Venetian Lagoon Cruise & Golden Eagle Danube Express to Istanbul

Enjoy complimentary airport lounge access before your flight from the UK to Venice. On arrival, transfer to S.S. La Venezia to board your luxury Uniworld cruise and familiarise yourself with the elegant ship which will be your floating home for the next few nights. You will spend tonight docked in the Venetian Lagoon.

Spend the morning enjoying a guided walking tour, starting with an early visit to the Doge’s Palace to take in this striking landmark in the centre of perhaps Italy’s most famous plaza, St Mark’s Square. Other points of interest nearby include the Bridge of Sighs, the old prison from which Casanova escaped, and the historic Castello district.

This evening, enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience with a private after-hours visit to St Mark’s Basilica. The doors of this iconic site will open just for you. See the glorious church without the crowds and gaze heavenward to take in the magnificent, mosaic-sheathed domes. The building, which was finished in the 11th century but incorporates the remnants of earlier churches, features treasures collected by Venetians over the centuries. 

Choose between two excursions this morning. The first is a journey to Vicenza, a beautiful town famous for its shopping and architecture along with the Teatro Olimpico, which you can visit today. This is the oldest Italian Renaissance theatre still in existence. 

Alternatively, head to medieval Padua for a walking tour of the city’s squares, churches, and palaces. Padua once flourished as a hub of learning; Italy’s second-oldest university was founded here and hosted Copernicus as a student and Galileo on their faculty. After your tour, enjoy free time to explore on your own and stop for lunch at one of the delicious eateries in town.

Today brings you to Venice’s northern lagoon and its beautiful islands. Begin the day at Torcello’s famous basilica with an art historian, and then take a stroll on the agricultural island of Mazzorbo. After lunch, you may choose to use your free time to explore colourful Burano. Alternatively, head to Murano to witness a demonstration by their legendary glassblowing artisans. Before you leave, roam the factory’s gallery and perhaps even purchase a piece of Murano glassware for yourself.

Today’s visit to coastal Chioggia features several excursion choices. The first starts by sailing on a genuine Adriatic sailboat. Afterwards, visit Tenuta Ca’Zen for a tasting of local wine, olive oil, and more. Alternatively, visit the market in Chioggia. Its wholesale fish market is one of Italy’s largest. On Thursdays, Chioggia hosts Corso del Popolo, a dynamic outdoor market.

If you’re feeling active, cycle along Chioggia’s beaches. Pedal toward Lusenzo Lagoon and then continue on to Isola dell’Unione. Wine lovers will visit Dominio di Bagnoli, one of Europe’s oldest wine-producing properties, with a sommelier guide for a private tasting. Finally, you can choose to visit Palazzo Goldoni, a 17th-century estate that once hosted Italian playwright Carlo Goldoni. Enjoy a cup of tea on the terrace while a local musician plays.

There are two choices for this morning. Firstly, you can choose to join a sailing excursion to the Po Delta, where the Po River and Adriatic Sea coalesce. Alternatively, visit Castello del Catajo in the Euganean hills to discover one of Europe’s most majestic castles. Enjoy a guided tour of this palace, which was a resort during the Habsburg Dynasty. Continue on a guided walk of the stunning gardens or enjoy some time to yourself to explore on your own.

Later, during lunch, you will sail back to Venice.

Your final day in Venice includes four excursion choices. The first is an early morning visit to the Dorsoduro, one of Venice’s quieter districts. Enjoy a walking tour before visiting a gondola artisan. Another option is a guided walking tour to the city’s Rialto markets. The ship’s chef often joins in. End the day at a wine bar for ombra e cicchetti (a drink with a bite of something delicious).

Alternatively, visit a mask atelier, integral to the Carnival of Venice, to see how these beautiful creations are crafted. For active travellers, try your hand at the Venetian rowing technique in a lesson held by Row Venice, a non-profit organisation of female rowers dedicated to preserving the sport.

Onboard, a special captain’s farewell reception and dinner is served.

Disembark your Uniworld cruise after breakfast today and board the Golden Eagle Danube Express train at the station.

Settle into your comfortable cabin as the train meanders onto the causeway across the lagoon that links Venice to the mainland. Arrive in the ancient port town of Trieste for a tour. Set on the Adriatic and almost completely surrounded by neighbouring Slovenia, Trieste has a rather distinct character, setting it apart from most other Italian cities. 

