How much does it cost?

From £3,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,726 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is the train travel included?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes Eurostar Standard class (London to Paris, Brussels to London), standard class rail throughout the tour (Stuttgart to Füssen, Füssen to Budapest, Munich to Cologne, Cologne to Brussels), and the Zugspitze Railway journey in Germany.

Is this an escorted or independent tour?

This is an escorted tour. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout. Guided tours are included in major cities: Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Dürnstein, Melk, and Passau.

Which ships are used?

The 4 September 2026 departure uses MS Amadeus Nova; the 27 September 2027 departure uses MS Amadeus Star. Other departures use the MS Amadeus Cara.

When does the tour run?

Great Rail Journeys offers four departures: June 2027, July 2027, August 2026, and September 2027. Confirm exact dates and the ship assigned to your preferred departure when booking.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour with river cruise

Fairytale Bavaria & Delights of the Danube

Bavarian rail and castle tour, then seven-night Danube river cruise

Great Rail Journeys combines Bavarian mountain scenery with a leisurely Danube river cruise on this 13-day escorted holiday from London to Brussels. The first four days are based in Füssen in the foothills of the Alps, where you visit the famous Neuschwanstein Castle and ride the scenic Zugspitze Railway to Germany's highest peak. You then travel by rail to Budapest to board a luxury river ship for seven nights, cruising downstream through Vienna, Bratislava, and the romantic Wachau Valley to Passau. The tour includes five-star hotel service, all meals and drinks on the ship, guided city tours in the major capitals, and a choice of excursions (Salzburg or Český Krumlov) on Day 10. An experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director travel with the group throughout, ensuring a relaxed pace with two to three nights in each main location. This suits couples, history enthusiasts, and repeat rail travellers who appreciate guided comfort with ample free time to explore at their own pace.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £400 since 4 Jul, to £3,499.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

Single supplement is high: GBP 5,799 compared to GBP 3,899 per person (nearly 150 percent of the double-occupancy price)
Day 10 offers two alternative excursions; your final choice depends on the tour operator's confirmation closer to departure
Some rail segments between cities are standard class; only Eurostar and the Zugspitze Railway are specifically named in the itinerary

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Stuttgart
To Stuttgart
Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, then rail to Stuttgart for the first overnight.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2railovernight: Füssen
Alpine beauty in Füssen
Rail to Füssen for a three-night stay, with free time to explore the medieval Old Town and Hohes Schloss.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3railovernight: Füssen
Fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle & Zugspitze Railway
Visit Neuschwanstein Castle, then the Zugspitze Railway up to Zugspitzplatt for Alpine views.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4overnight: Füssen
Rococo opulence at Linderhof Palace & the Church of Wies
Visit Linderhof Palace and the UNESCO-listed Rococo Church of Wies.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5railovernight: Onboard (Budapest)
To Budapest, where we board our luxurious ship
Rail to Budapest to board the cruise ship, with a Hungarian folklore performance and a night cruise past the illuminated city.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6overnight: Onboard
Exploring Budapest, the 'Pearl of the Danube'
Sightseeing tour of Budapest including Heroes' Square and St Stephen's Basilica, then cruise the Danube Bend past Visegrad and Esztergom.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7overnight: Onboard
Uncovering the old-world charm of Bratislava
Guided tour of Bratislava including the castle and Old Town.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8overnight: Onboard (Vienna)
Embracing the imperial majesty of Vienna
Guided tour of Vienna's Ringstrasse, with an evening performance by former Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra members.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9overnight: Onboard
Melk Abbey and the scenic Wachau Valley
Free time in Dürnstein, cruise the Wachau Valley, then a guided tour of Melk Abbey.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10overnight: Onboard (Linz)
Salzburg and the Austrian Lake District or Český Krumlov
Choice of a day trip to Salzburg or an excursion to Český Krumlov in Czechia.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11overnight: Onboard (Passau)
Crossing the German border to Passau
Cruise to Passau, the 'Three Rivers City', for a guided tour and a farewell gala dinner onboard.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12railovernight: Cologne
From the Danube to the Rhine-side city of Cologne
Disembark and rail to Cologne for an overnight stop near the Gothic cathedral.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13rail
Homeward bound
Rail to Brussels then the Eurostar to London St Pancras.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Visit Neuschwanstein Castle with entrance included, viewing the Romanesque Revival castle commissioned by King Ludwig II with soaring towers and ornate interiors overlooking the Schwangau Valley
Day 4Ascend the Zugspitze aboard the narrow-gauge scenic railway through alpine meadows and rocky terrain, then ascend by cable car to Germany's highest summit with views of up to 400 peaks across four countries
Day 5Board the river ship in Budapest and cruise the illuminated Danube at night, passing the Parliament building, Buda Castle, and Chain Bridge while watching traditional Hungarian Folklore troupe entertainment
Day 9Sail through the Wachau Valley, then visit 11th-century Melk Abbey, one of the most beautiful Baroque churches north of the Alps, from the ship's dock at Emmersdorf
Day 10Choose between a day trip to Salzburg with the Austrian Lake District or a visit to the fairytale Old Town and castle of Český Krumlov in Bohemia

Included

Tour Manager/Cruise Director team throughout your tour
5 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
7-night cruise onboard the MS Amadeus Riva
Five-star service onboard, complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
Eurostar Standard, Standard Class rail travel
All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Breakfast and dinner each day, 6 lunches including a spectacular gala dinner
Drinks package with dinner every night of your cruise
Complimentary luggage service from home to the ship and back (one case per cabin)

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance

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Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £3,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,726 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is the train travel included?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes Eurostar Standard class (London to Paris, Brussels to London), standard class rail throughout the tour (Stuttgart to Füssen, Füssen to Budapest, Munich to Cologne, Cologne to Brussels), and the Zugspitze Railway journey in Germany.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?: This is an escorted tour. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout. Guided tours are included in major cities: Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Dürnstein, Melk, and Passau.
Which ships are used?: The 4 September 2026 departure uses MS Amadeus Nova; the 27 September 2027 departure uses MS Amadeus Star. Other departures use the MS Amadeus Cara.
When does the tour run?: Great Rail Journeys offers four departures: June 2027, July 2027, August 2026, and September 2027. Confirm exact dates and the ship assigned to your preferred departure when booking.