Grand Tour: A Taste of Italy & The Blue Danube River Cruise

Upon your arrival, make your own way to the four-star Hilton Garden Inn in Lecce for our three-night stay. This fine modern hotel is situated just outside the Old Town and features a restaurant, bar, outside terrace and spa. Its elegant rooftop swimming pool (open in the summer months, weather permitting) has panoramic views over Lecce.

After you've settled in, you are invited to enjoy a welcome drink and dinner at the hotel this evening. 

Lecce, often referred to as the ‘Florence of the South,’ truly lives up to its name with an abundance of astonishing architecture and captivating sites at every turn.  

Our tour kicks off at the grand Porta Napoli, where we meet our local expert guide in a small group of your fellow travelling companions to explore this captivating city. From there, we delve into the bustling Jewish quarter and marvel at the Basilica di Santa Croce. This impressive Baroque masterpiece boasts an elaborate façade filled with intricate details in its stone carvings, drawing you in for a closer look. As we wander through the historic Old Town, we take a moment to appreciate a bank with a fascinating past—it was once a storage site for olive oil rather than currency. A visit to the alluring Piazza Sant’Oronzo reveals another gem: the remains of a Roman amphitheater from the 2nd century, where over 25,000 spectators once enjoyed various performances. The sight of the well-preserved stone seating evokes the lively, bloodthirsty crowds that filled the space centuries ago. Continuing our journey, we stroll down lively streets lined with shops to reach the grand Piazza Duomo. Here, the cathedral, constructed in 1144, stands majestically. Its striking façade is rivalled only by the interior that boasts twelve side chapels adorned with works from various renowned artists.  

Free afternoon in Lecce

Spend the afternoon exploring Lecce at your leisure. Follow the lively sounds echoing through its quaint streets, where you can enjoy cozy cafes and delightful boutiques while admiring the ornate Baroque architecture.  

Experiential dinner

This evening, we dine in an exquisite restaurant that in a past life was a Roman granary. We will indulge in local cuisine while enjoying a musical performance and Pizzica dancing—a popular Italian folk dance that originated in the Salento Peninsula and is now celebrated in various regions of Italy. 

Today, we will head to the coast to visit the town of Otranto. Overlooked by the Castle of Otranto and offering beautiful views across the Adriatic, this small harbour town lies just north of the easternmost point of the Italian mainland. In Roman times, when it was a city, Otranto served as a crucial point of embarkation under the Roman Empire due to its short distance to Albania.  

You will have free time to explore the narrow streets, enjoy lunch with mesmerising views of the sea, or visit the town's cathedral. This fascinating example of Romanesque architecture features Byzantine and Baroque influences and is home to one of the best-preserved and largest medieval mosaics in Europe—the cathedral floor. You may also wish to visit the Aragonese Castle of Otranto, which is surrounded by a moat. The castle is a symbol of the town and the setting for ‘The Castle of Otranto,’ a novel written by Horace Walpole in 1764, which is considered the first-ever Gothic novel.  

Masseria visit

Before returning to Lecce we have a unique experience at a local masseria allowing you feel at home in a traditional working, family farmhouse. We begin with a tour of the venue, exploring the underground olive mills and soaking up the rustic atmosphere brought to life by colorful clusters of tomatoes and chilli peppers hanging from the ceilings and stone walls before enjoying lunch together. All the food served will have been homemade and ingredients grown on site allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the local culture.

After our trip to the Masseria we will return to Lecce. 

Masseria

On our drive to Alberobello, we call at a historic masseria, once a stable, where once again you can feel at home in a traditional, family-run farmhouse. Uncover the history of this impressively restored farmhouse and tuck into a lunch featuring homemade dishes made from ingredients grown directly on the farm (including the wine and olive oil). This is a wonderful opportunity to fully immerse yourself in local life.  

Alberobello

As we continue our journey, you'll start to see charming white stone huts topped with conical roofs—these unique structures are known as trulli and are iconic landmarks in the Puglia region. The landscape here is adorned with clusters of oak trees and divided by traditional dry-stone walls, evoking a sense of rural Tuscany. Upon reaching Alberobello, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, you’ll be amazed to find that certain areas are predominantly filled with these trulli, giving it a fantastical ambience reminiscent of a 'hobbit' village. This exploration is often regarded as one of the tour's highlights, allowing us to delve into the construction methods of trulli, their fascinating histories, and the various Christian, Pagan, or celestial symbols that embellish them. Our adventure continues as we make our way to Matera, where we’ll stay for four nights. 

