The Danube River
Danube cruises are living lessons in history about a time when the Hapsburgs in Vienna ruled the world and when communism was a factor of daily life in many Eastern European countries. Now that the restrictions have ended , you can explore cities and towns which were basically closed to the west for more than 40 years.
The Journey: On a Danube River boat voyage, you can travel from the fairytale Black Forest in Germany to the Black Sea in Romania. You will pass through or between Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania en route, depending on the length of your cruise
Many tours start in Budapest, Hungary and end in Prague in the Czech Republic or the reverse. Budapest is a city of wonderful old architecture and history which is still coming alive after a long sleep. It is actually two cities, Buda and Pest, divided by a river and filled with culture and many spas.
Next stop is Vienna which is famous for the Hofburg Palace, from which the Habsburgs ruled Austria for 700 years. You can also watch the white Lipizzaner horses practicing at the Spanish Riding School and perhaps attend an evening concert in the city of Mozart.
You will be able to walk from the pier into Linz, a small town at the centre of Austria’s wine-growing region, visit the small shops in scenic little Durnstein and stroll through Melk, which is famous for its Benedictine Abbey and stunning views over the river.
Most Danube river boat cruises end in Nuremberg,Germanywith its gothic churches and elegant patrician houses, not to mention beer and pretzels.
Many cruises include land tour extensions which transport you through the Bohemian forest and head for the “Golden City” of Prague. The city does appear to be made of gold at night when many of the monuments, churches and castles are all lit up .
Choose a longer cruise, and you’ll visit Bratislava in Slovakia, which has a memorable Old Town, and Belgrade in Serbia which is one of the oldest capital cities in Europe. Here you can visit the memorial of Tito, the Communist leader of the former Yugoslavia.
You’ll also sail through the fantastic Iron Gate Gorge which is really four gorges east of Belgrade, rolled into one name, that stretch for 90 miles and divide the Carpathian and Balkan Mountains. The gorge narrows to just 150 metres at one point. You will want to take lots of pictures here!
Must Do:
Viennese coffee and Sacher Torte in one of Vienna’s original coffee houses is one experience you will not want to miss. This old tradition allows you to linger over coffee as long as you like in places such as Cafe Central or the Sacher Hotel which are located in the pedestrian area just outside the Hofburg Palace!
The half a day “at sea” between Linz and Durnstein, is the most beautiful scenery of the trip, as the river is framed by low mountains that are covered with vineyards. In Durnstein, borrow one of your ship’s bikes, and cycle through the Sonoma-style countryside.
In Budapest, the Hobbit -like Fisherman’s Bastion in Buda’s Castle District offers great views of the city, many cobbled streets to explore and lots of cafes!
