Day 1 — Depart for Budapest, Hungary

Day 2 — Budapest

Arrive in Budapest and transfer to your hotel in the heart of the city. Gather for a welcome reception and dinner this evening. (D)

Day 3 — Budapest

Split by the Danube River, Budapest is composed of two cities with very different characters: ancient Buda, a charming enclave of winding streets and hills, and Pest, a former trading center now known for its grand imperial architecture and city squares.  Begin your day exploring Buda’s baroque Royal Palace, once the summer home of Emperor Franz Josef, and the 13th-century Matthias Church, where Habsburg coronations took place. See the Citadel and Fisherman’s Bastion, and take in expansive city views from Gellert Hill. Descend to Pest for a city tour that includes St. Stephen’s Cathedral; Heroes Square; and the opulent Opera House, whose façade is adorned with statues of some of history’s greatest composers. The afternoon is yours to discover the city as you wish. You might meander among the abundant produce and wine stalls of the Great Market Hall, visit one of the city’s famous thermal baths, or venture into a Christmas market to soak up the holiday spirit. (B,L)

Day 4 — Keszthely

After breakfast, transfer to Budapest’s Nyugati station for a morning reception at the Royal Waiting Room, where the Habsburg family would relax in peace and security during their rail journeys throughout the empire. Board the Golden Eagle Danube Express private train and settle into your comfortable cabin. Gather for lunch in the dining car as the train heads for the shores of Lake Balaton, Central Europe’s largest freshwater lake. Warm and shallow, the lake was a favorite summer destination for the aristocracy for centuries, and still boasts villas built during the height of Habsburg rule. Make a stop in in Keszthely, a small spa town with over 750 years of history on the western shore of the lake. See its wide range of architectural styles set amid lush greenery, and tour the opulent Festetics Palace, once home to one of the wealthiest and most influential families in Hungary’s long history. Back on the train, enjoy a drink in the lounge car followed by dinner as you journey across the Great Hungarian Plain to Austria. (B,L,D)

Day 5 — Graz and Vienna

Your first stop in Austria is Graz, a lively university town with a long history forged by the Romans, Bavarians, and Slavs. Take a walking tour of its Old Town, a World Heritage site of steep, red roofs; Renaissance and baroque architecture; and a hilltop imperial castle. Stroll winding alleyways to markets and courtyards, and follow the River Mur, which has defined the city since prehistory. Alternatively, take part in a pumpkin-seed oil tasting accompanied by bread and wine, or enjoy free time. Sit down to lunch on board as you travel to Vienna, Austria’s capital and also the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1867 to 1918. Explore the Innere Stadt, or Old Town, and visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral, which dates back to 1147. Tonight, toast the New Year at a gala dinner inside the Rathaus, or City Hall, the symbol of Vienna. Celebrate with a special dinner, music by the renowned Wiener Hofball Orchestra, waltzing, and a view of fireworks over the city from the Rathaus balcony.  (B,L,D) 

Day 6 — Vienna

Greet the new year with a festive brunch at the magnificent Palais Coburg, a 19th-century palace where Johann Strauss premiered two of his works. Here, witness the live transmission of the New Year concert from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Then choose to visit the World-Heritage listed Schönbrunn Palace, a hunting lodge-cum-imperial palace surrounded by lovely gardens.  

Or travel to the 12th-century Heiligenkreuz Abbey, the oldest continuously inhabited Cistercian monastery in the world, known for its chorus of monks who sing Gregorian chants. Return to the train for dinner and an evening journey into the Czech Republic. (B,L,D)

Day 7 — Český Krumlov and Prague

Immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of Český Krumlov, a World Heritage site set within a horseshoe bend of the Vltava River that is filled with remarkably well-preserved Gothic, Renaissance and baroque buildings. Stroll its cobbled streets and squares on a guided tour, and see the immense 13th-century castle perched at the river’s edge. You’ll have free time to meander through this delightful town before your lunchtime departure. This afternoon, arrive in Prague, known as the “City of a Hundred Spires.” On a tour of the World Heritage-listed Old Town, see the extraordinary Prague Astronomical Clock—mounted on City Hall in 1410 and still working—and stroll across the graceful arches of Charles Bridge. Then delve into the Jewish Quarter, home Europe’s oldest synagogue, a marvel of Gothic architecture where the faithful have worshipped for more than 700 years. Tonight, enjoy dinner in town and a private concert before returning to the train. (B,L,D)

Day 8 — Prague

Climb aboard a historic tram and wind your way through the Old and New towns on your way to Prague Castle. Set on a steep hill above the Vltava River, the castle began as a walled fortress in the ninth century and grew with each successive ruler to become one of the world’s largest castles. Venture into this sprawling complex where kings and emperors reigned, and tour its many sites, from St. Wenceslas Chapel, adorned in precious stones, to the 16th-century Lobkowicz Palace, where you’ll enjoy lunch. Take advantage of free time this afternoon to explore this captivating city—and its Christmas markets—on your own. Enjoy dinner as the train heads east toward Slovakia this evening. (B,L,D)

Day 9 — Košice, Slovakia and Budapest, Hungary

Slovakia’s second-largest city, Košice, is an often overlooked treasure trove of architecture that was named a European Capital of Culture in 2013. Discover the city’s many historic buildings on a guided tour, including the Gothic St. Elizabeth’s Cathedral—Slovakia’s largest; the medieval St. Urban Tower; the ornate State Theater and its musical fountain; and the rococo Town Hall. Sit down to your final lunch on board before disembarking in Budapest this afternoon. Tonight, celebrate your holiday journey at a farewell dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 10 — Depart for home

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)