Stay: Golden Eagle Danube Express

Today brings you across the border to Slovenia. Spend the morning at the Postojna Cave, where you will ride an underground train deep inside to tour of network of halls, cave formations, and mysterious animals. Later in the day, you’ll arrive in Ljubljana, Slovenia’s compact but delightful capital city. Take it all in during an afternoon walking tour of the Old Town. On your explorations, visit Preseren Square, the Three Bridges, Dragon Bridge, and Plecnik Market.

Stay: Golden Eagle Danube Express

Early this morning, arrive in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo. The mood of the morning’s tour is sombre, though absorbing, as you learn the horrors of the Balkan War. Sarajevo experienced the longest siege of a capital city in modern history. Visit the Tunnel Museum under Sarajevo Airport as your guide, who lived through the 1992-96 conflict, brings the struggles of this time to life.

Following lunch, a scenic train journey takes you to Mostar, a crossroad of civilisations, cultures, and religions and one of the most important cities of the Ottoman Empire. Visit the Turkish House and mosque, shop narrow bazaar streets, and cross the stone arch bridge linking the Christian and Muslim areas, rebuilt in 2004.

Stay: Golden Eagle Danube Express

Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, was also once the capital city of Yugoslavia. This cosmopolitan city is located at the meeting point of the Danube and Sava rivers, and its fortifications date to Celtic times, also featuring medieval tombs and Turkish baths. On your full-day city tour, you can expect to see Josip Tito’s mausoleum known as the ‘House of Flowers’, the Town Hall, Republic Square, Knez Mihajlova Street, and ‘Varos’ Gate. You will also enjoy a visit to the mighty Kalemegdan Fortress. 

Stay: Golden Eagle Danube Express

Cross the border to Montenegro this morning to discover a destination full to the brim with glorious beaches and varied landscapes: rugged mountains, gentle lakes, and medieval towns. Montenegro’s natural beauty combined with its captivating history makes it a fascinating place to visit.

Hop off the train in the coastal town of Bar for a sightseeing tour. Then, enjoy lunch on the train as you head toward Podgorica. This city has, at various times, been under the control over the Romans, the Ottomans, and the Austro-Hungarians. As you might expect, its streets feature an interesting blend of different cultural and architectural influences, which you can take in on today’s visit.

Stay: Golden Eagle Danube Express

After a morning on the train, the afternoon brings you to little-visited Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia. Here, the Ottoman influences are still very strong. The narrow streets of the Old Town are full of tiny shops and mosques with ceramic-tiled interiors. Discover the Old Bazaar area for a spot of shopping and walk across the 15th-century stone bridge connecting the bazaar to the surprisingly modern town.

Stay: Golden Eagle Danube Express

After breakfast on the train, you’ll arrive in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital city at the foot of Mount Vitosha. Set off on a morning tour to visit sections of the Roman wall and other points of interest, including the ancient church of St George, the Alexander Vensky Cathedral with its impressive golden dome, and the Turkish Bashi Mosque.

Lunch is served on the train as you make your way to Plovdiv. Known as ‘The City of Seven Hills,’ this is one of Europe’s oldest cities. It is home to more than 200 known archaeological sites. Visit the Old Town for a walk through history, taking in medieval walls and Ottoman baths. Enjoy your final dinner on the train this evening as you wind your way toward Turkey.

Stay: Golden Eagle Danube Express

Arrive in Istanbul this morning for disembarkation from the train and a transfer to the stunning Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet, your home for the next two nights and a perfect base from which to explore this fascinating city.

Visit Topkapi Palace later today, a stunning monument that was the crown jewel of the Ottoman Empire. It is one of the largest and oldest palaces in the world and was home to the Ottoman Sultans from 1465 to 1853. You will also visit Istanbul’s iconic Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s largest covered markets. Almost mind-bogglingly, it spans 58 streets and includes over 4,000 shops. It has been in operation since the 14th century and is known around the world for its jewellery, leather, pottery, spices, and carpets.

Stay: Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

Spend your final day exploring Istanbul further. Visit one of the largest basilicas in the Christian world, the stunning Hagia Sophia, which dates to the sixth century. After the Ottoman conquest, it was converted to a mosque and is now one of the world’s most magnificent Grand Mosques.

You will also visit the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque, which is one of the most famous monuments in the Turkish and Islamic worlds. Marvel at the building’s exterior, featuring six minarets and 260 windows showcasing its vast main chamber. Cruise the afternoon away on the legendary Bosphorus before visiting a local restaurant for a farewell dinner.

Stay: Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out and transferring to the airport for your flight back to the UK.