06 Nov 2026
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,449pp
Flights from UK airports
Escorted tour
Danube Discovery Cruise: Budapest, Bratislava & Vienna – 5 Days
Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna on a five-star ship, with flights, full board and an all-inclusive drinks package.
5 days
From £1,299 incl. flights
Tour overview
This 5-day river cruise is a compact introduction to the Danube's three great capitals, ideal as a short break with everything included. The price covers return flights with checked luggage, airport taxes and transfers. You spend four nights aboard a five-star river ship with full board from dinner on arrival to breakfast on the last day, an all-inclusive drinks package and a special five-course Chef's Dinner. The English-speaking crew, cosy lounge and bar, panoramic restaurant and complimentary Wi-Fi make the ship a comfortable home, and a cruise director looks after you throughout.
You are met in Budapest and transferred to the ship. The next day you explore the twin cities, unified in 1873: Buda, on the western bank, offers the hilltop Castle District, Matthias Church and the Fisherman's Bastion, while Pest, across the river, is home to the grand Parliament, St Stephen's Basilica and lively boulevards. The illuminated Parliament and Chain Bridge are especially beautiful from the river after dark.
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After a leisurely breakfast as the landscape glides past the panoramic windows, and lunch on board, you go ashore in Bratislava, Slovakia's compact capital, where a walk through the old town reveals Baroque palaces, quirky statues and the castle overlooking the river. Bratislava is small enough to explore on foot in an afternoon, with cafés on every corner and views from the castle across the river to Austria and Hungary.
You wake in Vienna, Austria's capital and cultural heart, where time-honoured traditions meet modern sophistication. A day exploring the Ringstrasse, the Hofburg, St Stephen's Cathedral and the city's famous coffee houses is followed by the Chef's Dinner, before the ship returns to Budapest for your flight home.
The physical rating is low. This cruise suits travellers who want a relaxed, all-inclusive taste of river cruising, or a short break in three of Central Europe's most beautiful cities, without the need to plan a thing. Departures run in spring and autumn. Because your floating hotel moves with you, you unpack once and wake up in a new capital almost every morning, with evenings to enjoy the river views from the lounge or sun deck.
Trip highlights
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Buda's Castle District and Pest's Parliament (Day 2)
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Bratislava's old town (Day 3)
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A day in Vienna (Day 4)
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A five-course Chef's Dinner (Day 4)
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All-inclusive drinks package
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Flights with checked luggage included
Your route
3 stops from Budapest to Vienna
- Budapest Days 1 & 4–5
- Bratislava Day 2
- Vienna Day 3
Why choose this tour
Three capitals in a short break, with flights, meals and drinks included. A five-star ship and a special Chef's Dinner.
Best suited to
- First-time river cruisers
- Travellers wanting a short break
- Couples and friends
- Travellers who like everything included
Day-by-day itinerary
5 days from Budapest, Hungary to Budapest, Hungary
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Day 1 · Budapest Arrive in Budapest
Transfer to your ship and settle in.
- Hotel
- Five-star river cruise ship, full board
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 2 · Buda, Pest Budapest
Explore the twin cities of Buda and Pest.
- Hotel
- Five-star river cruise ship, full board
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 3 · Bratislava Bratislava
Cruise to Bratislava for an afternoon ashore.
- Hotel
- Five-star river cruise ship, full board
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 4 · Vienna Vienna
A day in Vienna and the Chef's Dinner.
- Hotel
- Five-star river cruise ship, full board
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 5 · Budapest Return home
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Danube (4 nights) Five-star river cruise ship, full board
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Return flights with checked luggage, airport taxes and transfers
- Accommodation 4 nights on a five-star river ship
- Full board with an all-inclusive drinks package
- Five-course Chef's Dinner
- Visits in Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna
- Wi-Fi on board
- Cruise director throughout
Not included
- Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a longer holiday — this is a short break
- You want an active trip — this is a relaxed cruise
- You want to arrange your own flights — flights are part of the price
- You want an ocean cruise — this is a river ship
Good to know
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £1,299 per person, including flights. 9 upcoming departures.
Flights from UK airports.
10 Nov 2026
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,649pp
Flights from UK airports
27 Mar 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,649pp
Flights from UK airports
31 Mar 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,299pp
Flights from UK airports
15 Sep 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,399pp
Flights from UK airports
19 Sep 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,349pp
Flights from UK airports
31 Oct 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,299pp
Flights from UK airports
04 Nov 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,299pp
Flights from UK airports
05 Nov 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,299pp
Flights from UK airports
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Are flights included?
Yes, return flights with checked luggage, airport taxes and transfers.
Are drinks included?
Yes, an all-inclusive drinks package is included.
Which meals are included?
Full board from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 5, including a five-course Chef's Dinner.
Which countries do we visit?
Hungary, Slovakia and Austria.
What is the minimum age?
The minimum age is 18.
How much walking is there?
Gentle walking in city centres.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary