Blue Danube Rail Tour, Melk Cruise. Visit the historic cities of Regensburg, Passau, Linz and Vienna by traveling along the beautiful Blue Danube! Enjoy a River Cruise to Melk and into the Danube Valley, visit Salzburg, Munich and Neuschwanstein Castle!
View of Passau ©François Philipp
Blue Danube Rail Tour, Melk Cruise. The rail tour includes unrestricted 2nd-class Rail tickets. We can upgrade the tour to first class rail for an extra of US $ 149 per person. This includes seat reservations for the long distance rails. For details of what exactly is included in this vacation package please see the tableau this is already included in the price of your tour). Here you also find everything else that is included: rail tickets, hotels, and tours.
Price per Person
| two sharing a double room | one in a single room | three sharing a triple room |
| US $ 1,479 | US $ 2,319 | US $ 1,379 |
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Day 1 Frankfurt
It only takes 11 minutes from the Airport local train station located below baggage claim in arrival Hall 1 of Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) to Frankfurt Central Station. Your hotel is located in short walking distance of Frankfurt Central Station. Although Frankfurt is not part of the Romantic Road, it still is an honorable location to start this Romantic Road Coach tour. Frankfurt is a very modern metropolis which nevertheless offers many historic sites such as the Romerberg (hill of the Romans) with its beautifully restored timber-framed houses, of course the Goethe Haus where the world famous poet once lived, the Paulskirche, symbol for democracy and freedom in Germany, “Alt-Sachsenhausen“, where in Schellgasse number 6 you will find Frankfurt’s oldest timber-framed house which was built around 1291, to name only a few of Frankfurt’s historic landmarks.
Frankfurt Opera House ©Thomas H. Giesick and Regensburg Stone Bridge ©Stadt Regensburg
The Frankfurt Museum Riverbank is one of the most important locations for museums in Germany and Europe. The exhibition buildings are lined up on both sides of the Main riverbank, several famous museums are to be found in the city centre. Visit the “Stadel“, the German Museum of Architecture as well as the Museum of Applied Art or the “Schirn Kunsthalle” to name only a very few. Don’t miss out on Frankfurt’s “Zeil“, a huge pedestrian zone where shopping is the name of the game. So, if you arrive early enough in Frankfurt, visiting this interesting metropolis is certainly worthwhile.
Day 2 Regensburg
In a little more than three hours the High-speed train (ICE) will take you from Frankfurt Central Station to Regensburg on Day 2 of your Blue Danube Vacation Package. Your hotel is located in walking distance from Regensburg Central Station. You will be welcomed with legendary Bavarian hospitality into the best-preserved medieval city in Germany, where two thousand years of history remain alive today. Regensburg has a long history of imperial significance. The buildings, towers and churches offer an unspoiled peek into the past. You need not be a student of history to get a strong sense of what life was like in the days of old in Regensburg. Visit the dungeons, inquisition chamber and the exhibition of books and prints illustrating the history of the Imperial Diet. Castles, churches, monasteries and St. Peter’s Cathedral bear testimony to the grandeur of the prosperous medieval era, which is also brought to life in the many museums with their valuable and fascinating collections. The Stone Bridge and the Old Town Hall, set in the heart of the medieval city, are among the most important historic buildings in Germany.
Passau ©BAYERN TOURISMUS Marketing GmbH and Linz ©Archiv TVLinz – Röbl 2007
Day 3 Passau
Day 3 of your Blue Danube vacation package takes you to Passau. It only takes about an hour from Regensburg to Passau. Your hotel is located in walking distance of Passau Central Station. Passau is so close to Austria that it only takes a 20 minute walk from the city center to cross the border between Germany and Austria. The city is also called “City of Three Rivers“: from the north the river “Ilz” and from the south the river “Inn” flow into the Danube, which came with you from Regensburg, located west of Passau.
You have a full day for sightseeing in Passau which can easily be explored by foot. The New Bishops Residence, the Gothic Town Hall, the Passau St. Stephen’s Cathedral and many historic churches are located in Passau’s Old Town. The Cathedral has the largest organ built in a Cathedral, it has 17,774 pipes and 233 registers.
