There is no more atmospheric time to travel through Central Europe than the weeks before Christmas, when the great squares of Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg and Munich fill with wooden stalls, the scent of mulled wine and roasting chestnuts, and the soft glow of a thousand lights against the winter dark.
This eight-day festive journey aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express links four of the most beautiful cities in Central Europe at the most magical moment of the year. From the Art Nouveau grandeur of Budapest, the train carries you west to imperial Vienna, on to Mozart's Salzburg beneath its snow-dusted fortress, and finally to Munich, the Bavarian capital in full festive swing. Between the markets there are private after-hours palace visits, classical concerts, and a quiet moment in the little chapel where Silent Night was first sung.
It is Christmas as it should be: unhurried, all-inclusive and quietly luxurious, with the travelling taken care of and nothing to do but wander from one glittering square to the next. Two nights in a five-star Budapest hotel and two in Munich bookend three nights aboard the private train, with every excursion, meal and glass of Glühwein arranged for you.
Budapest's Chain Bridge and Buda Castle, aglow in the festive season
Journey Highlights
Four Festive Cities
The Christmas markets of Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg and Munich, each with its own character, crafts and traditions.
Schönbrunn After Hours
A private, out-of-hours visit to Vienna's imperial Schönbrunn Palace, away from the daytime crowds.
A Private Vienna Concert
An exclusive classical concert at the baroque Palais Daun-Kinsky in the heart of the city.
Salzburg & the Turmblasen
The Christkindlmarkt on Domplatz and Residenzplatz, and the trumpeters' Turmblasen from the cathedral towers.
Silent Night in Oberndorf
A private performance of Silent Night at the Stille Nacht Chapel, where the carol was first sung in 1818.
A Bavarian Welcome
A traditional brewery evening in Munich and the famous market beneath the Neues Rathaus on Marienplatz.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Timings are indicative; confirmed details are supplied with your travel documents.
Arrival in Budapest
Arrive in Budapest and transfer to the five-star Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace, an Art Nouveau landmark on the banks of the Danube facing the Chain Bridge and Buda Castle beyond. This evening, gather for a welcome reception dinner, the perfect chance to meet your Tour Manager and fellow travellers before the festivities begin.
Welcome reception dinner. Two hotel nights at the Four Seasons Gresham Palace, Budapest.
Budapest at Christmas
A panoramic tour introduces the two halves of the city: the Castle District, Matthias Church and the Fishermen's Bastion on the Buda side, and the Parliament and State Opera House across the river in Pest. The afternoon is free to explore the Christmas markets, which fill Vörösmarty Square and the terraces around St Stephen's Basilica with craft stalls, folk food and the warm glow of the season. There is time, too, for the Great Market Hall or one of the city's celebrated thermal baths.
Panoramic Budapest city tour. Afternoon at leisure for the Christmas markets.
Board the Train for Vienna
Transfer to the station, where the Golden Eagle Danube Express awaits and a brass band marks your departure. The train travels west to Vienna, the imperial capital in full festive dress. This evening brings a highlight: a private, after-hours visit to Schönbrunn Palace, the Habsburg summer residence, appreciated in rare calm once the daytime visitors have gone. Dinner is served on board.
First night on board. Brass band send-off; private after-hours Schönbrunn Palace visit; dinner on board.
Imperial Vienna, dressed for the season
Imperial Vienna
The morning brings a private classical concert at the baroque Palais Daun-Kinsky, followed by a panoramic city tour with the option of the Kunsthistorisches Museum or the Hofburg Palace. There is time to wander the Christmas market at Maria-Theresien-Platz, set between the city's two grand imperial museums, before returning to the train for dinner in the dining car.
Private concert at Palais Daun-Kinsky; Vienna city tour; time at the Maria-Theresien-Platz market; dinner on board.
Salzburg and its Christkindlmarkt
Mozart's city is at its most enchanting in December. Visit the Mirabell Palace and gardens and take a guided tour of the Hohensalzburg Fortress high above the rooftops, before an extended visit to the Salzburger Christkindlmarkt, one of the oldest Advent markets in the world, spread across Domplatz and Residenzplatz beneath the cathedral. A visit to the Residenzgalerie and an exclusive Turmblasen, the traditional performance of brass players from the cathedral towers, complete a memorable day.
