Bosphorus to the Baltic on the Danube Express + Optional extension to Berlin
Istanbul – Bulgaria – Transylvania – Hungary – Slovakia – PolandHidden behind the Iron Curtain for decades, Eastern Europe can still present a challenge to even the most seasoned of travellers. So we were delighted to discover the Danube Express, a distinctive private train which combines modern comfort and traditional ambience, and provides the perfect way to travel in style from Istanbul to Warsaw, via Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.
Begin with four days in the bustling, exhilarating city of Istanbul, dramatically situated on the Bosphorus, straddling East and West. Here you board the Danube Express for a three-night journey through Bulgaria and Romania, stopping at the highlights along the way. After two full days in Budapest, reboard the Danube Express for the continuation of this journey over three nights to Poland via Slovakia and the spectacular Tatra Mountains. Discover the wonderful Gothic and Renaissance city of Krakow, the Baltic seaport of Gdansk and the fascinating city of Warsaw.
Round out this magnificent journey with our optional extension to Berlin, the dynamic capital of Germany and currently one of Europe’s most exciting destinations.
Danube Express on viaduct
Bosphorus to the Baltic map
Bosphorus to the Baltic
on the Danube Express
21 June – 05 July 2012 (15 days)
ITINERARY
Thu 21 Jun 2012 / Arrive Istanbul
Arrival in Istanbul where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Afternoon at leisure before a welcome dinner with Liz Gibson and fellow railway enthusiasts. (D)
Fri 22 Jun / Istanbul
Depart the hotel for a full day tour to Sultanahmet, the Old City of Istanbul. Begin at the Hippodrome, inspired by the Circus Maximus in Rome and once a stadium for chariot racing and public activities. Continue to St Sophia, dedicated by Justinian in 537AD and for nearly a thousand years the Cathedral of Constantinople until the Turkish conquest when it was converted into a mosque. Also see the Blue Mosque, lined with 20,000 blue tiles that give the mosque its popular name.
The highlight of the day will be the visit to Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman sultans between the 15th and 19th centuries. (BL)
Sat 23 Jun / Istanbul
Continue your exploration of Istanbul with a visit to the Chora Museum. The 11th century church of St Saviour in Chora is, after St Sophia, the most important Byzantine monument in Istanbul. It features 14th century frescoes and mosaics on a gold background which greatly influenced the European Renaissance.
Take a walk in the Spice Market with its lively and colourful shops and side streets before lunch at Pandeli Restaurant on the upper level of the Spice Market. In the afternoon visit the Grand Bazaar. This labyrinth houses some 4,000 shops, 2,000 ateliers, 500 stalls, 12 storehouses, 18 fountains, 12 mescits or small mosques. (BL)
Sun 24 Jun / Istanbul – Board Danube Express
Enjoy a morning at leisure before a midday departure from the hotel. Following lunch, take a private boat cruise on the Bosphorus, the magnificent waterway between Europe and Asia and which connects the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. Transfer later this afternoon to Sirkeci Train Station for a 5:00 pm departure on the Danube Express for the first part of your journey. Settle into your compartment and later enjoy a drink before dinner as the train heads into the sunset en-route to Bulgaria. Late evening arrival at the Turkish-Bulgarian border. Overnight on the train. (BLD)
Mon 25 Jun / Kazanlak – Veliko Turnovo
Arrive this morning in Kazanlak, the centre for rose oil production from the nearby Valley of the Roses. Visit the Shipka Memorial Church, dedicated to the Russian, Ukrainian and Bulgarian soldiers who died for the liberation of Bulgaria in the Russo-Turkish War in 1877-78. Continue to the 4th century BC Thracian tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Enjoy lunch back on board the Danube Express during the climb over the Shipka mountain pass heading towards Bulgaria’s ancient capital, Veliko Turnovo, located on a picturesque mountain setting on the steep bank of the Yantra River. Visit the well preserved medieval Tsarevets Hill and Castle and walk through the ancient city. Return to the Danube Express for dinner as the train heads for Romania, crossing the Danube via the Friendship Bridge. Evening arrival at the Bulgarian-Romanian border. Overnight on the train. (BLD)
Tue 26 Jun / Braşov – Sighişoara
With dawn breaking the track twists and turns over the Carpathian Mountains towards Braşov offering commanding views of dense forests, crystal clear mountain streams and spectacular waterfalls. In Braşov visit the 14th century Bran Castle (known as Dracula’s Castle), with its stunning mountain setting.
