How much does it cost?

From £3,999 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $5,402 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes all First Class rail travel (standard class available on some departures), with named trains including Eurostar from London to Brussels and InterCity services connecting Cologne, Berlin, Prague, Budapest, and Frankfurt.

Is this tour escorted?

Yes. An experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team escort the entire journey, including guided walking tours of Prague and sightseeing tours of Berlin, Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, and Passau.

What accommodation is included?

Five nights in four-star hotels (Cologne, Berlin, Prague two nights, Frankfurt) and seven nights aboard the five-star MS Amadeus Imperial river cruise ship.

What meals are included?

Four breakfasts and four dinners during the hotel portion; breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily during the seven-night cruise, including a gala dinner in Passau. A drinks package with dinner is provided every night on the ship.

When does the tour depart?

Great Rail Journeys offers four departures: June 2027, July 2027, August 2026, and September 2027.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour & river cruise

Imperial Cities & Delights of the Danube

13-day rail and Danube cruise from London to Frankfurt via Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Vienna

Great Rail Journeys operates this 13-day escorted journey blending rail travel with a seven-night river cruise on MS Amadeus Imperial. The tour departs London on Eurostar, passes through Berlin and Prague with guided city tours, then boards the ship in Budapest for a week sailing the Danube through Vienna, Bratislava, and the Wachau Valley before disembarking in Passau and returning to London via Frankfurt. Five nights are spent in four-star hotels; the remaining seven nights are onboard the luxury ship with five-star service, all meals, and a drinks package included nightly. Days balance guided exploration (sightseeing tours of major cities, a visit to the 11th-century Melk Abbey, and evening performances onboard) with free time to wander Prague's Charles Bridge, explore Vienna's coffeehouses, or choose between a full-day excursion to Salzburg or the fairytale Czech town of Český Krumlov. This paced, all-inclusive itinerary suits couples, history enthusiasts, and travelers seeking guided comfort without daily logistical concerns.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £100 since 4 Jul, to £3,999.

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

The single supplement (from GBP 5999) is nearly 54% above half the double room price (GBP 3899 doubled = GBP 7798 per couple), making solo travel significantly more expensive.
Day 10 requires choosing one excursion: either Salzburg with the Austrian Lake District or Český Krumlov; you cannot do both.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Cologne
From London to Cologne by rail
Meet the Tour Manager at London St Pancras for the Eurostar to Brussels, continuing by rail to Cologne for an overnight stay and the first dinner together.
Day 2railovernight: Berlin
Arrival in Berlin, a city of contrasts
Rail to Berlin, checking in to the hotel with free time to explore, followed by a three-course dinner.
Day 3railovernight: Prague
Discovering Berlin and by rail to Prague
Guided sightseeing tour of Berlin including Checkpoint Charlie and the Brandenburg Gate, then rail to Prague for the night.
Day 4overnight: Prague
Uncovering the historic charm of Prague
Guided walking tour of Prague Castle, St Vitus Cathedral, Golden Lane, Charles Bridge and the Old Town Square with its astronomical clock.
Day 5railovernight: Cruise ship, Budapest
To Budapest where we board our luxurious ship
Rail to Budapest to board the cruise ship, with a welcome cocktail, dinner onboard with Hungarian folklore performance, and a night-time cruise past Budapest's illuminated buildings.
Day 6overnight: Cruise ship
Exploring Budapest, the 'Pearl of the Danube'
Sightseeing tour of Budapest including Heroes Square, St Stephen's Basilica, Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion, sailing through the scenic Danube Bend in the evening.
Day 7overnight: Cruise ship
Uncovering the old-world charm of Bratislava
Guided tour of Bratislava's Old Town and castle, with free time to explore before setting sail again after dinner.
Day 8overnight: Cruise ship
Embracing the imperial majesty of Vienna
Guided tour of Vienna's Ringstrasse, the Opera House and the Parliament, with an evening performance by former members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
Day 9overnight: Cruise ship
Melk Abbey and the scenic Wachau Valley
Free time in Dürnstein, sailing through the Wachau Valley wine region, then a guided tour of the 11th-century Melk Abbey from Emmersdorf.
Day 10overnight: Cruise ship
Salzburg and the Austrian Lake District, or Český Krumlov
Choice of an included excursion from Linz to Salzburg (via the Austrian Lake District) or into Czechia to the fairytale town of Český Krumlov, before an overnight cruise into Germany.
Day 11overnight: Cruise ship
Crossing the German border to Passau
Cruise into Germany, arriving in Passau, the 'Three Rivers City', for a guided tour, followed by a farewell gala dinner onboard.
Day 12railovernight: Frankfurt
From the Danube to Frankfurt am Main
Disembark after breakfast and board a train to Frankfurt, checking in to a hotel for an overnight stop with free time to explore.
Day 13rail
Homeward bound
Rail from Frankfurt to Brussels, then the Eurostar back to London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 1Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, then rail onward to Cologne to see the Gothic cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Day 3Guided sightseeing of Berlin with a local guide covering Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall, and the Brandenburg Gate, then rail to Prague passing Bohemian Switzerland's sandstone cliffs.
Day 4Guided walking tour of Prague beginning at Prague Castle and covering St Vitus Cathedral, Golden Lane, Charles Bridge, and the Old Town Square with its astronomical clock installed in 1410.
Day 5Board MS Amadeus Imperial in Budapest, welcomed with cocktails and Hungarian folklore performance; evening cruise viewing the Parliament building, Buda Castle, and Chain Bridge illuminated.
Day 9Cruise the Wachau Valley, Austria's wine region, and visit the 11th-century Benedictine Melk Abbey with its Baroque church overlooking the Danube.

Included

Escorted throughout by an experienced Tour Manager/Cruise Director team
5 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
7-night cruise onboard MS Amadeus Imperial with five-star service
Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
First Class rail travel (Standard Class on some departures)
All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
Breakfast and dinner each day, 6 lunches including a gala dinner
Drinks package with dinner every night of the cruise
Complimentary luggage service from home to the ship and back (one case per cabin)
Superb excursions included

Not included

Tips (not included in the price; an envelope is provided in-cabin for optional tipping)
Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £3,999 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $5,402 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes all First Class rail travel (standard class available on some departures), with named trains including Eurostar from London to Brussels and InterCity services connecting Cologne, Berlin, Prague, Budapest, and Frankfurt.
Is this tour escorted?: Yes. An experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team escort the entire journey, including guided walking tours of Prague and sightseeing tours of Berlin, Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, and Passau.
What accommodation is included?: Five nights in four-star hotels (Cologne, Berlin, Prague two nights, Frankfurt) and seven nights aboard the five-star MS Amadeus Imperial river cruise ship.
What meals are included?: Four breakfasts and four dinners during the hotel portion; breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily during the seven-night cruise, including a gala dinner in Passau. A drinks package with dinner is provided every night on the ship.
When does the tour depart?: Great Rail Journeys offers four departures: June 2027, July 2027, August 2026, and September 2027.