Grand Alpine Rail Journey

On arrivals day in Budapest, you will be met at the airport, train station, or river ship landing stage and transferred to the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace for a two-night stay. Enjoy a welcome reception dinner in the elegant surrounds of this art nouveau landmark, with its panoramic views across the River Danube, and meet your fellow travelers on this highly-anticipated journey.

Budapest is an alliance of two cities separated by the River Danube. The old city of Buda and the imposing Royal Palace dominates the city with stunning views across the Danube to the commercial heart of Pest. Your panoramic city tour includes the Castle District, St. Mathias Church, and Fishermen’s Bastion. You will also see the Parliament, Opera House, St Stephen’s Cathedral, Heroes Square, and the City Park.

The rest of the day is at leisure where you can stroll along the banks of the Danube or head to one of the city’s famous thermal baths for a rejuvenating dip. Alternatively, you can relax at the hotel and indulge in the hotel’s luxurious spa with infinity-edge pool or make use of the state-of-the-art fitness center.

Enjoy a drinks reception at Budapest Nyugati station before boarding the Golden Eagle Danube Express for your morning departure. Settle into your cabin and later enjoy lunch as the train heads to Vienna.

The stunning capital city of Austria enthralls visitors with its rich heritage—a seductive metropolis of elaborate palaces, renowned coffee houses, classical music, and enchanting opera. Today’s program will include a horse-drawn carriage ride through the cobbled streets of the Old Town, the famous Schönbrunn Palace, or free time to explore on your own.

This evening, we will enjoy a private concert featuring the Vienna Supreme Orchestra.

This morning will be one of the real highlights of the journey as you depart Vienna and travel across central Austria and into the Alps on an incredibly scenic ride. Keep your camera ready as the train climbs over the Semmering Pass with its 16 viaducts and 15 tunnels, through the famous skiing village of Kitzbuhel to Jenbach, where after lunch you’ll take a scenic drive to picturesque Lake Achen (Achensee) for a cruise on the water. From here you will travel by bus the short distance to Innsbruck, capital of Austria’s western state of Tyrol, a city in the Alps that’s long been a destination for winter sports. Innsbruck is also known for its Imperial and modern architecture. The Nordkette funicular, with its futuristic stations designed by architect Zaha Hadid, climbs up to 7,400 feet from the city center for stunning bird-eye views of the surrounding Alpine terrain.

Another fantastic morning on board the Golden Eagle Danube Express to simply sit back, relax and watch the scenery of the Vorarlberg unfold in front of your eyes as you pass through St. Anton before crossing through Liechtenstein and then into Switzerland where the train runs along the whole of the Lake of Zürich before arriving in the city itself. A global center for banking and finance, Zürich lies at the north end of Lake Zürich in northern Switzerland. The picturesque lanes of the central Altstadt (Old Town), on either side of the Limmat River, reflect its pre-medieval history. Waterfront promenades like the Limmatquai follow the river toward the 17th century Rathaus (Town Hall). While in the city, you will enjoy a traditional Swiss fondue tasting.

Upon leaving Zürich, pass along the shorelines of Lakes Zug and Lucerne before starting the very scenic climb to the St. Gotthard Pass. Once through the old St. Gotthard tunnel the train descends through Lugano toward Lake Como in Italy. Enjoy a private boat cruise across the serene water and visit the beautiful lakeside town of Bellagio, where you stop for a scenic lunch and an opportunity for souvenir shopping. Lake Como is surrounded by high mountains and dramatic cliffs, so it is quite different from the other Italian lakes. A narrow road runs up its western coast toward Switzerland and sits up high above the water, with the towns dropping down beneath it. Renowned for its beautifully kept public gardens and historic villas, it is easy to see why so many celebrities love Lake Como.

After running along the south shore of Lake Garda the train arrives in Verona, famous for being the setting of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” Enjoy an informative walking tour of Verona’s famous sites, including the first century Roman Amphitheater in Piazza Bra. Later in the afternoon, arrive in the Italian port of Trieste for a short tour. Stop at the imposing Miramare Castle and visit the vast Piazza Unita d’Italia, the main town square. Alternatively, visit the famous 13th century Church of San Giusto, built around a medieval complex overlooking Trieste. You can go inside the church for a close-up view of the splendid Byzantine-style architecture enriched with precious mosaics.

This morning the train climbs away from Trieste, heads over the border into Slovenia, and continues climbing through the Julian Alps to Lake Bled, which, with its island church and castle, is an incredibly picturesque alpine lake situated at the foothills of the Alps in northwestern Slovenia. From here, travel into Ljubljana and discover a delightful combination of ancient architecture and a youthful culture. The afternoon tour includes visits to Preseren Square, Three Bridges, and Dragon Bridge.

As the train stays overnight in Postojna, a private visit to Postojna Caves is included in the morning. You’ll then head south toward Mestre where the train curves to the left onto the 3-mile causeway across the Venice Lagoon and into Venice Santa Lucia station, located on the Grand Canal. Bid farewell to your train crew and transfer to the San Clemente Palace Kempinski for a two-night stay. This five-star luxury urban resort is on a private island, just minutes from Piazza San Marco via regular complimentary boat. Offering impressive views of Venice Lagoon, the 900-year-old property features a 12th century chapel and expansive stately gardens and courtyards.

Venice is a truly captivating and romantic city; its unrivaled beauty takes away the breath of first-time visitors and regulars alike. Today, enjoy a walking tour around the highlights of this spectacular city. Walk through the winding lanes beside the Grand Canal to St. Mark’s Square, which for 1,000 years was the heart of Venetian life. You will also see St. Mark’s Basilica and can choose to stroll through the Rialto Market. A trip to Venice would not be complete without a gondola ride along Venice’s famous canals (a 30-minute gondola ride is included in the program). Alternatively, enjoy the city at your own pace today. Perhaps stroll through the artists’ district of Dorsoduro, stopping to take in the city’s most breathtaking views from the Accademia Bridge. In the evening, enjoy a farewell reception dinner, giving you the opportunity to reflect on your journey through this beautifully scenic part of Europe.

Following breakfast in the hotel you will be transferred to the airport for onward departures. There is also an option to extend your stay in Venice for additional nights to explore more of this fascinating city.