Lunch is served on the journey to Sighişoara, rumoured to be the birthplace of Dracula. After a walking tour of the medieval city, enjoy dinner as the Danube Express continues towards Hungary. Overnight on the train. (BLD)
Wed 27 Jun / Kecskemét – Disembark Budapest
Morning arrival at the Romanian – Hungarian border. Travel across the Northern Plain, stopping at Kecskemét to discover this town, known for its Secessionist architecture. In Lajosmizse, admire great horsemanship at a ‘Puszta’ show.
Continue towards Budapest, where you arrive at Nyugati Station at 3:00 pm. Disembark and transfer to your hotel. (BLD)
Thu 28 Jun / Budapest
With a dramatic position straddling the Danube River, Budapest is made up of two cities – Buda and Pest. Begin your exploration of the city at the Castle District atop Buda Hill, dominated by the 18th century neo-Baroque Royal Palace and historic St Matthias’s Church. Enjoy spectacular views from Fisherman’s Bastion before crossing to the Pest side where you will see the Parliament Building, the Hungarian Opera House, St Stephen’s Cathedral and Heroes’ Square.
This afternoon take a ride on the Millennium Underground Railway, the oldest line of the Budapest Metro system. Built between 1894 and 1896, it is the second oldest underground line in the world after the London Underground and is World Heritage listed. (BL)
Fri 29 Jun / Budapest
Day at leisure to explore Budapest on your own and discover its renowned ‘café culture’. You may choose to visit the Central Covered Market for some souvenir shopping. Optional excursions out of Budapest include a full day tour along the Danube Bend to Visegrad Castle, Ezstergom and the Baroque artists’ village of Szentendre (optional tours available via your hotel concierge; not included in tour cost). (B)
Sat 30 Jun / Budapest – Board Danube Express – Bratislava
This morning board the Danube Express again for the second part of your epic journey. Follow the Danube and enjoy lunch on board as the train heads towards Slovakia. In Bratislava, embark on a city tour of the Old Town with its narrow and winding streets, and visit the stunning castle perched high on a hill overlooking the Danube.
Enjoy a drink before dinner as the train continues its journey through the Czech Republic and the Moravian countryside. Overnight on the train. (BLD)
Sun 01 Jul / Krakow – Wieliczka
Morning arrival in Krakow, Poland. Discover the Main Market Square, one of the largest town squares in Medieval Europe surrounded by palaces and old town houses including the Renaissance Cloth Hall and the Gothic Church of St Mary’s. Visit Wawel Castle with its extraordinary collection of 16th century tapestries, and Wawel Cathedral, where four centuries of Polish kings and queens are buried.
Afternoon visit to the astonishing Wieliczka Salt Mine. The fascinating underground tour leads you through 2.5 km of galleries, chambers and chapels where all the altarpieces, figures and monuments are carved from salt.
During dinner, the Danube Express heads north across the Polish plain. Overnight on the train. (BLD)
Mon 02 Jul / Malbork – Gdansk
After a morning tour of the World Heritage Site of Malbork Castle, a 13th century fortified monastery belonging to the Teutonic Order, enjoy lunch on board while the train travels towards the Baltic.
