How much does it cost?

From £2,799 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,781 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 Standard Class rail travel from Munich to Passau on day 4, plus all coach transfers and return flights from London Heathrow to Munich.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes. An experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team escort the tour throughout the 11 days.

MS Amadeus Cara, a five-star river cruise ship where you stay for seven nights.

Which cities are included?

Munich, Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava, and Linz with guided tours. The itinerary also covers Neuschwanstein Castle, Melk Abbey, the Wachau Valley, Dürnstein, Visegrad, and Esztergom.

What meals are provided?

Breakfast each day, six lunches, and nine dinners. Dinners during the cruise include a drinks package. Hotel dinners are provided in Munich.

What is not included?

Flight upgrades, London hotel stays before or after the tour, personal expenses, and travel insurance are not included.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Munich, Bavaria & the Beautiful Danube

Munich, Bavaria, and Danube Valley on rail, coach, and river cruise

Great Rail Journeys operates this 11-day escorted tour combining Bavarian culture with a luxury Danube River cruise through four countries. The itinerary begins with three nights in Munich, where you tour the city's beer halls and visit Neuschwanstein Castle, the 19th-century palace that inspired Disney's designs. On day 4 you travel by train to Passau and board the MS Amadeus Cara for a seven-night cruise downstream through Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. The ship docks in Vienna, where you explore the Ringstrasse and Opera House; in Budapest, where a night-time illuminated cruise showcases the Parliament Building and Chain Bridge; in Bratislava, touring the Baroque Old Town; and in Linz. Onboard highlights include a five-course dinner with Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra musicians performing classical pieces, a traditional Hungarian folklore show, and a drinks package with dinner each evening. Great Rail Journeys includes most meals, guided city tours, castle and abbey visits, and all transport from London Heathrow.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £200 since 4 Jul, to £2,799.

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. 2 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-room supplement is substantial: GBP 4099 compared to GBP 2599 for a double, making solo travel significantly more expensive
This is primarily a river cruise with one pre-cruise hotel stay; rail is limited to the Munich-to-Passau segment on day 4
Departures are limited to July and August in 2026 and 2027; confirm availability before booking

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Munich
Arriving in Bavaria
Meet the Tour Manager at London Heathrow for the flight to Munich, transferring to a centrally located hotel for the first group dinner.
Day 2overnight: Munich
The sights and flavours of Munich
Guided tour of Munich including Marienplatz, the Town Hall glockenspiel and the Church of St Peter, followed by a Bavarian beer tasting and a visit to the Höfbrauhaus.
Day 3overnight: Munich
The fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle
Visit King Ludwig II's 19th-century Neuschwanstein Castle in the foothills of the Alps, with entrance included and free time to explore before returning to Munich.
Day 4railovernight: Onboard MS Amadeus Cara
To Passau, where we board our magnificent ship
A free morning in Munich before travelling by train to Passau and boarding the MS Amadeus Cara on the Danube for the first onboard dinner.
Day 5overnight: Onboard MS Amadeus Cara
The Melk Abbey, Wachau Valley and charming Dürnstein
Visit the 11th-century Melk Abbey, then cruise through the Wachau Valley with free time in the wine village of Dürnstein; an evening performance onboard by former Vienna Philharmonic musicians as the ship sails into Vienna.
Day 6overnight: Onboard MS Amadeus Cara
Discovering the magic of Vienna
Guided tour of Vienna's Ringstrasse, Opera House and Parliament Building, with free time to visit St Stephen's Cathedral or Schönbrunn Palace before an overnight sail towards Budapest.
Day 7overnight: Onboard MS Amadeus Cara (Budapest)
The fascinating city of Budapest
Sightseeing tour of Budapest including the State Opera House, St Stephen's Basilica, Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion, followed by a Hungarian folklore evening and an illuminated night cruise past the Chain Bridge and Parliament.
Day 8overnight: Onboard MS Amadeus Cara
Sailing through the beautiful Danube Bend
A free morning in Budapest, then cruise the scenic Danube Bend past Visegrád and Esztergom en route to Bratislava.
Day 9overnight: Onboard MS Amadeus Cara
Docking in Bratislava
Guided tour of Bratislava's Baroque Old Town and castle district, then continue cruising downstream towards Linz.
Day 10overnight: Onboard MS Amadeus Cara
A day in Linz
Arrive in Linz for a guided tour of the Main Square, old town and City Park, then a gala dinner onboard as the ship sails towards Passau.
Day 11
Homeward bound
Disembark in Passau and transfer by coach to Munich airport for the return flight to London Heathrow.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Day 3: tour Neuschwanstein Castle with entrance included, exploring ornate interiors, lavish murals, and the opulent throne room overlooking the Schwangau valley
Day 5Day 5: visit Melk Abbey, an 11th-century Benedictine monastery on a rocky outcrop above the Danube, then cruise the Wachau Valley and explore the village of Dürnstein
Day 7Day 7: guided tour of Budapest's State Opera House, St Stephen's Basilica, and Fisherman's Bastion, followed by a nighttime illuminated cruise past the Parliament Building and Chain Bridge
Day 8Day 8: cruise through the Danube Bend, passing the hilltop castle of Visegrad and the town of Esztergom, the former capital of Hungary

Included

Escorted throughout by an experienced Tour Manager/Cruise Director team
3 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
7-night cruise onboard MS Amadeus Cara with five-star service and complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
Standard Class rail travel; all rail and coach travel throughout the tour
Return flights from London Heathrow to Munich
Breakfast each day, 6 lunches, 9 dinners
Drinks package with dinner every night of the cruise
Superb excursions included

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed on more than one site. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Vacations By Railfrom $2,999

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,799 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,781 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 Standard Class rail travel from Munich to Passau on day 4, plus all coach transfers and return flights from London Heathrow to Munich.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. An experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team escort the tour throughout the 11 days.
What ship is used?: MS Amadeus Cara, a five-star river cruise ship where you stay for seven nights.
Which cities are included?: Munich, Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava, and Linz with guided tours. The itinerary also covers Neuschwanstein Castle, Melk Abbey, the Wachau Valley, Dürnstein, Visegrad, and Esztergom.
What meals are provided?: Breakfast each day, six lunches, and nine dinners. Dinners during the cruise include a drinks package. Hotel dinners are provided in Munich.
What is not included?: Flight upgrades, London hotel stays before or after the tour, personal expenses, and travel insurance are not included.