Top 5 Upper Austria Cruises & Sailing Tours: Your Guide

If you want to view Upper Austria from an actually totally unique viewpoint, going for a cruise or a sailing tour is that the way to go. Think about it – sliding along the Danube, that classic waterway, and seeing castles, hills, and captivating small villages. Pretty neat, right? Planning one of these trips can seem a bit much at first, though, with so many possibilities to pick from. That’s very where this handy guide comes in. We’ve put together a rundown of the top five Upper Austria cruises and sailing tours to surely give you a jumpstart.

1. Danube River Day Cruise from Linz

Beginning in Linz, so Upper Austria’s main city, a Danube River day cruise is great to get a good feel for the region. Usually, these cruises go through the scenic spots along the river, so they’re designed to show off spots like the Pöstlingberg, that overlooks Linz. A great snapshot op, it’s almost! You’ll get those amazing river views while relaxing, is that not something you want? More or less, several tours supply onboard commentary to clue you in on local history and spots. Food and drinks might be on hand, which only makes the experience even more comfy. In a way, you could view it as an enjoyable, drifting way of touring.

2. Wachau Valley Sailing Tour

Alright, picture yourself drifting through the Wachau Valley, that place famous for wines, apricot growing, and seriously wonderful scenery. As I was saying, sailing tours right here really bring that vineyard vibe in Upper Austria front and center. Usually, these tours operate on small boats, so it keeps things a lot more private and quiet than the really large cruise ships. The idea is, too it’s almost, you get extremely close-up views of the terraced vineyards climbing all the way up the slopes and have time to explore the old towns on the riverbanks. Some tours even stop at local wineries; a sampling or two is certainly available!

3. Round Trip Cruise to Schlögen Loop

Have you noticed the Schlögen Loop? So it’s a notably special bend within the Danube. Plenty of round trip cruises specifically emphasize that spot because, well, it really is something. Leaving from multiple locations on the Upper Danube, such tours offer exceptional views when the boat makes its very nearly 180-degree turn. They tend to last anything from some hours to most of a day, actually, and give loads of chance to soak within the scenery. Is that cool, or is that cool? You will often see several local birds or that odd fish jumping, so very have your camcorder set. Perfect for nature buffs or somebody trying to find the most calm photo imaginable!

4. Sunset Cruise from Linz

Now, talking about magical hours – catch a sunset cruise out of Linz. That said, it’s perfect for somebody or some individuals trying to find that special bit of relationship. Generally, this type of cruise starts within the late afternoon so you are in that perfect position to see the sun drop below the skyline. What is far better than being on a boat on the Danube as things are colored in golden light? More or less, you can just loosen up with perhaps a beverage in your hand, perhaps hearing some songs playing in the background; sounds amazing, no? They may give light dinners too! It seems just perfect.

5. Themed Cruises

Let’s admit it: themed cruises are awesome. Many operators think of special activities on board at specific times, really. For instance, many have things targeted at the Christmas time season, like special market trips straight through the festive period. In some respects, in case you check during other areas of the season, it’s possible you could discover art-focused cruises, tunes cruises or foods adventures available on certain dates. Clearly, if any of the special subjects interest you, the best move would be checking with the cruise company straight for their schedule.