In Gdansk, once described as the Hanseatic granary of Europe, see the Old Town harbour and its medieval crane dating from 1444, Burgher houses and the Fountain of Neptune dominated by the Greek sea god, trident in hand. Return to the train for dinner and your last night aboard the Danube Express. (BLD)
Tue 03 Jul / Disembark Warsaw
Disembark in Warsaw Wschodnia Station at 9:30 am and start your exploration of Warsaw, the political, financial and cultural capital of Poland, with a half day tour. Largely destroyed in World War II, Warsaw is today undergoing a renaissance and a building boom similar to that in nearby Berlin. Drive via the Royal Route and its aristocratic residences, past the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Warsaw’s Grand Opera and National Theatre, to the wonderfully restored Old Town. Visit the 17th century Church of the Holy Cross and its memorial to Poland’s greatest composer – Frédéric Chopin – and walk through the Lazienki Park, with its palaces and gardens, one of the favourite parks of the Poles. Finish with a visit to the superb new Chopin Museum at the Ostrogski Palace, designed by Italian architects Ico Migliore and Mara Servetto, which invites visitors to delve into the world of the Polish composer via cutting edge audio-visual and interactive technologies.
After lunch, transfer to your hotel for check-in. Remainder of the day at leisure. (BL)
Wed 04 Jul / Warsaw
Morning walking tour of the Old Town including a visit to the 17th century Royal Castle, the former royal palace and official residence of the Polish monarchs. Visit St John’s Cathedral, walk through the Market Square, and pass the Gothic fortification towers of the Barbican. At the New Town Market see the Church and Monastery of Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and the house where Marie Curie was born, and stop by the Warsaw Uprising Monument.
Afternoon at leisure, before a special farewell dinner with Liz Gibson and fellow travellers. (BD)
Thu 05 Jul / Depart Warsaw
Tour arrangements conclude after breakfast. (B)
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ABOUT THE DANUBE EXPRESS Based in Budapest, Hungary, the Danube Express is a distinctive new private train, a veritable ‘Hotel on Wheels’ offering a sophisticated yet relaxing way to explore Central and Eastern Europe. |
Danube Express
Restaurant Car Lounge Car
Danube Express - Deluxe compartment (day)
Danube Express - Deluxe compartment (night)
Deluxe compartment Deluxe ensuite shower
Optional extension to Berlin
05 - 09 July 2012 (4 days)
ITINERARY
Thu 05 Jul / Warsaw – Berlin
Transfer to Warsaw Central Station for a morning departure on a EuroCity train to Berlin (approx. 4.5 hours). On arrival in Berlin, transfer to your hotel for check-in and dinner. (BD)
Fri 06 Jul / Berlin
Your exploration of the German capital begins with a tour of ‘Historic Berlin’. From the Gendarmenmarkt – Berlin’s most elegant square – and the Nikolai Quarter, drive along Unter den Linden lined with grand 18th and 19th century monuments and architecture such as Berlin Cathedral, the State Opera, Humboldt University and the Brandenburg Gate.
Lunch on ‘Museum Island’, followed by a guided tour of the renowned Pergamon Museum, which houses original-sized, reconstructed monumental buildings such as the Pergamon Altar and the Market Gate of Miletus, all consisting of parts transported from Turkey. The museum is subdivided into the Antiquity Collection, the Near East Museum and the Islamic Art Museum. (BL)
Sat 07 Jul / Berlin
This morning’s tour will introduce you to ‘Modern and Contemporary Berlin’. First a drive along the Kurfurstendamm will show you the heart of the former West Berlin during the post-war era. See the Berlin Hauptbahnhof – the main railway station in Berlin, opened in 2006 – and the Spreebogen area to the north of the Reichstag building, which was chosen as the central location for the new federal government buildings. The tour ends in Potsdamer Platz, the new business heart of the city. Afternoon at leisure. (B)
Sun 08 Jul / Berlin
Full day tour to the nearby garden city of Potsdam. Visit the Dutch Quarter and the Russian Colony, before a guided tour of Friedrich the Great’s 18th century rococo masterpiece Sanssouci Palace.
After a special farewell lunch with Liz Gibson, visit the special exhibition of ‘Friederisiko – Frederick the Great’ at the Neues Palais (New Palace), organised at the occasion of the 300th birthday of the Prussian King Friedrich II. The 18th century Neues Palais is considered to be the last great Prussian Baroque palace. It contains more than 200 lavishly decorated rooms, and the tour will give you access to 70 interiors, some of them accessible for the first time. (BL)
Mon 09 Jul / Depart Berlin
Tour arrangements conclude after breakfast. (B)
