Walk the revived heart of Slovakia’s capital on a guided Old Town walk, threading past Michael’s Gate, pastel merchant houses and the Neo-Renaissance opera. Visit St Martin’s Cathedral and the elegant Primatial Palace, then linger in the Main Square with its museum-topped town hall.

Continue to the promontory of Bratislava Castle for commanding Danube panoramas. Along the lanes, spot playful public art—like the cheeky Cumil peering from a manhole—that hints at the city’s wit beneath its Habsburg polish.

Stroll storybook lanes on a guided walking tour of Durnstein, framed by vineyards and the Danube. Admire the abbey’s ice-blue tower, browse tiny courtyards and wine shops, and pass through the Kremser Tor gate toward riverfront views where barges slide between terraced hills.

Hear the tale of Richard the Lionheart, once held in the clifftop castle above, and sense the slow rhythms of the Wachau Valley in weathered stone walls, apricot orchards and bell chimes drifting over rooftops.

Visit Melk Abbey, the Benedictine citadel crowning a bluff above the Danube. Inside, admire the frescoed Marble Hall, the luminous baroque library of gilded volumes and hidden stairways, and cloisters opening to river-wide vistas and formal gardens.

Walk the 18th-century Emperor’s Gallery, lined with portraits of Habsburg rulers, and discover how monks transformed a medieval stronghold into one of Europe’s most resplendent baroque ensembles, alive with scholarship and sacred music.

Explore Linz on a guided walking tour centered on Hauptplatz, one of Austria’s grandest squares. Note pastel facades and the white-marble Trinity Column, then ascend to the castle precinct for courtyards and river views that reveal Linz’s strategic Danube perch.

Glance into the Schlossmuseum complex and sense how this former imperial outpost now blends baroque streets with a forward-looking arts scene along the riverbanks, where galleries and trams knit historic and modern city life together.

Discover Salzburg’s alpine elegance on a guided tour of Salzburg, taking in the cliff-top Hohensalzburg Fortress, the geometric blooms of Mirabell Gardens and the bridges of the Salzach River framing the UNESCO-listed Altstadt.

Mozart’s city brims with baroque squares, onion-domed churches and café terraces. Learn of prince-archbishops and festival stages, and, time permitting, glimpse Hellbrunn’s playful garden heritage. This experience is offered as an included alternative during your time docked in Linz.

Join a guided panoramic tour along the Ringstrasse, passing the State Opera, Parliament and museums before stepping into Vienna’s lanes to encounter St Stephen’s Cathedral and courtyards of the imperial Hofburg.

Hear how Habsburg power shaped architecture and arts, from courtly ceremony to coffeehouse culture. Your guide reveals layers of music history—Mozart to Strauss—and points out inviting spots for a slice of Sachertorte or a glass of Gruner Veltliner later in the day.

Settle into the lounge for a live classical quartet recital as the skyline drifts beyond the windows. Strings sing with the elegance of Strauss and Mozart, performed in an intimate, salon-style setting that recalls Vienna’s golden musical age.

With gentle service and views of Vienna, this curated performance brings the city’s cultural soul aboard—refined, expressive and close enough to feel each phrase bloom across polished wood and crystal light.

Experience a vibrant Hungarian folklore show after dinner, where musicians and dancers bring village traditions to life. Expect folk music and dance, rapid footwork and spinning skirts that animate legends of the Great Plain and the hill country.

Feel the pulse of czárdás rhythms and admire embroidered costumes and cimbalom flourishes. It’s a spirited cultural finale that celebrates Budapest’s proud heritage without leaving the comfort of your ship.

Cruise the Wachau Valley, gliding past terraced vineyards, apricot orchards and castle-crowned hills as villages like Spitz and Weißenkirchen slip by. The river narrows and widens in cinematic frames perfect for photos and quiet contemplation.

A UNESCO cultural landscape shaped by monks, vintners and traders, the Wachau blends medieval towers with baroque spires. Toast the scenery from deck as the ship threads between castle-crowned hills and sunlit river bends.

Sail the Danube Bend, where the river sweeps in a grand arc between forested hills. Spot the citadel of Visegrád high above the water and church spires around Szentendre, an artists’ town with Balkan hints.

From the sun deck, trace centuries of borderlands and trade routes along the broad curve of the river. It’s a serene, photo-rich approach that sets the stage for Budapest’s domes and bridges to appear upstream.

Challenge yourself with a guided hike to Durnstein Castle, following a steep forested trail to the crag where King Richard was once held. From the ramparts, take in panoramic views over vineyards, the river and the tiled roofs below.

Learn the lore of Richard the Lionheart and the Wachau’s trading past while catching your breath in the breeze. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; good footwear and confident mobility are essential.

Go backstage at the Spanish Riding School to see the baroque arena, tack rooms and the stables of the white Lipizzaners. Guides explain the centuries-old art of haute école and daily training rituals that turn athleticism into ballet.

Witness the quiet discipline of Lipizzaner care and the School’s living heritage. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; availability may vary seasonally and does not include a performance.

Step into imperial grandeur at Schonbrunn Palace, touring opulent state rooms and intimate apartments that trace Habsburg family life. Your guide illuminates court ceremony, diplomacy and music as you admire parquet floors, chandeliers and gilded stucco.

Stroll the formal parterres toward the Gloriette and fountains, where axial vistas frame the city beyond. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, with time to explore sections of the palace gardens at leisure.

Savour Salzburg’s culinary heritage at St. Peter Stiftskulinarium, believed to have welcomed diners since 803. In vaulted, candle-lit rooms, taste classics like Wiener Schnitzel and the cloud-light Salzburger Nockerl, paired with regional wines or a crisp beer.

Dining where scholars and princes once met brings the city’s baroque ambience to the table. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour during your free time in Salzburg.

Discover one of Hungary’s spiritual treasures as you step inside Esztergom Basilica, a neoclassical masterpiece with a soaring dome that commands the Danube Bend. Explore chapels, artworks and the hilltop setting, then wander the old streets that spread below the cathedral’s terraces.

Once the country’s former royal capital, Esztergom preserves centuries of ecclesiastical power and medieval lore. Your visit balances architectural splendour with small-town charm—quiet squares, river views and traces of Hungary’s earliest kings and archbishops.

Explore Hungary’s capital as you join a guided panoramic tour taking in the grand avenues and riverfront icons of Pest before ascending to Castle Hill. Pause at Fisherman’s Bastion for sweeping views across the Danube to the Parliament Building and the Chain Bridge, with time to admire the cobbled streets and baroque facades of the castle district.

Absorb the city’s layered past, from Ottoman-era thermal traditions to the imperial boulevards of the Habsburgs. Photo stops and short walks reveal contrasting neighborhoods and architectural styles, giving a vivid introduction to the “Pearl of the Danube.”