In a nutshell
- Love exploring a city from the water, wind in your hair and a completely different view of the skyline? Same! But is a Danube river cruise in Vienna actually worth it? Honestly — it depends.
- We cover 5 different Vienna boat tours and give you our honest take on each one, so you can pick the right fit for your trip.
- Quick heads-up: Most of Vienna’s top attractions aren’t on the Danube — so set your expectations right and you’ll have a great time.
- Our top pick: The short City Cruise is perfect for a relaxed break from sightseeing — casual, easy, and totally worth it.
What can you see on a Vienna Danube cruise?
If you’ve already done a boat tour on the Spree in Berlin or a boat tour on the Thames in London, you might have different expectations for a river cruise in Vienna.
Honestly, you won’t see much of the city during the ride — most Vienna attractions aren’t located directly on the Danube Canal or the Danube itself.
In Vienna there are two different routes:
- the short boat tour on the Danube Canal
- the grand Danube river cruise
On the short cruise along the Danube Canal, you won’t spot many landmarks — but you’ll get a great feel for city life along the canal. In summer, locals flock to the many cafés and bars lining the banks.
On the grand Danube river cruise in Vienna, you’ll also travel along the Danube itself, taking you past the Danube Island and the Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel in the Prater.
The grand cruise gives you a bit more of the city than the shorter option. That said, you’ll also spend a fair amount of time waiting in the locks — something to factor in before you book.
Map with the routes of the Vienna boat tours
The short boat tour (our number 1) makes a small loop on the Danube Canal. On this vienna boat tour, you travel only on the Danube Canal.
The larger Danube cruises in Vienna (our numbers 2 through 5) travel along both the Danube Canal and the Danube.
For a better overview, we’ve marked the routes of the Danube cruises in Vienna on the map — the ones we cover in more detail below.
Special Danube Cruises
City Cruise - short boat tour on the Danube Canal
What do you need to know? The City Cruise runs along the Danube Canal for 1.25 hours and costs around 30 euros. You’ll learn about the city via onboard monitors — there’s no live commentary. Lunch can be added as an option.
Is it worth it? Yes — if you need a break from sightseeing or just fancy cruising leisurely along the canal by boat. It really doesn’t matter that you won’t have Vienna’s landmarks right in front of you. Viennese life is in full swing along the banks of the Danube Canal, and you’ll see more street art here than anywhere else in the city.
Our tip: Skip the lunch add-on on the short vienna boat tour — there simply isn’t enough time to enjoy it. Instead, we’d recommend the longer Danube cruise with lunch included (our number #3).
Book the short Vienna boat tour on the Danube Canal
The grand river cruise on the Danube and Danube Canal
What do you need to know? On the grand river cruise, you travel not only along the Danube Canal but also on the Danube itself. Information about Vienna is provided via loudspeaker. The cruise lasts 3.5 hours and costs around 42 euros.
Is it worth it? We’d recommend this one if you’ve already visited Vienna several times and want to see the city from a different perspective.
Our tip: Passing through the two locks takes up a lot of time. You’ll spend significantly less time actually cruising on the Danube than the 3.5-hour total might suggest — so go in with realistic expectations.
Book the grand Danube river cruise in Vienna
Grand Danube cruise with Wiener Schnitzel aboard the historic MS Vindobona
What do you need to know? You’ll cruise on the historic MS Vindobona for 3.5 hours along the Danube and Danube Canal while being served a proper Wiener Schnitzel. This culinary danube river cruise vienna-style costs around 53 euros.
Is it worth it? Absolutely — if you love combining boating and dining and wouldn’t say no to an authentic Wiener Schnitzel. Bonus: you save yourself a separate restaurant visit.
Our tip: The MS Vindobona was designed in the Hundertwasser style. So if you don’t have time for the museums in Vienna, this cruise will at least give you a real taste of Friedrich Hundertwasser’s creativity.
