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Travel to Europe (To-Europe) · Independent rail vacation package

9-Day Blue Danube Rail Tour and Melk Cruise (9R10)

Frankfurt to Munich via rail, Danube Valley and Salzburg in 9 days

Illustration of 9-Day Blue Danube Rail Tour and Melk Cruise (9R10)

Travel to Europe's 9-Day Blue Danube Rail Tour and Melk Cruise is a self-guided independent package that departs from Frankfurt and ends in Munich over 9 days and 8 nights. Travelers move by high-speed ICE and Rail Jet trains through Germany and Austria, stopping in the medieval city of Regensburg, the riverside confluence city of Passau, the Austrian cities of Linz and Vienna, Salzburg, and finally Munich. On Day 3, you take a 45-minute river cruise in Passau where the Danube, Inn and Ilz converge. Day 6 is a full-day guided excursion from Vienna into the UNESCO-designated Wachau Valley, including a Danube River cruise downstream to Melk and a guided tour of the Benedictine Abbey. Day 7 adds a 4-hour Sound of Music tour in Salzburg. Hotels are centrally located in each city, and breakfast is daily. The itinerary suits first-time rail travelers, couples, history lovers, and independent explorers who prefer self-guided city exploration with a few key guided experiences.

What to know before you look closer

  • Hotels are listed as 'or similar', meaning the exact property depends on availability.
  • Meals other than breakfast and tour inclusions are not covered; lunch and dinner costs are separate.
  • Single-room pricing ($3,049) is significantly higher than the per-person double rate ($2,029); single travelers pay a large supplement.
  • The tour can be booked in reverse (Munich to Frankfurt), so confirm your preferred direction when booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Frankfurt

    Frankfurt

    Commuter train from Frankfurt Int. Airport to Frankfurt Central Station (about 11 minutes). Sightsee the Romerberg, Goethe Haus and the Frankfurt Museum Riverbank.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Regensburg

    Regensburg

    High-speed ICE train from Frankfurt to Regensburg (just over 3 hours). Explore the best-preserved medieval city in Germany, including the Stone Bridge and Old Town Hall.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Passau

    Passau

    Train from Regensburg to Passau (about 1 hour). Includes a 45-minute river cruise at the 'City of Three Rivers' confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Linz

    Linz

    High-speed ICE train across the German/Austrian border to Linz (just over 1 hour). Visit the Hauptplatz and the Old Cathedral.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Vienna

    Vienna

    High-speed ICE train from Linz to Vienna (about 1.5 hours). Sightsee the Hofburg, State Opera House and St. Stephen's Cathedral.

  6. Day 6overnight: Vienna

    Day trip into the Danube Valley, Melk and Danube River Cruise

    Hotel pickup for a day trip into the Wachau Valley (UNESCO World Heritage Site) via Krems and Spitz, past Duernstein Castle, with a Danube River cruise downstream to Melk and a guided tour of the Benedictine Abbey.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Salzburg

    Salzburg

    High-speed Rail Jet from Vienna to Salzburg (about 2:40 hrs). Includes the 4-hour English-speaking Sound of Music tour.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Munich

    Munich

    High-speed Rail Jet from Salzburg to Munich (about 1:40 hrs). Includes free public transportation in Munich; visit the Residence, Nymphenburg Palace and the Hofbrauhaus.

  9. Day 9rail

    Munich Int. Airport

    Tour ends after breakfast; take the train to Munich International Airport at your convenience. Tour can also be booked vice versa, from Munich Int. Airport to Frankfurt Int. Airport.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Day 2: Explore Regensburg's Stone Bridge and Old Town Hall, the best-preserved medieval city center in Germany.
  • Day 3Day 3: A 45-minute river cruise in Passau at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers.
  • Day 6Day 6: Full-day guided trip through the UNESCO Wachau Valley, including a Danube River cruise and tour of Melk's Benedictine Abbey.
  • Day 7Day 7: A 4-hour English-speaking Sound of Music tour in Salzburg, Mozart's birthplace.

Included

  • 2nd-class rail tickets for all listed journeys
  • Hotels as listed (or similar), centrally located near each train station
  • Buffet breakfast daily
  • 45-minute river cruise in Passau
  • Day trip through the Danube Valley (by coach and boat) with Melk Abbey guided tour
  • 4-hour Sound of Music tour in Salzburg
  • Munich All Day public transport pass
  • Day-by-day itinerary, tickets, vouchers and city information

Not included

  • Airfare from your origin to Frankfurt Int. Airport / from Munich Int. Airport to your origin
  • All meals other than breakfast
  • Gratuities (tips)

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Travel to Europe includes 2nd-class rail tickets for all journeys (ICE trains Frankfurt to Vienna, Rail Jet Vienna to Munich). A 1st-class upgrade with seat reservations is available for an additional $209 per person.
Is this escorted or self-guided?
Self-guided independent tour with walking-tour suggestions. Three activities are guided: a 45-minute river cruise in Passau, a full-day Danube Valley and Melk Abbey tour from Vienna, and a 4-hour Sound of Music tour in Salzburg.
What hotels are included?
One night each in Frankfurt, Regensburg, Passau, Linz and Salzburg; two nights in Vienna; one night in Munich. Hotels are centrally located near train stations and listed as 'or similar' properties.
What meals are included?
Daily buffet breakfast. All other meals are not included and are the traveler's responsibility.
What is not included in the from-price?
Airfare to Frankfurt or from Munich, meals other than breakfast, gratuities (tips), and any 1st-class rail upgrade.
How much walking is involved?
Moderate. Each city includes self-guided walking tours and sightseeing. The Danube Valley day trip involves coach travel and guided exploration of Melk Abbey; the Sound of Music tour is 4 hours.

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