Danube Auld Lang Syne with New Year`s in Austria

Situated along the Route of Emperors and Kings where the Danube, Inn, and Ilz Rivers meet, Passau was settled as early as the Neolithic Age. During the Renaissance, this City of Three Rivers was a major manufacturing center of swords, crafting bladed weapons stamped with the Passau wolf, which legend claimed would grant invulnerability. Today, the most famous sights lining the narrow cobblestone streets of the Old Town are the artistic Town Hall and the Baroque St. Stephen's Cathedral with its green-domed towers and one of the largest organs in the world.

Austria’s third largest city, Linz is a European Capital of Culture worth exploring. Highlights include the Feichtinger House with its Glockenspiel, Castle Museum, Lentos Art Museum, and the Neo-Gothic Mariendom with its impressive stained-glass windows and 20,000-person seating capacity. A hike up Pöstlingberg Hill delivers outstanding views over the Danube and is best followed by a coffee and piece of scrumptious Linzer Torte, invented here as the world's first cake!

First mentioned in 995 AD, Krems became prosperous as a trade center for salt and wine. Its cobblestoned Old Town is home to well preserved buildings, like the 15th-century Steiner Tor (city gate), symbol of the city. Also worth seeing: the Krems Art Mile with Austria's only caricature museum and the State Gallery of Lower Austria; 11th-century Göttweig Abbey; and wine! Surrounded by vineyards, Krems produces some of the country's best wines!

If ever a town was the embodiment of quaint, it's Dürnstein. Sitting right at the entrance to the celebrated Wachau Valley, everything about this village is hospitable—even the vineyards extend right to the riverbanks to greet visitors. Highlights include the striking blue and white Stiftskirche, and the castle ruin looming over town that once imprisoned King Richard the Lionheart, according to legends. Welcoming shops and wine taverns serving up the Wachau's delectable wines and sweet apricots make this a wonderful place to spend time.

Vienna is a city that defies simple description. Over the centuries, it has been an imperial city, seat of the Holy Roman Empire, capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and capital of sovereign Austria. Today, Vienna retains the grand Baroque architecture, historic style, and Lebenskunst (art of living) that attracted famous composers like Mozart and Strauss. It's a wonderland of lavish palaces and cathedrals, world-class museums and music venues, atmospheric coffee houses, and romantic fiakers (horse-drawn carriages) clip-clopping past it all.

One of the most beautiful cities in the world, the wonders of Budapest rise up along both banks of the Danube in a truly impressive way. Along with Heroes' Square with its Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, awe-inspiring Hungarian Parliament Building, and the lavish Castle District with photogenic Fishermen's Bastion, the city is home to a captivating Jewish district and the second-largest synagogue in the world, an intricate underground cave system, and some of Europe's most famous thermal baths.

Scenic sailing through the beautiful Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its stunning landscapes and historic vineyards. Marvel at the charming villages, ancient castles, and terraced slopes that line the banks of the Danube. Take in the perfect blend of natural beauty and centuries-old architecture.

Tulln, a historic town on the southern bank of Austria’s Danube, traces its origins back to Roman times, when it served as the fortress of Comagena and an important military and economic center. In the Middle Ages, its strategic position made it a bustling market town and a key stop along the Danube trade routes. Though heavily damaged during World War II, it was rebuilt and restored. Today, Tulln is known for its elegant architecture, cultural heritage, and lush gardens, earning it the nickname ‘the City of Flowers.