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MIR Corporation · Rail Journey

New Year's in Vienna by Private Train

Nine-day private train journey through four countries, culminating in Vienna's New Year's Eve

Illustration of New Year's in Vienna by Private Train

MIR Corporation's New Year's in Vienna by Private Train is a nine-day escorted journey on the Golden Eagle Danube Express, a five-star private train that carries guests from Budapest through four countries and five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The journey begins with three nights exploring Budapest, including the Royal Palace and Matthias Church, before boarding the train at the elegant Nyugati station. Five nights follow aboard the Golden Eagle as it travels to Keszthely on Lake Balaton, through Austria and the Czech Republic, and into Slovakia. The centerpiece is a New Year's Eve gala dinner at Vienna's Rathaus with fireworks, followed by a horse-drawn carriage ride and New Year's Day brunch the next morning. A Train Tour Manager accompanies the entire trip, and local guides lead tours in each city. All meals, wine and beer, and gratuities are included. This tour suits luxury travelers, couples celebrating the new year together, and history lovers drawn to Central Europe's baroque architecture and medieval town centers.

What to know before you look closer

  • The stated route begins in Budapest and ends in Kosice, though the itinerary indicates a return to Budapest on the final day; confirm the exact endpoint with MIR Corporation.
  • Only one departure is listed (December 2026); verify current and future availability before planning.
  • International airfare to Budapest is not included; arrange separately.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Budapest

    Budapest (Hungary)

    Arrive in UNESCO-listed Budapest, built in the grand style of the Habsburgs. Visit the Royal Palace, the largest baroque palace in Hungary used by Franz Josef of Austria, and Matthias Church, originally built in 1255. Enjoy panoramic views of the city from Gellert Hill, and admire the facade of Budapest's magnificent neo-Renaissance Opera House, decorated with statues of some of the world's greatest composers.

  2. Day 2overnight: Budapest

    Budapest (Hungary)

    Arrive in UNESCO-listed Budapest, built in the grand style of the Habsburgs. Visit the Royal Palace, the largest baroque palace in Hungary used by Franz Josef of Austria, and Matthias Church, originally built in 1255. Enjoy panoramic views of the city from Gellert Hill, and admire the facade of Budapest's magnificent neo-Renaissance Opera House, decorated with statues of some of the world's greatest composers.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express

    Keszthely

    Enjoy a morning reception at the Royal Waiting Room in Budapest's Nyugati station before boarding the Golden Eagle Danube Express private train. Settle into your comfortable cabin and have lunch on board as the train heads for Keszthely on the shores of Lake Balaton. Over 750 years old, the town boasts a wide range of architectural styles, such as the Helikon Castle Museum, once home to the Festetics, one of the wealthiest and most influential families in Hungary's long history.

  4. Day 4overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express

    Graz (Austria), Vienna, New Year's Eve

    Walk the cobbled streets of the UNESCO-listed Old Town of Graz, with its hilltop castle and stately Renaissance and baroque buildings. Explore Vienna, Austria's capital, and indisputably the center of the musical world in the 18th and 19th centuries. Enjoy a special New Year's dinner, as well as the city's holiday fireworks display. The following day, take a romantic carriage ride to indulge in a sumptuous late brunch at the magnificent Palais Coburg.

  5. Day 5overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express

    Graz (Austria), Vienna, New Year's Eve

    Walk the cobbled streets of the UNESCO-listed Old Town of Graz, with its hilltop castle and stately Renaissance and baroque buildings. Explore Vienna, Austria's capital, and indisputably the center of the musical world in the 18th and 19th centuries. Enjoy a special New Year's dinner, as well as the city's holiday fireworks display. The following day, take a romantic carriage ride to indulge in a sumptuous late brunch at the magnificent Palais Coburg.

  6. Day 6overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express

    Cesky Krumlov (Czech Republic), Prague

    Arrive in Cesky Krumlov, a small, beautifully preserved medieval town that has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. Its 13th century pastel-towered castle is the second largest castle in the country. Continue on to Prague, capital of the Czech Republic. Attend an operatic performance at the grand neo-Renaissance Prague Karlin Theater, explore the old Jewish Quarter, then wind your way through the city on a historic tram car and survey Prague Castle, the largest ancient castle in the world.

