7-night Heart Of The Danube Cruise: Westbound - Budapest To Bavaria

Caught between eastern and western Europe, Budapest has a character uniquely its own. It's also the last cheap, civilised city in Europe. Budapest can seem like one big sight, with each phase in its history, from the Ottoman period until the Communist days and from renaissance to revolution, leaving its mark on the city. For the tourist, a trip to Hungary's capital is dominated by the majestic sights of Buda. In the summer, there are open-air festivals at Szeged, Diosgyor Castle in Miskolc, Gyor and Pecs. Visit the former Royal Palace complex, the Matyas templom and the Belvaros. Margaret Island is a giant recreational park and feels pleasantly separated from the city bustle. Hungarian National Gallery houses Hungarian art since the birth of the nation. Although Esztergom is Hungary's most sacred city, home of the Archbishop and the nation's biggest church, it has a real-life edge. The first-time visitor to Szeged is invariably struck by its space and grandeur. One's immediate impressions of Hungary's third largest provincial city are of greenery and plazas, of broad.

Destination Guide

Excursions

Budapest Shore Excursion: Private Half Day City Tour of Budapest, 4 hours — Optional Private Excursions
This privately guided tour shows you the major sights within on the Pest Side (e.g.the Opera House, St. Stephen's Basilica), as well the Buda Side (Castle Hill). One highlight of this tour is an inside visit of the Fishermen's Bastion and the impressive Matthias Church.

Highlights:

• Heroe's Square, Vajdahunyad Castle (outside)
• State Opera (outside)
• St. Stephen's Basilica (outside)
• Parliament Buidling (outside)
• Fishermen's Bastion (entry to upper terrace)
• Matthias Church (indoor visit)

• Pick up and drop off at the landing stage of the cruising ship in Budapest
• Transfer in a private car
• Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
• Entrance fees for Fishermen's Bastion and Matthias Church

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances other than stated above

Budapest Shore Excursion: Private Full Day City Tour of Budapest, 8 hours — Optional Private Excursions
This extended privately guided full day basically covers all major sights and interesting locations within Budapest, also including inside visits of the Fishermen's Bastion, Matthias Church and the Parliament Building.

Highlights:

• Main sights, e.g. National Museum, State Opera, Heroe's Square, Great Synagogue, Central Market Hall, Gellért Hill, Citatel, Vajdahunyad Castle etc. (outside visits)
• Various Bridges above the Danube, e.g. Chain Bridge, Liberty Bridge, Elisabeth Bridge etc.
• Matthias Church (inside visit)
• Fishermen's Bastion (inside visit)
• Parliament Building (inside visit)

• Pick up and drop off at the landing stage of the cruising ship in Budapest
• Transfer in a private car
• Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
• Entrance fees for Fishermen's Bastion, Matthias Church, Parliament

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances other than stated above

Budapest Shore Excursion: Private Half Day Tour Budapest Castle District, 4 hours — Optional Private Excursions
During this privately guided tour, you visit the Castle Hill of Budapest, with the Royal and Presidential Palaces, fascinating squares and medieval cobblestone streets. Highlights are inside visits of the Fishermen's Bastion and the impressive Matthias Church.

Highlights:

• Budapest's Castle Hill
• Royal and Presidential Palaces (outside)
• Holy Trinity Square
• Hess András Square
• Fishermen's Bastion (entry to upper terrace)
• Matthias Church of Our Lady (indoor visit)

• Pick up and drop off at the landing stage of the cruising ship in Budapest
• Transfer in a private car
• Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
• Entrance fees for Fishermen's Bastion and Matthias Church

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances other than stated above

Caught between eastern and western Europe, Budapest has a character uniquely its own. It's also the last cheap, civilised city in Europe. Budapest can seem like one big sight, with each phase in its history, from the Ottoman period until the Communist days and from renaissance to revolution, leaving its mark on the city. For the tourist, a trip to Hungary's capital is dominated by the majestic sights of Buda. In the summer, there are open-air festivals at Szeged, Diosgyor Castle in Miskolc, Gyor and Pecs. Visit the former Royal Palace complex, the Matyas templom and the Belvaros. Margaret Island is a giant recreational park and feels pleasantly separated from the city bustle. Hungarian National Gallery houses Hungarian art since the birth of the nation. Although Esztergom is Hungary's most sacred city, home of the Archbishop and the nation's biggest church, it has a real-life edge. The first-time visitor to Szeged is invariably struck by its space and grandeur. One's immediate impressions of Hungary's third largest provincial city are of greenery and plazas, of broad.

