Vienna Danube Cruise through Hungary, Slovakia and Austria
You end this great value over-50s river cruise of the Danube with a three-night stay in stylish Vienna. Visit Budapest, Bratislava and Linz on the way. Discovering the towns and cities of the Danube couldn’t be easier as this scenic river cruise aboard Spirit of the Danube is combined with a three-night hotel stay in the heart of cultural Vienna.
You’ll embark your ship in Budapest, where you’ll have a whole day to explore the city sights before cruising the Danube through Hungary, Slovakia and Austria, to Vienna. En route spend an enjoyable day in Bratislava where the charming old quarter is overlooked by a huge castle. See historic Baroque architecture in Linz, discover why Passau has been nicknamed the ‘Venice of Bavaria’ and visit picturesque Dürnstein in the Wachau Valley.
Once in Vienna, where you spend three nights at the locally rated 4-star Imperial Riding School (4Q), you’ll enjoy either an included sightseeing tour or a culinary walking tour, an evening concert of works by Mozart and Strauss, and plenty of free time to explore independently.
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 in a hotel
Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
All gratuities on board
EXPERIENCES
Cruise Host
Budapest city tour OR Budapest culinary walking tour
Bratislava city tour
Vienna city tour OR Vienna culinary walking tour
Vienna evening concert
FOOD & DRINK
26 meals: 10 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 10 dinners
Free bar open 15 hours a day on board (2023 departures only)*
Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on the ship
Drinks reception and Captain’s dinner
Day 1 Uk - Budapest
Fly to Hungary’s capital and embark Spirit of the Danube.
Enjoy dinner on board this evening.
Day 2 Budapest
Awake in Budapest for a full day and overnight mooring.
An included city tour reveals the highlights, from UNESCO-listed Buda Castle on the west bank, to the Hungarian Parliament buildings in Pest on the east bank. Alternatively join an included culinary walking tour to the First Strudel House and Central Market Hall.
In the afternoon optional excursions are available to Gödöllo Palace or the Lazar equestrian park.
Day 3 Budapest - Esztergom
Depart very early, arriving in Esztergom at midday.
Perhaps the most beautiful town on the Danube Bend, it’s home to Hungary's largest basilica, the dome of which can be seen for miles. An optional excursion this afternoon explores the town and the artistic community of Szentendre.
Depart this evening, cruising overnight towards Bratislava.
Day 4 Bratislava
Spend the morning exploring the city’s old quarter on an included city tour beginning with a trip aboard the miniature city tourist train. See the highlights, including Bratislava Castle, before disembarking in the Old Town for a walking tour past the Archbishop’s Palace, St Martin’s Cathedral, the Market Square, Town Hall and more….
Continue sailing through the afternoon and night towards Linz.
Day 5 Linz
This afternoon, perhaps join an optional tour of Linz, home of Linzer torte, said to be the world’s oldest cake recipe.
Depart late tonight and cruise overnight towards Passau.
Day 6 Passau
Arrive in Passau early this morning to explore the 'Venice of Bavaria', set where the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers meet. Perhaps join an optional walking tour of Passau or head to Salzburg for the day on another optional excursion.
Your ship departs late tonight.
Arrive in Passau early this morning to explore the 'Venice of Bavaria', set where the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers meet.
Perhaps join an optional walking tour of Passau or head to Salzburg for the day on another optional excursion.
Your ship departs early this evening.
Day 7 Melk - Dürnstein
Spend the morning in Melk where you'll have the opportunity to visit the magnificent Benedictine abbey on an optional excursion.
This afternoon you’ll cruise into the beautiful Wachau Valley to visit picturesque Dürnstein, where an optional walking tour explores the town’s historic heart.
Cruise through the night towards Vienna.
Day 8 Dürnstein - Vienna
Today you’ll arrive in Vienna for a three-night stay at the locally rated 4-star Imperial Riding School Renaissance Hotel (4Q).
Your stay is on a half-board basis, with one dinner at a local restaurant and two dinners at the hotel.
Set off to explore Vienna’s food and culture scene on an included culinary walking tour or choose to join an included half-day sightseeing tour around the Ringstrasse, taking in historic buildings such as the State Opera House.
Tonight, dine at the atmospheric Salmbrau restaurant, in one of the last monastery cellars of Vienna’s Old Town.
Day 9 Vienna
Spend the day at leisure in Vienna, or join an optional excursion to Schönbrunn Palace.
This evening, take in an included concert, with works by Mozart and Strauss.
Enjoy a day at leisure in Vienna, or join an optional excursion to Schönbrunn Palace this afternoon.
This evening, take in an included concert, with works by Mozart and Strauss.
Day 10 Vienna
Look forward to another day at leisure in Vienna, or perhaps join an optional morning trip into Vienna Woods.
Day 11 Vienna - UK
After breakfast travel to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
