What wine should I drink on a Danube river cruise?

A Danube cruise passes through Wachau Valley, Kremstal & Kamptal, Vienna (Wiener Gemischter Satz), Small Carpathians (Bratislava region) and Tokaj & Eger, so expect wines from grapes like Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Neuburger, Muskateller and Sauvignon Blanc. Each stop guide lists the must-try bottle and food pairings.

Which towns are the best wine stops on the Danube?

Linz, Melk, Dürnstein, Krems, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest are the wine-focused stops along the Danube.

How many stops are on a Danube river cruise?

This guide covers 10 stops along the Danube, 7 of them in a wine region.

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River cruise wine guide

Wine Guide to the Danube River Cruise

Curated by Michele Edington, Certified Sommelier

The Danube winds through Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, and for wine lovers it's one of Europe's great cruising routes. Along the way you'll pass 7 wine stops across regions like Wachau Valley, Kremstal & Kamptal, Vienna (Wiener Gemischter Satz) and Small Carpathians (Bratislava region), where the glasses fill with grapes such as Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Neuburger, Muskateller and Sauvignon Blanc. Here's what to drink at each stop.

The full guide

Everything to drink on the Danube, in your pocket

For travelers sailing Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon, Scenic, Tauck, or Uniworld-style Danube cruises.

✓What to drink — and the must-try bottle
✓Local food & cheese pairings
✓Nearby vineyards & winery picks
✓What to bring home
✓Cruise timing & shore-excursion tips
✓Download the whole guide — no ship Wi-Fi needed

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Wine regions along the way

Wachau Valley Kremstal & Kamptal Vienna (Wiener Gemischter Satz)Small Carpathians (Bratislava region)Tokaj & Eger

Stops along the Danube

1
NurembergRead the guide →
SilvanerMüller-ThurgauBacchusScheurebe
2
RegensburgRead the guide →
Müller-ThurgauBacchusSilvanerElbling
3
PassauRead the guide →
Grüner VeltlinerRieslingSilvanerMüller-Thurgau
4
LinzWachau ValleyRead the guide →
Grüner VeltlinerRiesling
5
MelkWachau ValleyRead the guide →
Grüner VeltlinerRieslingNeuburgerWeißburgunder
6
DürnsteinWachau ValleyRead the guide →
Grüner VeltlinerRiesling
7
KremsKremstal & KamptalRead the guide →
Grüner VeltlinerRiesling
8
ViennaVienna (Wiener Gemischter Satz)Read the guide →
Grüner VeltlinerRieslingWeissburgunderChardonnay
9
BratislavaSmall Carpathians (Bratislava region)Read the guide →
Veltlínske zelenéRizling rýnskyRizling vlašskýDevín
10
BudapestTokaj & EgerRead the guide →
FurmintHárslevelűSárga MuskotályKékfrankos

Plan your route

Wines along Germany's rivers →Wines along Austria's rivers →Wines along Slovakia's rivers →Wines along Hungary's rivers →

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Common questions

What wine should I drink on a Danube river cruise?: A Danube cruise passes through Wachau Valley, Kremstal & Kamptal, Vienna (Wiener Gemischter Satz), Small Carpathians (Bratislava region) and Tokaj & Eger, so expect wines from grapes like Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Neuburger, Muskateller and Sauvignon Blanc. Each stop guide lists the must-try bottle and food pairings.
Which towns are the best wine stops on the Danube?: Linz, Melk, Dürnstein, Krems, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest are the wine-focused stops along the Danube.
How many stops are on a Danube river cruise?: This guide covers 10 stops along the Danube, 7 of them in a wine region.