Destination Guide

Excursions

Budapest Shore Excursion: Private Half Day City Tour of Budapest, 4 hours — Optional Private Excursions
This privately guided tour shows you the major sights within on the Pest Side (e.g.the Opera House, St. Stephen's Basilica), as well the Buda Side (Castle Hill). One highlight of this tour is an inside visit of the Fishermen's Bastion and the impressive Matthias Church.

Highlights:

• Heroe's Square, Vajdahunyad Castle (outside)
• State Opera (outside)
• St. Stephen's Basilica (outside)
• Parliament Buidling (outside)
• Fishermen's Bastion (entry to upper terrace)
• Matthias Church (indoor visit)

• Pick up and drop off at the landing stage of the cruising ship in Budapest
• Transfer in a private car
• Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
• Entrance fees for Fishermen's Bastion and Matthias Church

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances other than stated above

Budapest Shore Excursion: Private Full Day City Tour of Budapest, 8 hours — Optional Private Excursions
This extended privately guided full day basically covers all major sights and interesting locations within Budapest, also including inside visits of the Fishermen's Bastion, Matthias Church and the Parliament Building.

Highlights:

• Main sights, e.g. National Museum, State Opera, Heroe's Square, Great Synagogue, Central Market Hall, Gellért Hill, Citatel, Vajdahunyad Castle etc. (outside visits)
• Various Bridges above the Danube, e.g. Chain Bridge, Liberty Bridge, Elisabeth Bridge etc.
• Matthias Church (inside visit)
• Fishermen's Bastion (inside visit)
• Parliament Building (inside visit)

• Pick up and drop off at the landing stage of the cruising ship in Budapest
• Transfer in a private car
• Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
• Entrance fees for Fishermen's Bastion, Matthias Church, Parliament

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances other than stated above

Budapest Shore Excursion: Private Half Day Tour Budapest Castle District, 4 hours — Optional Private Excursions
During this privately guided tour, you visit the Castle Hill of Budapest, with the Royal and Presidential Palaces, fascinating squares and medieval cobblestone streets. Highlights are inside visits of the Fishermen's Bastion and the impressive Matthias Church.

Highlights:

• Budapest's Castle Hill
• Royal and Presidential Palaces (outside)
• Holy Trinity Square
• Hess András Square
• Fishermen's Bastion (entry to upper terrace)
• Matthias Church of Our Lady (indoor visit)

• Pick up and drop off at the landing stage of the cruising ship in Budapest
• Transfer in a private car
• Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
• Entrance fees for Fishermen's Bastion and Matthias Church

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances other than stated above

Bratislava is Slovakia's capital and largest city. The Carpathian Mountains, which begin at the Iron Gate of Romania, finally come to an end here. Vineyards on the slopes of the Little Carpathian Mountains meet the Danube River. The Austrian border is almost within sight of the city and Hungary is less than 15 miles away. Many beautiful monuments survive in the old town to tell of its past under Hungarian rule, and Bratislava's numerous museums are surprisingly rich. Franz Lizst visited Bratislava 15 times, and the opera productions of Slovak National Theatre rival anything in Europe. The old city, which is packed with museums and palaces, and the castle are the best parts of Bratislava - the rest of the city is pretty drab. Climb up the castle for great views and to check out the very interesting Museum of Folk Music within. The Slovak National Museum and the Slovak National Gallery on the river are also worth a visit. Hviezdoslavovo námestie (square) is a convenient orientation point, with the old town to the north, the Danube to the south, and Bratislava Castle to the west.

Destination Guide

Excursions

Bratislava Shore Excursion: Private Half Day City Tour of Bratislava, 4 hours — Optional Private Excursions
Enjoy a lovely guided city walk within the historic centre of Bratislava, followed by an interesting city tour and ride up the city hill to the Bratislava Castle, built in the 9th century - still today one of Bratislava's landmarks.

