Vienna
Austria
Two tales. One city. Vienna is the city of classical music. Vienna is Mozart and Strauss. It’s also street art on the sandy beach and fun in the countryside. It’s bohemian and bourgeoisie, and, oh, so Baroque. What a city!
Budapest
Hungary
No wonder many filmmakers have chosen Budapest as their backdrop. EVITA, INFERNO, and SPY were filmed in Budapest. The city is a metropolis and health resort in one. It’s the Castle District, Chain Bridge, and Count Dracula. It is a city of intrigue, art, nightlife, and history. There truly is something for everyone.
Bratislava
SLOVAKIA
Once understated and not very well known, Bratislava has become a pearl on the Danube. It reveals its splendor at the castle and in its enchanting Old Town. It is a city with a sense of humor. Look for the bronze monument to a canal worker, who mischievously looks out of a manhole cover at passers-by. Will you be one of them?
Linz
Austria
Linz? Often, the only things that come to mind are “Linzer Torte” and Mozart’s Linz Symphony. The city is truly underestimated, with its Baroque main square and magnificent Old Town. Do you love a good market? Then Linz is your town, boasting 11 farmers markets and two Christmas Markets. One, the “Urfahraner Market”, takes place in both the Spring and Fall. Shopping, anyone?
Passau
Germany
Passau is first and foremost a university town. That is why it is young, vibrant, and full of life. Then there are the three rivers – the Danube, Inn, and Ilz, which flow together in the city and give it a special character. Speaking of character, Passau has plenty, thanks to the prevalence of Baroque and Gothic architecture, including many beautiful churches and cathedrals as well as the Veste Oberhaus, a fortress since the Middle Ages.
Dürnstein
Austria
Dürnstein is a village with narrow streets and a blue and white tower stretching majestically into the Heavens, giving the city a distinctive look along the shores of the mighty Danube. High above the village is the castle – or, rather, what remains of the castle. It is there that you can trace the exciting story of King Richard the Lionheart’s imprisonment here and how his trusty minstrel saved him.
Melk
Austria
It is not just any monastery, but the monastery par excellence. Built in 1746 by Benedictine monks, Melk Abbey sits enthroned on a rock nearly 200 feet above the ground. A famous novel, “The Name of the Rose”, begins in Melk Abbey and this is also where it ends – in the breathtaking library packed with 100,000 volumes in 12 rooms.
Grein
Austria
Between the green hills and the blue Danube is the charming city of Grein. Its Rococo theater is Austria’s oldest theater, built in 1793 solely to provide a little diversion for guests passing through. It is located in the middle of the enchanted Old Town and is still preserved. Its wooden hall is situated in today’s town hall. Another highlight is Greinsburg Castle with its maritime museum, which provides a perfect overview of the history of navigation on the Danube for history or maritime buffs.
Krems
Austria
An important trading center in ancient times, Krems is now considered one of the most ornate towns in Austria. Two of the special places in Krems are the “Körnermarkt” and the tobacco factory, where 75,000 Virginia cigars were still being produced annually in 1920. Today, parts of the factory are used for the university and the charming “Kunsthalle” featuring modern and contemporary Austrian art.