If you walk towards the end of the Old Town you will get to a park, this is where the River Inn flows into the Blue Danube. Included in the price of your tour is a short, 45 minutes River Cruise. On board of your cruise ship you will enjoy the unforgettable view of Passau, see St. Stephan‘s Cathedral from the water as well as the confluence of the three rivers: Danube, Inn and Ilz.
After sightseeing you may be ready for a hearty dinner and a refreshing beer! A visit of a typical Bavarian Gasthaus, like the “Altes Braeuhaus” (brewhouse), is almost a “most do” when on a holiday in Bavaria. The historic guesthouse is located in the historic Old Town of Passau.
Day 4 Linz
In the morning you continue your Danube Germany & Austria Rail tour by taking the High-Speed “ICE” train from Passau across the German/Austrian border directly to Linz. Again – your travel time will only be a little more than an hour. Your hotel is located in walking distance from Linz Central Station.
In Linz you will find modern architecture as well as baroque buildings. Maybe you want to start exploring the city from the main square. The so called “Hauptplatz” has been one of the largest urban squares since the 13th century and it is said that because of this square – which was used as a market square – the city soon experienced an economic boom. The impressive Trinity Column is located in the center of the Hauptplatz. It is 20 meters high and made out of white marble.
At the end of the Hauptplatz you also find the Old Cathedral. It was constructed by the Jesuits from 1669 to 1683. Anton Bruckner was cathedral organist here from 1856 to 1868. The organ was built according to his plans and it still is in its original state. The “Pöstlingberg” is Linz’s local mountain and from there you have a fantastic panorama over the Blue Danube, the city and its park-lands. The best way to climb this hill is a ride on the mountain railway: it takes about 20 minutes from the city to the top of the hill. Of course, you can not be in Linz without trying a piece of the famous “Linzer Torte”. It is considered the oldest known cake in the world. It was already mentioned by name as early as 1653.
Day 5 Vienna
In about an hour and a half the High-Speed “ICE” train will take you from Linz to Vienna located in the east of Austria, close to the borders to Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. On your first day in Vienna you may want to visit the Imperial Palace, for example, the “Hofburg Vienna”, the center of the former Habsburg Empire. The Palace was Sisi´s Imperial home and household, and the Imperial Apartments, the Sisi Museum and the Silver Collection can be visited here. At the Vienna Hofburg you also find the Spanish Riding School where you may want to watch a performance or join a practice session and also the Old Town Hall which is close by. In immediate walking distance of the Hofburg you will find the State Opera House, definitely one of the world’s most famous Opera Houses where the Vienna Opera Ball takes place every year. St. Stephen’s Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna and it is a “must see” as well as smaller churches like the “Universitatskirche” (Jesuits Church) and the “Peterskirche” (St. Peter’s Church).
Another option is to visit the “Ringstrasse”, a circular road around the inner city districts of Vienna. In the 19th century the road was replacing the Old City Wall which had been built in the 13th century. Many of the buildings you find along this road, the Austrian Parliament Building or the University of Vienna for example, were built around the 1850´s. You may also want to visit Schonbrunn Palace and its beautiful Garden. Your Vienna Card covers the fare to get there; the subway station “Schonbrunn” (subway line U4) is very close to the entrance of Schonbrunn Palace, once the summer residence of the Habsburg family and home of Maria Theresa. The Rococo palace is one of the most important architectural, cultural and historical monuments in Austria and nowadays is one of the most visited sights in Vienna. It all started with the building of a mansion on hunting grounds in 1548 just outside of Vienna. The impressive Palace in its present form (it has 1,441 rooms!) was built and remodeled around the 1750s by Maria Theresa. Make sure to plan in some time for a visit of Schonbrunn Garden before you take the subway back to the city center.
Schoenbrunn Palace and Church of Mariahilf in Vienna ©Österreich Werbung
Day 6 Day trip into the Danube Valley, Melk and Danube River Cruise
Today you will be picked up at your hotel for a day trip which takes you from Vienna into the Wachau, a picturesque valley along the Danube, known for its excellent wine. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you enjoy the view of medieval castles, impressive monasteries and a breathtaking landscape along this tour.