Book the Danube cruise with schnitzel dinner
Evening Danube cruise
What do you need to know? The evening Danube cruise starts on the Danube Canal, travels through locks to the Danube, and returns along the same route. It lasts three hours and costs around 42 euros.
Is it worth it? Yes — if you’re a romantic at heart and want to soak up that golden-hour atmosphere at sunset. If you’re hoping to see more of Vienna’s sights, we’d point you toward our number #2 instead.
Our tip: Once the sun has set, visibility through the windows drops off pretty quickly. If that sounds too quiet for you, our next pick (number #5) might be a better fit.
Book the evening boat tour on the Danube
Evening Vienna boat tour with 3-course dinner
What do you need to know? You’ll cruise leisurely through Vienna by boat in the evening while enjoying a delicious 3-course dinner during the three-hour journey. The evening dinner cruise starts from 71 euros.
Is it worth it? If you want to experience Vienna by night while savoring a relaxed 3-course meal, this dinner cruise is a seriously great way to spend an evening.
Our tip: In bad weather, the boat may switch its route at short notice and stay on the Danube Canal instead of heading out onto the Danube. But that won’t affect your dinner on board — so no worries there.
Book the Vienna Danube cruise with 3-course dinner
FAQ: Questions and answers about Danube boat tours in Vienna
How much does a Danube cruise in Vienna cost?
A short boat tour on the Danube Canal in Vienna costs approximately 30 euros. The grand Vienna Danube river cruises start at 42 euros.
Do I need to book my Vienna Danube cruise ticket in advance?
If you want to cruise at a specific time, we’d recommend booking your ticket online in advance to be safe. That said, you can also just show up at the Schwedenplatz dock and buy a ticket on the spot — it’s usually possible on the day.
Where do the Vienna Danube cruises depart from?
All Danube cruises in Vienna that we cover in this article depart from the Schwedenplatz dock, across from the luxury hotel SO/ Vienna, one of the most extraordinary hotels in Vienna. We’d highly recommend the stylish sky bar Das LOFT for a nightcap after your boat ride through Vienna.
Can I reserve a specific seat on a Vienna Danube cruise?
Seating is generally open on the ships. If you’re ordering from the menu, a table reservation can be arranged through the tour operator.
Can I bring a bicycle on board a Vienna Danube cruise?
Bicycles cannot be brought on board for the Danube cruises in Vienna.
Can I bring my dog on a Vienna Danube cruise?
Dogs ride for free on the Vienna Danube cruises we’ve listed here. They must be kept on a leash and wear a muzzle.
Can I combine a Danube boat trip with a Hop-on/Hop-off bus tour in Vienna?
Yes! There are combo tickets that let you pair a hop-on/hop-off bus tour in Vienna with a boat ride on the Danube Canal.
We recommend the Big Bus combo ticket, which bundles hop-on/hop-off, a river cruise, and admission to the Ferris wheel — seriously good value:
See the combo ticket: Hop-on/Hop-off, Ferris wheel, and boat tour in Vienna
Is a Danube boat trip included with the Vienna City Pass?
Yes! A boat trip on the Danube is included with the Vienna Pass. With the Vienna Flexi Pass, the Danube cruise is available as a selectable attraction. And with the Vienna City Card, you get a 10% discount on your cruise ticket.
Our verdict on the Vienna Danube cruises
If you want to do a danube river cruise in Vienna, it’s worth knowing upfront that you won’t see many of the city’s top highlights along the way.
That said, on the short Vienna boat tour you’ll chug along the canal at a relaxed pace, taking in plenty of street art and a genuine slice of local life along the Danube Canal. It’s especially worthwhile if you simply love being out on the water.
On the grand Danube river cruises you’ll see more of Vienna, since the boat also travels along the Danube itself. You’ll pass the popular Danube Island and catch a glimpse of some cool Vienna activities like the Giant Ferris Wheel in the Prater.
Just keep in mind: on the grand cruise, you’ll spend quite a bit of time in the locks. Not a dealbreaker by any means, but it does cut into the actual time you spend cruising on the open river.
