Sail through Central Europe on this seven night river cruise from Budapest, taking in Hungary, Slovakia and Austria along the Danube. With guided tours at each stop, full board dining and a drinks package included, this is a straightforward way to see multiple cities without moving hotels, while still having time in each place to explore properly.
MS Riviera Radiance is a five star river cruise ship designed for comfort and ease. The sun deck gives you open air views as the Danube passes by, while the panoramic lounge brings the scenery inside through floor to ceiling windows. Full board dining is included throughout, from breakfast through to multi course dinners each evening, with a drinks package and complimentary tea, coffee and Wi Fi on board. Evenings include live music, a classical recital in Vienna and a Hungarian folklore show on the final night.
The cruise begins and ends in Budapest, built across both sides of the Danube. Buda sits on the hill with its castle and fortress, while Pest stretches out with wide streets and grand buildings. A guided tour covers the Opera House, Parliament Building, Chain Bridge and Buda Castle, with the option to continue on foot through the castle district.
The first stop is Esztergom, Hungary's former royal capital and one of its oldest towns. A guided tour takes you to the famous neoclassical basilica, which sits on a rocky promontory above the Danube and houses one of the world's largest altarpieces. It is a quietly impressive stop and a good introduction to the history of the region.
Bratislava is Slovakia's capital and a city that has come a long way in recent years. The guided walking tour covers the restored Old Town, St Martin's Cathedral, the Primate's Palace and the 17th century fortress above the river. The streets are lively and easy to explore, with plenty of cafés and bars if you want to wander after the tour.
Dürnstein is a small Austrian town best known for the castle ruins above it where Richard the Lionheart was held captive in 1192. You can take a guided walking tour of the town or, if you want the views, hike up to the castle ruins, steep but worth it. In the afternoon, Melk Abbey is one of the standout stops on the route. A vast baroque monastery sitting above the river, its Emperor's Gallery, ornate library and scale make it genuinely hard to forget.
This day offers a choice of two full excursions. Salzburg is Mozart's birthplace, a city of fortress walls, church spires and grand palaces set against a dramatic backdrop. A guided tour covers the main sights before free time to explore at your own pace. Linz is the quieter option, with a baroque old town, a grand central square and the option to ride the Pöstlingbergbahn, one of Europe's steepest narrow gauge railways, up to the hilltop above the city.
Vienna is the highlight of the cruise for many people. The guided tour covers St Stephen's Cathedral, the Hofburg Palace and the Ringstrasse, the grand boulevard lined with the city's most important buildings. The afternoon is free to explore independently, whether that is the Schönbrunn Palace, the Prater park or simply a coffee and a slice of Sachertorte in one of the city's famous coffee houses. In the evening a live classical recital on board brings the day to a fitting close.
Return flights from Dublin to Budapest with Aer Lingus, shared airport transfers, 7 nights on board MS Riviera Radiance in an Emerald Deck stateroom, drinks package, full board dining throughout, complimentary tea, coffee and Wi-Fi, all port charges and taxes. Included activities: guided tour of Esztergom Basilica, guided walking tour of Bratislava, guided tour of Dürnstein or guided hike to castle ruins, guided tour of Melk Abbey, full day excursion to Salzburg or Linz with guided tour, guided tour of Vienna, live classical recital in Vienna and Hungarian folklore show. Gratuities not included. Based on 2 passengers sharing. Flights depart Dublin on 04 April 2027. Price is correct at the time of posting (18 March 2026). Offers are subject to change.
Price from €2,299 per person
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