Guided tour of Matera 

We begin our day in Matera, exploring in a small group led by a local expert guide. This UNESCO World Heritage site is famous for being among the earliest places in Italy with permanent inhabitants. At the core of the city are ancient troglodyte cave dwellings that continue to be lived in today, dating back 9,000 years. Over the years, the rest of the city has transformed, featuring shops, churches, and artisan workshops all skillfully carved from the surrounding rock. Can you think of another place where you can stroll along a street that sits atop a house below?

Once the tour is finished, it's time to head to a rooftop terrace for a refreshing aperitivo whilst soaking up the spectacular views of the Sassi of Matera with your fellow travelers.  

Free time in Matera

You will have the freedom to spend the afternoon as you wish. You might decide to head back to the hotel for some relaxation or continue discovering more of Matera. If you need suggestions for noteworthy attractions, our knowledgeable Tour Manager is ready to provide recommendations, including the exquisite 13th-century Romanesque cathedral, which should not be missed.  

To conclude our action-packed day, we’ll enjoy regional specialties during dinner at a restaurant located in Matera’s Old Town. 

Nestled along the Adriatic coast, Bari has a rich history as a bustling walled port even prior to the arrival of the Romans and once served as the capital of Byzantine Italy. In the era of the Normans, it was regarded as nearly as important as Venice.

Today, we will embark in small groups on a guided tour of the old town with a local expert, where a wealth of discovery awaits. Highlights include the striking medieval fortress, and the grand Romanesque cathedral adorned with 11th-century frescoes. Opera enthusiasts may be familiar with Bari’s renowned Teatro Petruzzelli.

However, for many visitors, the main attraction is the Basilica di San Nicola, home to the 900-year-old vaulted crypt that holds the remains of Saint Nicholas, the Patron Saint of Russia, famously known as Santa Claus.  =

Free afternoon

This afternoon is free for you to wander through Bari at your own pace. As you stroll through the narrow alleys, take a moment to glimpse into side streets where traditional life unfolds. You may encounter shops featuring freshly caught seafood like sea bass, cuttlefish, and lobster, as well as stalls laden with locally sourced olives, tomatoes, and peppers. Don’t be surprised to see families dining with their doors and windows open, or matriarchs seated outside, hand-rolling and cutting pasta, a tradition that has stood the test of time. After our time in Bari, we will return to Matera. 

The day is yours to enjoy as you like. Discover the beauty of Matera and its unique attractions, including the exquisite architecture that has earned UNESCO World Heritage status and its intriguing historical background. Enjoy some time at a local café, observe the lively atmosphere around you, explore the subterranean side of Matera, or unwind at the hotel for a day of relaxation.  

Need some recommendations? Our friendly and knowledgeable Tour Manager is happy to provide insights on how best to spend your final day in this unspoiled region. 

Today we say goodbye to Italy and fly to Budapest in Hungary. On arrival, a coach will take you to your cruise ship. The dedicated crew are there to welcome you on board, ensuring you settle in and familiarize yourself with this first-class floating hotel.

There’s always a sense of expectancy and excitement on the eve of a cruise and, after an excellent dinner in the stylish restaurant, conversation is sure to revolve around the delights ahead. 

Overnight we have cruised upstream to Esztergom, one of Hungary’s oldest towns, a royal capital during medieval times and today the seat of the country’s archbishop. We have a guided tour of the famous neoclassical basilica, standing sentinel over the Danube on the border with Slovakia, and boasting one of the world’s largest altarpieces and a wealth of priceless religious artefacts.

The castle is also worth exploring; it was the seat of government until the Ottomans invaded in the 16th century. Nestling below are myriad atmospheric churches resonating with the enchanting sounds of choir; this is the best of provincial Hungary and is little changed since Habsburg times.

Cruise towards Bratislava

As you enjoy your first lunch on board, we gently leave Esztergom in our wake, affording a fascinating opportunity to compare the different landscapes, towns and villages of Hungary on one riverbank and of Slovakia on the other. 

This morning, we explore Slovakia’s fast-emerging capital city, Bratislava, on a guided tour. Until recently, swathed in the drab uniformity of Communism, the city has rekindled the splendor of its imperial past in its beautifully restored Old Town.

Discover the only preserved gate of the city’s fortification system, the Neo-Renaissance-style Old Opera House, St. Martin’s Cathedral - a Gothic structure from the 15th century and former coronation site - along with the Classicist Primate’s Palace.

In the Main Square, you will find the former old town hall now housing a museum dedicated to the history of the city and where you may climb the tower for some lovely views. Equally impressive is the great 17th-century fortress which dominates the city with its commanding expansive views across the Danube. Or head for the Primatial Palace with its fabulous Hall of Mirrors and rare collection of 17th-century English tapestries.