You will first travel from Vienna to Krems, a pretty town on the banks of the Danube River. After a short visit of the historical city Centre the bus tour continues on to Spitz. Along the way you will see the ruins of Duernstein Castle, where the English King Richard the Lionheart was held captive. By boat you will cruise on the Danube River downstream to the town of Melk. Lush vineyards shape the landscape of the Danube Valley – the views on both sides of the Danube are spectacular!
After the boat trip, you arrive at Melk where the bus awaits you and takes you to the nearby Benedictine Abbey. This impressive baroque building was awarded the prize “Best Historic Destination of the World” together with the Wachau in 2008. On a guided tour you will see the magnificent marble hall, the precious abbey library and the church with its unique frescoes. After this enjoyable day trip, we take you back from the Danube Valley to the Vienna State Opera. In the evening enjoy a nice dinner and to get back to your hotel.
Mozart Birth Place Salzburg and Munich New Town Hall ©Thomas H. Giesick
Day 7 Salzburg
In about 2 hours and 40 minutes the high-speed “Rail Jet” (RJ) will take you throughout Austria, from Vienna located in the east of Austria to Salzburg, all the way in the west of Austria, right at the German border. Salzburg, beautiful town close to the Alp Mountains, birthplace of Mozart is also the site of the popular movie “The Sound of Music”. Your hotel is located in walking distance of Salzburg Central Station and in the early afternoon – after you have checked in – you will join the English-speaking most unique 4-hour Sound of Music tour yourself! This tour is an ideal opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Maria von Trapp while taking in local historical sights both from the city of Salzburg and also the picturesque lakes and mountains surrounding the city. After the tour you may want to walk across the Salzach River to take a look at Mozart’s birth house and the small shopping streets in the area. Here you also find a wide choice of restaurants for dinner.
Day 8 Munich
On board of the high-speed “Rail Jet” (RJ) you will continue your travels along the Germany and Austria Rail tour back into Germany; it takes about 1:40 hours from Salzburg to Munich Central Station. Your hotel is located in short walking distance from the station. The price of your tour already includes free use of public transportation within Munich. You may want to visit Munich Residence and Residence Museum, Treasury, Cuvilliés-Theatre, Hall of Fame and Statue of Bavaria, Nymphenburg Palace and Park, Marstallmuseum, Museum of Nymphenburg Porcelain. With your tour package you will also receive walking suggestions for a self-guided walking tour through Munich City Center. Along this walking tour you will visit the Marienplatz with the New Town Hall (with the “Glockenspiel”), the Konigsplatz (King´s Square), cultural center in the 19th century and later, during the “Third Reich”, site of Nazi Party mass rallies and location of the Nazi Party headquarters in Germany, the English Garden as well as the the State Opera House. You will be able to visit famous churches like Munich Frauenkirche, “Dom zu Unserer Lieben Frau (Cathedral of Our Dear Lady), with a height of 325 ft. a Munich landmark, St. Peters Church, built in the 14th century and the Asam Church, which was built as a private chapel and integrated into an apartment building. The tour will pass by the most famous Munich shopping streets (Kaufinger street and Neuhauser street) as well as by the “Viktualienmarkt”, a traditional farmers market (open every day except on Sundays). The tour will take you by the famous “Alois Dallmayr” luxury delicatessen and coffee store as well as to the Hofbrauhaus of course, probably the world’s most popular beer hall. This may be a great place to enjoy a hearty dinner and a fresh Mass of beer (one mug holds 33.8 US fl oz)!
Day 9 Munich Int. Airport
Today your tour ends after breakfast. Depending on the departure time of your flight from Munich International Airport take the train to Munich International Airport at your convenience. As an option you may also consider to extend your stay in Munich and/or return to Frankfurt or Frankfurt International Airport by train or coach. We will be happy to arrange those options for you. Please note that this tour can also be booked vice versa, from Munich Int. Airport to Frankfurt Int. Airport!
