How much does it cost?

From £2,999 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,051 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is rail travel included?

Yes. The package includes Standard Class rail travel from Munich to Passau on Deutsche Bahn, plus all coach transfers and flights from London Heathrow to Munich and return from Budapest.

Is this tour escorted?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout the 11 days.

What meals are included?

Breakfast daily, six lunches, and nine dinners. All dinners include a drinks package with wine, beer, and soft drinks.

Great Rail Journeys offers departures in June, July, August, and September 2026-2027. Check their website for specific dates and availability.

Is there a choice of activities?

Yes. On Day 6, passengers choose between a day trip to Salzburg with a photo stop at the Austrian Lake District, or an excursion to Český Krumlov in the Czech Republic.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Munich, Bavaria & the Classic Danube

Great Rail Journeys operates a 11-day escorted tour that combines three nights exploring Bavaria's capital with a seven-night luxury cruise down the Danube. The journey begins in Munich, where guests stay in a 4-star centrally located hotel and visit the fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle, sample beer at the Höfbrauhaus, and tour the city's Gothic architecture. On Day 4, passengers travel by train to Passau and board MS Amadeus Cara for the river voyage. The ship carries them through five countries, stopping in Vienna for a guided tour of the Ringstrasse and a private Vienna Philharmonic performance, through the scenic Wachau Valley wine region with time in the charming village of Dürnstein, and into Bratislava and Budapest. Throughout the cruise, the itinerary balances structured guided tours with free time to explore. This trip suits couples and history enthusiasts who prefer guided comfort and want to experience Central Europe's imperial cities, abbey architecture, and river landscapes without navigating logistics themselves.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £200 since 4 Jul, to £2,999.

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 is high: GBP 4,299 compared to GBP 2,799 for a double, more than 50 percent above half the double rate
Day 6 offers a choice of excursion from Linz (Salzburg and Austrian Lake District, or Český Krumlov); the final selection depends on the operator's scheduling

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
Soaking up 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
Marvelling at fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle
Visit King Ludwig II's 19th-century Neuschwanstein Castle in the foothills of the Alps, with entrance included, before returning to Munich for dinner.
Day 4railovernight: Onboard MS Amadeus Cara
Boarding our luxurious ship in Passau
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 (Linz)
Sailing through enchanting landscapes to Linz
Guided tour of Passau's Old Town and Veste Oberhaus fortress, then cruise into Austria past vineyard-covered hills to moor overnight in Linz.
Day 6overnight: Onboard MS Amadeus Cara
Cultural Salzburg or idyllic Český Krumlov
Choice of excursion from Linz: a guided tour of Salzburg's UNESCO-listed Old Town and Getreidegasse, or a tour of the fairytale Bohemian town of Český Krumlov and its castle, before an overnight cruise further into Austria.
Day 7overnight: Onboard MS Amadeus Cara
Melk Abbey in the UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley
Dock at Emmersdorf to visit the 11th-century Melk Abbey, then cruise the Wachau Valley with free time in the wine village of Dürnstein before continuing towards Vienna.
Day 8overnight: Onboard MS Amadeus Cara
Discovering the magic of imperial Vienna
Guided tour of Vienna's Ringstrasse, Opera House and Parliament, with free time for St Stephen's Cathedral or Schönbrunn Palace, and an evening performance onboard by former Vienna Philharmonic musicians.
Day 9overnight: Onboard MS Amadeus Cara (Esztergom)
Uncovering the old-world charm of Bratislava
Guided tour of Bratislava's Baroque old town and castle district, then continue downstream to berth overnight at Esztergom.
Day 10overnight: Onboard MS Amadeus Cara (Budapest)
Exploring Budapest, the 'Pearl of the Danube'
Cruise the Danube Bend past Visegrád, then tour Buda's Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion and Pest's State Opera House and St Stephen's Basilica, with a Hungarian folklore dinner and an illuminated night cruise.
Day 11
Homeward bound
Disembark in Budapest and transfer to the airport for the flight to London Heathrow.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Guided tour of Neuschwanstein Castle, the 19th-century Romanesque Revival palace commissioned by King Ludwig II, with views across the Schwangau valley
Day 4Train journey from Munich to Passau on Deutsche Bahn, then embark on MS Amadeus Cara for a welcome cocktail and five-course dinner
Day 7Visit Melk Abbey, an 11th-century Benedictine monastery overlooking the Danube, followed by a cruise through the Wachau Valley wine region and time in Dürnstein village
Day 8Guided tour of Vienna's Ringstrasse, Opera House, and Parliament Building, with a private evening performance by four past members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra onboard
Day 10Guided sightseeing of Budapest including St Stephen's Basilica and Matthias Church, followed by a nighttime illuminated cruise along the Danube and a Hungarian Folklore performance

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 excellent service and complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
Standard Class rail travel; all rail and coach travel throughout the tour
Breakfast each day, 6 lunches, 9 dinners including a gala dinner
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.

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Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,999 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,051 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is rail travel included?: Yes. The package includes Standard Class rail travel from Munich to Passau on Deutsche Bahn, plus all coach transfers and flights from London Heathrow to Munich and return from Budapest.
Is this tour escorted?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout the 11 days.
What meals are included?: Breakfast daily, six lunches, and nine dinners. All dinners include a drinks package with wine, beer, and soft drinks.
When does it depart?: Great Rail Journeys offers departures in June, July, August, and September 2026-2027. Check their website for specific dates and availability.
Is there a choice of activities?: Yes. On Day 6, passengers choose between a day trip to Salzburg with a photo stop at the Austrian Lake District, or an excursion to Český Krumlov in the Czech Republic.