Christmas Markets on the Danube: Würzburg to Vienna (Self-Launched)
9 days · Germany & Austria
Collette charges £3,040
No-markup version: ~£1,100 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A solo-friendly, self-launched version of Collette's Christmas Danube river cruise. Instead of a 6-night ship plus guided coach excursions, you'll travel the same Würzburg–Rothenburg–Nuremberg–Regensburg–Passau–Melk–Vienna corridor by train, staying in hostels and budget guesthouses in each town's old centre and visiting the Christmas markets on foot. All the headline sights (Würzburg Residence, Rothenburg's walls and Reiterlesmarkt, Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt, Regensburg's Stone Bridge, Passau's St Stephen's, Melk Abbey, Dürnstein and the Wachau Valley, plus Vienna's Ringstrasse, St Stephen's Cathedral and Schönbrunn) are self-bookable or free to walk. Transport is regional trains and the Wachau's Wachaubahn/wine-boat combo; activities use GetYourGuide or direct abbey/city-card bookings. Costs are approximate 2026 shoulder-season (early-to-mid December) estimates per person, assuming a dorm bed or single in a budget guesthouse, supermarket/Christmas-market food and second-class rail.
Day-by-day
Fly in and settle in Würzburg
Würzburg, Germany
Fly to Frankfurt (best value from the UK) or Munich, then take the direct regional train to Würzburg — Frankfurt is roughly 1h45 and costs around £25–30 if booked on a Sparpreis ticket; Munich is about 2h15 and £20–35. Check into a hostel or budget Gasthof in the old town (Babelfish Hostel or a small Altstadt guesthouse). Spend the evening getting your bearings around the Marktplatz and the Residenz gardens, and grab a cheap dinner of Bratwurst and Glühwein at the market stalls. Buy a Deutschlandticket for €58 (approx £50) if you plan multiple regional train days — it covers all local/regional trains and buses for the month and will pay for itself quickly on this route.
🚌Flight plus regional train from Frankfurt (~£28) or Munich (~£30); buy a Deutschlandticket (~£50) for regional rail and buses
🛏Hostel dorm or budget Gasthof in Würzburg old town (approx £25/night)
- →Train from Frankfurt or Munich airport to Würzburg
- →Evening wander around Marktplatz and Residenz gardens
- →Christmas market Glühwein and Bratwurst
Würzburg Residence and old town
Würzburg, Germany
Do the Würzburg Residence properly on your own: entry is about €9 (approx £8) and the baroque staircase and frescoes are the highlight — book a timed slot online in December as it fills up. Walk into the old town past the Neumünster and the Marienkapelle, cross the Old Main Bridge with its wine-drinking statue and views over the vineyards, then climb the short path up to the Festung Marienberg fortress for the free views. Evening at the Würzburg Christmas market in the market square, one of the prettiest in Franconia.
🚌On foot; tram ticket ~£2.50 if you want to skip the walk to the fortress base
🛏Same Würzburg hostel/guesthouse (approx £25/night)
- →Würzburg Residence entry and frescoes (~£8, book online)
- →Old Main Bridge and Festung Marienberg viewpoint (free)
- →Würzburg Christmas market
Rothenburg ob der Tauber day trip
Rothenburg ob der Tauber / Nuremberg, Germany
Take the regional train from Würzburg to Steinach and change for Rothenburg (about 1h15 each way, covered by the Deutschlandticket or a Bayern-Ticket at ~£20). Walk the full circuit of Rothenburg's medieval walls (free), drop into the Christmas market in the Marktplatz and the year-round Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas museum, and climb the Rathausturm for rooftop views (small fee). Nutcracker and handicraft shops line the lanes — this is where Collette's passengers stop for the same experience. In the late afternoon continue by train to Nuremberg (about 1h20 via Steinach/Ansbach) and check into a hostel near the Hauptbahnhof or Altstadt. If you'd rather lighten the day, skip Rothenburg and go straight to Nuremberg for an extra market evening.
🚌Regional trains Würzburg–Rothenburg–Nuremberg with the Deutschlandticket (or Bayern-Ticket ~£20 for up to 5 people)
🛏Hostel dorm in Nuremberg near the old town (approx £28/night)
- →Rothenburg town walls circuit (free)
- →Rothenburg Reiterlesmarkt Christmas market
- →Rathausturm tower climb
- →Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas museum
Nuremberg old town and Christkindlesmarkt
Nuremberg, Germany
Walk the old town on a self-led loop: the Hauptmarkt with the Christkindlesmarkt's lebkuchen and Rauschgoldengel stalls, then up through the tiers to the Imperial Castle (Kaiserburg) — entry to the castle complex is around €9 (approx £8), and the courtyards and views are free. Continue down to the ramparts, the Albrecht Dürer House area, the Henkerhaus on the river and the medieval Hauptmarkt's Schöner Brunnen. Book a cheap walking tour on GetYourGuide (around £12) if you want the history told to you, otherwise the city's own free English signage is very good. Stock up on lebkuchen — it's cheaper from the market stalls than the shops.
