Danube Express - Balkan Explorer: Venice to Istanbul

Day 1 : Venice

Upon arrival in Venice you will be met and transferred to your centrally located hotel for a two-night stay. Today is at leisure for all guests to explore this wonderful city. This evening we will enjoy a welcome reception and dinner, giving you the opportunity to meet your fellow travelers.

Day 2 : Venice

Venice is a truly captivating city of romance; its unrivalled beauty takes away the breath of first time visitors and regulars alike. Today you may choose to take a walking tour around the highlights of this spectacular city. Walk through the winding lanes beside the Grand Canal to St Mark’s Square, which for 1,000 years was the heart of Venetian life.

Alternatively, embark on an tour to the famous Venetian islands. Visit Murano for a traditional glassblowing demonstration and time to browse local workshops, before continuing to Burano, a charming group of small islands renowned for their brightly coloured houses and centuries-old lacemaking tradition. Enjoy a guided walk through the island and a visit to a celebrated lacemaker, before returning to Venice for lunch.

This evening, there is an optional private visit to St Mark’s Basilica, offering a rare and unforgettable opportunity to experience one of Venice’s most extraordinary landmarks in a more intimate setting.

Day 3 : Trieste & Postojna

This morning transfer from the hotel, by boat, directly to Santa Lucia station on the Grand Canal.  Here your private train, the Golden Eagle Danube Express, is ready to welcome you.  Mid-morning the train will thread its way out Santa Lucia station onto the 3-mile causeway over the Venice Lagoon. Return to your train for lunch and a brief stop in the port city of Trieste  for a short guided tour. You will have some time at leisure to explore local shops and cafes.

This evening, experience the truly jaw-dropping Postojna Caves. Travel deep underground aboard a cave train before exploring a remarkable network of  magnificent halls, a myriad of cave formations and mysterious animals.

Day 4 : Pula & Rijeka

Begin the morning with a guided tour of Pula, exploring its historic centre and the impressive Roman Arena, where a spectacular gladiator performance brings the city’s ancient past vividly to life. Continue inland to the Kumparicka Estate for a visit and leisurely lunch, enjoying a tasting of authentic Istrian flavours in a beautiful rural setting. In the afternoon, travel to Rijeka for a guided walk through the city centre, including time along the lively Korzo promenade, before rejoining the train to continue your journey.

Day 5 : Sarajevo

Early morning arrival into the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo which is an intriguing blend of Eastern and Western culture; it has mosques and minarets, an ancient bazaar and an atmospheric old Turkish quarter. Discover the city’s poignant history through a truly absorbing tour detailing the horrors of the Balkan War. Sarajevo suffered from the longest siege of a capital city in the history of modern warfare.

Following lunch at a local restaurant, the afternoon offers two carefully selection options. You may ascend by cable car to Mount Trebević, once a 1984 Olympic venue, where breathtaking panoramic views unfold across the city and surrounding mountains. Alternatively, visit the Tunnel of Hope, a profoundly moving site that tells the story of Sarajevo’s endurance and spirit during the siege of the 1990s.

Day 6 : Mostar

Today visit Mostar, once one of the most important cities of the Ottoman Empire. The town’s renowned stone arch bridge linking the Christian and Muslim areas was re-built in the summer of 2004. You will also visit Turkish House and the mosque before walking through the narrow, bazaar streets, where you can shop for traditional souvenirs and handicrafts.

Enjoy a guided walking tour through the old town, including a visit to a traditional Turkish House and a local mosque, offering insight into Ottoman life and architecture. Wander through the narrow bazaar streets, rich with character and colour, where you may browse for traditional handicrafts and local souvenirs. Lunch is enjoyed at a restaurant overlooking the iconic bridge, before following the emerald waters of the Neretva River to the ancient Ottoman fortified town of Pocitelj, dramatically set against the hillside and steeped in history.

