7-night Active & Discovery On The Danube (Westbound) Cruise

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

The renaissance Royal Palace of Visegrad and the Castle are unique witnesses of Hungarian history with thousands of visitors each year. In summer festivals are held on the ruins commemorating the Middle Ages. The nearby spa in Lepence has both excellent swimming pools and thermal water. Visegrad can be accessed from Nagymaros by taking the ferry, which crosses every hour.

Destination Guide

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)

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)

In the eastern part of the Wachau on the left bank of the Danube lies the 1,000-year-old city of Krems. The city today encompasses Stein and Mautern, once separate towns. Krems is a mellow town of courtyards, old churches, and ancient houses in the heart of vineyard country, with some partially preserved town walls. Just as the Viennese flock to Grinzing and other suburbs to sample new wine in the Heurigen, so the people of the Wachau come here to taste the fruit of the vine, which appears in Krems earlier in the year.

Destination Guide

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.

Engelhartszell is located in Austria in the upper Danube valley. Enjoy the romantic river area, picturesque forest and farmland views, cycling, hiking, and the many cultural highlights of the historic market town.

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