Imperial Danube

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – EMBARKATION. Arrive in Budapest and board your luxurious river cruise ship.

BUDAPEST. Budapest offers an unmatched combination of culture and tradition. Your city tour begins with a visit to the Great Market Hall before going to both the Buda (hilly) and the Pest (flat) sides of the river. You’ll see Heroes’ Square and Castle Hill, home to the Fisherman’s Bastion and Mattias Church. As an alternative, you can hike up to Castle Hill for breathtaking views of the city below.

BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA. Host to the crowning ceremonies of 11 Hungarian kings and queens between 1536 and 1830, Bratislava certainly has earned the title “Coronation City of Kings,” as you’ll discover during your walking tour. Or join a special “Tastes of Slovakia” tour. For a more active adventure, hike up to Bratislava Castle, offering magnificent views of the city.

TULLN, AUSTRIA. One of the oldest towns in Austria, Tulln, referred to as “City of Flowers,” is your gateway to Klosterneuburg Abbey. Join a tour that takes you inside this majestic 12th-century Augustinian monastery, where, legend has it that Margrave Leopold III’s wife’s wedding veil landed after riding on a gust of wind. Alongside your knowledgeable local guide, examine the abbey’s gilded interior, which boasts high ceilings, lovely frescoes, and intricately carved statues.

DÜRNSTEIN - MELK, AUSTRIA. Located above Melk on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube, Melk Abbey is one of Europe’s largest and most revered Baroque monasteries and a breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally founded in the 11th century, the magnificent abbey now houses a museum chronicling its history and a famous library with countless medieval manuscripts. During your tour you will see some of Melk’s musical manuscripts as well as frescoes painted by Johann Michael Rottmayr and Paul Troger. Return to the ship for lunch and a scenic cruise through Austria’s breathtaking Wachau Valley before arriving in Dürnstein, the “Pearl of the Wachau,” where you will enjoy a tour encompassing its traditional architecture, brilliant blue Baroque Stiftskirche tower, and wine taverns, including a wine tasting. If you prefer a more active adventure, stretch your legs on a hike to ruins of Dürnstein Fortress where Richard the Lionheart was once held captive and take in sweeping views of the village and Danube River below. Or join a guided bike tour. Melk.

VIENNA, AUSTRIA. The “City of Waltzes” offers a wealth of gems, and your city tour showcases its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs. Conclude your tour in Vienna’s historic city center and then visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Or, discover Vienna by bike on a guided cycling tour through the city. Later in the day, step inside the 1,441-room Schönbrunn Palace, built as the summer residence of the Habsburg Emperors. See the Imperial Apartments, the living quarters of the Emperors, which still contain their original furnishings, and stroll through the equally impressive gardens. You may also enjoy free time to explore this iconic city.

DANUBE BEND, HUNGARY. Cruise through the scenic Danube Bend where you’ll see the Börzsöny and Visegrád hills and some of Hungary’s oldest settlements, including Esztergom, Visegrád, and Szentendre. Nature, culture, and history intertwine into a picturesque sight as the Danube River turns into a sharp bend.

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – DISEMBARKATION. Bid farewell to Budapest and prepare for your flight home. (B) (B,L,D) – Indicates Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are included on this day.