Would you like to download an overview of the 9 Day Blue Danube Rail Tour and Melk Cruise (9R10) as a pdf to print it out or to forward it to a friend? Please download it right here:This is already included in the price of your tour
| Day 1 - Frankfurt Int. Airport to Frankfurt Central Station/ Frankfurt | Unrestricted ticket (not restricted to a specific time or train type) from Frankfurt Int. Airport to Frankfurt Central Station (travel time about 10 minutes) | Hotel Concord (or similar if not available), located within 5 walking minutes from Frankfurt Central Station | |
| Day 2 - Frankfurt to Regensburg/ Regensburg | Ticket - also valid for High-Speed "ICE" trains) from Frankfurt directly to Regensburg (travel time about 3:00 hrs) | Park Hotel Maximilian (or similar if not available), located about 2 mi from Regensburg Central Station - (3 walking minutes) | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Frankfurt |
| Day 3 - Regensburg to Passau/ Passau | Ticket - also valid for High-Speed "ICE" trains) from Regensburg directly to Passau (travel time about an hour) | Hotel Konig (or similar if not available), located within 10 walking minutes from Passau Central Station | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Regensburg |
| Day 4 - Passau to Linz/ Linz | Ticket - also valid for High-Speed "ICE" trains) from Regensburg directly to Passau (travel time about an hour) | Park Inn Linz Hotel (or similar if not available), located within 10 walking minutes from Linz Central Station | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Passau, 45 minutes 3 Rivers Cruise |
| Day 5 - Linz to Vienna/ Vienna | Ticket - also valid for High-Speed "ICE" trains) from Linz directly to Vienna (travel time about 1:50 hrs) | Hotel Schani Wien (or similar if not available), located within 10 walking minutes from Vienna Central Station | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Linz |
| Day 6 - Day trip into the Danube Valley, Melk and Danube River Cruise/ Vienna | no train ticket needed | Hotel Schani Wien (or similar if not available), located within 10 walking minutes from Vienna Central Station | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Vienna, Day Trip thru Danube Valley (by coach and boat) |
| Day 7 - Vienna to Salzburg/ Salzburg | Ticket - also valid for High-Speed "Rail-Jet" trains) from Vienna directly to Salzburg (travel time about 2:25 hrs) | Mozart Hotel (or similar if not available), located within 10 walking minutes from Salzburg Central Station | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Vienna, 4 hr Sound of Music tour |
| Day 8 - Salzburg to Munich/ Munich | Ticket - also valid for High-Speed "Rail-Jet" trains) from Salzburg directly to Munich (travel time about 1:30 hrs), ticket for unlimited free use of the public transportation system (buses, trams, subways) within Munich | King´s Hotel Center (or similar if not available), located within 10 walking minutes from Munich Central Station | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Salzburg, Munich All Day Pass |
| Day 9 - Munich Central Station to Munich Int. Airport/ Munich Int. Airport | Ticket from Munich Central Station to Munich Int. Airport (travel time about 45 minutes) | no hotel needed | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Munich |
The tour package we provide includes a day by day itinerary as well as all tickets, vouchers and information necessary to enjoy a great independent tour. It also contains general information about the cities you visit which you can downloaded from our website once your tour is confirmed.
This is not included in the price of your tour
- Airfare from your origin to Frankfurt Int. Airport/from Munich Int. Airport to your origin
- all meals other than breakfast (which is included)
- gratuities (tips)
You have booked the tour already and would like to download the to-europe tour package for this tour now? Please download them right here:
10-DAY CENTRAL EUROPEAN RAIL TOUR Hi Thomas, I meant to send you an email yesterday right after I came back from the vacation but I was tied up with other things – few pending business related work from my company. Both my wife and I really enjoyed European vacation trip you arranged for us. All extra activities you arranged for us such as dinner cruse on evening, city bus tour, etc. were very good and all choice of the hotel in different cities were excellent. Train ride between cities was also very smooth and good. In overall, we had a really good time and very satisfied with your services. Thank you! – In Don B., Vancouver, BC, Canada
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