Highlights:

• City Walk within the historic centre of Bratislava
• Main sights and spots, e.g. Old Town Hall, Main Square, St. Martin Cathedral etc.
• Visit of the Bratislava Castle premises and the Slovak National Museum

• Pick up and drop off at the landing stage of the cruising ship in Bratislava
• Transfer in a private car
• Private licensed English speaking guide  (other languages available, but on request)
• Entrance fee for Slovak National Museum in Bratislava Castle

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances, other than stated above

Bratislava Shore Excursion: Private Full Day Tour Bratislava & Devin Castle, 8 hours — Optional Private Excursions
Enjoy a lovely guided Bratislava City Walk and City Tour, including a visit of it's landmark, the Bratislava Castle - and rounded up by an excursion to one of the oldest castles in Slovakia, the Devin Castle (located at the confluence of the Danube and Moravia rivers, close to the Austrian border).

Highlights:

• City Walk within the historic centre of Bratislava
• Main sights and spots, e.g. Old Town Hall, Main Square, St. Martin Cathedral etc.
• Visit of the Bratislava Castle premises and the Slovak National Museum
• Excursion to Devin Castle, located 10km from Bratislava

• Pick up and drop off at the landing stage of the cruising ship in Bratislava
• Transfer in a private car
• Private licensed English speaking guide  (other languages available, but on request)
• Entrance fee for Slovak National Museum in Bratislava Castle
• Entrance fee for Devin Castle

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances, other than stated above

Vienna is dominated by imperial castles and places: Schonbrunn, the magnificent summer residence, the Imperial Coach Collection, the Palm House, the Butterfly House, Belvedere Palace, magnificent state rooms in Hofburg, and the imperial crown in the Treasury. Stop by Ringstraße - the showplace of the monarchy built where Emperor Franz Joseph ordered the demolition of city walls. Important buildings include the State Opera, the Museums of Fine Arts and Natural History, Parliament, City Hall and Vienna University. The world capital of music. A long line of great composers Johann Strauss, Haydn and Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, Mahler and Schonberg all worked here. A city with splendid concert halls, such as the Golden Hall, from which the Philharmonic's New Year's Day concert is broadcast annually. International stars love to appear here in the State Opera, Volksoper, Konzerthaus, and at festivals like the Vienna Festival, the Klangbogen concerts during the Musical Summer, the Jazz Festval and the Haydn, Mozart and Schubert festivals.

Destination Guide

Excursions

Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Walk Vienna's Old Town, 2,5 hours — Optional Private Excursions
This interesting city walk offers you an initial overview of the history, culture and achitecture of Vienna, taking you through the most beautiful and elegant streets and passing by some of the most famous sights of the city.
At the end of this tour, you can continue exploring the city centre on your own.

Highlights:

• The Imperial Palace, residence of the Habsburgs for nearly 650 years (outside)
• St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna's landmark (outside)
• State Opera House (outside)
• the Ringstrasse ('ring road')

• Pick up at the landing stage of the cruise ship in Vienna
• One way transfer in private car from the pier to the city centre
• Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances
• Return transfer to the ship (optional service upon extra charge)

Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Walk Mozart in Vienna, 2,5 hours — Optional Private Excursions
During this city walk "On the Traces of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart", you discover Vienna's historic old town, passing by some of the most important locations of Mozart's life. This tour also includes a visit of the Mozart House. At the end of this tour, you can continue exploring the city centre on your own.

Highlights:

• Vienna's historic old town and former addresses of Mozart (outdoor)
• Visit of the Mozart House Vienna (indoor visit)
• St. Stephen's Cathedral (outdoor)

• Pick up at the landing stage of the cruise ship in Vienna
• One way transfer in private car from the pier to the city centre
• Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
• Entrance fee Mozart House (visit with audio-guide)

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances other than stated above
• Return transfer to the cruise ship (optional service upon extra charge)

Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Walk Imperial Palace, 2,5 hours — Optional Private Excursions
This privately guided walking tour through Vienna's historic old town takes you to the Imperial Palace ('Hofburg'), to visit the Imperial Apartments and the fascinating Sisi Museum.

Highlights:

• Visit of the Imperial Palace and the Imperial Apartments (indoor visit)
• Visit of the Sisi Museum (indoor visit)
• Augustinian Church

• Pick up the landing stage of the cruise ship in Vienna
• One way transfer in private car from the pier to the city centre
• Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
• Entrance fee for the Imperial Palace (Imperial Apartments and the Sisi Museum)

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances other than stated above
• Return transfer to the ship (optional service upon extra charge)

Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Tour of Vienna & Visit of Schoenbrunn Palace, 4 hours — Optional Private Excursions
This privately guided tour shows you the major historical sights along the Ringstrasse, before taking you to the magnificent Schoenbrunn Palace, former summer residence of the Habsburg family.

