Essence of the Danube - Westbound

Tour begins: 4:00 PM Vienna. A transfer is included from Budapest Franz Liszt International Airport or Budapest Keleti Train Station directly to your riverboat. Budapest, the "Pearl of the Danube," sprawls majestically across the banks of the Danube River. This evening, meet your fellow travelers and join us for a welcome reception to toast your journey toward Vienna.

Take in the scenery along the Danube this morning, savoring brunch in Compass Rose, and unwinding slowly as you cruise towards the "Coronation City." Sandwiched between Hungary and Austria, Slovakia's Bratislava is the only capital in the world that borders two countries at once. By the afternoon, Bratislava comes into view, a city framed by vineyards and the Little Carpathian Mountains, known for its distinctive, red-tiled roofs. Explore the city on a guided walking tour, with stops at the tree-lined and fountain-filled Hviezdoslav Square, the neo-classical Slovak National Theatre, Primate's Palace – a pink palace originally built for a bishop in the late 1700s – and the charming Old Town, where pastel-colored buildings line pedestrian-only streets. The afternoon is yours to explore on your own and your riverboat is conveniently located close to this walkable city-center. Rejoin the riverboat for evening entertainment and dinner in the Compass Rose.

In a city celebrated for its Baroque streetscapes, imperial palaces, and as the home of musical legends like Mozart and Beethoven, you'll have the chance to appreciate Vienna through one of two morning excursions. Choose a guided visit to the lavish Schönbrunn Palace, the Habsburgs' summer residence, boasting 1,441 rooms and over 300 years of history across its 400 acres. Alternatively, explore the Kunsthistorisches Museum – Vienna's fine art museum – built in 1891 to house the impressive art collections of the imperial family, with some objects dating 5,000 years. After lunch – either aboard the riverboat or at a café in town – the afternoon is yours to explore at leisure, with convenient shuttle service to and from the ship. Tonight, we invite you to dress up and join us at Palais Pallavicini for a Tauck Exclusive evening of dining, musical performances, and waltzes in elegant Viennese style. 

Today, your riverboat arrives in Melk for a guided visit to the 900-year-old Benedictine Abbey overlooking the quaint town. A former Roman Fort turned castle of the Babenberg rulers of Austria, it was gifted to the Benedictines in 1111 and still functions as a monastery and major pilgrimage site today.  Return to the riverboat mid-morning for a cruise through the Wachau Valley. A UNESCO World heritage site, this region of the Danube winds and bends past castle and monastery ruins, small villages dating to the 11th and 12th century, and vineyards – a strikingly romantic site with live commentary from your Tauck Director. After lunch, disembark in Dürnstein for your choice of unforgettable sightseeing excursions. You may choose to explore this picture-perfect Austrian village on a guided walking tour, or a challenging bicycling excursion through the Wachau Valley. Following your excursion, enjoy free-time or set out on an active, Tauck Director-led hike to the Kuenringerburg ruins, where remnants of a medieval hilltop castle – where King Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned – and sweeping vistas of the golden Danube and surrounding valley reward your efforts. As you'll see from here, and as you saw earlier while cruising, the Wachau Valley is one of Austria's premier wine regions, celebrated for its white wines. Sip these elegant, mineral-driven wines later this afternoon before rejoining the riverboat for dinner.

Austria's cuisine reflects a rich mosaic of flavors, shaped by the many cultures once united under the Habsburg Empire and its unique position at Europe's crossroads. During your city tour of Vienna, you'll have the chance to sample traditional dishes and bites. Begin along the elegant Ringstrasse, a grand circular boulevard lined with imperial landmarks, museums, and palaces, before choosing your preferred pace of exploration – either a relaxed walking tour through Vienna's charming downtown or a more active journey through the storied lanes of Vienna's Old Town. After tasting the city's culinary and cultural delights, enjoy free time to sightsee as you wish with shuttles operating from Albertina to the riverboat, then return to the ship to mingle with fellow travelers during an onboard social hour.

Tour ends: Vienna. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the riverboat to Vienna International Airport or Vienna Central Station; please allow a minimum of 3 hours for international flight check-in.