Like its people, the streets are filled with humor. For a more leisurely visit, why not wander its streets? As you explore, you'll spot funny signs and interesting and imaginative statues - like the Čumil, a bronze statue peeking out of a manhole, and the jolly-looking Schöne Náci. Then perhaps, enjoy a freshly ground coffee or homemade lemonade in one of the many bars of cafés.

Cruise towards Dürnstein

This afternoon we cruise into Lower Austria, a peaceful, bucolic region and home to some of the country’s best wines. By now the stresses of everyday life seem distant as you absorb the ever-changing scenes, we pass children playing on the riverbanks, young couples strolling arm in arm like generations before them, vignerons carefully pruning their vines, and cobbled quaysides lined by half-timbered buildings.

You’ll marvel as the captain skillfully navigates the ship along the serene river and through locks whose mechanisms never cease to fascinate, as we cruise towards Dürnstein. 

Dürnstein

Dürnstein is known principally for the ice-blue tower of its abbey, which dominates the view, and the castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in 1192 after being shipwrecked on his return from the crusades. This morning, we embark on a guided walking tour to delve deeper into this unforgettable city.

Wander the town's small, pedestrian streets to the heart of Dürnstein to see the Town Hall. Established in 1547, it boasts an impressive late Gothic structure that was tastefully renovated in the Renaissance style in 1563. The courtyard, graced by a charming stairway, invites passersby to pause and capture the perfect photograph amidst its historical ambiance.

The Krems Gate, formerly known as the Steiner Gate, serves as the eastern city entrance. This magnificent gate features a striking four-story square tower dating back to the 15th century, a testament to the city's rich architectural heritage. The strong city wall stretches southward toward the banks of the Danube and northward to the evocative ruins, today, the impressive tower is a private residence.

If you're feeling active this morning, you could join our optional walk up to see Dürnstein castle, set on a rocky outcrop high above the river. Although the walk up this steep hill is not for the faint-hearted, those who do take on this challenge have the opportunity to admire lovely views of the river valley and town below. At the top, you can explore the ruins of the castle where England’s legendary monarch was held captive. It's easy to imagine Richard the Lionheart seething with frustration far from home while waiting for his family to raise funds to pay his ransom. (Please note, this requires a good level of mobility and appropriate footwear.)  

Melk

After lunch you visit the remarkable Melk Abbey. Nothing quite prepares you for your first sight of this enormous honey-colored building, standing resplendent above the surrounding countryside. Originally a castle, it was gifted to the Benedictine Order in the 11th-century and, although reconstructed in Baroque style during the 18th century, it has remained a monastic school and monastery ever since.

The Abbey is renowned for its 214-yard-long Emperor’s Gallery lined with portraits, many fine rooms and an ornate library.

After the tour, explore the grounds or take a stroll back to the ship through the picturesque old town, with buildings dating back to the 15th century.

After we re-join the ship, dinner is served during the final part of our cruise upstream through the pretty Nibelungengau, immortalized in the music of Wagner.

Personalize your vacation:

Apricot product tasting in Dürnstein

Duration: 1.5hrs  

Price: $22pp (2027)

The Wachau Valley is exceptionally well suited to fruit and wine growing. It's renowned for its apricots, known as Wachauer Marille, which are protected by a designation of origin (PDO). Today, instead of a guided tour of Dürnstein, you can join our local guide for a taste of the region's most famous produce, which are made into jams, brandies, or liqueurs.

Please contact us for more information and to add the above experience to your booking, or you may have the chance on board to book. Minimum numbers apply, so if not enough guests opt for this extra, it may not happen

Linz

Reaching Linz, you will have the choice to stay in the city and take a guided walking tour, exploring its charming baroque old town. At its heart you’ll see one of the finest squares in Austria, lined by grand pastel-colored facades with an impressive central Trinity Column of white marble, crowned by a gilded sunburst. There’s also the fortress-like castle, built above the city by Emperor Friedrich III, now a museum housing a fine collection of nineteenth and twentieth-century artworks.

The afternoon is free for you to explore. Consider taking a ride on the Pöstlingbergbahn, a unique narrow-gauge electric railway known as the "mountain tramway." This train connects the main square in Linz with the district of Pöstlingberg. It is the steepest adhesion railway in Europe, and its route offers stunning views as it passes the Danube and the Ars Electronica Center, leading directly to a natural oasis on the outskirts of the city. Once you arrive, you can visit the pilgrimage basilica, enjoy the views of Linz from the viewing platform, explore a local zoo, and much more.

