Cruising the Danube with Riverside Luxury Cruises

A Week on the Danube Like No Other

I don’t think I’ve ever crammed so much charm, history, and straight-up fun into one week as I did on this Danube River cruise.

And the timing? Couldn’t have been better. The whole thing lined up with Hungary’s National Day, which meant parades, traditions, and the most epic fireworks show over Budapest – all from the deck of the ship.

Thank you, Riverside Luxury Cruises, this is something I will never forget.

Vienna’s Grand Charm

We kicked things off in Vienna, and wow… this city is like walking through a postcard. Palaces, opera houses, and ridiculously pretty streets everywhere you turn. After settling onto the Riverside Mozart (yes, it’s as fancy as it sounds), I did my favourite “new city ritual” – ditched the map, picked a random street, and just wandered.

That night, we had our first dinner on board, met the crew, and got chatting with other travellers. Within a few hours it already felt like we were in for something special.

Quirky and Underrated

Next up was Bratislava in Slovakia, which was such a fun contrast to Vienna. Smaller, quirkier, and way more laid-back.

The Old Town is full of colourful little houses and cobblestone lanes – total storybook. Some people jumped on bikes to explore, but I couldn’t pass up a wine tasting at a 16th-century castle. Bratislava feels a little under the radar compared to other capitals, which made it feel extra cool to discover.

Cruising into Hungary

Then it was onto Hungary, with stops in Esztergom and Visegrád before sailing into Budapest. Esztergom’s basilica is massive – you can spot it from forever away – and inside it’s jaw-dropping. Visegrád had this medieval fortress perched above the river with beautiful views of The Danube River.

But nothing, and I mean nothing, beat the moment we cruised into Budapest at night.

The bridges lit up, the Parliament glowing, the whole skyline sparkling… one of those travel moments where you just stand there grinning like, “is this real life?”

National Day Magic

And then Budapest itself. Absolute highlight. You can tour Parliament, wander Fisherman’s Bastion (which looks like a Disney castle), or just relax along the riverbanks.

But being there for National Day? I felt so honoured to be able to experience their National Day with the locals. The whole city came alive with music, food stalls, and celebrations. I ate my bodyweight in lángos (fried bread smothered in garlic oil, sour cream, and cheese – I’m still daydreaming about this), tried some local drinks, and joined the crowd clapping along to traditional dancing. The energy was excellent.

The grand finale? Fireworks over the Danube. We had dinner on the top deck of the ship, and as the city lit up and the fireworks exploded, it felt like Budapest was putting on a private show just for us. Pure magic.

More Surprises Along the Way

Even after Budapest, the cruise kept surprising me. In Mohács, I learned about their wild Busójárás Carnival traditions – think scary masks, costumes, and folklore. Then in Kalocsa, I got a paprika masterclass (they don’t call it the Paprika Capital of the World for nothing).

Pécs turned out to be one of the highlights. The old town is full of charm, with pastel streets and lively squares, but the star of the show was the Pécs Cathedral. Riverside Luxury Cruises treated us to a private organ performance inside, which gave me goosebumps.

A Trip I’ll Never Forget

By the time we sailed back into Budapest, I was torn between being full of gratitude and not wanting it to end. From Vienna’s elegance to Bratislava’s charm, to Budapest’s full-blown celebrations, every stop had its own flavour.

If you’re ever thinking about a Danube cruise, think Riverside Luxury Cruises, and trust me- try to line it up with Hungary’s National Day.

It takes an already incredible trip and adds a whole other layer of magic. I came home with paprika, wine, and a whole stack of memories I’ll be holding onto forever.