AmaWaterways wine cruises add a unique epicurean dimension to a variety of itineraries at no additional cost. Join one of these wine cruises with a special wine host and be treated to a menu of exclusive wine and culinary experiences designed to delve deeper into the wonderful flavors and tastes of Europe.
European cities transform into majestic winter wonderlands for the holiday season – and we invite you to experience all their splendor with us. In addition to our variety of daily excursions, you will also have the opportunity to visit festive Christmas Markets in select destinations and participate in nostalgic traditions.
Maximize your Christmas experience by embarking at the height of the holiday market season with daily or near-daily visits to Christmas Markets.
Get "just a taste" of the holidays in mid-November or late December with visits to one or two Christmas Markets during your river cruise.
We are pleased to offer guests the opportunity to experience Floriade in 2022 while sailing along the Rhine River and Dutch and Belgian Waterways between April 14 and October 9. Right outside Amsterdam, this rare experience calls for its visitors to “explore, touch and change” as part of their journey into Floriade – which is set to feature stunning gardens, innovative sustainable gardening exhibits, live entertainment, talk shows, souvenirs and food stalls.
We invite you to join our incredible cruise on the Rhône with a Latin Touch, featuring bilingual cruise managers, daily tours with Spanish-speaking guides, Latin-inspired music nights and other distinctive elements.
Explore the rich history of classical music along the Danube River where famous composers lived, worked and performed. Plus, be treated to a variety of live performances on this melodious journey.
Based on the overwhelmingly positive response received from the announcement of our first-ever “Soulful Experience” on the Rhône River in 2023, we are delighted to announce four new opportunities for guests to celebrate their heritage and discover Black history and culture along the rivers with us in 2024.
Join award-winning television host and travel expert, Samantha Brown, Godmother of AmaMagna, as we cruise through four countries along the Danube River. Special events and Travel Talks are included on this exclusive sailing.
Join Chef Joanne Weir, award-winning cookbook author, restaurant owner and host of PBS television series “Plates & Places” as she hosts a special 7-night Flavors of Burgundy river cruise.
We invite you to join our incredible cruise on the Danube with a Latin Touch, featuring bilingual cruise managers, daily tours with Spanish-speaking guides, Latin-inspired music nights and other distinctive elements.
Based on the overwhelmingly positive response received from the announcement of our first-ever “Soulful Experience” on the Rhône River in 2023, we are delighted to announce four new opportunities for guests to celebrate their heritage and discover Black history and culture along the rivers with us in 2025
Explore the rich history of classical and folkloric music along the Danube River where famous composers lived, worked and performed. Plus, be treated to a variety of live performances on this melodious journey.
Countries Visited: Austria, Hungary, Slovakia
Join award-winning television host and travel expert, Samantha Brown, Godmother of AmaMagna, as we cruise through five countries along the Danube River. Special events and Travel Talks are included on this exclusive sailing.
We invite our loyal past guests to join us once again on these special Loyalty Cruises, offering unique experiences in multiple ports, commemorative gifts, and many more surprises and delights.
Imagine if there was a way to combine luxury river cruising on the iconic Danube with the opportunity to indulge your passion and play golf. We have created the perfect package to enable you to do just that with our Exclusive Concierge Golf Program. Discover Europe, complete with award winning cuisine, incredible service and a choice of excursions in every port, as well as up to 5 rounds of golf at some of the leading championship courses on the continent.
AmaWaterways’ Exclusive Concierge Golf Program is available on select Magna on the Danube cruises sailing aboard the AmaMagna.
Hello! "I'm Kristin Karst, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of AmaWaterways and I'm passionate about river cruising. Each month, I love to share with you my thoughts, personal stories, travel tips and latest news on the people and places that help turn every mile of our guests' river cruise experience into one of their most cherished memories!"
While every place has its own traditions for the yuletide, the sights, sounds and smells of the Christmas Markets in Budapest earn the city international acclaim as one of the most festive places in the world. The “Queen of the Danube” is truly a feast for the senses, bursting with light and joy with its music and booths filled with unique seasonal treats, distinctive crafts and gifts, and the spirit of the season.
The Christmas Market in Vörösmarty Square is one of Budapest’s oldest and most beautiful experiences to behold. Beginning in early November and continuing until New Year’s Day, the square is chock full of food stalls, shops and free open-air concerts. Despite it being one of the most popular holiday markets in Europe, it still retains all its charm and family-friendly nature. Peruse the intricate and beautiful ornaments and Hungarian handicrafts. Stop at a stall and grab a kürtőskalács, a chimney cake roasted over charcoal while basted with melted butter until its surface cooks to a golden-brown color. It’s a Hungarian specialty and a staple of any Hungarian Christmas.
In fact, cakes, pastries and sweets are a timeless Hungarian tradition. Sample the traditional Hungarian chocolates like the Christmas fondant candy (szaloncukor) or a Beigli (a sweet cake roll with walnut, poppy seed or chestnut). Indulge in a tempting piece of flódni, the traditional Jewish-Hungarian plum and poppy seed cake, and wash it down with a hot beer with sour cherry. Explore the wide choice of winter warmers on sale such as raspberry schnapps punch, apple cider or blackcurrant rum punch – a wine-based winter tipple that is a sweeter alternative to the mulled wine on sale.
Within the markets, you’ll find many unique gifts and crafts. Discover some Hungarian Christmas souvenirs such as handcrafted bags, jewels, Christmas mugs or handmade Christmas tree décor. Spot a ceramic Santa smoking a pipe surrounded by garlands, which are made of dried orange, paprika, cinnamon sticks and bay leaves, and covered in hand-painted tree decorations. Even gingerbread takes a creative turn at these markets, transformed from the well-known gingerbread house into gingerbread foxes, frogs and hedgehogs.
Vörösmarty Square isn’t the only market in Budapest. The Advent Market by St. Stephen’s Basilica is just a short walk from Vörösmarty Square and offers other programs and treasures. This market was first held in 2011, organized by the National Association of Folk Artists. The skillful members of the Association of Hungarian Folk Artists sell their unique and high-quality traditional crafts in their wooden stalls. Entering the giant Advent gate, you will find yourself among a hundred handicraft stalls and a sizeable skating rink set up on St. Istvan Square (Szent István tér) in the heart of the city.
Experience the magic of these Christmas Markets during the holidays on our Iconic Christmas Markets and Christmas Markets on the Danube itineraries.