River Cities Rail Adventure: Strasbourg to Budapest
13 days · Strasbourg to Budapest (Rhine, Main, Danube)
CroisiEurope River Cruises charges £2,900
No-markup version: ~£1,430 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, rail-and-bus version of CroisiEurope's 13-day Rhine–Main–Danube river cruise. Instead of a floating hotel, you'll hop between the same riverside towns — Mainz, Miltenberg, Würzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau, Dürnstein, Vienna and Budapest — using Germany's regional train passes, cheap Hungarian and Austrian rail tickets, and hostel/guesthouse beds. You still get the medieval markets, baroque palaces, Danube valley vineyards and Budapest thermal baths; you just carry your own bag and choose your own dinner. Budget figures are rough backpacker estimates for mid-2026 and exclude flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Strasbourg – Alsace warm-up
Strasbourg, France
Land at Strasbourg (or arrive by TGV from Paris, ~£35 if booked early). Check into a hostel near the Grande Île, then walk the Petite France canals and the cathedral square. This replaces the embarkation day and welcome cocktail — swap the cocktail for a glass of Alsace Riesling in a caveau. Buy your first rail tickets tonight: a regional TER ticket to Karlsruhe/Offenburg for tomorrow.
🚌Airport tram to centre ~£2; TGV Paris–Strasbourg ~£35 if pre-booked
🛏Hostel dorm in central Strasbourg (£22-28)
- →Petite France canal walk
- →Strasbourg Cathedral
- →Riesling tasting in a caveau
Mainz – Rhine wine and Gutenberg
Mainz, Germany
Take a regional train via Karlsruhe to Mainz (approx 2.5-3 hrs, ~£22 with a Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket shared or a Länder-Ticket). Explore the old town, Mainz Cathedral and the Gutenberg Museum, then cross to the Rhine bank for a riverside stroll. Optional: hop the S-Bahn to Wiesbaden or a short train to Frankfurt for the Main Tower viewing deck (~£9).
🚌Regional train Strasbourg–Mainz ~£22; local S-Bahn £3
🛏Hostel dorm in Mainz (£20-26)
- →Mainz Cathedral
- →Gutenberg Museum (~£5)
- →Rhine riverside walk
- →Optional Main Tower Frankfurt (~£9)
Miltenberg and Wertheim – Main valley timber towns
Miltenberg / Wertheim, Germany
Train up the Main valley to Miltenberg (change at Aschaffenburg or via Lauda, ~2.5 hrs, ~£15). Wander the marketplace, Hauptstrasse, the old town hall and the 'Hotel Reisen' facade the cruise ships point out — you can see it all on foot in two hours. Continue by regional train to Wertheim (~£5) for the night, or base in Miltenberg and day-trip.
🚌Regional trains Mainz–Miltenberg–Wertheim ~£20 total
🛏Guesthouse/pension in Wertheim or Miltenberg (£28-35)
- →Miltenberg Market Square
- →Miltenberg Town Hall
- →Wertheim castle viewpoint
Würzburg – Residenz and Franconian wine
Würzburg, Germany
Train to Würzburg (~1.5 hrs, ~£12). Book the Würzburg Residence online in advance (~£10) — the baroque staircase and frescoes are the main event. Afterwards walk the Alte Mainbrücke with a Schoppen of Franconian Silvaner (~£4) and climb to the Marienberg fortress for free city views.
🚌Regional train Wertheim–Würzburg ~£12
🛏Hostel dorm in Würzburg (£20-26)
- →Würzburg Residence (~£10)
- →Alte Mainbrücke wine stand
- →Marienberg Fortress (free exterior)
Bamberg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Bamberg / Rothenburg, Germany
Bamberg first: the old town, cathedral and the Klein-Venedig riverside houses, plus a smoked beer at Schlenkerla (~£4) (~1 hr from Würzburg, ~£12). If you want the Rothenburg excursion the cruise sells as optional, do it yourself: regional train to Rothenburg (~2 hrs via Würzburg/Ansbach, ~£14) and walk the medieval walls at sunset, then sleep inside the walls.
🚌Regional trains Würzburg–Bamberg–Rothenburg ~£25 total
🛏Hostel or pension in Rothenburg or Bamberg (£25-32)
- →Bamberg Old Town and Klein-Venedig
- →Schlenkerla smoked beer
- →Rothenburg town walls and Plönlein
Nuremberg – Marktplatz and Lebkuchen
Nuremberg, Germany
Train to Nuremberg (~1 hr from Rothenburg/Ansbach, ~£10). Free walking tour of the old town (tip-based, ~£8): Marktplatz, Schöner Brunnen, Frauenkirche, then a Lebkuchen tasting at a bakery (~£4) instead of the ship's guided version. Afternoon option: the Nazi Party Rally Grounds documentation centre (free entry) if you want heavier history.
🚌Regional train ~£10; city U-Bahn day ticket ~£6
🛏Hostel dorm in Nuremberg (£22-28)
- →Free walking tour (tip)
- →Schöner Brunnen and Frauenkirche
- →Lebkuchen tasting
- →Optional Documentation Centre (free)
Regensburg – UNESCO old town
Regensburg, Germany
Bayern-Ticket or regional train to Regensburg (~1 hr, ~£12). Self-launch the guided visit: download a free audio walking route or join a tip-based tour covering the Stone Bridge, cathedral and the medieval patrician towers. Evening beer garden by the Danube (~£10).
