Once you’ve booked your voyage on one Europe’s most renowned and romantic rivers, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to deciding on which shore excursions to book, because there’s simply so much to see. Just to give you a little guidance, here’s a look at five of my favourite cruise excursions you can enjoy while cruising the Danube. Nuremburg World War Two tour Though it’s actually located on the Main-Danube Canal, Nuremburg is a popular starting or ending point for many Danube cruises and with hundreds of years of history to its name, it’s easy to see why. It’s the city’s more recent history which makes for its most absorbing and poignant excursion however, so when your there be sure to book a World War Tour or Nazi History tour. You’ll explore the landmarks of the city which played a key role during the time of the Third Reich, such as the zeppelin field used for Nazi rallies and the Palace of Justice, where the famous Nuremburg trials took place. Salzburg town tour Linz in Austria is a key port of call on Danube river cruises and it’s from here that you can book a tour of Salzburg. Its streets are lined with beautiful baroque buildings and ornate towers and as well as being a wonderfully picturesque town to explore in its own right, it’s home to two very different musical heritages. As well as being the place where The Sound of Music was filmed, it’s also the birthplace of none other than Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and you can visit the very house where the masterful composer was born during your visit. Durnstein town tour and wine-tasting Towns along the banks of the Danube don’t really come more beautiful than Durnstein and if there’s a place that will bring your romantic river cruise dream of strolling quant cobbled streets lined with breathtaking architecture to life, this is it. Nestled in the stunning Wachau Valley, it’s 16th century buildings are an absolute delight and for history lovers, there’s the chance to visit the ruins of the Kuenringer Castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in 1192. Even better, you can refresh yourself after a day’s exploring by tasting some of the excellent locally-produced wine. Vienna tour and evening concert A Danube river cruise gives you the chance to explore one of Europe’s most architecturally beautiful cities, so a Vienna city tour is a must. History is all around in the former capital of the Hapsburg Empire and you’ll be able to see for yourself all the city’s most famous landmarks, including St Stephen’s Cathedral, the Ringstrasse, the Hofburg and its historic UNESCO World Heritage Site city centre. Vienna is also one of the world’s most musical cities and the perfect way to celebrate this is with an evening concert celebrating the music of such greats as Mozart and Strauss. Budapest tour The Danube takes you literally through Hungary’s legendary capital, as it splits the city in half, creating its ‘buda’ and ‘pest’ sides. There’s so much to see here, but to get an overview of one of Europe’s must-see cities, be sure to book a guided tour. You’ll explore both sides – medieval Buda and the more modern pest. In Pest, you’ll be able to see for yourself such breathtaking sites as the State Opera House, the Parliament Building and Heroes Square. Buda is home to the castle district, where you’ll be able to such iconic sites as Matthias Church and the 19th Century folly the Fisherman’s Bastion. By Simon Brotherton Google