Istanbul
You first encounter the Danube Express late afternoon at Istanbul Sirkeci station where your sleeping car attendant shows you to your private compartment. Settle in on board and dine as you head into the sunset, en route to Bulgaria.
Kazanlak & Veliko Turnovo
Morning arrival in Kazanlak, capital of the Valley of the Roses and the centre of rose oil production. Visit the Thracian tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage site, whose vaulted brickwork and splendid murals date back to the 4th Century BC. Enjoy lunch during the climb over the Shipka mountain pass, with several spirals used to gain height on the journey to Veliko Turnovo. Bulgaria’s ancient capital lies nestled in a picturesque mountain setting where the stone houses seem perched, one above the other, on the steep bank of the Yantra River. Here you visit one of the seven ancient monasteries and the superbly preserved medieval Tsarevets Hill and Castle. Relax before dinner as the train heads for Romania, crossing the Danube via the Friendship Bridge, the last bridge as this great river wends its way to the Black Sea.
Braşov & Sighişoara
As dawn breaks, the track twists and turns through the valley towards Braşov. Dense forests, crystal clear mountain streams and spectacular waterfalls cascade past your window as the train threads its way through this dramatic landscape. After breakfast, visit Bran Castle (known to many as Dracula’s Castle), a beautiful 14th century building situated amongst stunning mountain scenery. Lunch is served as the journey continues on to Sighişoara for a walking tour of this wonderfully preserved medieval city, rumoured to be the birth place of Dracula. Enjoy a drink in the lounge car before dinner, served as the Danube Express continues on towards Hungary.
Eger & Budapest
The day begins in the beautiful spa town of Eger, site of the northernmost Turkish minaret. On a walking tour, wander along winding cobbled streets past historic baroque buildings to the imposing castle with its panoramic views across the town to the basilica and beyond. Climb aboard one last time and take lunch as the Danube Express sets off across Hungary’s Northern Plain towards your destination, Budapest Nyugati station, arriving late afternoon.
What's New?