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, 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 the morning in Budapest at leisure – it's the perfect chance to spend one final morning in the city’s legendary thermal baths.
In the early afternoon, enjoy a drinks reception at Budapest Nyugati station 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 before enjoying a drinks reception and welcome dinner with your fellow travellers while the train moves towards Poland.
After breakfast onboard, the Golden Eagle Danube Express pulls to a stop at Oswiecim, where you will disembark and take a two-hour guided tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau’s concentration camp and adjoining museum. Preserved in time, Auschwitz-Birkenau stands as a stark reminder of the region’s tragic history, allowing guests to reflect on the atrocities of the Holocaust.
Continue by coach into Krakow’s city centre. Poland’s Renaissance spirit shines bright in Krakow, now a lively university town and home to some of the country’s finest bars and restaurants. Enjoy lunch overlooking the Main Market Square – the largest medieval plaza in all of Europe. The city’s Old Town has long been lauded as one of continent's finest, packed with Gothic monuments and masterpiece architecture. Finish with a guided walk through the city’s cobblestone streets, visiting Wawel Royal Cathedral – the original coronation site for Polish monarchs – before enjoying a tour of historic Kazimierz, a neighbournood that's home to Europe’s largest festival devoted to Jewish music and culture.
After breakfast, the Golden Eagle Danube Express will roll into Warsaw. Poland’s eclectic capital, devastated almost beyond repair by war, now stands triumphantly as one Europe’s most exciting cities. Cross the Vistula River and gaze upon Warsaw’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town – it’s one of the continent’s most fascinating skylines, with modern skyscrapers looming high above the historic red roofs of the heritage district. It’s this dazzling melange of tradition and modernity that makes Europe so compelling, and Warsaw displays this impeccably.
Embark on a guided tour through Old Town, following the ancient ‘Royal Route,’ before visiting the former Warsaw Ghetto, another reminder of the region’s profound suffering. Continue to explore Old Town, moving past colourful townhouses and through narrow streets, until you reach the city’s three connected royal residences: Royal Castle, Royal Lazienki and Wilanow Palace. Finish with a visit to Lazienki Royal Park and lunch at the elegant Belvedere Restaurant, one of Warsaw’s most revered culinary institutions.
After lunch, you will have the privilege to experience a private Chopin piano recital at one of the park’s historic palaces, a stirring tribute to one of Poland’s great virtuoso pianists. Return to the train for dinner.
Today visit the picturesque town of Malbork, founded in the 13th century by the chivalric Knights of the Teutonic Order. One of the first hospitalier orders, the Teutonic Order was founded to create hospitals and aid Christians on their pilgrimages to the Holy Land and still exists today – albeit in a modified charitable form. Visit Malbork Castle, the order’s headquarters, one of Poland’s official historic monuments and today home to a valuable collection of artistic amberwares, antique weapons and military equipment.
Return to the train for lunch and continue towards the Baltic Coast and the port city of Gdansk. The city has a fascinating history, being a key location at the start of World War II and the home of the Solidarity movement – the first independent trade union in a Warsaw Pact country to be recognised by the state. It became a symbol of resistance against the government and is considered the tipping point for the fall of the Soviet Union. Explore the city’s waterfront and catch some of the city’s iconic sights – visit the remarkable European Solidarity Centre, experience an organ concert at Oliwa Cathedral and explore Dlugi Targ (‘Long Market’), one of the most remarkable streets in old Gdansk, before returning to the train for dinner.
After breakfast, arrive in Berlin, Germany’s famously glamorous capital, once divided but now packed with superb museums, masterpiece churches, wide boulevards and vibrant culture. Choose to explore the city either by bicycle or bus, with both tours moving through East and West Berlin and the Reichstag, present home to Germany’s parliament. After your tour, enjoy a lunch with spectacular views of the city’s Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag.
This afternoon, enjoy the Golden Eagle’s signature Freedom of Choice selection of experiences – try a tour of the East Side Gallery Berlin Wall Memorial (and an opportunity to drive a VEB Trabant, an authentic East German vehicle) or a visit to a museum of your choice, including the extraordinary Topography of Terror and poignant Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Alternatively, shop through the elegant Kurfurstendamm Boulevard.
Return to the train for dinner.
Arrive in picturesque Dresden and enjoy a visit to Wackerbarth Castle, located in the serene heart of the Elbe Valley. The palace is surrounded by vineyards and has a centuries-long reputation for producing some of the country’s best wines, including a delicious sparkling variety. Embark on a tour of the vines, ending with a wine tasting in which you’ll have a chance to sample Schloss Wackerbarth’s own select drops.
Return to the train for a late lunch and cross the border into Czech Republic, arriving in late afternoon to the beautiful Prague. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and an evening walk through the city’s cobblestone streets, seemingly drawn from a fairy tale.
One of the most beautifully preserved cities in Europe, Prague has spires, architecture and ambience that are simply unmatched. Your tour today takes you from the Vltava River to the massive Prague Castle, a constant presence on the city’s skyline. Walk 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. End your exploration with lunch overlooking the ‘City of a Hundred Spires', soaking up Prague’s splendour as you dine.
After your meal, hop on a vintage tram and ascend the city’s hill to Prague Castle and Saint Vitus Cathedral. These architectural wonders on high offer magnificent views of the city and river. From there, sip cocktails on a relaxing cruise up the Vltava River before returning to the train for an evening of leisure.
The Golden Eagle Danube Express continues its journey south toward the border to Austria and the delightful city of Salzburg. Start your exploration of the city with a visit at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mirabell Palace, a baroque masterpiece built in 1606 by Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich for his beloved mistress, Salome Alt. It’s a spectacular landmark, made additionally famous by its inclusion in The Sound of Music.
Walk a short distance from the palace to Market Square and the former Mozart Residence, now a museum. After learning about Austria’s most legendary composer, cross Makartsteg Bridge into the Old Town and walk down famous Getreidegasse shopping street, renowned for its hundreds of wrought-iron trade signs.
Continue to Hellbrunn Palace, home to a collection of wonderful ‘trick fountains’, each absurd, beautiful and delightfully mischievous. The palace was a summer retreat for another of Salzburg’s zany prince-archbishops, Markus Sittikus von Hohenems, and makes for an afternoon filled with mystery and surprise.
Return to the train in the evening for dinner.
Enjoy your final breakfast onboard as you cross the breathtaking valleys of Semmering Pass before arriving in Vienna at lunchtime. A vivid metropolis filled with palaces, coffee houses, music and opera halls, Austria’s capital draws millions of visitors every year for it’s tremendous historical significance: the city was home to Beethoven, Mozart and Sigmund Freud, among many others. Discover over one hundred food and antique stalls at the lively Naschmarkt, visit the famous Schonbrunn Palace or enjoy the day exploring the city’s treasures at your leisure.
This evening, visit the Palais Auersperg for a private concert featuring the Vienna Supreme Orchestra, a tribute to Vienna's contributions in elevating classical music to new heights.
Tonight’s accommodation is at Hotel Bristol, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Vienna, an Art Deco palace imagined by renowned designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. Every element of the hotel has been meticulously designed to provide authentic Viennese charm – opera-inspired decor and European hospitality perfectly blend to provide a stay unlike anywhere else.
After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye as you are transferred to Vienna International Airport (VIE) for your onward journey.