  7. Day 7overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express

    Cesky Krumlov (Czech Republic), Prague

    Arrive in Cesky Krumlov, a small, beautifully preserved medieval town that has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. Its 13th century pastel-towered castle is the second largest castle in the country. Continue on to Prague, capital of the Czech Republic. Attend an operatic performance at the grand neo-Renaissance Prague Karlin Theater, explore the old Jewish Quarter, then wind your way through the city on a historic tram car and survey Prague Castle, the largest ancient castle in the world.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express

    Kosice (Slovakia), Budapest (Hungary)

    Discover the beautiful city of Kosice, Slovakia, declared a European Capital of Culture in 2013. Highlights are the Cathedral of St. Elizabeth, a 15th century gothic building that is the largest church in Slovakia, the 14th century St. Urban Tower next to St. Michael's Chapel, and the ornate State Theater behind its musical fountain. Re-board the train in time for your last meal onboard, and return to Budapest for a festive farewell dinner.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Budapest

    Kosice (Slovakia), Budapest (Hungary)

    Discover the beautiful city of Kosice, Slovakia, declared a European Capital of Culture in 2013. Highlights are the Cathedral of St. Elizabeth, a 15th century gothic building that is the largest church in Slovakia, the 14th century St. Urban Tower next to St. Michael's Chapel, and the ornate State Theater behind its musical fountain. Re-board the train in time for your last meal onboard, and return to Budapest for a festive farewell dinner.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Morning reception at Budapest's Nyugati station Royal Waiting Room before boarding the Golden Eagle Danube Express; lunch on board as the train departs for Lake Balaton.
  • Day 4New Year's Eve gala dinner inside Vienna's Rathaus (City Hall) followed by the city's holiday fireworks display from the balcony.
  • Day 5Horse-drawn carriage ride to Palais Coburg for a New Year's Day brunch celebration.
  • Day 6Visit to Cesky Krumlov, a 14th-17th century medieval town, and evening operatic performance at Prague's grand neo-Renaissance Karlin Theater.
  • Day 8Exploration of Kosice, Slovakia's European Capital of Culture 2013, including the 15th-century Cathedral of St. Elizabeth and the State Theater with its musical fountain.

Included

  • Accommodation aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express private train.
  • Hotel accommodation per the itinerary (3 total nights in Budapest).
  • All meals starting with dinner on Day 1 until breakfast on final tour day.
  • A generous allowance of wine or local beer, soft drinks, and water with all lunches and dinners.
  • Complimentary tea, coffee, and mineral water around the clock from your car attendant while on board the train.
  • Complimentary draft beer in the Bar Car for all passengers.
  • Arrival/departure transfers, provided you arrive and depart on the tour start/end dates and in the tour start/end cities.
  • All guided off-train tours per itinerary.
  • The services of an experienced Train Tour Manager, with local guides for scheduled off-train touring.
  • All gratuities.
  • Baggage handling.

Not included

  • International airfare or surface transport to the starting/ending cities of the tour.
  • Items of a purely personal nature (laundry, telephone, bar account, photography at museums, etc.)
  • Optional pre- or post-tour extensions.
  • Drinks, beyond draft beer in the Bar Car, and beer and wine at set meals.
  • Visa fees, any excess baggage charges, airport departure taxes, vaccination or medical costs.
  • Travel and trip cancellation insurance.

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. All accommodation aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express private train is included, along with all meals, wine and beer at meals, and complimentary draft beer in the Bar Car.
Is the tour guided or independent?
It is guided. MIR Corporation provides an experienced Train Tour Manager throughout, plus local guides for all scheduled off-train tours in each city.
Which train is used?
The Golden Eagle Danube Express, a private luxury train with cabins and dining cars.
Where do you stay in the cities?
In Budapest, you stay in hotels for three nights. On other days (Keszthely, Graz, Vienna, Cesky Krumlov, Prague, and Kosice stops), accommodation is in your cabin aboard the train.
What is the physical activity level?
Level 2 (Moderate). The tour includes walking tours of historic city centers and guided off-train exploration, but does not involve strenuous hiking or high-altitude terrain.
What is not included?
International airfare, drinks beyond draft beer and wine at set meals, visa fees, excess baggage charges, and travel insurance are not included.

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