It’s not long after 7am and in the gathering light of a crisp autumnal morning Vienna’s elegant streets are deliciously deserted and devoid of the usual tourist hordes. Even locals are few and far between. Exploring the Austrian capital as it starts to wake up gives me a privileged feeling of peeking behind the scenes,...
As my leg muscles start to scream in protest at the seemingly never-ending spiral stone staircase, I’m forced to admit that I can’t keep up with my fellow passengers on this river cruise tour. Most of them have long since leapt past me like springy young gazelles as we make the arduous ascent of Vienna’s...
The Rhine-Main-Danube canal is a 106-mile-long waterway connecting three major rivers of Europe and allowing free flow of traffic between the North Sea and the Black Sea. Beginning in the German town of Bamberg on the Main river, the canal travels to Kelheim in Bavaria, where it meets the Danube river. The history of the...
Located in Central and Eastern Europe, the Danube River is the second-longest river in Europe, after the Volga. The Danube River offers a diverse selection of regions and destinations to visit, each featuring local delicacies and unique landscapes to admire at every turn. Where does the Danube River go? Passing through ten countries and flowing...
Austria’s Wachau Valley is an unexpected star of Danube cruises, its pastoral charms making it one of the highlights of sailings heading westwards towards Germany. Yet for the uninitiated, this peaceful panoramic region is generally overshadowed by the glories of the historic cities sitting along the Danube’s banks, with the trio of high-profile capitals, Vienna,...
Europe’s second longest river (after the Volga in Russia), the Danube has for centuries served as an essential lifeline for transport and trade. The waterway has halted armies, divided countries and inspired poems and waltzes, not least the famous Blue Danube. Composer Johann Strauss may have been something of a fantasist, as the river is...
Budapest is wonderfully grand, but if you look closer, you will find a fascinating city whose rough edges have been shaped by history. River cruises almost always overnight in the compact Hungarian capital as there is so much to see here. You are docked right in the heart of the action as the Danube flows...
A mix of stunning architecture, thermal baths and Hungarian scenery, the towns of Buda and Pest are brought effortlessly together by the River Danube. Budapest is a vibrant capital city that is perfect for those seeking a contemporary fusion of past and present. Read on to see our top unmissable experiences for your next visit...
When sailing the Danube, the possibilities are endless when it comes to food. Visiting ten countries in total, the river offers a wide variety of dishes for guests to sample when cruising through the region. Crossing through Austria, Germany and Romania (to name a few), your dream Danube journey is bound to feature at least...
Germany is as rich in rivers as it is in history. Waterways like the Rhine and Moselle open the door to a range of fascinating destinations right across the country. And we aren’t just talking about iconic cities like Berlin and Cologne. Nuremberg is a true hidden gem. Despite being the second largest city in...
This informative and in-depth guide offers not only a fascinating overview of the world’s most incredible regions,
but also some of their most exciting ports and cities as well as all the amazing things you can do there.
To help you get the very best out of these destinations, we've assembled a selection of exclusive
tailor-made offers in each region, which include voyages on the world's best cruise ships as well
as stays in a selection of hand-picked hotels.