Welcome to Budapest! Hungary’s spellbinding capital is a captivating blend of old and new – medieval basilicas rub shoulders with Ottoman-style courtyards and preserved Art Nouveau homes, and the city swirls with the steam of ancient bathhouses.
On arrival, you’ll be met at the airport (or train station) and transferred to the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace, your luxury accommodation located right on the banks of the mighty Danube. Here, find yourself steeped in the Golden Age splendour of old Budapest, with iron-wrought gates, a stained-glass atrium lobby and a magnificent spa.
At approximately 7pm this evening, soak up panoramic views across the Danube River as you savour a welcome dinner at the hotel.
After breakfast, embark on a city tour of old Buda, located on the western banks of the Danube and modern Pest to the east. Begin with a visit to the magnificent Buda Castle, home to countless Hungarian Kings and still one of the most spectacular landmarks in the city. Enjoy sweeping views from atop ‘Castle Hill’ and continue your tour through the historic Castle District, stepping beneath the shadow of Matthias Church’s millennia-old spires and savouring the sight of the Danube from the height of Gellert Hill. Other highlights include the Citadel, Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, Heroes' Square, City Park and the city’s opera house, home of the Hungarian National Ballet dance company.
Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure – stroll along the city’s fairytale riverbanks, explore the countless Christmas Markets spread throughout, sample your way through the Great Market Hall's assortment of providores and vintners or take a rejuvenating soak in any of Budapest’s famed thermal baths. Alternatively, relax at the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace – spend time at the magnificent spa, sip cocktails at MÚZSA's bar or enjoy afternoon tea accompanied by live harp or piano and fine Hungarian porcelain in the lobby.
After breakfast, enjoy a drinks reception at Budapest Nyugati station – complete with a champagne reception and military band performance – before boarding the Golden Eagle Danube Express. This hotel-on-wheels offers new heights of luxury – each spacious, boutique cabin on board offers private ensuite facilities, a cosy living area and full-length picture windows so you take in every moment of your elegant journey across Eastern Europe. With an elegant dining car and a bar car that doesn’t close until the last patron leaves, a journey across Europe onboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express is unlike anything else in the world.
Settle into your well-appointed cabin and say hello to your fellow travellers in the bar car while the train moves through Hungary’s winter landscape toward Balaton Uplands National Park. Emerge from Balaton’s forests and hillsides and arrive at the small city of Keszthely on Lake Balaton’s western edge. Wander past the city’s grand old townhouses and enjoy a walkthrough of famed Baroque Festetics Palace, built over a century by a succession of Hungarian counts.
After the tour, return to the train for dinner and the overnight journey southwest into Austria.
Approaching the foot of the Austrian Alps this morning, your first stop is at the charming riverside city of Graz. Transferring by coach to the city centre, take a short walking tour of Graz’s Renaissance courtyards and Baroque palaces. Franciscan and Hapsburgian influences also run deeply through the city’s architecture.
This afternoon, as part of the Golden Eagle’s signature Freedom of Choice selection of off-train experiences, you can either attend a pumpkin seed oil tasting, complete with locally made bread and wine, or enjoy time at leisure. If you decide to strike out on your own, be sure to stop by the city’s exciting centre of modern art, Kunsthaus Graz – with architecture designed to make it look like a giant extra-terrestrial, the museum is affectionately known as the ‘Friendly Alien'.
Return to the Golden Eagle Danube Express and enjoy a gourmet lunch onboard before continuing to Vienna for New Year’s Eve celebrations. A vivid metropolis filled with palaces, coffee houses, music and opera halls, Austria’s capital draws millions of visitors every year for its tremendous historical significance: the city was home to Beethoven, Mozart and Sigmund Freud, among many others.
This afternoon, put on your dancing shoes as you take an included Viennese waltz lesson at the prestigious Elmayar Dance School – no experience necessary! – before tonight’s VIP festivities at the exclusive Hofburg Silvester New Year’s Eve Gala Ball. Held in the Rathaus – Vienna’s magnificently Neo-Gothic city hall, and still the seat of government in the city – it’s accompanied by the renowned Wiener Hofball Orchestra, masters of the legendary ‘Viennese sound’ as envisioned at the turn of the 19th century. It’s an extraordinary way to ring in the New Year, surrounded by history, music, waltz and good cheer. Celebrate through midnight before returning to the train in the early hours of the morning.
After brunch and a leisurely morning onboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express, start the day with a magical introduction to Vienna’s cobblestone streets on a horse-drawn carriage ride, leading into a tour of the city’s must-see attractions.
If you’d rather see more of Austria’s splendid countryside, Golden Eagle’s signature Freedom of Choice selection today allows you to visit the famous Schonbrunn Palace – and December’s delightful festive markets trading on the palace grounds – if you prefer, or alternatively explore Heiligenkreuz Abbey, the world’s oldest occupied Cistercian monastery.
Later this evening, return to the train for dinner before leaving Austria as you travel into the Czech Republic.
After breakfast, begin your day in the fascinating South Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site famous for its preserved central castle and stunning assemblage of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Dusted by Christmas snows and gently illuminated in the morning light, the town is a spellbinding introduction to the treasures of the Czech Republic. After a short tour, enjoy free time exploring before returning to the train for lunch and the journey into Prague.
One of the most beautifully preserved cities in Europe, Prague’s spires, architecture and ambience are unmatched. Walk through Old Town Square, cross Charles Bridge, explore the Jewish Quarter and see the Prague astronomical clock, a medieval work of genius and the oldest operating clock in the world.
After dinner on the train this evening, visit Prague’s impressive Municipal House for a private classical concert.
After a hearty breakfast, your tour today takes you by vintage tram up through Castle Hill to the massive Prague Castle, a constant presence on the city’s skyline. Explore the surrounding estate before lunching at the 16th-century Lobkowicz Palace, offering soaring views of the ‘City of a Hundred Spires' and the gently winding Vltava River.
The rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you like – stroll across the iconic Charles Bridge, visit the Prague Jewish Museum or wander through Palac Lucerna, a heritage cultural arcade boasting fascinating boutiques, one of the city’s oldest cinemas and home to celebrated Czech sculptor David Cerny’s controversial work ‘Saint Wenceslas.’
Return to the train in the evening for dinner onboard and the journey back towards Hungary.
Spend your final day of touring by exploring one of Central Europe’s lesser-known gems, the wonderfully preserved city of Kosice. Voted the European Union’s ‘Capital of Culture’ in 2013, Kosice’s communist-come-cosmopolitan flair and shining medieval heritage make it a true highlight. Enjoy a tour of the city’s best, including Kosice’s massive original medieval town square, showcasing relics from the 15th and 16th centuries.
Enjoy one final lunch onboard the train before arriving in Budapest. On disembarkation from the Danube Express, check back into the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace and enjoy a celebratory farewell dinner, reminiscing about your remarkable New Year celebration and toasting with friends made along the way.
After one last decadent breakfast in your hotel, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your onward travels. Your festive adventure comes to a close, but memories will keep you warm through the new year and beyond.