Highlights:

• Main sights along the Ringstrasse: e.g. Imperial Palace, National Museums, State Opera, Burgtheater, City Hall, Parliament etc. (outside)
• Visit of the Schoenbrunn Palace, privately guided tour (indoor visit)

• Pick up and drop off at the landing stage of the cruise ship in Vienna
• Transfer in a private car
• Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
• Entrance fee for Schoenbrunn Palace (Highlight Tour)

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances other than stated above

Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Tour Art Nouveau and Viennese Architecture, 4 hours — Optional Private Excursions
In addition to the familiar Gothic and Baroque buildings, Art Nouveau has a fixed place in Viennese architecture. Naturally, this tour also covers further architecural epoques, such as modernity.

Highlights:

• Architecturally interesting sights along the Ringstrasse: e.g. Imperial Palace, National Museums, State Opera, City Hall, Parliament etc. (outside)
• Visit of the Vienna Secession (inside visit)
• Visit of the Kunst Haus Wien (insde visit)
• St. Charles's Church (outside)
• Hundertwasserhaus (outside)

• Pick up and drop off at the landing stage of the cruise ship in Vienna
• Transfer in a private car
• Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
• Entrance fee for Vienna Secession
• Entrance fee for Kunst Haus Wien

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances other than stated above

Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Walk & the Lipizzaner Horses, 5 hours — Optional Private Excursions
From Tuesday to Friday (9am-1pm, excl. July), this package covers many interesting aspects of Vienna: Starting with a short Vienna Old Town City Walk, you follow your guide through the old town towards the Spanish Riding School, where you attend the Lippizaner's Morning Exercise, allowing an insight into the training of the Lipizzaner Horses and their riders. At the end of this tour, you can continue exploring the city centre on your own.

Highlights:

• Overview of the history, culture and architecture of Vienna
• Vienna's historic old town (outside)
• Attendance of the Morning Exercise at the Spanish Riding School (inside visit)
• Coffee break at the famous Café Central

• Pick up at the landing stage of the cruise ship in Vienna
• One way transfer in private car from the pier to the city centre
• Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
• Entrance fee for the Morning Exercise at the Spanish Riding School
• Coffee break at Café Demel (1 hot drink, 1 piece of cake)

• Meals
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses
• Entrances other than stated above
• Return transfer to the ship (optional service upon extra charge)

Here in the heart of the beautiful Wachau wine region where vineyards lace softly rolling hills lies Duernstein (Durnstein). See the ruins of Kuenringer Castle where Richard the Lionheart was reputedly held prisoner. Visit the former Collegiate Church. A stroll through medieval cobblestone streets reveals old burgher houses, wine taverns and quaint 16th and 18th century townhouses. Enjoy a wine tasting in one of the many charming taverns.

Destination Guide

Weissenkirchen, or "White Church", is a charming town sprawled along the banks and the hills of the Danube River. Like other villages in the Wauchau Valley, you can see terraced vineyards, off-set by the red roofs of the town proper. View the white church the town is named for, which in its long history has served both as sacred space and protection from invaders in the  the 16th century. You will find the inside designed in the traditional Gothic and Baroque style. Visit the Wachaumuseum, housed in a 16th century building, to learn more about Weissenkirchen's role in wine production, as well as the importance of the salt trade in the town's development and art by Krems painter Kremser Schmidt. Nearby villages include Krems and Dürnstein, while further up stream you can visit the Göttweig Abbey and Melk.

 

With its 2,800 inhabitants Grein is one of the smallest towns in Austria. All Gothic buildings were destroyed in a fire in the 15th century. The houses around the city square mostly date back to a time between 1550 and 1600. The city hall houses a magnificent rococo theater. It has largely remained unchanged. It now features summer plays and concerts. On the west side of the town, you will find the Castle Greinburg on the Hohenstein Peak. In 1597, a Renaissance courtyard was added to the building, which is now used for annual concerts and operas in the months of August and September. Grein’s history is closely tied to the Danube River. The city became very wealthy over the centuries, which is evident in its elaborate and beautiful architecture.

