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Compare Danube Symphony - Cruise Only Eastbound by Avalon Waterways vs The Backpacker by Interrailing Packages

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Duration 6 days 22 days
Price From $ 2,784 $ 1,694
Price Per Day $ 464 $ 77
Highlights
  • Visit large churches like St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Neo-gothic New Cathedral.
  • Explore the cities Vienna and Linz
  • Enjoy the cruise through the Dhanube River
  • Visit the Wachau wine region
  • First stop on your interrail holiday around Europe's glorious cities is Amsterdam, often referred to as 'Venice of the North'.
  • Visit UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Visit the city in Europe nicknamed the City of Spas
  • Visit Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital city is the hidden gem of Europe and is loved by our customers!
Trip Style River cruise Self-guided tour
Lodging Level Luxury Standard
Physical Level
  • 2- Easy
  • 3- Moderate
Travel Themes
  • Cultural
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • 50 plus
  • National Parks
  • Small Ship Cruise
  • Cultural
  • Family Friendly
  • Train & Rail Journeys
  • Photography
Countries Visited
Cities and Attractions
  • Lake Tanganika
  • Linz
  • Vienna
  • Wachau
  • Amsterdam
  • Berlin
  • Budapest
  • Krakow
  • Ljubljana
  • Prague
  • Venice
  • Vienna
Flights & Transport Internal airfare and ground transport included Ground transport included
Activities
  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing
  • Nature
  • River cruise
  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing
  • History
  • Independent
  • Photography
  • Ruins & Archaeology
  • Self-Guided & Independent
  • Trains & Rail
Meals Included

5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches and 5 Dinners

N/A
Description

Board your river cruise vessel in Passau and sail down the Danube, stopping to visit Grein’s quaint historical theater, magnificent Melk Abbey, and the small town of Krems in the Wachau Valley. End your cruise in Austria’s capital, Vienna, with guided sightseeing and plenty of time to explore this “City of Music” on your own.

 

If you’re looking for an interrail holiday that has Europe’s bucket list cities packed into one unforgettable 3-week trip, The Backpacker can offer you exactly that. Over the course of the 3 weeks, you will visit the likes of Krakow, Budapest, and Ljubljana, to name only a few! This package is suitable for all types of travellers that want to make the most of their interrail holiday experience!

Itinerary: Danube Symphony - Cruise Only Eastbound

Day 1: Passau, Germany (Embarkation)

Meals: Dinner

This afternoon board your river cruise vessel and meet your crew at a welcome reception this evening.

Day 2: Passau–Linz, Austria

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Passau is a maze of narrow cobblestone streets lined with beautiful patrician houses. St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a masterpiece of Italian baroque architecture, houses one of the world’s largest church organs with 17,774 pipes. Join your Local Guide for a WALKING TOUR through this charming town, and find out much more about the “City of Three Rivers.” (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3: Linz

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Linz is Austria’s third-largest city and an important river port where culture plays a significant role in everyday life. A guided tour of the city shows you the 13th-century Hauptplatz, Austria’s largest medieval square, and the Trinity Column, built in 1723 as thanks for the city escaping the ravages of the plague, war, and fire. Perhaps wander around the old castle grounds and take in the beautiful views of the river, or visit the neo-gothic New Cathedral, Austria’s largest church, with capacity for 20,000 visitors. This afternoon relax on board enjoying the views of the peaceful riverscapes from the comfort of the Sky Deck or join an optional excursion.

Day 4: Melk–Dürnstein

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

A day of charming towns and magical scenery awaits you today! In Melk, you may choose between a GUIDED VISIT of the magnificent 11th-century BENEDICTINE ABBEY, one of Europe’s largest monasteries, or renaissance SCHALLABURG CASTLE. Melk’s abbey towers over the town and its church houses stunning frescoed ceilings and an ornate library with a large collection of medieval manuscripts. Schallaburg Castle was built as a defensive stronghold 900 years ago, but was later redesigned as a magnificent princely home. Next, head into the heart of the Wachau wine region to Dürnstein known for its magnificent baroque Stiftskirche with its blue façade, - and join a Certified Local Guide for a guided walk.

Day 5: Vienna

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Wake up this morning in Vienna, known as the “City of Music” and the place that inspired the creative genius of Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss. Once the center of the mighty Habsburg Empire, Austria’s magical capital on the blue Danube is a showcase of gilded architecture. This is home to the lavish Hofburg Imperial Palace complex with its Vienna Boy’s Choir and dazzling Lipizzaner stallions; the neo-renaissance Vienna Opera House; and awe-inspiring St. Stephen’s Cathedral—plus, countless other sights you’ll see on your GUIDED SIGHTSEEING TOUR. Stroll through the pedestrian Kärntnerstrasse, and be sure to take a break and enjoy a piece of decadent Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel in a neighborhood café.