Day 7 : Belgrade

Nestled at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, Belgrade, capital of Serbia, is one of oldest and most fascinating cities in Europe. With its turbulent past it became also a city of contrasts from Communist-era buildings to Orthodox churches, from old Celtic fortresses to the ruins as a result of the Balkans wars. Here, you will disembark the train for an overnight stay.

Enjoy a guided tour of the Old Town and the commanding Kalemegdan Fortress, where sweeping panoramic views unfold at the dramatic confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. Following the tour, enjoy a curated wine tasting featuring local Serbian wines, accompanied by regional snacks that showcase the country’s emerging wine culture. In the afternoon, visit the magnificent Church of Saint Sava, one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world, renowned for its vast scale, luminous interiors, and spiritual significance.

Day 8 : Belgrade

Today learn about Tito’s Belgrade, gaining insight into the life and legacy of one of the most influential figures in Yugoslav history. Visit Tito’s museum complex, including his former residence and the museum itself, where you will be welcomed with the traditional Serbian offering of bread and salt. The visit is complemented by a lively Serbian folk dance performance, bringing local culture and tradition vividly to life and offering a memorable perspective on Belgrade’s 20th-century heritage.

Following the visit, board the train and continue our journey southeast towards Sofia, crossing the scenic landscapes of Serbia as you make our way into Bulgaria.

Day 9 : Sofia & Plovdiv

The site of Bulgaria’s modern capital, at the foot of Mt Vitosha, Sofia was first occupied by the Thracian tribe of Serdi. Your morning tour will visit sections of the Roman wall, admire the ancient church of St George, the golden domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Turkish Bashi Mosque.

Enjoy lunch on the train as we travel from Sofia to Plovdiv. The second largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia, ‘The City of Seven Hills’ is one of the oldest cities in Europe with more than 200 known archaeological sites. Spend the afternoon here exploring the Roman Forum and Amphitheatre and visit the charming Old Town including its medieval walls and Ottoman baths.

Day 10 : Istanbul

This morning arrive into Istanbul for a two night stay at a five-star hotel. This fabled city that spans Asia and Europe is your final stop on your journey so there is time to see how old meets new, east meets west when you visit Istanbul’s must-see historic sites.

Enjoy a guided visit through this centuries-old bazaar, taking in the rich aromas and vivid displays of spices and delicacies, whetting the appetite for a traditional Turkish lunch in a historic building dating back to 1772. After lunch, embark on a scenic cruise along the legendary Bosphorus, where Istanbul’s dramatic skyline unfolds in a sweeping panorama of domes, minarets, and waterfront palaces, offering a unique perspective on the meeting point of Europe and Asia.

Later, check in at the hotel and enjoy time at leisure to explore the ancient heart of the city. This evening, descend into the atmospheric depths of Istanbul’s ancient cisterns. Visit one of these remarkable underground structures—the Basilica Cistern being the most famous—before enjoying dinner, concluding the day with a truly memorable and evocative experience.

Day 11 : Istanbul

This morning begins with two tour options. You may choose to visit the opulent Topkapi Palace, former residence of the Ottoman sultans, exploring its magnificent courtyards, harem, and treasury, each revealing centuries of imperial history. Alternatively, enjoy a guided tour of the Grand Bazaar, including the exhilarating opportunity to follow in James Bond’s footsteps with a walk along the rooftop of this vast and historic marketplace.

After lunch, visit one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, the awe-inspiring Hagia Sophia. Built in the 6th century under Emperor Justinian, it was once among the grandest basilicas of the Christian world. Following the Ottoman conquest, it was transformed into a mosque, and today it stands as one of the most magnificent Grand Mosques in the world—a powerful and enduring symbol of Istanbul’s layered history and architectural brilliance.

This evening, conclude your journey with a Farewell Dinner at the hotel, an elegant and intimate celebration of the remarkable experiences shared across Europe and the Balkans, and a fitting finale to an unforgettable journey.

Day 12 : Istanbul

Following breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for onward departures. There is also an option to extend your stay in Istanbul for additional nights to explore more of this fascinating city.