Explore with Viking—Danube

The classical music never stops in Vienna, as you will hear firsthand during this special concert. Even the elegant architecture along the famed Ringstrasse seems to sing. On a daily basis, the city celebrates its long musical tradition with concerts in high-style venues. The Vienna Residence Orchestra is one of its most beloved institutions. Despite its young age (it was founded in 1989), it has hosted luminaries in the classical music world; Rudolf Nureyev was once a guest director. During this special performance, lose yourself in the lilting airs of Vienna’s most beloved music. In a historic venue, witness the period come to life as costumed singers and dancers take to the stage. And enjoy the beautiful strains of Strauss waltzes and selections from Mozart’s The Magic Flute. Then, the magic continues during a scenic drive after dark through an illuminated Vienna.

Spend the day in picturesque Salzburg, setting of the beloved film The Sound of Music and the birthplace of Mozart. Drive with your guide past charming mountain villages, rolling hills and pristine lakes. Upon arrival in this glorious city, enjoy a guided walking tour of the Italianate Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its high-baroque architecture. Pass by the Hagenauer House at Getreidegasse 9, the birthplace of renowned classical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Salzburg’s favorite son; today, it is one of Austria’s most visited museums. See the Domplatz, dominated by the 249-foot 17th-century Dom and St. Peter’s Abbey, where Mozart premiered the Great Mass in C Minor in 1783. Savor lunch in Austria’s oldest restaurant, named for the church, as classically trained singers and musicians regale you with songs in the spirit of the musical.

Tour the magnificent home of the Hapsburg Dynasty, built to rival the sprawling Château de Versailles. With your guide, drive just outside the city center to the monarchy’s fabulous summer residence. In 1569, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II erected the original hunting lodge here and called it Schönbrunn, meaning “beautiful spring.” In 1775, Empress Maria Theresa, the only female ruler of the Hapsburgs, added the grand neoclassical Gloriette colonnade so she could have sweeping city views. Enjoy a guided tour of the imperial apartments and grandly furnished rooms where Maria Theresa resided. Learn about her extraordinary reign, which featured many military campaigns and domestic reforms in medicine, education and civil rights. There will be free time to explore the formal gardens.

Get acquainted with the Slovakian capital, a vibrant and relaxed cultural center. Meet your guide at your ship, then set off to explore this intimately sized capital. Drive via Grassalkovich Palace and Freedom Square up to Bratislava Castle for views over the city and surrounding plains, then descend to the Old Town, graced with ornate mansions and art nouveau houses. During your walking tour, admire the medieval Town Hall complex, where a butter-hued tower looks over the red-roofed city, and view the fortifications at Michael’s Gate, one of the only surviving medieval gateways. See the baroque Holy Savior Jesuit Church and the Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral. A stunning and revered remnant from the city’s past, it was the site of Hungarian coronations for more than 250 years. Enjoy some free time in the lovely town center before returning to your ship.

Visit a splendid abbey, founded in the 7th century, at a spectacularly scenic bend in the Danube Narrows. Join your guide for a drive to Kelheim, where you will board an excursion boat for a short cruise through the lovely Danube Narrows. This area of unsurpassed scenic beauty is where the river has cut a pass through the mountains, carving the narrowest and steepest section of the river. Cruise past the white cliffs, then disembark for a visit to Weltenburg Abbey, one of Germany’s oldest monasteries. The ornate abbey features a gilded altar, elegant marble interior and masterful paintings of biblical scenes. Its famous brewery was founded in 1050, and beer has been brewed here ever since. The monastery brewery produces ten different brews, including its most recent “Anno 1050.” During your excursion, enjoy a local beer and an authentic German pretzel.