Prague and the Delights of the Danube: To Prague

UK to Budapest

Travel to Budapest and embark on your once-in-a-lifetime Prague and the Delights of the Danube Cruise.

Budapest

Enjoy what each half of Budapest has to offer with a coach tour of both Buda – a historically rich city brimming with mediaeval architecture, complete with the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Buda Castle and St Stephen’s Basilica – and Pest – combining both 19th-century Gothic architecture and contemporary charm in this commercial powerhouse, home to the Hungarian State Opera House, City Park and the Millennium Monument.

Bratislava

Board the Bratislava Land Train and view the regal Slovak Philharmonic Hall, followed by the Slovak National Theatre, the Old Town, and the Bratislava Castle. Upon arriving at the Bratislava Castle, you can enjoy a short, guided walk of the castle grounds, including a terrace visit below which the Baroque gardens sprawl. Board the train once more and visit the Old Town, where your walking tour begins at either the Opera House or Michael’s Gate.

Enjoy a leisurely walk to the centre, wherein you will get to see the Baroque Archbishop’s Palace, St Martin’s Cathedral, and the oldest established university in Slovakia – Academia Istropolitana – as well as historic 18th century palaces and the Main Square, complete with its Old Town Hall.

Afterwards, relax in a local pastry shop and enjoy a cake or a strudel with a warm beverage of your choosing. Admire the statue works of Franz Xaver Messerschmidt, after which the shop is named.

Vienna

Your excursion to the Baroque metropolis of Vienna begins with a scenic coach tour of the city’s most renowned sights, including the Riesenrad – a giant Ferris wheel – and the Ringtrasse, from which you can spy the State Opera House. After, you will see the beautiful gardens of Schönbrunn, where you’ll have time either to explore the gardens for yourself or have a cup of Viennese coffee after a talk from your guide.

Before you return to your ship via coach, you will stop off in the oldest part of Vienna, which you can explore independent of the group if you desire.

Dürnstein / Melk

You will get to see some of the many marvels of Dürnstein during your walking tour, such as the Kuenringer Castle, within which Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned during the late 12th century. Dürnstein has many other historic and architectural wonders to offer, as you will see during your exploration of the mediaeval lanes, Baroque abbey and city gate before being entreated to a short, soulful organ concert, after which you can discover more of the Old Town during your leisure time or head back to the ship.

Upon your arrival at Melk, partake in an optional excursion to discover the crowning glory of the city – the masterfully Baroque Melk Abbey – which guards the town from atop its bluff. You’ll also learn about the Benedictine monastery and the famous Melk Abbey Library, home to over 80,000 books and an intricately beautiful interior. You can also view the renowned frescoes of Johann Michael Rottmayr.

Afterwards, enjoy your leisure time before you board the ship.

*A Gentle Walker group version of the Dürnstein excursion is available, wherein you can walk at a slower pace. The excursion will have a total standing and/or walking time of one hour or less. The Gentle Walker excursion may also allow for more independent exploration time where walking is at your discretion.

Passau

Located at the confluence of the Inn and Ilz rivers, Passau is one of the oldest cities in Germany, as well as a host to a wealth of culture and paragons of human craftsmanship, such as St Stephen’s Cathedral and the Gothic town hall, which you will discover on your walking tour through the city.

With your guide, you can enter St Stephen’s Cathedral and learn of its history and significance to the city and its residents with a short tour, as well as view the world’s largest church organ. After, explore the abbeys and cobbled streets of the Old Town before heading back to the ship.

Regensburg

Regensburg boasts architectural charm aplenty with its numerous mediaeval churches, as well as the Romanesque and Gothic influences on many other sites and buildings in the UNESCO-designated Old Town. Regensburg also offers the historic Stone Bridge and St Peter’s Cathedral. You’ll have the opportunity to learn more about the city’s two-thousand-year-old history on your guided walking tour.

Your tour will lead you back to the Old Town Hall before you walk back to the ship.

Regensburg / Prague

After breakfast, disembark the Spirit of the Danube in Regensburg and travel via coach to Prague. Your journey will cover approximately 170 miles, which is around 3 hours of travel, with a light lunch en route.

After arrival, you will be treated to a two-night stay at the 5-star Corinthia Hotel Prague on Half Board.

Passau

After passing by the wondrous sights of the National Museum, the State Opera and Prague Castle by coach, embark on a guided walking tour to the former Jewish Quarter of the Old Town, home to the St Nicholas Church. Afterwards, you will have leisure time to explore your surroundings independently, or you can join a guided walking tour to the Charles Bridge, where you will be entreated to gorgeous views of the capital and Prague Castle.

During the evening, enjoy a Czech folklore show complete with traditional Czech cuisine at a local restaurant, complete with wine and beer.

Prague / UK

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and prepare for your return flight.