RT TRAVEL
Explore the Danube on a vessel like the MS William Wordsworth
CITY COLOUR Porto street scene
THE BLUE DANUBE VIENNA, BUDAPEST AND SALZBURG Eight days from £1,799pp Departures July 2025—October 2026
FREE DECK
UPGRADE FOR 2026 CRUISES ^
◼ Expert Riviera Cruise Director and Concierge ◼ All port charges and airport taxes ◼ 20kg+ checked luggage YOUR INCLUDED EXPERIENCES ◼ Seven guided tours including the Esztergom Basilica, Bratislava, Dürnstein, Melk Abbey, Linz or Salzburg, Vienna and Budapest
Unwind on board a luxurious, five-star boat like the one above, the MS William Wordsworth , on our magical cruise along the River Danube. Along the way you will be able to enjoy an escorted tour to imperial Budapest, the Pearl of the Danube. See Bratislava, Esztergom, Melk, Salzburg and unforgettable Vienna along the course of Eastern Europe’s mightiest river.
PRICE INCLUDES ◼ Return flights plus transfers ◼ Seven nights on board a five-star ship ◼ Your choice of spacious cabins with window or French balcony ◼ Delicious full-board dining plus Chef’s Dinner ◼ Free drinks package * ◼ Complimentary tea, coffee and wi-fi
BUDAPEST EXTENSION 11 days from £2,768pp Departures Sept 2025—Sept 2026
VIENNA EXTENSION 11 days from £2,848pp Departures July 2025—Oct 2026
BEST VALUE WEEKEND GETAWAY PORTO It’s probably not your first (pun deeply regretted) port of call for a quick Euro break —
Budapest and Bratislava like a cultural showreel. Step off in the morning
cheap seafood feasts. Better still, hop on a train to wine country a couple of hours away — where the hills ripple and vineyard tastings are cheaper than bottled water. Flights start around £90 return, and it’s golden hour all day, every day — in the light, the wine and most definitely the value. BEST VALUE CRUISE ITINERARY THE DANUBE Cruising is always good value — it’s transport and accommodation all rolled into one. The downside can be city-sized ships and a feeling that you’re just skimming the edges of your destinations — which is where river cruising comes in. River cruises glide rather than
Budapest
to explore a medieval abbey or open-air market, and be back in time for a glass of grüner veltliner on deck at sunset — with as few as 150 fellow passengers. Prices are lowest in shoulder season — April to early June, or late September into October — when the sun still shines but the crowds have gone home. But whenever you go, the Danube is scenic, story-rich, and — with a different destination every day — several holidays for the price of one.
After seven days cruising along the River Danube and exploring Budapest, Esztergom, Bratislava, Dürnstein, Melk, Linz and Salzburg, take the time to discover more of majestic Budapest’s imperial past and the 19th-century grandeur of the Habsburg Empire. Delve into the charming, old-world atmosphere of medieval Buda and stroll along the broad boulevards of elegant Pest on this superb three-night extension. YOUR TOUR INCLUDES ◼ T hree nights in a central hotel with breakfast ◼ One typical Hungarian lunch ◼ Five guided visits including to Visegrad and its royal palace, picturesque Szentendre, the Parliament building in Budapest, the famous National Gallery and the Royal Palace ◼ Tour of the dramatic Puszta, Hungary’s Great Plain that includes a visit to an equestrian park and performance by some of the region’s famous horsemen
After seven days cruising along the River Danube, end your adventure with a three-night stay in Vienna. During your time on shore, you will discover the beauty of Lake Neusiedl and its birdlife, explore Schönbrunn Palace and the State Opera and experience a traditional Heuriger evening. You can even choose to go to a concert at the famous Haus der Industrie. YOUR TOUR INCLUDES ◼ Three nights in a hotel in Vienna with breakfast, plus one lunch and one dinner ◼ Guided tours of Vienna, Dürnstein, Budapest and Bratislava ◼ Visit Esztergom Basilica, Melk Abbey, Schönbrunn Palace and the Vienna State Opera House ◼ Explore Salzburg or Linz with an expert guide ◼ Enjoy a Hungarian folklore show on board, and a traditional Heuriger evening in Vienna ◼ A horse-drawn carriage ride through the town of Neusiedl am See with wine-tasting and lunch
what with Paris pouting, Barcelona sunning itself
and Rome shouting about its ruins — but pocket-sized Porto tops the bang-for- your-buck lists.
SAILING BY Glide by Budapest
Hugging the Douro river like it invented scenic charm, this relaxed little Portuguese city is all crooked lanes, tile-clad buildings and terraces
gallop, moor in the heart of cities instead of on their outskirts and swap vast buffets and coach tours for wine tastings and guided walks. Portugal’s Douro is
dripping with wine and views. It’s properly walkable and the food is rich, porky and pleasingly priced. Port-house tours can be had for 15 quid — and yes, they do give generous tastings. Even at the very top end — the star
WINE AND PASTRIES Enjoy Porto’s port and pasteis de nata
Vienna
relaxed; France’s Rhône and Seine sophisticated; but it’s the Danube that’s the continent’s biggest bargain. Flowing through the very heart of Europe, it slips past Vienna,
To book, or request a brochure, please call 01283 901 234 quoting RTA, or visit radiotimes.com/holidayoffers
chef and local flair of Restaurante DOP, for instance ( doprestaurante.pt ) — you’ll struggle to pay more than £80 for dinner; but you can always grab an £8 Uber to the beach for
^ Until 30 June 2025 book a middle deck cabin on selected river cruise departures and receive a free upgrade to an upper deck cabin. Offer is available on select European river cruises departing in April, July and August 2026. Free upgrade only applies to standard cabins. Offer must be redeemed via our contact center by quoting ‘Upgrade 26’ when booking. Book any 2026 holiday by 31 July 2025 to be automatically entered into The BIG Riviera Giveaway, with over £1 million in gifts waiting to be won. See the website for full terms and conditions. * 2025 river cruises include an unlimited quantity of drinks at lunch and from 6pm to midnight while on board (selected drinks available), 2026 river cruises include an unlimited quantity of drinks from 10am to midnight while on board (selected drinks available). Prices are per person, based on two sharing a cabin. Single cabins subject to availability at the relevant supplement. Additional entrance costs may apply. All holidays subject to availability. Images used in conjunction with Riviera Travel. Operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Tours Ltd, ABTA V4744, ATOL 3430, IATA 9127440. Riviera Travel, New Manor, 328 Wetmore Road, Burton-on-Trent DE14 1SP. Prices correct at time of print. See website for full details. Departures available exclusively for solo travellers on selected tours.
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RadioTimes 14–20 June 2025
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