🚌Regional train ~£12
🛏Hostel dorm in Regensburg (£20-26)
- →Regensburg Historic Centre walk
- →Stone Bridge
- →Patrician towers
- →Danube beer garden
Passau and Engelhartszell
Passau / Engelhartszell, Austria
Regensburg to Passau (~1.5 hrs, ~£14). Passau's baroque cathedral with the world's largest organ and the confluence viewpoint are free to see; organ recitals are ~£6. Continue over the border to Engelhartszell (bus or train via Passau, ~£6) for the abbey and Danube bank, or use Passau as a base and day-trip — the cruise's 'onboard entertainment' becomes a riverside evening.
🚌Regional train Regensburg–Passau ~£14; local bus ~£6
🛏Guesthouse in Passau or Engelhartszell (£25-32)
- →Passau Cathedral and organ recital (~£6)
- →Three-rivers confluence
- →Engelhartszell abbey
Wachau Valley and Dürnstein
Dürnstein, Austria
Train Passau to Krems (change at Linz/St Valentin, ~3 hrs, ~£20) then bus to Dürnstein (~£3). Walk the Wachau terraces, see the blue baroque church, and have lunch in the village — the cruise's included Dürnstein lunch becomes a £10 Heuriger plate. Optional Melk Abbey visit: bus/train to Melk ~£6 and ~£11 entry, book online.
🚌Train Passau–Krems ~£20; local bus ~£3-6
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Krems/Dürnstein (£28-35)
- →Dürnstein Baroque Church
- →Wachau vineyard terraces walk
- →Optional Melk Abbey (~£11)
Vienna – Schönbrunn and coffee houses
Vienna, Austria
Krems to Vienna (~1 hr, ~£10). Pre-book Schönbrunn Palace (Grand Tour ~£22) for the morning, then do the free Ringstrasse loop on foot or tram (~£2.50). Afternoon: a Viennese coffee house (Melange plus cake ~£8), and if you want the concert the ship sells, book a standing ticket at the Konzerthaus or Musikverein (~£8-15).
🚌Train Krems–Vienna ~£10; Vienna day ticket ~£6
🛏Hostel dorm in Vienna (£25-32)
- →Schönbrunn Palace (~£22)
- →Ringstrasse walk
- →Coffee house stop
- →Optional standing concert ticket (~£10)
Esztergom and on to Budapest
Esztergom / Budapest, Hungary
Train Vienna to Esztergom via Štúrovo/Sturovo or Budapest (~£15, 3 hrs). The Esztergom Basilica is the big draw (~£5 to climb the dome for Danube views). Then the cheap regional train or bus into Budapest (~£5). Settle into a Pest-side hostel near the ruin bars. Note the currency switch — euros to forint.
🚌Train Vienna–Esztergom ~£15; train/bus Esztergom–Budapest ~£5
🛏Hostel dorm in Budapest (£12-18)
- →Esztergom Basilica dome (~£5)
- →Danube bend viewpoints
- →Ruin bar evening (Szimpla Kert)
Budapest – baths, market and night walk
Budapest, Hungary
Self-launch the guided Budapest tour with a tip-based free walking tour (~£8 tip) covering the Parliament, Shoes on the Danube and the Castle District, or do the Castle Hill route yourself for free. Afternoon at Gellért Baths (~£18 with cabin) or the cheaper Széchenyi outdoor pools, then graze the Great Market Hall (~£8). Evening: walk to the illuminated Parliament and Chain Bridge, or book a folk evening at a dance house (táncház) for ~£10.
🚌Budapest 24-hr travel card ~£5
🛏Hostel dorm in Budapest (£12-18)
- →Free walking tour (tip)
- →Gellért Baths (~£18)
- →Great Market Hall
- →Illuminated Danube night walk
- →Optional táncház folk night (~£10)
Departure from Budapest
Budapest, Hungary
Final breakfast at the hostel or a classic Hungarian café (kürtőskalács and coffee, ~£6). Airport bus 100E to Ferenc Liszt Airport (~£4) — cheaper than a taxi. Booking flights home separately is the one thing the cruise includes via transfers that you'll organise yourself, and it's the biggest flexibility win of doing it independently.
🚌Airport bus 100E ~£4
🛏—
- →Café breakfast
- →Last walk along the Danube
Self-launched vs. CroisiEurope River Cruises
| This itinerary (self-launched) | CroisiEurope River Cruises | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,430 | £2,900 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,470 per person (51%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more CroisiEurope River Cruises-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,430
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 River Cities Rail Adventure: Strasbourg to Budapest cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,430 per person for 13 days in Strasbourg to Budapest (Rhine, Main, Danube). 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 CroisiEurope River Cruises?+
Yes — CroisiEurope River Cruises charges around £2,900 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,430 — a saving of roughly £1,470 (51%) per person.
How long is the Strasbourg to Budapest (Rhine, Main, Danube) trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 day-by-day stops through Strasbourg to Budapest (Rhine, Main, Danube).
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, slow-travel, budget trip through Strasbourg to Budapest (Rhine, Main, Danube), 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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