Alternatively, you could explore one of the fascinating museums in Linz. The Ars Electronica Center (AEC) serves as the city’s museum of the future, showcasing innovative technology alongside visionary media arts. Additionally, the Lentos Kunstmuseum features exhibits of modern and contemporary art from the 19th century, including works from the classical modernity period (such as Klimt, Schiele, and Kokoschka) as well as pieces from the Expressionism movement.  

Salzburg

Alternatively, we drive to Salzburg, once an independent state whose archbishops turned it into one of the most sophisticated cities north of the Alps. Dominating the skyline is one of Europe’s largest stone fortresses, the Hohensalzburg, while beneath its walls church domes and spires rise from the delightful Altstadt, or Old Town. Then there’s the wonderful Hellbrunn Palace and the splendid formal gardens of the Mirabell Palace – a must for horticulture fans.

This morning, discover some of the city’s main sights in the company of an expert local guide, then you’re free for lunch at leisure and to explore as you wish. Everywhere there are sights associated with the city’s most famous resident, Mozart, who played the harpsichord aged three, composed rudimentary music at five and wrote his first opera when he was 11!

We return to the ship for another splendid dinner.

Personalize your vacation:

Austrian lunch in Salzburg

Duration: 1.5hrs

Price: $89pp (2027)

Dine in a slice of history for lunch in Salzberg. Join us for a delicious lunch featuring traditional Austrian dishes, like Wiener Schnitzel and strudel, in what is believed to be Europe's oldest restaurant, St. Peter Stiftskulinarium. This restaurant has been welcoming hungry guests for over 1200 years, with mentions of the establishment dating back to 803 AD by scholar Alcuin of York, an advisor to Emperor Charlemagne.

Optional excursions can be done during your free time in Salzburg.

Please contact us for more information and to add the above experience to your booking, or you may have the chance on board to book. Minimum numbers apply, so if not enough guests opt for this extra, it may not happen. 

For many, today’s visit to Vienna will be one of the highlights of the cruise. The city’s very name provokes images of elegance, fine music, wide boulevards, Baroque architecture and a rich tapestry of peoples who were drawn here from all corners of Europe.

For 200 years until the First World War, Vienna was the cultural center of Europe and many of the showpiece buildings, galleries, aristocratic palaces and magnificent churches you see today were built to reflect its imperial status. The city’s most iconic monument is the breathtaking Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, whose striking multi-colored roof and huge Gothic South Tower dominate the skyline.

There’s also the colossal Hofburg, the former royal court that is now home to a collection of museums, the Crown Jewels and the Spanish Riding School, and where the Vienna Boys’ Choir performs. Then there are the lavish Imperial Apartments and an outstanding collection of relics of the Holy Roman Empire, including, allegedly, the saber of Charlemagne himself. The Kunsthistorisches Museum, which contains the world’s fourth largest collection of paintings, is just across the road.

This morning, we have a tour with a local guide offering insights into why Vienna is one of Europe’s great capitals – the seat of the Habsburg emperors and home to some of the world’s finest classical composers, including Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart and, of course, a whole family of Strausses. After the panoramic tour on coach along the Ringstrasse, the famous boulevard, built where the city walls once stood and lined with many of the most important sights, you can choose to continue your tour on foot through the old town or explore independently.

Free afternoon in Vienna

During the afternoon you’re free to explore as you wish. Take a stroll in the Prater, notable for the huge Ferris wheel that features in several Cold War spy thrillers. Or, for something quite different, visit the Schönbrunn Palace, a former royal residence now housing a range of world-class museums and galleries. Perhaps, though, just take a stroll through Vienna’s atmospheric side streets, or enjoy a coffee and a slice of delicious Sachertorte in one of the lovely coffee houses.

This evening, we have something special in store. Not only do we have our indulgent Chef's Dinner, but we've also organized for a live musical experience on board. So after this special dinner, sit back and enjoy an intimate classical recital. To hear this exquisite music in Vienna - where it was created - is truly the icing on the cake.

Personalize your vacation:

Visit the Spanish Riding School in Vienna

Duration: 1hr

Price: $45pp (2027)

Enjoy a visit to the Spanish Riding School, the only institution in the world that has practiced classical equitation in the Renaissance tradition of the haute école for over 440 years and continues to do so. On this guided tour you will get a glimpse behind the scenes, see the stables of the Lippizaner horses, the training grounds, and learn about the history, equestrian traditions and horses. Please note that for 6 weeks in summer, the horses are on their holiday, therefore you won’t see any during the tour.

