Eastern Europe on the Golden Eagle Danube Express

On arrival into Budapest, you will be met and transferred to the elegant Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace beside the River Danube for a two night stay. Begin this epic journey with a welcome reception dinner sharing stories and anticipated adventures with fellow passengers.

Budapest, the city of two halves. Separated by the River Danube, the old city of Buda and commercial town of Pest linked by the Chain Bridge, offer a juxtaposition of personalities waiting to be unravelled. In the morning enjoy a guided tour of key city sights, including the Castle District, the Citadel, St Stephen’s Cathedral and Heroes Square. The afternoon is free time to explore the city as you wish.

Spend the morning meandering through Budapest’s quaint cobbled streets lined with architectural masterpieces from the Gothic, Neoclassical and Art Nouveau eras. Sample typical Hungarian langos (fried flatbread topped with sour cream and cheese) at the Great Market Hall and experience one of the many thermal baths dotted around the city. Make your way to Budapest Nyugati station for a drinks reception before boarding the Golden Eagle Danube Express for an afternoon departure to Poland.

Visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum; a deeply moving tour that details the camp’s history and atrocities of the Holocaust. Head into the centre of Krakow for lunch in the medieval Market Square, followed by visits to the Wawel Royal Cathedral and the Kazimierz Jewish Quarter.

Note the stark contrast of Warsaw’s architecture which tells the story of the city’s turbulent history. 85% of the city was completely destroyed in the Warsaw Uprising of 1944 so had to be rebuilt into what is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Glistening skyscrapers intertwine with concrete communist-era apartment blocks and red roofs of colourful townhouses. A guided tour adds the narrative to the story. After lunch in Lazienki Royal Park, enjoy a piano recital of the work of Polish pianist Frédéric François Chopin, hosted privately for guests of the Golden Eagle. 

Explore the Malbork Castle and museum before returning to the train for lunch and continuing to the coastal city of Gdansk where you’ll tour the European Solidarity Centre. Continue to Oliwa Cathedral for an organ concert followed by a stop at Dlugi Targ, Gdansk’s main street in the Old Town.

A day in Berlin. Choose to see the city by bicycle or bus; both options take you to East and West Berlin, as well as the Reichstag parliament buildings. After lunch, enjoy free time in the city or take a Freedom of Choice tour: The East Side Gallery, an open-air art gallery along a stretch of the Berlin Wall with over 100 paintings, murals and graffiti conveying messages of hope, unity and freedom. There is also the opportunity to drive a Trabant, one of the most iconic symbols of East Germany.

Today will be spent in the picturesque region of Saxony in the Elbe Valley. Your base is Wackerbarth Castle, one of the oldest wineries in the region where you’ll have a guided tour of the vineyard followed by a wine tasting experience. Enjoy a late lunch on the train before departing for Prague for dinner in a local restaurant and free time in the Old Town.

Guided tour through the Old Town Square to see key sights and ascend to Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral on a vintage tram after lunch. Finish the day with a private river cruise along the Vltava, cocktail in hand.

Salzburg, a city where music runs through its veins. The birthplace of Mozart and the origin of the Christmas carol “Silent Night”; streets are filled with buskers and the backdrop for Robert Wise’s “The Sound of Music”. It’s no surprise this vibrant city is known as the “Stage of the World”. On foot, see Mirabell Palace, Mozart’s former residence, the Old Town and the trick fountains of Hellbrunn Palace.

Journey to Vienna via the Semmering Pass, one of the oldest mountain railways in the world. Enjoy the afternoon to freely explore the city and its markets, or walk along the Ringstrasse, the city’s famous circular boulevard. Be serenaded by the Vienna Supreme Orchestra with a private concert at the House of Mozart.

After breakfast on the train, transfer to the airport for onward travel.