Central Europe Danube River Cruise From Budapest
From historic Budapest in Hungary to Germany, this River Danube holiday for over-50s UK travellers includes tours of Central Europe’s cultural capitals. Beginning with a seven-night Danube river cruise, where you’ll see Budapest’s UNESCO-listed Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion during an included tour, have the opportunity to sample beer and enjoy panoramic views of Bratislava on an optional excursion to the UFO observation tower, and tour Vienna’s Ringstrasse taking in sights such as the Imperial Hofburg complex and State Opera House. Cruise into the Wachau Valley to visit Dürnstein, where the now ruined Kuenringer Castle is where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned during the late 12th century, and continue to Melk with its Benedictine Abbey.
Explore Passau and the medieval streets of Regensburg before arriving in Prague for a two-night stay at the 5-star Corinthia Hotel Prague (4Q). The city’s Old Town Square, nestled between Wenceslas Square and Charles Bridge, features Baroque and Gothic churches, and the medieval Astronomical Clock. After the flight to Germany, travel to Dresden stopping en route at the Sandstone Mountains before an overnight stay at the 4-star Bellevue Hotel Dresden (4Q). Continue to Berlin for a two-night stay at the 4-star Steigenberger Hotel (4Q) from where you can explore the city’s rich history spanning over 800 years during an included tour. See the city’s iconic landmarks including the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie and the Museum District.
Your Tour Includes
TRAVEL
VIP door-to-door travel service from anywhere on the UK mainland
Included travel insurance
Return flights and transfers
ACCOMMODATION
7 nights Full Board aboard the ship, 3 nights Half Board, 2 nights Bed and Breakfast in a hotel
Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
All gratuities on board
EXPERIENCES
Cruise Host
Budapest city tour OR culinary walking tour
Vienna city tour OR culinary walking tour
Dresden and the Sandstone Mountains
Berlin city tour
FOOD & DRINK
28 meals: 12 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 10 dinners
Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on the ship
Drinks reception and Captain’s dinner
Day 1 UK - Budapest
Fly to Budapest and embark Spirit of the Danube.
Enjoy a welcome drink and dinner on board as you remain moored here overnight.
Day 2 Budapest
Budapest is a city made up of two parts: Buda and Pest, built on opposite banks of the Danube.
East meets west in this fascinating city, as can be seen in the variety of shops and restaurants. An included city sightseeing tour will reveal the capital's highlights, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Buda Castle, Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion. Alternatively, perhaps opt for an included culinary-themed walking tour of the city with strudel making and a visit to the Central Market Hall.
Depart during lunch and cruise overnight to Bratislava.
Day 3 Bratislava - Vienna
Enjoy the morning in Slovakia's capital. Originally part of Czechoslovakia until 1993, Bratislava’s old town, ‘Staré Mesto’ ,with its historic buildings, provides a stark contrast to the 20th-century buildings, some of which serve as a reminder of its communist past.
Perhaps join an optional city tour or beer tasting at the UFO observation tower this afternoon, before Spirit of the Danube cruises to Vienna, arriving late this evening.
Day 4 Vienna - Dürnstein
This morning enjoy an included sightseeing tour of elegant Vienna, for 600 years the centre of the Habsburg Empire.
Your tour includes a drive around the Ringstrasse, a wide avenue encircling the old city, taking in famous sights such as the Imperial Hofburg complex built by Emperor Franz Josef, and the world-famous State Opera House. Alternatively, to experience the culture and taste the local specialities opt for an included culinary walking tour instead.
Afterwards you can relax on board as you cruise to Dürnstein, arriving during dinner.
Day 5 Dürnstein - Melk
Enjoy the early morning in Dürnstein, a pretty village – perhaps the most picturesque on the river and steeped in history – in the heart of the Wachau Valley. The now ruined Kuenringer Castle is where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned during the late 12th century. An optional walking tour takes you through the cobbled streets to visit the abbey for an organ concert.
Continue to Melk where you won’t want to miss an optional tour of the Benedictine Abbey before departing this evening.
Day 6 Passau
Passau, the most easterly city in Bavaria, is known as the ‘Venice of Bavaria’, being set at the confluence of three rivers. It is home to a baroque cathedral containing the largest church organ in the world.
A short optional walking tour will reveal the highlights this afternoon, most of which are close to the Danube, before you depart before dinner.
Day 7 Regensburg
Arrive at lunchtime in the city of Regensburg, which has been a religious centre since the 7th century and has numerous medieval churches. An optional city walk is available here this afternoon, or you may like to visit Weltenburg Abbey on an optional tour.
Day 8 Regensburg - Prague
Disembark Spirit of the Danube in Regensburg after breakfast and travel by coach to Prague, a distance of around 270 kilometres, which should take approximately three hours depending on traffic conditions.
Stay at the locally rated 5-star Corinthia Hotel Prague (4Q) for two nights, with dinner tonight and breakfasts included.
Day 9 Prague
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Perhaps discover it on an optional city tour. This afternoon, you’re free to explore independently – stop by the astrological clock situated in the Old Town Square – one of the oldest working astrological clocks in the world, the elaborate striking of the hour tends to draw large crowds.
Alternatively you may like to join an optional culinary-themed walking tour of the city. This afternoon, you can explore independently, while this evening you have the option to join a traditional folklore dinner.
Day 10 Prague - Dresden
Check out after breakfast and travel by coach, a distance of around 147 kilometres which should take approximately two hours depending on traffic conditions, to the 4-star Bellevue Hotel Dresden (4Q) for an overnight stay with dinner included tonight. En route you’ll visit the Sandstone Mountains. The National Park of Saxon Switzerland, south-east of Dresden, is characterised by rock formations sculpted by erosion, sandstone cliffs, deep valleys and rugged gorges. Around three-quarters of this landscape, unique in central Europe, is in south-eastern Germany with the rest in north Bohemia in the Czech Republic. The Elbe river winds through the mountains in a steep and narrow valley.
Dresden has reclaimed its title as the ‘Florence on the Elbe’ since it was restored as the capital of Saxony in 1990. highlights include the Semper Opera House and Zwinger Palace with its baroque pavilions and galleries – home to artworks from Titian, Rubens and Raphael. You can even climb the dome of the resurrected Fraenkirche!
Day 11 Dresden - Berlin
Check out after breakfast and travel by coach to the locally rated 4-star Steigenberger Berlin Hotel (4Q), a distance of around 125 miles, which should take approximately two and a half hours depending on traffic conditions. Enjoy a two-night stay, with dinner included tonight.
Day 12 Berlin
Stylish, chic and unashamedly bohemian, the avant-garde city of Berlin has a rich history dating back to the 13th century. Learn more about the city’s past on an included city tour this morning, taking in the iconic sights of the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie and the Museum District. Spend this afternoon at leisure exploring the city further.
Day 13 Berlin - UK
Check out after breakfast and travel to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
