Do's and Don'ts of a Christmas Market River Cruise on the Danube

By: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise and travel journalist and host of World’s Greatest Cruises here on your local PBS station. 

JOIN ME AND FELLOW FANS OF PBS ON A DANUBE CHRISTMAS MARKET RIVER CRUISE THIS DECEMBER! 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS… 

AND HOPE TO TOAST THE FESTIVE SEASON WITH YOU! 

A Christmas market river cruise is the perfect way to get into the spirit of the holiday season. Immersing yourself in the markets, traditions, food, beverages, arts and crafts of the lands and cultures that shaped our own Christmas celebrations creates festive memories of a lifetime. 

Here are my tips to make sure you get the best of the best Christmas market holiday! 

DO: Embrace the benefits of river cruising

A Danube River cruise between Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary brings you right into the heart of iconic cities and quaint towns and villages home to some of Europe’s finest Christmas markets and charming holiday traditions. 

A river cruise makes it easy to visit several Christmas markets across a number of countries, multiplying your Christmas cheer. And you only have to unpack once! While someone else does all the driving, planning and making sure you have the festive holiday of your dreams. 

River cruise lines like Scenic are also all-inclusive: your drinks everywhere on the ship, including your suite mini-bar, are included, as is all tipping of Scenic ship crew and shore excursion staff, the wifi, transfers to and from the ship… you don’t have anything to think or worry about – just enjoy the spirit of the season onboard and on shore. 

Scenic also offers special, exclusive experiences just for guests on the ship, like a private evening Viennese classical concert in a palace, enhanced by a glass of Austrian sparkling wine. You’ll feel transported to a fairytale!

DON’T: Miss local holiday experiences

Christmas is one of the most magical times to be in Europe, when extra, festive lights and decorations and traditional activities bring cities, towns, and villages to life like no other time on the calendar.  Along the Danube, for example: 

• Try ice skating on the vast outdoor rink in Budapest’s City Park with a castle as a fairytale backdrop.
• Climb to Bratislava Castle for a panoramic view of the Danube lit up with Christmas lights.
• Hear live Advent choral concerts at one of Vienna’s markets in front of its illuminated City Hall.
• Visit Passau, Germany’s Cathedral of St. Stephen to hear its world-famous pipe organ—the largest in Europe—playing Christmas concerts.

DO: Indulge in the taste of Christmas, Europe-style

In German Christmas markets, for example, that means sausage, many types of sausage. And pretzels. But there are also uniquely seasonal market treats: gingerbread, often in heart shapes, with sweet messages like “I love you.”  Or marzipan (sweet almond paste) treats, especially in the lucky pig shape in the south of Germany.  

Every market in every town and every country has its own special, regional flavors, some you’ll only get a chance to try during the holiday season, and nowhere better than in the markets, surrounded by locals celebrating too. 

DO: Sip the festive flavors

Goodbye hot chocolate. Gluhwein is the warm, spiced wine so famous in central European Christmas markets. The classic version is red wine, but you could make a study of all the delightful wine, spice, and flavor variations.  

On a Danube River cruise between Budapest, Hungary, and Passau, Germany, here’s a sample of a local holiday treat, paired with a beverage, you’ll want to try:

• Hungarian mulled wine with cinnamon, cloves, orange peel and extra honey, paired with cinnamon-sugar coated chimney cake;
• Warm honey mead in Bratislava, Slovakia, paired with lokse potato flatbreads with a savory or sweet poppyseed filling;
• Austrian ‘Weihnachtspunsch’ – ‘Christmas punch’ that’s tea-based with rum and fruit juice, paired with roasted chestnuts; and
• Gluhwein with rich, citrus Bavarian spice blend, paired, of course, with bratwurst grilled over open flame in the market! 

DO: Buy hand-made local Christmas souvenirs

You and your loved ones will always remember the hand painted, hand blown glass Christmas ornament from a European Christmas market. Do you have little ones in the family? Hand carved wooden toys become family heirlooms to pass on through the generations… with a story! 

Useful and charming crafts like candles, boiled wool tea cozies, wool scarves and shawls all warm the heart on a mid-winter’s night, as do memories of your Christmas market visit. 

On the Danube, your shopping list might also include: hand-painted Hungarian pottery, Slovak corn-husk dolls in folk costume, carved wooden Christmas ornaments from Austria, and hand-carved nativity figures from Germany’s Bavarian Forest.

DON’T: Forget ‘tasteful’ memories of Christmas markets

We’re all trying to reduce waste and clutter. But don’t deny yourself a memory of your Christmas market odyssey. Consumables are a delicious way to relive your journey.  

Imagine sharing paprika in decorative tins from Budapest along with a recipe for iconic Hungarian Chicken Paprika, honey mead in a decorative bottle from Bratislava, Mozartkugeln chocolates in a festive tin from Austria, or Germany’s Passau Springerle – anise-flavored, embossed cookies.

DO: Pack layers

Winter isn’t an Arctic-style weather event in these countries, so you won’t see much snow, but the early winter dampness can pack a punch. Waterproof footwear and insulating layers, with a wind and waterproof outer layer and a warm hat and gloves will ensure the weather doesn’t dampen your Christmas cheer.

START YOUR CHRISTMAS MARKET TRIP!