hallstatt, and Ybbs an der Donau.
Which is cheaper?
Is it cheaper to plan your own trip or join guided river cruises? The answer isn't clear-cut. Tours typically package accommodations, transportation, meals, entry fees, and activities into one price, whereas independent travelers must arrange and pay for these themselves. To understand the cost difference, compare the tour's price with the cost of booking everything individually. Depending on whether you choose budget-friendly options or splurge on certain aspects, the tour might be a better deal—or not. Make sure to check what's included before drawing conclusions.
Also, before booking a tour, make sure you know exactly what is included as tour companies sometimes change their itineraries or included amenities to keep them updated with seasonal changes and customer interests.
More Tour Options
See also The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Austria, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Austria, The Best Historical Tours in Austria, The Best 10-Day Tours in Austria, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Austria, The Best 2-Week Tours in Austria, The Best Bicycle Tours in Austria, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Austria, The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in Austria, The Best Christmas Market Tours in Austria, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Austria, The Best Adventure Tours to Austria, The Best Eco Tours in Austria, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in Austria, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Austria, The Best Cultural Tours in Austria, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Austria, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Austria, The Best Music Tours in Austria, The Best Photography Tours in Austria, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Austria, The Best Self Drive Tours in Austria, The Best Walking Tours in Austria, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Austria, The Best Luxury Tours to Austria, The Best Budget Tours to Austria, or The Best Tours for Seniors to Austria for more tour ideas. With so many options, there's a guided tour or vacation package for every type of traveler.
Also, if you're departing from a specific destination, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vienna, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Salzburg, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Innsbruck, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Krimml, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Villach, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lech, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Krems an der Donau, The Best 10-Day Tours from Vienna, or The Best 2-Week Tours from Vienna for more package tour options.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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