Golden Eagle Luxury Trains · Escorted tour

New Year in Vienna

Nine-day New Year rail circle from Budapest through Vienna and Prague

Golden Eagle Luxury Trains runs this nine-day, eight-night rail journey timed around New Year's Eve, circling from Budapest through Keszthely, Graz, Vienna, Cesky Krumlov, Prague and Kosice and back to Budapest aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express. The trip opens with two nights at the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace in Budapest, then boards the train for a journey through Balaton Uplands National Park to Keszthely before crossing the Semmering Pass into Austria. New Year's Eve is spent in Vienna with a Viennese waltz lesson and a Gala Dinner at Rathaus Vienna, dancing through to midnight, followed on New Year's Day by a horse-drawn carriage ride and a private concert with the Vienna Supreme Orchestra. The train continues through Cesky Krumlov and Prague, where a river cruise on the Vltava is included, before reaching Kosice and returning to Budapest for a final night. An Experienced Tour Management team escorts the trip throughout. This suits travellers who want to spend New Year's Eve in Vienna as part of a wider rail journey through Central Europe rather than a single-city stay.

What to know before you look closer

  • Cabin category changes the price materially: Deluxe Class starts at 16,600 euros per person twin share (2027/28 departure), while Superior Deluxe Class starts at 21,000 euros per person.
  • Single travellers pay well above half the twin rate: Deluxe Class single occupancy is 24,700 euros per person, and Superior Deluxe single occupancy is 35,600 euros per person.
  • Only one departure is listed in the evidence, in December 2027, so date choice is limited.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace, Budapest

    Budapest

    Transfer to the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace for a two-night stay. Evening welcome reception dinner.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2overnight: Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace, Budapest

    Budapest

    Panoramic city tour including the Castle District, St Mathias Church and Fishermen's Bastion, the Parliament, Opera House, St Stephen's Cathedral, Heroes Square and City Park. Afternoon tour of the Hungarian State Opera House. 'Dine around' dinner options.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Golden Eagle Danube Express (on board)

    Keszthely

    Drinks reception at Budapest Nyugati station before boarding the Golden Eagle Danube Express. Journey through Balaton Uplands National Park to Keszthely for a tour of Festetics Palace. Overnight travel into Austria.

  4. Day 4overnight: Golden Eagle Danube Express (on board)

    New Year's Eve in Graz & Vienna

    Walking tour of Graz's renaissance courtyards and baroque palaces, with a Freedom of Choice pumpkin seed oil tasting. Climb the Semmering Pass (UNESCO) before a gourmet lunch on board and arrival in Vienna. Afternoon Viennese waltz lesson; evening New Year's Eve Gala Dinner at Rathaus Vienna (City Hall) with the Wiener Hofball Orchestra, dancing through to midnight.

    Meals: Lunch, Dinner

  5. Day 5railovernight: Golden Eagle Danube Express (on board)

    New Year's Day in Vienna

    Brunch and a leisurely morning onboard. Freedom of Choice: guided tour of Schönbrunn Palace and its Christmas Market, or Heiligenkreuz Abbey. Horse-drawn 'fiaker' carriage ride and a private concert with the Vienna Supreme Orchestra. Return to the train for dinner en route to the Czech Republic.

    Meals: Dinner

  6. Day 6overnight: Golden Eagle Danube Express (on board)

    Cesky Krumlov & Prague

    Morning stop in Cesky Krumlov (UNESCO), with an optional Budwar Brewery beer tasting. Lunch on board continuing to Prague. Evening dinner in the city followed by a private classical concert.

    Meals: Lunch, Dinner

  7. Day 7overnight: Golden Eagle Danube Express (on board)

    Prague

    Vintage tram to Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral; lunch in the city. Afternoon free time, then a river cruise on the Vltava. Dinner on board journeying into Slovakia.

    Meals: Lunch, Dinner

  8. Day 8overnight: Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace, Budapest

    Kosice

    Highlights tour of Kosice, including its central square. Final lunch on board before arriving in Budapest and checking back into the Four Seasons Gresham Palace for a one-night stay. Celebratory farewell dinner.

    Meals: Lunch, Dinner

  9. Day 9

    Budapest

    Breakfast before transfer to the airport for onward flight departures.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3After a drinks reception at Budapest's Nyugati station, the train travels through Balaton Uplands National Park to Keszthely for a tour of Festetics Palace.
  • Day 4The New Year's Eve Gala Dinner is held at Rathaus Vienna (City Hall) with the Wiener Hofball Orchestra, dancing through to midnight.
  • Day 5New Year's Day in Vienna includes a horse-drawn 'fiaker' carriage ride and a private concert with the Vienna Supreme Orchestra.
  • Day 6A morning stop in the UNESCO town of Cesky Krumlov includes an optional Budwar Brewery beer tasting.
  • Day 7The Prague day includes a vintage tram to Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral, a river cruise on the Vltava, and a private classical concert.

Included

  • Five-star pre and post tour accommodation
  • Private en-suite accommodation on the Golden Eagle Danube Express train
  • Cabin attendant service including evening turndown
  • Experienced Tour Management team
  • Services of a UK-registered Doctor and medical facilities on board
  • Arrival and departure transfers
  • All gratuities – on and off the train
  • Luggage porterage throughout the journey
  • Freshly prepared meals on board, using the finest local ingredients
  • Authentic dining experiences in local restaurants
  • Inclusive alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
  • 8 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 8 Dinners
  • Expertly guided off-train excursions as detailed in the itinerary
  • Freedom of Choice touring options
  • VIP tickets to the Hofburg Silvester New Year's Eve Gala Ball, Vienna

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The tour includes a private en-suite cabin aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express for 5 of the 8 nights, on a circular route from Budapest through Vienna and Prague and back.
Is it an escorted tour?
Yes, an Experienced Tour Management team escorts the group throughout, with a UK-registered Doctor on board.
Which train is used?
The Golden Eagle Danube Express, in Deluxe Class or Superior Deluxe Class.
What hotels are used?
The Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace in Budapest, for 3 nights total across the start and end of the trip.
When does this tour run?
The evidence lists one departure, in December 2027, timed around New Year's Eve.
What is included for New Year's Eve?
VIP tickets to the Hofburg Silvester New Year's Eve Gala Ball, plus a Gala Dinner at Rathaus Vienna with the Wiener Hofball Orchestra and dancing through to midnight.

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