In the third millennium, Passau was considerably enlarged by the prince bishops of Passau, who made it their royal residence and capital of the largest Danube diocese. The wonderful Baroque buildings dominating the city today were built after a fire of 1662. One of the most striking is cathedral of St. Stephan, with the world's biggest church organ. One of the best ways to enjoy the magic of Passau is with a sightseeing tour. Other sights to see include: Neue Residenz - an Episcopal palace; Veste Oberhaus - Citadel of the prince bishops with the best view of the Old Town and confluence of the three rivers; Town Hall, which is lavishly decorated halls with monumental paintings; Niedernburg Abbey - tomb of Gisela, first queen of Hungary; Maria Hilf - an abbey and place of pilgrimage overlooking the town center; Dreiflusse-Eck - the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz; and St. Nikolai - a University church with Romanesque crypt.

Destination Guide

Excursions

Passau Shore Excursion: Private Full Day Tour to Munich, 8 hours — Optional Private Excursions
This full day tour takes you to the Bavarian capital for a Private City Tour of Munich; among others you pass by impressive sights such as the Nymphenburg Palace, the Royal Residence, the Olympia Park and many more.

Highlights:

• Private licensed Munich Guide for your City Tour
• Main sights in Munich: e.g. Olympia Park, BMW building, Old and New Art Gallery (Alte Pinakothek and Neue Pinakothek), National Theatre, Royal Residence, Nymphenburg Palace, The Angel of Peace Monument in Schwabing, King’s Square, Victory Gate, English Garden and many more (only outside visits!).

• Pick up and drop off at the landing stage of the cruising ship in Passau or Vilshofen
• Transfer in a private minivan with English speaking driver
• Private licensed English speaking guide for the Munich City Tour (other languages available, but on request)

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances

Passau Shore Excursion: Private Full Day Tour to Cesky Krumlov, 7 hours — Optional Private Excursions
This full day tour takes you just across the border to the Czech Republic,to visit Cesky Krumlov (UNESCO World Heritage Site). From April till October, an inside visit of the Cesky Krumlov Castle is included in this package.

Highlights:

• Private licensed local Guide for your Cesky Krumlov visit
• Cesky Krumlov - medieval city, impressing with its unique atmosphere, including the Minorite Monastery and the Church of St. Vitus.
• From April-October (Tuesday-Sunday): inside visit of the enthroning Cesky Krumlov Castle.

• Pick up and drop off at the landing stage of the cruising ship in Passau or Vilshofen
• Transfer in a private minivan with English speaking driver
• Private licensed English speaking guide for the Cesky Krumlov City Tour (other languages available, but on request)
• April-October (Tuesday-Sunday): Entrance fee for Cesky Krumlov Castle

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances, other than stated above

Private explorations in the quaint three river village — Optional Private Excursions
Highlights:
 
Meet our experienced local team member at your ship and tailor your city stroll according to your interests and expectations
 
The picturesque city of Passau, known as ‘The City of Three Rivers’, stands at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and the Ilz Rivers in Germany’s far southeast corner near the Austrian border
 
Passau was an ancient Roman colony and a former hub of the salt trade, then later the Holy Roman Empire, largest diocese and a sword-making centre
 
Enjoy a walking tour of the historic city centre with its enchanting, narrow lanes, beautiful riverbank promenades to see the ‘Rathaus’, with its , Baroque festival hall, the New Bishop's Residence before arriving at St. Stephen's Cathedral
 
St. Stephen's is a true masterpiece of Italian Baroque and is most famous for its spectacular organ. With 17,774 pipes and 233 registers it is not to be missed. Schedule permitted enjoy a recital by their master organist
 
End your walk with a stop at our favourite watering hole for a tasting of the famous local Granit gin or enjoy traditional baked goods at ‘Kerscher’ where recipes are handed from generation to generation for over 100 years
 
Tour Duration: 2 hours
Tour can operate: All day
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Light walking tour

Inclusions:

• Touring with one of our excellent local insiders
• All taxes

• Meals
• Optional admissions and museum licensing fees
• Tipping at your discretion

Vilshofen is a small town on the banks of the Danube, and it has a welcome blend of modernity and history along its city streets. The old city center with its tower and St. John cathedral, antiquated narrow streets, monuments, and Baroque architecture. In the old tower, view rotating art exhibitations at the City Gallery, or  visit the African Museum within the Benedectine Abbey Schweiklberg, as well as other sculpture parks that give Vilshofen its modern flare. Nearby, for exploring the region's outdoors, hike and bike through Vilsengtal, a nature reserve.

Destination Guide