Today, your travels take you to Switzerland as you transfer by coach to Saint Moritz. Here, you’ll have time to stroll the streets of this luxury resort town before boarding the Bernina Express railway. Regarded as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world, your route takes you through the Engadin Valley and up to the Bernina Pass.
Your journey today finishes in Tirano, where you’ll board your return coach to Milan for an evening at leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 5.5 hours / Train – approx. 2.5 hours
Saint Moritz visit
Bernina Pass rail journey
Continue your tour with another train journey to Stresa, on the shores of Lake Maggiore. After checking into your hotel, explore the town’s belle epoque architecture and scenic waterfront as you please.
Travel time: Train – approx. two hours
Today, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the Borromean Islands. Following breakfast, take a ferry to the islands of Isola Bella and Isola Madre, famous for their baroque palaces and verdant gardens.
Continue on to discover Lake Como via the Centovalli (‘A Hundred Valleys’) Railway, widely considered one of the most spectacular lines in the world. Travel from Domodossola to Locarno, where you will stop to enjoy the Swiss lakeside town.
Upon arrival in Lake Como, enjoy the evening at leisure at your hotel.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 2.5 hours / Train – approx. 90 minutes
Centovalli rail journey
Locarno visit
Lake Como stay
Today you will enjoy a full-day tour of Lake Como and Bellagio. Your morning will start with a walking tour of Como’s city centre before you set off on a cruise across the lake. Enjoy an afternoon spent freely in Bellagio, known as the ‘Pearl of the Lake’, before returning to Como.
Lake Como stay
Bid farewell to Como after breakfast, then venture onward to Bergamo by coach. Here, you’ll enjoy lunch and the chance to explore the city. Ascend the Citta Alta, guarded by 16th-century Venetian Walls, and discover its narrow streets and generational cafes.
Later, continue to your lakeside hotel at Lake Garda.
Travel time: Driving – approx. three hours
Today is yours at leisure in Bardolino on the shores of Lake Garda. Familiarise yourself with the local olive oil production, sample the town’s wines or stroll the shoreline of Italy’s largest lake.
This morning, head to Romeo and Juliet’s home city and see its main attractions, from the Verona Arena, Piazza delle Erbe and the fabled houses of Shakespeare’s young lovers.
Later, venture into the Valpolicella region, renowned for its rolling landscapes and vineyards. Taste famed Amarone wines in the countryside before returning to Lake Garda for an evening spent freely.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 90 minutes
Today, you will head to Venice by coach, followed by an hour of free time for lunch, then enjoy a 30-minute gondola ride (shared) through the city’s canals, enjoy a walking tour and then reach your hotel in Murano, one of a series of small islands linked by lagoon-spanning bridges.
After check-in, discover the ancient art of glass-blowing in a traditional furnace. While originally settled by the Romans and cherished for its salt production, Murano quickly developed a reputation for mirror-making and masterpiece glass beads, and is still famous for the craft today.
Over the next 48 hours, you can easily travel across the streets and bridges of Venice using your included Vaporetto pass.
Travel time: Driving – approx. two hours
Spend the day exploring the floating city of Venice. Visit the Glass Factory and enjoy a guided walking visit through the narrow alleys and across small bridges to discover the city’s main attractions, including the Rialto Bridge, Piazza San Marco with its basilica, Doge’s Palace and Bridge of Sighs.
Later, enjoy an afternoon free to further explore at leisure.
Wave goodbye to Venice this morning after breakfast as you make your own way to the Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) for your included flight to Vienna International Airport (VIE). Arrive in Vienna and make your own way to the cruise terminal for check-in to your Riverside Luxury Cruise from 2pm.
This afternoon, you’ll have time to settle in and soak up the city’s grand first impressions. Vienna’s Baroque streetscapes and imperial palaces reflect centuries of Habsburg influence, while its cafes and concert halls still hum with the spirit of Mozart and Strauss. From the majestic Ringstrasse to the quiet elegance of cobbled courtyards, the city invites exploration.
This afternoon offers the chance to join an excursion, included in your cruise package – perhaps a sweeping introduction to the highlights of Vienna or a deeper look inside the opulent Hofburg Palace and its glittering Imperial Treasury. There may be glimpses of the Spanish Riding School or echoes of classical music spilling from historic halls.
In the evening, the Riverside Mozart sets sail along the Danube. As the city lights recede, guests can raise a glass – premium drinks flow freely onboard – during a refined dinner in one of the ship’s elegant restaurants to toast an all-inclusive journey through the heart of Europe.
Please note:
- Port transfers are not included, guests must make their own way from the airport to the cruise terminal for cruise embarkation.
