Discover the fascinating Jewish history along the Danube River.

Journey through the many centers of Jewish life and history as you sail through the heart of Europe’s grand capitals and charming villages. With a group of 20 fellow cruisers or more, you can customize many excursions on your itinerary, strengthen your bond with your family and community and celebrate Jewish tradition and culture as you sail along the Danube River.* 

The Rich Jewish History of Vienna 

Most of our Danube River cruises visit Vienna, taking in its grand St. Stephen’s Cathedral and imperial palaces, but on your customized Jewish heritage excursion, you’ll see a different side of the city. You can tour the second district of Leopoldstadt, a small island between the Danube and the Donaukanal Canal in Austria’s magnificent capital city. Home to a large Jewish population, Leopoldstadt is known as Vienna’s Jewish Quarter. The neighborhood is full of kosher markets and restaurants, which you will see when you customize an excursion in Vienna for your group.  

Behind Vienna’s Opera House in the Albertinaplatz is the contemporary Memorial Against War and Fascism, created by Austrian sculptor Alfred Hrdlicka. The poignant monument, completed in 1988, commemorates the years of Nazi occupation in Austria from 1938-1945, and can be included on your custom tour. 

You may also wish to visit the Jewish Museum in Palais Eskeles, where you will see the foundations of a medieval synagogue. While the museum powerfully highlights this darker page in European history, it also showcases the strength of the Jewish community and their resilience amid great adversity.  

Remembrance and Revival in Budapest 

Included as part of many of our excursions in the beautiful Hungarian capital of Budapest, the poignant “Shoes on the Danube” memorial hauntingly commemorates the 3,500 people who were executed along the Danube riverbank during World War II.  

As part of your group’s custom tour, you can also visit the largest synagogue in Europe, the spectacular Dohány Street Synagogue in Budapest’s Jewish Quarter. The exquisite building was heavily inspired by the Islamic architecture of North Africa and medieval Spain.  

The Tree of Life Holocaust Memorial, inscribed on its leaves with the names of Hungarian Jews who perished, and the Hungarian Jewish Museum are central points of the Jewish Quarter. Although these tragic reminders of Hungary’s past are scattered throughout Budapest, this once war-torn neighborhood has experienced a revival of Jewish culture. Today, the vibrant quarter boasts a variety of Jewish Hungarian restaurants, bakeries, quirky bars, and shops. 

Prague’s Historical Jewish Quarter  

Join us, stay awhile and extend select Danube River cruises with an optional land package in the must-see city of Prague, Czech Republic. There in this magnificent capital, you can customize an excursion to Josefov, Prague’s Jewish district. Once home to more than 90,000 Jewish residents, including famed novelist Franz Kafka, Prague’s historical Jewish community is one of the oldest in Europe. Marvel at the brightly colored façade of Jubilee Synagogue and the Old-New Synagogue, the oldest active synagogue in Europe as well as your gateway to the Old Jewish Cemetery, dating back to the 15th century. You can visit these sites and more with your group as part of your customized experience. 

These Jewish heritage experiences are the perfect opportunity to gather extended family and friends while connecting with your heritage and tracing the path of those who came before you.  

Contact your preferred travel advisor to learn more about how you can customize these and other Jewish heritage experiences for your group on the Danube River today! 

* Customizable tours vary in price and are in addition to the overall river cruise fare. From Friday at sundown through Saturday at sundown, some sites may be closed in observance of Shabbat. 

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