Classical Danube River Cruise 4 Star (Budapest - Passau)

Let's begin our river cruise holiday! Upon arrival in Budapest we will be met by our local guide who will assist us in the transfer to Budapest port with a guided Budapest city tour en-route. We will take in highlights such as Heroes Square, the Synagogue and the Castle District. A must see is our walk by the Mathias Church and Fishermen’s Bastion for stunning photos of the views over the Danube and our visit to St. Stephan’s Basilica.

In the early afternoon we will be transferred to the quayside in Budapest to join your River Cruise. Let's Settle in to our cabins and explore the range of facilities on board our ship as we embark on your 7-night cruise along the Danube. Sit back with a welcome cocktail in one of the lounge areas, followed by a tasty welcome dinner as we cruise through Budapest enjoying the sight of the city at night.

Please note for the 10 September departure you will have one pre night stay in Mercure Budapest Korona hotel on a bed and breakfast basis. The cruise will commence on 11 September with a Budapest city tour included en tour to Budapest port. 

The boat will be moored in Budapest for the morning and you will have free time to explore the city. An optional excursion to Szentendre and Esztergom will be offered in the afternoon (payable locally). One of Hungary’s oldest cities, Esztergom was formerly the capital and is home to the Basilica, the main Roman Catholic church of Hungary.

You will depart Budapest in the early afternoon and will have a short stop in Esztergom that evening.

You will arrive at Bratislava in the early morning. The city is small and best explored on foot. Following breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of this compact city. During this tour you will get to know the capital of the young Slovakian Republic. The gorgeous old town has maintained its Gothic-Baroque style. The tour passes St. Martin’s Cathedral and the Grassalkovich Palace and continues up to the hill, where you will have a stunning, panoramic view of the city and surrounding areas. Afterwards, you have the opportunity to participate in a guided walking tour through the restored old town. From Michael’s Gate you will take a leisurely stroll through the historic city centre, where you can admire sights such as the Primatial Palace and St. Martin’s Cathedral, a former coronation cathedral for Hungarian kings, as well as the Academia Istropolitana, the oldest university of the city, which dates back to the 15th century. In addition to numerous palaces, you will also walk past the main square with the old City Hall, the Opera House and Maximilian Fountain.

Spent the afternoon exploring more of this beautiful Slovakian capital. Hunt for the city's unique statues or else just sit with a coffee or a drink and watch the world go by. You can also take an optional excursion to the impressive Schloss Hof, a former home of the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria

This morning you will embark on a city tour of Vienna. This tour will give you an overall impression of the most important sights Vienna has to offer. First you will drive along the famous Ringstrasse, passing several magnificent buildings like the stunning opera house, the parliament, the Court Theatre or Vienna’s imposing city hall. The tour is followed by a guided walk through the city centre where you will get to know Vienna at its fullest. You will start at the well-known Hofburg Imperial Palace, walk along the Kohl market and finish at Vienna’s iconic St. Stephen’s Cathedral. 

An optional excursion to Schönbrunn Palace will be offered in the afternoon (payable locally). One of the most important cultural and historic monuments in Austria, the 1,441 room Baroque palace is surrounded by a magnificent garden, known as the Gloriette, giving unforgettable view over the palace area. The ship will depart Vienna in the late evening.

Arrive into the picturesque town of Dürnstein which is named after the Medieval Castle Burgruine Dürnstein, which overlooks it. The town is the perfect spot to spend a leisurely morning; wandering the narrow cobblestoned streets, admiring beautiful buildings, shopping and relaxing with a drink in one of the local coffee shops.

The boat will depart Durnstein and travel on to the town of Emmersdorf in the Melk district of Austria. Here, you can take an optional excursion to visit Melk Abbey (payable locally), or visit the town at your own pace. The ship will depart Emmersdorf in the late evening.

Arrive into the town of Linz and disembark the ship for a full day excursion to Salzburg and Salzkammergut with lunch included. A two-hour coach ride will bring you to Salzburg – the city of music. The old town with its world-famous Baroque architecture is one of the best-preserved city centres north of the Alps. It was adopted by UNESCO in 1997 and is included on its list of World Cultural Heritage Sites. Salzburg is also the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. During the guided tour through the old town you will see the birth house of the musician (outside only), as well as other well-known attractions, such as the Getreidegasse. This long yet narrow shopping street runs parallel to the river in the centre of town. The street is famous for its old-style signage outside each store, indicating the profession found within. You will continue to the Mirabell Palace, a beautiful castle with gardens, built by an archbishop for his beloved courtesan. Look out for the Garden of Dwarfs and the Garden of Roses, as they are especially beautiful.

After the included lunch, you will head to the picturesque village Mondesee in Salzkammergut, which was the film location for the well-known movie “The Sound of Music”. Enjoy the beautiful scenery as you head back to the ship which will be docked at Passau. In the evening you will enjoy a Captain’s Gala Dinner while the ship travels to Regensburg.

Please note for 2025 on some dates you will have an excursion to Melk Abbey instead. Melk Abbey is an Austrian Benedictine abbey and one of the world's most famous monastic sites. The impressive Baroque abbey was built between 1702 and 1736 and is the biggest monastery complex of the Austrian baroque period. The Abbey's church features frescos by Johann Michael Rottmayr and the impressive library contains countless medieval manuscripts and frescos by Paul Troger. A guided tour takes you through the abbot's chambers, along the Imperator's walk, through the marble hall, the balconies and the library. 

Today will be spent at Regensburg where you will have free time to explore the city. Situated at the confluence of the Danube, Naab and Regen rivers, Regensburg is the fourth-largest city in the State of Bavaria and is an important political, economic and cultural base. The medieval centre of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Enjoy a traditional Bavarian evening hosted by the crew on board your ship. You will sail towards Passau this evening.

This morning you will arrive into the port of Passau and disembark the ship after breakfast. You will be met by our local representative and enjoy a city tour of Munich. Highlights will include The Nymphenburg Palace, King's Square with its three temple buildings in the classical Greek style, the Bavarian National Museum and the Angel of Peace monument, the elegant buildings and shops along Maximilian Street, the Maximilianeum, the National Opera House, the Royal Palace, Stachus Square and the medieval city gates.

After some free time for lunch or shopping in Munich, you will be transferred to Munich airport for your flight home, with guide assistance.

Please note for the 10 August river cruise you will have a post night stay in the Leonardo Hotel & Residence Munich on a bed and breakfast basis on 17 August, a Munich city tour will be included en route to the hotel. You will depart Munich on 18 August with a guided transfer to the airport for your return flight home.