- Requests for Riverside Suite upgrades must be selected at checkout for booking purposes.
The journey continues west along the Danube to Melk, a small riverside town crowned by its magnificent Baroque abbey. Perched high above the water, the Melk Abbey remains an active Benedictine monastery and a symbol of Austria’s heritage. Guests may have the opportunity to explore its grand halls or perhaps venture further afield to visit nearby Artstetten Castle, once home to Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Other possible excursions might include tasting local pastries on a working farm or cycling through the countryside on an e-bike tour.
In the afternoon, the ship continues to Grein, an historic town nestled at the edge of the Wachau Valley. With its cobbled streets and pastel facades, Grein offers a glimpse of small-town Austria at its most charming. The town’s Rococo theatre – Austria’s oldest still in use – lies tucked within the timber-framed town hall and stands as a rare relic of 18th-century cultural life. Nearby, Greinburg Castle houses a fascinating maritime museum dedicated to the river’s long history of trade and travel.
Back onboard the Riverside Mozart, guests can enjoy the comforts of all-inclusive luxury – whether that means sipping wine at the Blue Bar Grill, relaxing in the steam bath or watching the river slip by from the Jacuzzi on the upper deck.
Depart charming Grein this morning for the storybook town of Durnstein, set beneath vine-covered hills in the heart of the Wachau Valley. Its pastel facades and winding laneways lead to the blue-and-white tower of the Augustinian abbey – one of the Danube’s most recognisable landmarks. Guests might choose to explore the town’s wine culture, sample regional produce or hike to the hilltop ruins where Richard the Lionheart was once held captive. Others may venture further along the river to the nearby town of Krems, home to the Art Mile and the Lower Austria State Gallery.
In the afternoon, the Riverside Mozart makes its return to Vienna for another chance to wander the city’s palaces, museums and cafes – either on an included excursion or at your own pace.
Back on board, the ship’s all-inclusive luxuries await. Perhaps a relaxing soak in the Jacuzzi, a glass of Gruner Veltliner on the Upper Deck or an elegant dinner with river views at Waterside.
With a full day docked in Vienna, you’ll have the freedom to explore the city on your own terms or join an included excursion you may not have taken earlier in the journey. It’s a second chance to visit grand landmarks like the Hofburg Palace and the Imperial Treasury’s priceless regalia.
Alternatively, spend the day exploring Vienna’s quieter charms and stroll through the Naschmarkt, browsing the art nouveau pavilions of the Karlsplatz, or visit the Secession Building, home to Klimt’s striking ‘Beethoven Frieze’.
For those who prefer to unwind, the Riverside Mozart offers a day of indulgence at a gentler pace. Recline with a book in the library, enjoy a quiet moment in the Finnish sauna or book a spa treatment for a dose of relaxation. There’s time to linger over lunch at the Bistro or take in panoramic views from the Vista Grill & Bar. As evening approaches, fine wines await in the Vintage Room – perfect for a night of celebration on board.
Today brings the Riverside Mozart to Esztergom, once the royal seat of Hungary and still one of its most important religious centres. The skyline is dominated by the vast Esztergom Basilica, perched high above the river on Castle Hill. As the largest church in the country, it holds centuries of ecclesiastical history within its soaring dome, echoing with sacred music and crowned by views across the Danube.
You may choose to explore the basilica’s treasury or visit its grand library, perhaps sampling traditional dishes inspired by old recipes once served at the cardinal’s table. For an adventure, cross the Danube by e-bike, tracing both shores of this dramatic stretch of river or venture south to the craggy ruins of Visegrad Fortress – once a medieval gateway to the Danube Bend, now a striking lookout over one of the river’s most scenic curves.
Back on board, the comforts of the ship await – whether that’s a quiet moment in the spa, a drink on the sun deck or a leisurely evening meal as the Danube flows on towards Budapest.
The Riverside Mozart sails into Budapest this morning, marking the final stop on the Danube journey. With its twin cities of Buda and Pest straddling the river, Hungary’s capital offers a full day of discovery – whether you choose to explore on an excursion or chart your own path through the city’s layered streets and grand architecture.
Included excursions today could range from a panoramic city tour with a glimpse of the elegant Opera House, to a riverside e-bike ride, a guided visit inside the Hungarian Parliament or even a boat trip to the charming town of Szentendre for a Greek meze tasting.
In the evening, those wishing to mark the journey’s end in style may choose to attend a private farewell concert with champagne at the opulent Wenckheim Palace – a fitting finale to a journey of culture, comfort and riverfront beauty.
After a final breakfast onboard, disembark the Riverside Mozart in Budapest before 9am. From here, make your own way to Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) for your onward travel.