Mirabell Palace; Hohensalzburg Fortress; Salzburger Christkindlmarkt; Residenzgalerie; private Turmblasen performance.
The Salzburger Christkindlmarkt beneath the cathedral
Silent Night and on to Munich
This morning, visit the Christmas market at Hellbrunn Palace, then travel to the little town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg and the Stille Nacht Chapel, which stands on the spot where Silent Night was first performed on Christmas Eve in 1818. A private performance of the carol here is a genuinely moving moment. Lunch is served on board as the train continues into Bavaria and Munich, where this evening brings a traditional brewery tour and a hearty Bavarian dinner.
Hellbrunn market; Stille Nacht Chapel with a private Silent Night performance; lunch on board; Munich brewery evening. Two hotel nights in Munich.
Munich’s market on Marienplatz, below the Neues Rathaus
Munich and the Marienplatz Market
A morning visit to Motorworld Munich is followed by lunch and time at the city's celebrated Christmas market on Marienplatz, gathered beneath the neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus with its famous glockenspiel. As evening falls, gather for a Farewell Dinner to reflect on a week of markets, music and midwinter magic across Central Europe.
Motorworld Munich; the Marienplatz Christmas market; Farewell Dinner.
Onward Journey
After breakfast, a private transfer takes you to the airport for your onward journey home. Should you wish to linger, an extended stay in Munich or one of the other cities on the route can be arranged, adding more time among the markets and the mountains of the region.
Breakfast and private airport transfer. Optional extension.
What's Included
Accommodation
2 nights five-star at the Four Seasons Gresham Palace, Budapest, 3 nights on board the Danube Express and 2 nights at a five-star hotel in Munich.
All Dining
All meals throughout, freshly prepared on board and at selected restaurants, with inclusive alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Excursions & Guides
Every excursion in the itinerary with expert local guides, including the private palace visits and concert.
Service & Care
Cabin attendant with evening turndown, an experienced Tour Management team and a doctor and medical facilities on board.
Transfers & Porterage
Arrival and departure transfers and luggage porterage throughout the journey.
All Gratuities
Tips and gratuities on and off the train are included, so there is nothing more to think about.
Fares & Departures
Prices are per person and include the full programme detailed above. A deposit of 25% of the tour cost secures your booking. Please call us on 0333 405 0192 for confirmed fares.
| Cabin Class | Twin | Single |
|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Class | £8,550 | £12,850 |
| Superior Deluxe Class | £11,050 | £18,000 |
Departure 2026: 3 to 10 December.
| Cabin Class | Twin | Single |
|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Class | £9,600 | £14,500 |
| Superior Deluxe Class | £12,700 | £21,100 |
Departure 2027: 3 to 10 December.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eight days and seven nights: two hotel nights in Budapest, three nights aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express and two hotel nights in Munich.
The markets of Budapest, Vienna at Maria-Theresien-Platz, the Salzburger Christkindlmarkt on Domplatz and Residenzplatz plus the Hellbrunn Palace market, and Munich's market on Marienplatz.
It begins in Budapest, Hungary and ends in Munich, Germany, travelling through Vienna and Salzburg in Austria along the way.
There is an early-December departure in both 2026 and 2027, timed for the height of the Advent market season. Please contact us for the latest confirmed dates and fares.
All accommodation, all meals, inclusive drinks, every guided excursion and entrance fee, all transfers, gratuities and luggage porterage, plus a tour management team and an on-board doctor. International flights are not included.
The journey includes a visit to the Stille Nacht Chapel in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, built on the site where Silent Night was first performed on Christmas Eve in 1818, with a private performance of the carol.
Early December in Central Europe is crisp and often below freezing, sometimes with snow, which is part of the charm. Warm layers, a good coat, gloves and comfortable waterproof footwear for the market squares and cobbled old towns are recommended.