Sail the Danube and see the Lipizzaners with Lucy Worsley

Itinerary

1. Day

   1

   Arrive in Engelhartszell, Austria

   Engelhartszell, Austria

   Today you'll arrive in Engelhartszell and board your home for the next seven nights, the stylish A-ROSA FLORA, checking in to your well equipped outside cabin.

2. Day

   2

   Vienna, Austria

   Vienna, Austria

   Today you'll arrive in Vienna, one of the most elegant and enchanting cities on the banks of the Danube. Rich in culture and gastronomy, this enchanting city boasts baroque palaces, beautifully-tended gardens and grand coffee houses where you'll feel as if you've stepped back in time. Schoenbrunn palace is particularly impressive and you may wish to visit during your time in the city.

   Today you'll enjoy a guided tour of the city with your group, before meeting Lucy at a local venue where she will deliver a talk.

   An overnight stay in Vienna will be one of the highlights of your Danube cruise. You may decide to put on your glad rags and head out for a classical music concert. Whatever you decide to do, you'll be glad to return to your stylish and comfortable ship for a restful night's sleep.

3. Day

   3

   The Royal Lippizaner Stables

   Vienna, Austria

   After breakfast on your ship, you'll set out this morning for an exclusive visit to the Royal Lippizaner Stables with Lucy Worsley. You'll get a fascinating insight into the training work of the riders and their beautiful Lipizzaner horses.

   On arrival, you'll enjoy an aperitif and an introductory talk. You'll then be able to watch the training of the often grey young stallions as well as the already trained school stallions - the 'white stars' - in the imperial atmosphere of the baroque winter riding school, accompanied by classical Viennese music.

   After a wonderful morning at the stables with Lucy, you'll transfer back to the ship for lunch and to spend the rest of the day at leisure.

4. Day

   4

   Esztergom, Hungary

   Esztergom, Hungary

   Today's first port of call is Esztergom, a pretty Hungarian town on a picturesque stretch of the River Danube

   The first thing you'll see as you approach is the enormous basilica that crowns this historic town. With an impressive history stretching back to the birth of the nation's first king, St Stephen, Esztergom has been the seat of Catholicism in Hungary for over 1,000 years.

   Prepare to be astounded by the scale of the Basilica up close, with its monumental 118-metre dome. Continuous excavations since 1930 have uncovered a treasure trove of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Ottoman styles.

   Next, it's time to set sail for Budapest. Straddling both sides of the water, the 'Pearl of the Danube' is chock-full of imperial buildings, dramatic history and contrasting scenery.

   This will be your first evening in the bustling Hungarian capital, where you'll dock overnight.

5. Day

   5

   Budapest, Hungary

   Budapest, Hungary

   This morning, after another delicious breakfast on board, you'll head out to explore more of Budapest. Today is yours to explore independently, or you could choose to book an extra excursion in the city (at your own expense).

   On the Buda side of the Danube, you'll see a landscape of rolling hills and gloriously over-the-top buildings, the impressive Hungarian Houses of Parliament amongst them. Over in former Pest, you'll find a more buzzy, bohemian feel, with an eclectic mix of cafes, bars and restaurants perfectly complementing the more upmarket Buda.

   There's a whole host of history to discover on a visit to Budapest too. While the city retains its Golden Age glamour, its more recent past is everywhere you look. You'll find poignant reminders of WWII and the 1956 Uprising, including bullet holes and shrapnel marks, as well as the moving Shoes on the Danube memorial.

6. Day

   6

   Bratislava, Slovakia

   Bratislava, Slovakia

   You'll arrive in Slovakia's capital, Bratislava this morning, where you'll go on a guided walking tour. Squeezed snugly between Austria and Hungary, Bratislava may be compact, but it packs a punch in history and culture.

   Bratislava's location has made it a meeting point of cultures since ancient times, and you can expect to see these influences play out in every corner of the city.

   There's a medieval and Gothic old town which buzzes with the sound of different languages and nationalities, grand baroque palaces built by Hungarian nobility and communist-era blocks and a unique futuristic bridge reflecting its more recent past.

   Travel outside of Bratislava, along the banks of the River Danube, and you'll also find the surrounding area is incredibly beautiful too, and just north of the city there are excellent vineyards nestled in the Small Carpathian mountains waiting to be discovered.

7. Day

   7

   The Wachau Valley, Austria

   Krems, Austria

   Today's first stop is a small town which packs a big punch. Krems might not be one of the better-known locations on the Danube, but it has plenty to offer both culturally and scenically, with story-book churches and museums to discover on a meandering walk along the Danube's banks.

   You can join an optional tour to explore Krems, the Wachau Valley by coach and visit the famous Baroque Abbey at Melk. Set high above the Danube and commanding incredible views across this area's beautiful valleys and Melk's cobbled streets, Melk Abbey is full of fascinating artefacts and boasts a stunning library with an intricately frescoed ceiling, spiral staircase and thousands upon thousands of books.

   Or stay on board and you'll set sail along an unbeatably scenic stretch of the Danube, the Wachau Valley, on the way to Melk. Famed for its charming towns dotting verdant landscapes, the Wachau Valley is best enjoyed from the Sun Deck or balcony of the ship.

   After spending some time simply absorbing the spectacular scenery on your journey, you'll arrive in Melk.

8. Day

   8

   Departure

   Engelhartszell, Austria

   Today you'll dock in your final port of call on this cruise, Engelhartzell. You'll begin your journey home as your Danube adventure comes to an end.