This optional excursion can be done during your free afternoon in Vienna.

This guided tour doesn’t include the performance of horses. Other available events like the morning training sessions and performances vary depending on the day of the week of your visit and season. Details can be found on www.srs.at/en/tickets-events/ where we recommend you book your tickets directly prior to travel.

Please contact us for more information and to add the above experience to your booking, or you may have the chance on board to book. Minimum numbers apply, so if not enough guests opt for this extra, it may not happen.  

Personalize your vacation:

Tour of Schönbrunn Palace with wine-tasting in Vienna

Duration: 4hrs

Price: $134pp (2027)

Join us for a tour of Schönbrunn Palace with a local guide. Once a summer residence in the countryside, Schönbrunn now serves as an oasis of architectural beauty and tranquility in the heart of 21st-century Vienna, thanks to the city's expansion. On our guided tour we’ll see the palace’s highlights, including the state rooms and private apartments of the Habsburg emperors.

After our tour, we'll visit the Josef II restaurant nestled in the palace gardens where we'll dive into Viennese viticulture. No other federal capital in the world has as many wine-growing area as Vienna, with large vineyards on the outskirts of the city and today we'll enjoy a taste of the local offering, accompanied by cheese and bread.

This optional excursion can be done during your free afternoon in Vienna.

Please contact us for more information and to add the above experience to your booking, or you may have the chance on board to book. Minimum numbers apply, so if not enough guests opt for this extra, it may not happen. 

Cruise towards Budapest

Enjoy a leisurely morning as we cruise majestically through Hungary’s peaceful pastoral landscape towards Budapest. After breakfast head up onto the magnificent sun deck to enjoy some fabulous river views as we cruise along the 'Danube Bend', surrounded by historic and picturesque cities like Visegrad and Szentendre. Castle ruins, churches, pretty houses perching on the hills, and thick forests are reflected in the waters of the river. Squeeze in a spot of reading on the sun deck or simply recline, letting the gentle breezes lull you into a relaxing doze.

Budapest

After lunch we enjoy a sightseeing tour of this captivating city, which truly lives up to its reputation as the ‘Pearl of the Danube’.

The twin cities of Buda, built around the hilltop fortress, and Pest, with its wide boulevards, were fought over through the centuries. The Ottomans ruled here for 150 years before being ousted in the late 17th century, but their legacy lives on in the many thermal baths fed by hot springs, giving rise to Budapest’s other sobriquet – the ‘City of Spas’.

After the end of Ottoman rule, Budapest became an imperial city of the Habsburg Empire, attracting great cultural and commercial wealth. Castle Hill is Budapest in microcosm: two churches, seven museums and a theatre among streets and squares with their own special atmosphere and a dramatic view across the river to the awe-inspiring neo-Gothic Parliament Building.

This afternoon you have a couple of choices:

If you choose the panoramic coach tour, you’ll drive past some of Budapest’s famous sites, including the Opera House, Gellert Baths, chain bridge, Parliament building, and more, and stop for photos and some time to explore Hero’s Square and Buda castle.

Alternatively, you can choose our active tour, where you’ll take a coach to the castle district. From here, you’ll take lifts up to the castle terraces to begin a guided walking tour around the castle area and Fisherman’s bastion. You’ll then have free time to explore before heading back to the coach for the transfer to the ship. This tour involves uneven grounds and a lot of walking, so we only recommend it for customers who are comfortable with a moderate activity level.

This evening’s dinner closes with a Hungarian folklore show, giving you time to bid farewell to your travelling companions and reflect on all the inspirational places, sights and sounds you have experienced on a truly ‘imperial’ cruise.

Personalize your vacation

Tour of Hungarian Parliament

Duration: 3hrs

Price: $89pp (2027)

Today, you could enjoy a closer look at one of our favorite sights along the Danube River: The Hungarian Parliament Building. This breathtaking masterpiece of neo-Gothic architecture commands attention from across Budapest, but a guided tour offers a glimpse at the intricate detail and rich cultural heritage of Hungary. We follow our tour of the interior with a brief walk around the outside of the building to take in the building and its surroundings. We'll also see a touching memorial and a monument to the Hungarian Jews who died during the Arrow Cross's region of terror, which is close by on the banks of the Danube.

This optional excursion can be done instead of the guided afternoon tour of Budapest. Please be aware that this is a working parliamentary building, and on rare occasions, it may not be open to the public.

Please contact us for more information and to add the above experience to your booking, or you may have the chance on board to book. Minimum numbers apply, so if not enough guests opt for this extra, it may not happen. 

Return home.