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USAFrom royal palace concerts to getting up close to works of Warhol, taking a Danube river cruise opens up a world of pinch-me moments for fans of the arts.
From royal palace concerts to getting up close to works of Warhol, taking a Danube river cruise opens up a world of pinch-me moments for fans of the arts.
Vienna is the Grand Dame of European cities, brimming with the kind of Baroque palaces, manicured gardens and stylish coffee houses where you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. As the former home of such musical geniuses as Mozart and Beethoven, Vienna’s musical heritage is unmatched – and luckily, accomplished musicians still flock to the city today to play in its esteemed venues.
For the ultimate exclusive experience that combines art, music and astonishing architecture, Riverside Luxury Cruises offers a private visit to Vienna’s Belvedere Palace. As you enter after hours, you’ll feel like a part of the Habsburgs’ inner circle without another visitor in sight. Marvel at the Painted Hall with its magnificent ceiling frescoes, the Grand Staircase, and the even grander Marble Hall, before attending a private concert that fills the air with scene-setting music, worthy of the Baroque surrounds.
You’ll also get to enjoy a rare, crowd-free viewing of Gustav Klimt’s masterpiece ‘The Kiss,’ the jewel of the Upper Belvedere’s permanent art collection. A ‘Riverside Signature Event’, no other cruise line in the world offers such an excursion, so it truly is a one-off you can’t find anywhere else.
Find out moreWhether it’s a 27,000-year-old grave (the oldest in Austria) or the production of delicious apricot brandy, the pretty town of Krems has lots on offer. Its cobblestoned historic centre has traditional buildings such as the 15th-century Steiner Tor (city gate), while the surrounding vineyards have resulted in Krems producing some of the country’s best wines for hundreds of years – from fruity Rieslings to aromatic Grüne Veltliners!
On a Danube river cruise with Riverside, delve into the Krems art scene during a guided visit to the ‘Krems Art Mile’ – a leafy stretch along the Danube that brings together galleries, studios and cultural spaces in one easy-to-explore riverside enclave. At its heart lies the State Gallery of Lower Austria, a bold architectural landmark that’s home to an impressive collection of Austrian modern and contemporary art.
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Often nicknamed ‘the Pearl of the Danube’ and more recently ‘Paris of the East,’ Budapest is, above all, a city of contrasts. It was formed from two distinct settlements on opposite sides of the river – ‘Buda’ and ‘Pest’ – before they joined together in 1873 to form the city we know today. Their differences are still very much present on either side of the Danube, with historic Buda’s highbrow, refined feel, in juxtaposition with the spirited bohemia of Pest across the water. Budapest’s mix of architectural styles, from Art Nouveau to Bauhaus, makes for wonderful afternoons spent wandering its varied streets.
One standout excursion on select Riverside Danube river cruises whisks guests into Budapest’s majestic Palace Quarter, where a private concert at the Neo-Baroque Wenckheim Palace feels fit for a king…literally. With its turrets, beautiful gardens, Renaissance-style terrace and elegant ballroom, it’s no wonder Hollywood movies such as Spy, starring Jude Law, and Red Sparrow, starring Jennifer Lawrence, have been filmed on location here.
Find out moreThe Austrian city of Linz serves up brightly-coloured Baroque facades and charming squares – and, as the inventor of the first-ever cake, no shortage of gateaux; Linzertorte is the city’s signature. But while Linz is steeped in centuries of history, in recent years it has become a cornerstone in modern European culture. Thriving theatre, art, music and cinema scenes span the city, and one of the best spots to get a feel for it all is the Lentos Art Museum.
The museum is situated on the banks of the Danube, and its transparent glass façade is brilliantly illuminated at night, making for a wonderful contrast against the ancient river. During a private, out-of-hours visit with Riverside, you’ll be able to admire the paintings, sculptures and photography by visionary 20th and 21st-century artists such as Klimt, Warhol, Chagall and other art masters, all at your own pace and with a glass of Champagne in hand.
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Slovakia’s capital may be small, but this bears no reflection on its scale of history and culture. Straddling the border of Austria and Hungary has made it a melting pot of cultures since medieval times, but the impressive Bratislava Castle, which dominates the skyline with four turrets standing high gives the city a very distinct feel.
A trip to the modern art museum, Danubiana Meulensteen, makes for a memorable adventure. On an island in the Danube River, it is reached via boat from Bratislava. Set dramatically on a slender peninsula stretching into the Danube, the striking museum is one of Europe’s most unique modern art institutions, housing a bold collection of works by Central European and international artists. As you wander the light-filled galleries you’ll find thought-provoking installations, vivid abstracts, and ever-changing temporary exhibitions. You can’t get more of an art fix along the Danube than viewing regional masterpieces in the river itself!
Find out moreThe tenacious city of Vukovar suffered near-total destruction during the Croatian War in the 1990s – but what remains now is picturesque vineyards and rolling countryside.
Join a guided walking tour to learn about its tumultuous past including a visit to the Vučedol Culture Museum, before settling into a fabulous concert in the beautifully restored Baroque Eltz Manor – one of Croatia’s first Baroque residences.
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