Great Rail Journeys
The Beautiful Blue Danube: Passau Round Trip
10 daysfrom $3,337
Great Rail Journeys · Escorted River Cruise
The Classic Blue Danube: Passau to Budapest
Relax and explore one of Europe's most diverse rivers on a Danube river cruise, sailing through natural beauty, and embarking on cultural explorations to historic cities and picturesque towns
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Cologne
From London to Cologne
Your holiday begins as we meet at London St Pancras. Boarding the Eurostar service, we travel to Brussels then continue by rail to Cologne for an overnight stop. Standing on the Rhine River, this grand city is dominated by its Gothic cathedral with two piercing spires, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest church in northern Europe. On arrival, we check in to our hotel for the night and enjoy our first dinner together as a group.
Meals: Dinner
- Day 2railovernight: Passau (onboard)
Boarding our luxurious ship in Passau
Breakfast is served in our hotel before we continue our journey. Heading to Cologne's train station, we travel by rail to Munich, then continue by coach to the Bavarian border town of Passau, on the banks of the Danube. Our luxurious ship awaits here, and we're greeted onboard by our friendly crew, sipping on a welcome cocktail while taking in the waterside views from the lounge. After settling into your cabin and familiarising yourself with the ship's facilities, we indulge in our first five-course dinner on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 3overnight: Linz (onboard)
Sailing through enchanting landscapes to Linz
Awaking on board, we set out on a guided tour of Passau after breakfast. Known as the 'Three Rivers City', it sits at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers. The delightful Old Town is filled with Baroque architecture, including St Stephen's Cathedral, and lies in the shadow of the Veste Oberhaus, a 13th-century hilltop fortress. This afternoon, we begin our relaxing cruise along the Danube, drifting through beautiful scenery into Austria with views of vineyards, orchards, charming villages, medieval castles and centuries-old monasteries. We arrive in Linz this evening and moor for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 4overnight: Onboard (overnight cruise)
Salzburg and the Austrian Lake District or Český Krumlov
We wake up in beautiful Linz where you can choose between a day in the Austrian Lake District (Salzkammergut), visiting UNESCO-listed Hallstatt, Hallstätter See Lake and Mondsee, or a visit to Salzburg, a beautiful Baroque city on the banks of the Salzach river with a guided sightseeing tour of Getreidegasse street and the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town. We return to our ship for dinner on board and set sail for a pleasant overnight cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 5overnight: Onboard (sailing to Vienna)
Melk Abbey and the scenic Wachau Valley
Docking in Emmersdorf this morning, we set out for a visit to Melk Abbey, an 11th-century Benedictine Abbey atop a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube, featuring one of the most beautiful Baroque churches north of the Alps. Back on the ship, we enjoy lunch as we sail through the picturesque Wachau Valley, one of Austria's most famous wine-making regions. Arriving in the riverside village of Dürnstein, there's free time to sample local produce or wander the charming streets. After dinner, we continue sailing towards Vienna.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 6overnight: Vienna (onboard)
Embracing the imperial majesty of Vienna
The noble city of Vienna beckons today as we embark on a guided tour to uncover Austria's imperial heritage, including the Ringstrasse boulevard, the world-renowned Opera House and the imposing Parliament. Following the tour, there's time to explore the city at leisure, visit Schönbrunn Palace, marvel at St Stephen's Cathedral, or indulge in a slice of famous Sachertorte. Tonight, we're joined in the lounge by four previous members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for a performance of well-known classical pieces.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 7overnight: Esztergom (onboard)
Uncovering the old-world charm of Bratislava
After a relaxed overnight sailing, we arrive in Slovakia's capital and are welcomed by views of Bratislava Castle's gleaming white walls. We set out on a guided tour of the Baroque Old Town and castle district, admiring attractive squares, grand palaces, historic churches and quirky statues including Schöne Náci and Čumil. From the hilltop castle, soak up views across the terracotta roofs of the Old Town and the SNP Bridge. Later this afternoon, we continue downstream to Esztergom, the former capital of Hungary, where we berth for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 8overnight: Budapest (onboard)
To Budapest, the 'Pearl of the Danube'
As we sail onwards, we navigate the scenic Danube Bend, passing the village of Visegrad and its striking hilltop castle. Arriving in Budapest, we get an overview during a visit to Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion, enjoying incredible views of the river and Pest. After lunch onboard, we continue our explorations, admiring the State Opera House and St Stephen's Basilica. A performance by a traditional Hungarian folklore troupe accompanies dinner. Afterwards, we embark on a magical night-time cruise along the Danube, taking in the illuminated sights of Budapest.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 9railovernight: Linz (hotel)
Disembarking for a train journey to Austria
It's time to leave our ship this morning as we say goodbye to our wonderful crew after breakfast. Making our way to the rail station, we board a train for a journey to Linz, glimpsing sections of the Danube we sailed along a few days before. There is free time on arrival to explore Linz, strolling round the Baroque Old Town and spotting public art installations or venturing into renowned modern galleries. This evening, we gather back at our hotel for a three-course dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 10railovernight: Frankfurt (hotel)
Discovering Linz and onwards to Frankfurt
After breakfast at our hotel, we set out on a guided sightseeing tour of Linz, including the Hauptmarkt, one of the largest main squares in Austria, the charming lanes of the Old Town and its 14th-century castle. This afternoon, we journey by rail through the scenic Bavarian countryside to Frankfurt, Germany's most important financial hub. On arrival, we check in to our hotel for an overnight stop, enjoying our final dinner together in the restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 11rail
Homeward bound
From Frankfurt, we travel by train back to London, via Brussels. On arrival at London St Pancras, your Danube holiday comes to a conclusion.
Meals: Breakfast
Included
- Escorted throughout by experienced Tour Manager/Cruise Director team
- 3 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
- 7-night cruise onboard MS Amadeus Cara
- Five-star service onboard
- Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
- First & Standard Class rail options available
- Eurostar Plus on First Class departures
- All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner each day of the cruise including a spectacular Gala Dinner
- Drinks package with dinner every night of the cruise
- A superb choice of excursions
- Onboard entertainment from former members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
- Hungarian traditional folklore troupe performance
Not included
- Cancellation & Travel Insurance
- Tips/gratuities (at guest's discretion)
