Find your cruise

Durnstein River Cruises

About Durnstein 

Nestled in the celebrated Wachau wine-growing region of Lower Austria, Durnstein features on the itineraries of many a Danube cruise. This picture-perfect village offers a scenic contrast to some of the larger cities you’ll visit on a voyage along this celebrated river and the view of it from the Danube is the perfect snapshot of everything that makes cruising the Rhine such an idyllic experience. The town got its name from the medieval castle which overlooks it and indeed, it is this structure which is its single biggest attraction. None other than Richard the Lionheart was held captive here, making it a natural place of pilgrimage and historical curiosity for many UK river cruisers especially. 

Exploring Durnstein 

Dating back to the late 1100s, the aforementioned Durnstein Castle, also known as Kuenringer Castle,  is the main reason you’ll visit the town and indeed, you’ll spot it on its rocky perch overlooking the Danube long before you disembark. Today, it’s little more than a ruin but the structure is still visible and it won’t take too much imagination to cast your mind back to the time when Richard I was held here for a year after returning from one of his Crusades. It was Leopold V Duke of Austria who was responsible; acting on his outrage at the Lionheart’s casting down of his standard at a key battle during the Third Crusade. Though the structure lies in ruins it is truly satisfying to see for yourself a building which played such a key historical role. The view from the castle ruins of the town and river below is pretty special too. 

Durnstein’s other most visible attraction is its striking blue and white church, which is one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Austria. The village’s parish church originally started off life as Augustinian monastery and dates back to 1721. Inside, there are some beautiful reliefs and altar pieces to enjoy, courtesy of the celebrated Austrian artist Johann Schmidt. 

Aside from its architectural attractions, Durnstein is a great place to simply relax, take a stroll and drink in the ambience and indeed, the wine. The Wachau is well-known for its wine and despite its small size, Durnstein presents plenty of opportunities to sample some of the regional vintages for yourself. There are local stores as well as restaurants and though no assurance is needed, you’ll find plenty of the wine’s authenticity when you gaze up to the surrounding hillsides, which are resplendent in Wachau vines. 

Durnstein tips 

Durnstein presents the perfect opportunity to pick up some souvenir wine. The village is small and located close to where your ship docks, so you’ll have plenty of time to shop around for a bargain. The convenience of trying before you buy is a bonus, too.

Durnstein Itineraries

Budapest

Gems Of The Danube with Zagreb & Ljubljana

4 sailing dates May 2024 to September 2024
11 Nights From Zagreb, to Germany , Nuremberg
Scenic River Cruises logo CALL
Budapest

Danube Christmas Markets with Prague

2 sailing dates December 2023 to December 2024
10 Nights From Prague, to Hungary , Budapest
Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £3769pp
Bratislava

Oktoberfest & Danube Delights

2 sailing dates September 2024 to October 2024
9 Nights From Munich, to Hungary , Budapest
Emerald Cruises logo CALL
Passau

Prague & Danube Explorer: Budapest - Prague

4 sailing dates October 2023 to October 2024
10 Nights From Budapest, Hungary to , Prague
Emerald Cruises logo FROM £2629pp
Dürnstein

Christmas Markets Prague - Paris

1 sailing date November 2023
20 Nights From Prague, to Paris (Honfleur)
Scenic River Cruises logo CALL
Rudesheim

Jewels of Europe - Prague - Paris

4 sailing dates April 2024 to August 2024
20 Nights From Prague, to Paris (Honfleur)
Scenic River Cruises logo CALL
Melk

Jewels of Europe with Prague - Prague - Amsterdam

1 sailing date October 2023
17 Nights From Prague, to Amsterdam
Scenic River Cruises logo CALL
Budapest

Jewels of Europe - Paris - Prague

9 sailing dates October 2023 to October 2024
20 Nights From Paris (Honfleur), to Prague
Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £6929pp
Dürnstein

Jewels of Europe - Paris to Budapest

12 sailing dates October 2023 to October 2024
17 Nights From Paris (Honfleur), to Hungary , Budapest
Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £6269pp
Passau

Christmas Markets of Europe-Amsterdam to Budapest

1 sailing date November 2024
14 Nights From Amsterdam , to Hungary , Budapest
Emerald Cruises logo FROM £3999pp
Passau

Christmas Markets of Europe -Budapest to Amsterdam

1 sailing date December 2023
14 Nights From Budapest, Hungary to , Amsterdam

Includes HUGE savings - book now to avoid disappointment

Emerald Cruises logo FROM £3669pp
Melk

Prague & Danube Explorer - Prague to Budapest

3 sailing dates April 2024 to June 2024
10 Nights From Prague, to Hungary , Budapest
Emerald Cruises logo FROM £2579pp
Budapest

Christmas Markets - Budapest to Amsterdam

3 sailing dates November 2023 to November 2024
14 Nights From Budapest, Hungary to , Amsterdam
Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £4689pp
Vienna

Danube Christmas Markets - Munich to Budapest

2 sailing dates December 2023 to December 2024
7 Nights From Munich, to Hungary , Budapest

New incredible savings on 2023 European River Cruises - available for a limited time only!

Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £2689pp
Würzburg

Jewels of Europe - Amsterdam to Budapest

22 sailing dates October 2023 to November 2024
14 Nights From Amsterdam , to Hungary , Budapest
Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £2969pp
Melk

Gems Of The Danube with Pragu - Prague to Budapest

16 sailing dates October 2023 to October 2024
10 Nights From Prague, to Hungary , Budapest
Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £3299pp
Vienna

Gems Of The Danube - Budapest to Munich

16 sailing dates October 2023 to October 2024
7 Nights From Budapest, Hungary to , Munich

New incredible savings on 2023 European River Cruises - available for a limited time only!

Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £1659pp
Esztergom

The Blue Danube River Cruise for Solo Travellers

1 sailing date October 2023
7 Nights From Budapest, Hungary to Budapest
Riviera Travel logo CALL
Regensburg

Christmas Wonderland - Paris to Budapest

3 sailing dates December 2023 to December 2024
17 Nights From Paris (Honfleur), to Hungary , Budapest
Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £6369pp
Bratislava

Danube Discovery and Vienna: From Vienna

1 sailing date October 2023
10 Nights From Vienna, Austria to Hungary , Budapest
Saga River Cruises logo CALL

General Enquiry

Title
First Name
Last Name
Phone Number
Email Address
Adult
Children
Infant
Cruise Destination
Departure Month
Duration
Cruise Line
Cabin Type
Call back time
Special
requirements
Airport
preference

By providing your email address and clicking the Submit button, you consent to us sending you cruise holiday deals by email. For further details, please see our Privacy Policy here .