Mystery Revealed: Salzburg & the Danube

Salzburg Day with Schnitzel Lunch

Not only is Salzburg famously the shooting location for the 1965 film, The Sound of Music, but it is also the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Today, we’ll dive into the city’s deep musical heritage with a walking tour through its picturesque squares and baroque architecture.

We’ll stop for lunch in the Old Town to dine on authentic Austrian schnitzel. Made with a slice of veal pounded to the perfect tenderness, then breaded and fried, this comforting meal is a local favorite for good reason.

Bavarian Night

Immerse yourself in Bavarian music, culture, and cuisine with a themed party onboard tonight!

Special onboard activities for all guests on the "Mystery Revealed: Salzburg & the Danube" cruise.

“Let’s Go” Hike with Most Tasting

Get out and admire the scenery of this picture-perfect town on foot as we hike up the Pöstlingsberg hill for a fantastic view over the Danube. We’ll conclude our hike at Restaurant Freiseder, where you’ll be treated to a tasting of an Austrian specialty: Most. Most is a type of fermented cider typically made with apples—though pears are also popular.

St. Florian Organ Concert with Most Tasting

The largest monastery in Upper Austria welcomes you today for a musical treat. St. Florian is amongst the finest examples of Baroque architecture in the country, and it is hard not to be impressed upon arrival. After an organ concert in the priory, we’ll leave the monastery and head to a local restaurant for a tasting of Austrian Most ciders.

Grein walking tour with oldest Austrian theater

Ramble through charming Grein, which has long been associated with river shipping: The handsome 16th-,17th- and 18th-century houses you’ll pass belonged to the prosperous river pilots who guided boats through the hazardous Danube waters here. Step inside the oldest theater in Austria to retain its original form—and function, since troupes of actors still perform in it. Local artisans transformed part of the city granary into a theater in 1791; you enter through the old City Hall (now a museum) and immediately enter the past. It’s not every theater that boasts both a box for Napoleon and sight lines for prisoners, but that’s exactly what Grein’s State Theater has. (Prisoners in the city jail, which was attached to the City Hall, could watch plays on stage from their cells.) Nor are those the only unusual features—the first three rows have seats found nowhere else: They can be folded up and locked, so the subscribers could make sure no one else used them.

Nights Out: Castle Clam Reception

Inhabited by the Counts of Clam for over half a millennium, the Burg Clam is as much a beloved family home as it is a local landmark and attractive castle. The friendly Count will personally welcome you in for a warm reception and a chance to tour the building’s historic halls.

Walking Tour with Marillen Tasting

Stroll the charming streets of Dürnstein, a relaxing village nestled between the hillsides and the Danube river, marked most prominently by an eye-catching blue tower rising above the riverside. The tower is part of a local church, Stift Dürnstein, which we will stop at today for a thorough introduction to one of the region’s most important agricultural products: apricots, known locally as marillen. Sample a variety of marillen-infused treats, including schnapps, chocolates and jam.

After your tour, return to the ship for a sampling of Dürnstein’s other famous product, wine, as we host a small wine festival just for our guests onboard.

70s Party

Disco, bell bottoms, bold colors and some of the biggest musical hits of the last century—get ready to have the time of your life at our 1970s themed party tonight!

Special onboard activities for all guests on the "Mystery Revealed: Salzburg & the Danube" cruise.

The Spanish Riding School

You don’t have to leave Austria for a show at the Spanish Riding School. This world-famous dressage school is the oldest still-operating one in the world and is named for the origins of the famous breed of Lipizzaner horses it uses. Lipizzaners are white horses with an uncanny strength and elegance that makes them perfect show horses and can be traced back to the Moorish occupation of Spain during the medieval period, which led to the crossbreeding of Arabic and Iberian horses. These horses became a favorite of Habsburg royals, who brought the breed to their empire in the 16th century.

Nights Out: After-Hours at the Belvedere

Baroque art and architecture are often characterized by excess, a concept that was no stranger to the fabulously wealthy Habsburg emperors. One of their greatest masterpieces, the Belvedere Palace, is a sight to behold. Today, its museums house the greatest collection of works by famed Austrian artist, Gustav Klimt.

We are thrilled to be able to offer our guests a special private reception this evening at the Klimt wing of the palace, where you can admire dazzling works of gold-hued art, including “The Kiss.”

Communist Bratislava

Step back in time to the not-so-distant past as you tour the remnants of Slovakia’s Communist Era. Drive through the Petrzalka neighborhood and its dense cluster of towering apartment blocks, the Slavin monument to the fallen Soviet soldiers of WWII and the Castle of Bratislava.

Next, leave the bus behind and explore the Old Town on foot, including a stop at a retro cafe that looks just as it might have in the midst of the Communist Era.

Wear White Party

Come dressed in your favorite all-white outfit for a silent disco dance party in the lounge. Not familiar with the concept? At a silent disco, everyone gets their own set of wireless headphones for listening to music. Leave them off when you want to chat, and put them back on when you’re ready to sing and dance your hearts out!

Special onboard activities for all guests on the "Mystery Revealed: Salzburg & the Danube" cruise.

Exploring Etyek

Venture outside of Budapest to the nearby town of Etyek, a quieter village known for its excellent winemaking. Sample the products of local vineyards on a tour with your local guide today.

Did you know Hungary has a booming film industry? If you opt to start your visit to Etyek early, we’ll take you to the Korda Film Studios before the wine tasting. The studio is named for Sir Alexander Korda, a Hungarian-born British citizen who was a highly successful producer of silent films and early “talkies.”

Budapest Walk

Budapest is such a dynamic city that you could spend a lifetime here and not have seen everything that makes it special. If you’re wondering how to choose what to explore during your afternoon here, join our walking tour for a local’s perspective on which sites you can’t miss and which stories you have to hear before you return home.