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Danube | Riverside Mozart
  | 8 Days / 7 Nights

Wachau Valley in Depth With Vienna & Bratislava

TRAVEL HISTORY:
Day 1 Budapest, HU
Day 2 Budapest, HU
Day 3 Bratislava, SK
Day 4 Tulln, AT, Wachau Sail, AT
Day 5 Vienna, AT
Day 6 Melk, AT, Grein, AT
Day 7 Grein, AT, Dürnstein, AT, Vienna, AT
Day 8 Vienna, AT

Formed by the Danube eons ago, Austria’s stunning Wachau Valley Cultural Landscape is one of the country’s most popular destinations. Its allure? Beguiling castles, ornate monasteries, tantalizing orchard fruits, world-class wines, and irresistible villages around every bend. This week-long luxury cruise gives the Wachau the time and attention it deserves, stopping at the Benedictine monastery at Melk; Grein, home of Austria’s oldest theater; and Dürnstein with its famous blue and white tower, clifftop castle, and secret-recipe rye bread that you just might get to sample at the local wine bars! You’ll also explore Vienna, heart of the Habsburg Empire and where Mozart, Strauss, Freud, Klimt, Marie Antoinette, and others once roamed; and Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, whose pedestrian-only Old Town will whisk you back in time!

DATES

10/08/2025 10/15/2025 Danube Riverside Mozart Wachau Valley in Depth With Vienna & Bratislava from 4,760.00 USD AVAILABILITY & PRICES

DESTINATIONS ON THE ROUTE

Day 1, 2 - Budapest

													

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.

Day 3 - Bratislava

													

Bratislava is perfect for those who want to be transported to another time. Even from a distance, its 9th-century clifftop castle strikes an impressive pose. Down below, the bustling pedestrian-only Old Town is a charming collection of Old World architecture, like Michael's Gate, St. Martin's Cathedral, the Old Opera House, and the Neoclassical Primate's Palace. There's even a surprise or two, with Napoleon's cannonballs lodged in historic walls and an unexpected statue of Cumil the Sewer Worker peering up from below street level!

Day 4 - Tulln

													

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.

Day 4 - Wachau Sail

													

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Day 5, 7, 8 - Vienna

													

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.

Day 6 - Melk

													

No visit to the Wachau Valley is complete without visiting Austria’s prettiest abbey. Built on a rocky promontory overlooking the Danube, Melk Abbey's origins date back to 1089. Today, it is one of Europe's finest examples of Baroque architecture, where Benedictine monks still farm the land and operate what is now the oldest school in Austria. Highlights include the library of ancient manuscripts, frescoed ceiling, stunning spiral staircases, and the ornate abbey church.

Day 6, 7 - Grein

													

Grein is primarily known for its castle, which has been towering over the river for 500 years. The former hunting castle features a knights' hall, stone theater lined with Renaissance-era pebbles from the river, and diamond vault. Grein is also home to Austria's oldest still-active theater, which is filled with oddities, like locking front-row seats, a curtained-off toilet right in the theater so audience members wouldn't miss the performance, and a "jail seat" where prisoners could watch the show through a window!

Day 7 - Dürnstein

													

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.