Imperial Cities and Danube Cruise (Passau-Budapest)

From London St Pancras, we take the Eurostar to Brussels then continue by rail to Cologne where we have dinner and spend the night.

• Dinner

After breakfast we take the train journey to Berlin where we arrive in the afternoon to spend the night. The rest of your day is free to get to know the city, before dinner at the our hotel.

• Dinner

This morning we take a guided tour of Berlin, soaking up the sights of this once divided city. We see the incredible Brandenburg Gate, a monument important to Berliners because it was heavily bombed and fiercely fought over, prior to the surrender of Germany in 1945, surviving with only a few bullet holes. We also see a section of the Berlin Wall, and visit the Reichstag, meeting place of the current German parliament. At lunchtime we continue our journey to Prague by rail where we arrive this afternoon. We check into our hotel where we dine this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We enjoy a guided tour of the colourful Czech capital today, starting at Prague's impressive Hradcany Castle, the largest medieval complex in Europe, where entry is included. We also walk across the 14th century Charles Bridge, and pass the Gothic spires of St Vitus' Cathedral, where entrance is included. The rest of your day is at leisure in this vibrant city, before dinner back at the hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We make the short walk to Prague station for the train to Passau, travelling via Linz. On arrival in the afternoon, we join our Amadeus ship and are welcomed with a cocktail in the lounge before settling into our surroundings and enjoying dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Regensberg is our port of call this morning, which we explore on foot after lunch onboard our ship. This medieval town contains many buildings that testify to its history as a trading centre and to its influence on the whole region from the 9th century onwards. One of its most famous sights is the 12th century Old Stone Bridge, which is surrounded by local myths and legends. You have time to continue exploring this delightful town at leisure before we set sail again and enjoy dinner back on board this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We arrive back into Passau this morning where you have a choice of excursions. You could head further into the countryside for a day spent amidst the spectacular scenery of the Austrian lakes. This includes UNESCO listed Hallstatt - one of Austria's most photographed villages, whose traditional pastel-coloured houses are perched on the tiny plain between the mountains and Hallstättersee Lake - and Mondsee. This pretty town is set on a lake and is best known for its 15th-century parish church, which featured in the wedding scenes of 'The Sound of Music'. You could also choose to travel by coach via Mondsee to Salzburg, one of Austria's most famous cities and Mozart's birthplace. A guided sightseeing tour reveals the city's stunning Baroque architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We return to our ship for another delicious dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we journey by coach to Melk Abbey, enjoying entrance to this 11th century Benedictine Abbey which stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube, and the Abbey Church, considered one of the most beautiful Baroque churches north of the Alps. We then make our way to Austria's Wachau Valley, a renowned wine-making region with green valleys and vineyards, picturesque riverside towns, and commanding fortresses with sweeping views. We sail during our lunch, then arrive in the idyllic village of Dürnstein where you have time at leisure. Within 10 minutes you can walk to the monastery and wineries or walk 15 minutes to see the castle. Dinner is served onboard again this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a calm night of cruising, we arrive into glorious Vienna, for a comprehensive sightseeing tour. This is a chance to relish in Austria's Imperial heritage of architecture, art and music. You'll see many of Vienna's finest ornate buildings, including the Hofburg Palace. This vast complex of buildings demonstrates the awesome power and wealth commanded by the Habsburgs. We also see the impressive Opera House, one of the leading opera venues in the world, as well as the grand Parliament Building.

Tonight a real treat awaits us onboard - after dinner we are joined by musicians from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for an exclusive, private recital.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your morning is at leisure on board before we moor up early this afternoon. After lunch, we set out on a guided coach tour of Slovakian capital. Located in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, Bratislava straddles the Danube which neatly divides the city into two parts; the Baroque Old Town (Stare Mesto) and the new city. This picture-postcard city destination historic Gothic buildings, several universities, a wealth of museums and galleries, and a refreshing cosmopolitan atmosphere. The historic centre features delightful cobbled stoned roads, pedestrianised plazas, pastel 18th century rococo buildings and street cafés galore. Following our excursion, we return to the ship for another delicious, 5-course dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we arrive at the scenic Danube Bend. This section of the river has a long and fascinating history and from the sun deck or panoramic windows in the bar, you'll be able to see castle ruins, churches, pretty houses hidden in the hills and dense forests. After lunch on board, we enjoy a guided coach tour of Budapest, introducing us to Budapest's main sights. We pass impressive buildings and monuments on both sides of the Danube, including the neo-Gothic Parliament building, the magnificent State Opera House and St Stephen's Basilica, Budapest Castle, Matthias Church and Fishermen's Bastion. After our tour you have free time in Budapest before returning to our ship for dinner. This evening we see the illuminated sights of this beautiful city on a night time cruise.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we disembark our ship and transfer to the station to start our journey back home by rail, stopping in the attractive Bavarian city of Nuremberg, where we spend the night.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we continue our journey by rail back to London, travelling via Brussels.

• Breakfast