Cruises to Vilshofen an der Donau

12 Reviews
Vilshofen an der Donau (Photo:Roberta Patat/Shutterstock)

About Cruising to Vilshofen an der Donau

A popular embarkation port for cruises in Germany, the town of Vilshofen provides a friendly introduction to the charming small towns that you'll encounter throughout your trip. The river is so important to the town that it's part of the official name: Vilshofen an der Donau, which translates to "on the Danube." (The river Vils, which meets the Danube here along with the Wolfach, is responsible for the first part of the name.)

A Bavarian burg that dates back to 776, Vilshofen has a famous local son in Josef Groll, a brewer who is known as the "Father of the Pils." His beer, Pilsner Urquell, might have become famous in Bohemia, but it was Groll and his father who invented bottom fermentation. The resultant brew is considered the inspiration for two-thirds of the beer produced today. Often, river cruise lines feature the beer with pretzels and Bavarian music in a mini "Oktoberfest" celebration.

The closest airport to Vilshofen is Munich, about 90 minutes to two hours away. Many river cruises offer transfers, either included in the fare or for purchase (if you go on your own, expect to pay at least 75 euros per person). Popular pre-trips for river cruises that begin in Vilshofen include Munich and surrounding Bavaria, or Prague, which is about three-and-a-half hours away. While Vilshofen is pleasant and worth a stroll, it's not a place where you need to stay overnight; you can arrive the same day your ship leaves and still see the highlights.

  • More about Vilshofen an der Donau

  • Why Cruise to Vilshofen an der Donau?

  • Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

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66 Reviews
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More about Vilshofen an der Donau

Why Cruise to Vilshofen an der Donau?

Pros:

You can easily walk to the historic town square where you can sample pilsner-style beer where it originated

Cons:

There's nothing particularly unique here compared with other towns in the region

Bottom Line:

This charming town exemplifies the small-town vibe you can expect along the Danube River in Germany

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

Vilshofen is in Germany and uses the euro. There are a few banks with ATMs in the historical center.

Language?

German, although most people in the tourist industry speak English.

Where You're Docked?

The river cruise ship dock is within easy walking distance of the town's main square.


Vilshofen an der Donau Cruise Reviews
Sleepy but cute town. Loved seeing the planes takeoff at the airport across the river. Pro-tip - sometimes the train from Vilshofen to Munich can get quite crowded - would recommend paying the ~10 euro/ticket extra tRead More
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riverbird
Vilshofen is a quaint little town, that is nice to walk before setting sail. Did the active walk with the onboard fitness coach, and the walk was very manageable, even for our 10 year old and another family’s 6 year Read More
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Texan755
Don't miss the extraordinary Afrika Museum at Abtei Schweiklberg monastery overlooking Vilshofen, if time allows before or after sailing. Read More
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boricuaslc
We didn't stay in the town, but did the cruise line's Oktoberfest celebration. This was the only excursion on the entire cruise that felt a little contrived and overly touristy.Read More
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MD101112

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