Vienna Sightseeing Cruises with Meals & Live Entertainment

Discover Vienna's beauty on a sightseeing cruise

Sightseeing cruises in Vienna offer a relaxed way to explore the city's rich heritage and vibrant culture. With options ranging from daytime excursions to evening adventures, and even full-day trips to neighboring towns, there's a cruise for every type of traveler. So, why not add a sightseeing cruise to your Vienna itinerary and see the city from a whole new perspective? Read on to learn more about sightseeing cruises in Vienna, what you’ll see, which tickets to choose, boarding points, and more.

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Why go on a Vienna sightseeing cruise?

Things to know before booking your Vienna sightseeing cruise tickets

Which Vienna sightseeing cruise ticket is best for you?

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Top sights to see on sightseeing cruises in Vienna

Plan your Vienna sightseeing cruise

Frequently asked questions about Vienna sightseeing cruise tickets

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Unmatched views of the city

A sightseeing cruise offers an unparalleled perspective of Vienna's architectural marvels and historic sites. You'll glide past landmarks like the Danube Tower and the Ring Tower, providing a unique view that's simply not possible from the streets.

Things to know before booking your Vienna sightseeing cruise tickets

If you're looking for a simple cruise experience without extras like meals or music, go for the City Sightseeing Cruise on the Danube Canal or the Grand Sightseeing Cruise on Danube River & Canal.. When booking, you can choose the basic cruise option or add some Viennese treats like Apple Strudel with a hot drink, Schnitzel, or a full Viennese lunch, but that's only optional. There's also an Evening Sightseeing Cruise on the Danube Canal with an optional dinner – just skip the meal if you prefer to keep it simple.

For a thoroughly entertaining experience, Evening Themed Cruise on Danube River is a fantastic choice. This option includes a themed dinner with live music. When booking, you can select from a variety of themes like Heurigan Trip with Viennese Songs, Strauss and Waltz on the Blue Danube, Swedish Night with Abba Hits, 70s, 80s, 90s Party Cruise, Greek Party, and more. Each theme offers a specific menu, which you can check at the time of booking.

Bratislava or Dürnstein Day Trip from Vienna on Danube River by Boat provides an excellent opportunity to explore more of the region without the hassle of planning transportation. You can choose your preferred destination at the time of booking. The cruise to Dürnstein includes a dedicated menu and a 2-hour stop to explore Dürnstein on foot. Bratislava cruise features a different menu with a 4-hour stop to explore Bratislava on foot.

For sunset chasers and food enthusiasts, the Sunset Summer Cruise along Vienna's Danube River is a must! Aboard the MS Kaiserin Elisabeth, you'll indulge in a BBQ buffet while enjoying live music and panoramic city views. As night falls, a fireworks display lights up the sky, making it an unforgettable evening.

Frequently asked questions about Vienna sightseeing cruise tickets

What are the different types of sightseeing cruises available in Vienna?

Vienna offers a variety of cruises, including one-hour city cruises, half-day excursions, evening cruises, themed cruises, and full-day cruises to nearby towns. Each provides a different experience, from quick sightseeing to a leisurely meal on the water.

How long do the cruises typically last?

Cruises in Vienna can range from 1-hour city tours to full-day excursions. Choose one based on how much time you have and what you wish to see.

Are Vienna sightseeing cruises suitable for children?

Yes, most cruises are family-friendly and provide an enjoyable experience for children, with some boats even offering kid-friendly activities.

Are meals included on the Vienna sightseeing cruises?

This depends on the cruise. Short sightseeing cruises may offer optional meals, while dinner cruises offer a full dining experience. Always check what's included before booking.

Do cruises operate year-round?

While many cruises operate year-round, some, especially evening or dinner cruises, may have seasonal schedules. Please check availability for the time of your visit.

What can I see on a Danube Canal cruise?

A Danube Canal cruise offers views of the city’s inner districts, including the famous Hundertwasser House, the Ringturm, and contemporary urban developments.

From happy customers

Inna

Israel

Jun, 2025

+ 2 more

The cruise itself is very chic, the views, the ambiance. The food was so-so, I think it could have been better. But the desserts, the fruit was great. Strawberries, pineapples, watermelons, and more. Delicious cocktails.

This review is translated. Show original review.

Sunset Summer Cruise on Danube River with Barbecue

Ali

Iraq

May, 2025

+ 1 more

Very nice and well organized public transport and other services The city is very clean and we loved the tulips and the trees The people are friendly and helpful

City Sightseeing Cruise on Danube Canal with Optional Lunch

Marby

United Arab Emirates

Apr, 2025

Very good experience, to see nice landmarks along the Danube Canal. Staff are friendly, we opted for 2 course lunch, and food is great. I also bought audio guide, however, it's actually free.

Peter

There is simply nothing to complain about. The staff were very friendly and funny, the food was good and the trip was very pleasant.

View original review in German

Bratislava or Dürnstein: Day Trip from Vienna on Danube River by Boat

Günther

The Schufffahrt, the service and the staff were absolutely great! Unfortunately, the catering (food) was anything but good! Only for the masses. I haven't eaten so badly for a long time. Please come up with something for this. The rest was and is great. LG Günther 👍🤓🙏

Jennifer

Germany

Ordering the tickets online and exchanging them at the ticket office was smooth. No problems at all. The cruise itself was very nice. It was nice that we had the option to order food from the menu in person, even though we did not choose the lunch cruise option. The main problem that we had with the cruise was all of the people smoking cigarettes the entire 3+ hours. Even the ships crew were smoking the entire time. Frankly, it was gross. The main outdoor area (partially covered) smelled awful and the smoking never let up. As an asthmatic it was problematic. But also the other people in my group who do not have breathing problems found it to be overwhelming and nasty. People even smoked on the upper deck. The only place without smoke was the inside room, which was nice, but sort of defeats the purpose of a river cruise to be stuck indors. I suggest offering smoke-free cruises! Even one per day. I guarantee people will buy tickets. All that smoke is so bad for people's health.

Grand Sightseeing Cruise on Danube River & Canal with Optional Viennese Delicacies

Christian

Wheelchair: all very nice and helpful, really, first class, thank you; apple strudel not too small and also first class;

Raffaele

Sep, 2024

The cruise was a wonderful experience. Everything organized with clear directions. Great service on board with friendly staff. Departure and arrival times respected. We recommend it.

View original review in Italian

Evening Sightseeing Cruise on Danube River & Canal with Optional Dinner