Day 6: Vienna (Disembarkation)

Meals: Breakfast

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Itinerary: The Backpacker

DAY 1: Arrive in Amsterdam and stay overnight in Amsterdam

Day 2 and 3: Explore Amsterdam and overnight in Amsterdam

First stop on your interrail holiday around Europe's glorious cities is Amsterdam, often referred to as 'Venice of the North'. The capital of the Netherlands is a city on everyone's bucket list, and I think it's safe to say you need to visit the Dam at least once in your life! From unconventional restaurants, local craft beers to world-class museums, it's easy to see why it's at the top of everyone's list. Don't forget that this city has more bicycles than people, therefore the only way to explore is in true Netherlands style!

Day 4: Train from Amsterdam to Berlin and stay overnight in Berlin

Days 5 and 6: Explore Berlin and stay overnight in Berlin

Our Backpacker holiday package takes you to the city in Europe often compared to New York, as it never sleeps! The locals of Berlin are known as the lotus-eaters of Germany as they love nothing more than a good time. Don't let this put you off! As this city is pulsating with museums, tasty beer, and an unimaginable history! It's safe to say that Berlin is a city loved by those on an interrail trip. Remember that history will greet you at every corner, as Berlin once staged a revolution, headquartered by Nazis, bombed to bits, divided in two and then finally reunited.

Day 7: Train from Berlin to Prague and stay overnight in Prague

Days 8 and 9: Explore Prague and stay overnight in Prague

It's no secret that Prague is one of Europe's most magical, affordable and beautiful cities, a perfect addition to any interrail route. The 'City of a Thousand Spires' is an architectural gem, the city has been an important UNESCO World Heritage Site which attracts more and more tourists every year! The narrow streets open up onto fantastic squares which host to medieval-looking homes and historical buildings for you to explore! Start in the centre of the Old Town, home to the major sights and has been the city's main marketplace for a millennium.

Day 10: Train from Prague to Krakow and stay overnight in Krakow

Day 11: Explore Krakow and stay overnight in Krakow

When you take a holiday in Europe, you will find that there are many beautiful cities, but nothing compares to the beauty of the Old Town in Krakow. You can take on this city on foot as all the main sights are within walking distance. All of the cobbled streets and squares, scenic parks and medieval castle walls are added extras! Thousands of people visit this city every year with the aim to visit the poignant Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial, which is unquestionably the most important trip to do on this interrail route.

Day 12: Train from Prague to Vienna and stay overnight in Vienna

Day 13: Explore Vienna and stay overnight in Vienna

Vienna, a beautiful city in Eastern Europe that looks like it was lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale, with its clean, wide boulevards, efficient transport system, pleasant sights, and large green spaces. It's not hard to fall in love with this beautiful city. Vienna holds a considerable reputation for being the music capital of the world, with the likes of Mozart calling this place home. Coffeehouses have been an essential part of the city's cultural fabric since 1685. They make for great places to gather for a coffee, gossip and to eat Sacher Torte, of course. Finding your favourite is one of the real joys of visiting this city on any holiday in Europe!

Day 14: Train from Vienna to Budapest and stay overnight in Budapest

Day 15 and 16: Explore Budapest and stay overnight in Budapest

Visit the city in Europe nicknamed the City of Spas for a reason, as it's filled with beautiful baths all with healing properties on this Backpacker holiday. Not to mention, the architecture surrounding the baths is a sight to see on its own! Take a walk through the streets of this city and you will notice the beauty becomes apparent. You will soon understand why many tourists flock here for a city break every year. The buildings here take on many architectural styles and the city is famous for its Art Nouveau architecture. Budapest's foodie scene is increasingly interesting, with plenty of restaurants and cafes serving up delicious local dishes such as goulash!

Day 17: Train from Budapest to Ljubljana and stay overnight in Ljubljana

Day 18 and 19: Explore Ljubljana and stay overnight in Ljubljana

Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital city is the hidden gem of Europe and is loved by our customers! A holiday to Europe deserves to have Ljubljana included. This is a city renowned for green space, beautiful bridges and buildings. As well as dozens of different urban design elements such as lamposts, pillars, and pyramids. While you're here you need to visit Lake Bled. This is definitely one of the most spellbinding places in Slovenia, if not Europe. This incredibly scenic lake near the Alps looks too good to be real! With the island church, clifftop castle, and mountain backdrop, you're sure to find more than enough to keep you entertained here!

Day 20: Train from Ljubljana to Venice and stay overnight in Venice

Day 21: Explore Venice and stay overnight in Venice

Welcome to the ancient town built on a lagoon, Venice! This city has a collection of domes and spires rising out of the Adriatic Sea. Filled with life and stunning architecture. Venice is filled with bars, cafes, and restaurants where locals and travelers meet up to have a good time with food and a drink or two. This city built on water is famous for the beautiful gondola rides which take you back in time and allow you to appreciate the rich beauty of this city, a holiday experience in Europe you will never forget!

Day 22: Last day of Trip

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