🚌On foot; day tram/U-Bahn where needed ~£3
🛏Nuremberg hostel (approx £28/night)
- →Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt
- →Imperial Castle Kaiserburg entry (~£8)
- →Self-led old town and ramparts walk
- →Optional GetYourGuide city walking tour (~£12)
Train to Regensburg and Roman old town
Regensburg, Germany
Regional train Nuremberg to Regensburg is about 1h10 (Deutschlandticket or a Bayern-Ticket). Drop bags at a hostel in the old town and walk the classic circuit: the Stone Bridge over the Danube, the Porta Praetoria Roman gate, the Dom St Peter with its twin spires, and the UNESCO-listed lanes of the Altstadt. The Christmas market in Neupfarrplatz and at the Thurn und Taxis palace is the draw in December — the palace courtyard market (entry around €5–8) is a short walk over the Danube bridge and worth it for the setting. Regensburg is a student town, so a cheap Kneipe dinner and beer is easy to find.
🚌Regional train Nuremberg–Regensburg (~1h10) on the Deutschlandticket
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Regensburg Altstadt (approx £26/night)
- →Stone Bridge and Porta Praetoria
- →Regensburg Dom St Peter
- →Regensburg Christmas market
- →Thurn und Taxis palace Christmas market (~£6)
Regensburg to Passau
Passau, Germany
Morning free for the Regensburg Danube embankment and a last market coffee, then train to Passau (about 1h30 regional, covered by the Deutschlandticket). Check into a guesthouse in the old town, then walk the cobblestoned Baroque lanes to St Stephen's Cathedral — the organ is the largest cathedral organ in the world and there's usually a short midday organ recital for a few euros. Climb the Mariahilf pilgrimage path on the opposite bank (about 30–40 minutes up, free) for the classic view back over the three-river confluence where the Ilz, Inn and Danube meet. Passau's Christmas market sits in the squares below the cathedral.
🚌Regional train Regensburg–Passau (~1h30) on the Deutschlandticket; everything else on foot
🛏Budget guesthouse in Passau old town (approx £27/night)
- →St Stephen's Cathedral and organ recital (~£5)
- →Mariahilf pilgrimage church hike (free)
- →Passau old town and Christmas market
Wachau Valley: Melk Abbey, Dürnstein and the Danube
Melk / Dürnstein / Vienna, Austria
Take the train Passau to Melk (about 2h30 via Linz or with a change at St Valentin; regional trains are covered by a discounted Deutschlandticket extension or buy an Einfach-Raus-Ticket at around £30 for up to 5 people). Visit the 900-year-old Benedictine Melk Abbey — entry about €16 (approx £14), book online — with its library and terrace views over the Wachau. Then take the Wachaubahn or a regional bus (about £5) the short hop to Dürnstein and walk the cobblestone lanes and the ruined castle path above the Danube. In the evening continue to Vienna (Melk or Krems to Vienna about 1h, Sparpreis ~£15) and check into a hostel near Westbahnhof or the Gürtel.
🚌Train Passau–Melk–Krems and onward to Vienna (~£35–45 total), Einfach-Raus-Ticket or Sparpreis
🛏Vienna hostel dorm (approx £30/night)
- →Melk Abbey entry and library (~£14)
- →Wachaubahn or bus Dürnstein (~£5)
- →Dürnstein castle ruin walk and village lanes
- →Glühwein in Dürnstein or Krems
Vienna: Ringstrasse, St Stephen's and Christmas markets
Vienna, Austria
Self-led Ringstrasse day: the Hofburg Palace courtyards, the Opera House exterior, the Rathaus with its enormous Christkindlmarkt in front, and St Stephen's Cathedral (free to enter the nave; a few euros for the towers or catacombs). The Rathausplatz market is the biggest in the city and free to wander — stick to the stalls rather than the sit-down restaurants to keep costs down. In the afternoon hop the U4 to Schönbrunn for the palace Christmas market and the illuminated gardens (market free; palace interior around €22/£19 if you want it, book ahead). Finish with a cheap Würstelstand sausage and a stroll down the Graben.
🚌Vienna U-Bahn day pass ~£7
🛏Vienna hostel dorm (approx £30/night)
- →Ringstrasse self-guided walk and Hofburg courtyards
- →St Stephen's Cathedral
- →Rathausplatz Christkindlmarkt
- →Schönbrunn Palace Christmas market (palace entry ~£19 optional)
Last market and depart
Vienna, Austria
Morning for a final market loop — the Karlsplatz Art Advent market is good for craft stalls and a last Glühwein — and a hold-luggage locker is only a few euros if your flight is later. Fly home from Vienna, or take a RegioJet/ÖBB train to Budapest or Bratislava (about £10–20) if you want to extend the trip.
🚌CAT or S-Bahn from the city to Vienna Airport ~£4–12; flight home
🛏None — departure day
- →Karlsplatz Art Advent market
- →Last-minute Christmas shopping on the Graben
Self-launched vs. Collette
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Collette | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,100 | £3,040 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,940 per person (64%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Collette-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,100
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Christmas Markets on the Danube: Würzburg to Vienna (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,100 per person for 9 days in Germany & Austria. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Collette?+
Yes — Collette charges around £3,040 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,100 — a saving of roughly £1,940 (64%) per person.
How long is the Germany & Austria trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Germany & Austria.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, festivals, city-breaks trip through Germany & Austria, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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