CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR ON SPIRIT OF THE DANUBE

Known as the 'Queen of the Danube', magnificent Budapest exudes a cultural sophistication that entices and enchants. It graces both sides of the river with grand historic buildings, regal bridges, and graceful tree-lined boulevards. The city's elegant beauty and romantic atmosphere has given it Parisian status among the Eastern European countries.

Budapest offers the visitor the familiarity of European grandeur with a distinct Hungarian flavour. This is evident in the neo-Gothic Parliament buildings, sidewalk cafes, and Magyar cuisine; classical concerts and Hungarian folk music; and the cobbled streets of medieval neighbourhoods and shady parks. Highlights for visitors include a river cruise on the Danube and a thermal bath in one of the Turkish-era bathhouses.

Budapest was originally two cities built on either side of the Danube, namely Buda and Pest. The two districts are still distinct in their contrasting makeup. The older and more charming Buda comprised of atmospheric cobbled streets, little picturesque coloured houses, and a medieval, neo-Classical mixture of architecture set among the gentle hills of the west bank. It is famous for its historic Castle Hill, featuring the Royal Palace; museums and galleries; St Matthias Church; and the ramparts of Fisherman's Bastion.

Pest lies on a flat plain and is the commercial core of the city. It bustles with fashionable shopping areas and has characteristically wide, leafy boulevards. Andrássy Boulevard is the Champs-Elysées of Budapest, lined with a typical mosaic of architectural styles and buildings with the enormous Heroes' Square at the end.

A history of numerous wars and invasions, with repeated destruction and rebuilding, has created the Budapest of today, with an amalgamation of styles, created over time during periods of loving restoration by a proud and resilient nation of people; it is a city of charm and character and never drops out of favour with travellers.

Bratislava is Slovakia's compact capital and a must for art lovers. Straddling the Danube River and within easy reach of Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, the city is ideally located. Its multitude of museums, art galleries, palaces and ornamental churches (all found in and around its historic Old Town) make it the centre for arts and culture in the country, and a worthy destination for culture vultures.

Bratislava rightly takes pride in this cultural heritage, with a musical history that stretches back to Mozart, Beethoven and Hummel. Music concerts and ballet performances take place almost daily in the city, and rival those in neighbouring Vienna, Prague and Budapest.

The Old Town district is crammed with historical structures representing the different cultures and nations of its past, centring on the famous town square called Hlavné Námestie. The historic Old Town can easily be explored on foot.

The 11th-century Gothic Cathedral of St Martin is found within the Old Town, together with numerous Baroque palaces. The Old Town also contains the town hall, which houses the oldest museum in the country, as well as a gate preserved from the medieval city fortifications. One of the most conspicuous structures in the city is Bratislava Castle, a former frontier post for the Roman Empire situated on a plateau overlooking the Danube.

While still lagging behind Budapest and Prague in terms of popularity, word of Bratislava's picturesque charm and affordable elegance is spreading and the city is rapidly being thrust into the limelight as a popular European destination. An increase in low-cost flights from around Europe is also partly responsible for its rising recognition.

It's difficult to explore the sights and sounds of Vienna without thinking of an elegant Strauss waltz or a memorable Brahms lullaby. This beautiful Baroque capital of Austria was for centuries the centre of the Habsburg Empire, retaining its grand spirit in the form of magnificent palaces and grand mansions peppering the Innere Stadt.

The city's cultural heritage is mainly musical, with great composers such as Strauss, Brahms, Beethoven, Schubert, Haydn and Mozart all having lived and performed here. Today, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the State Opera House help to keep alive the city's traditions by offering more classical music performances a year than any other city in the world.

While Vienna is a city of music, it's also synonymous with gourmet fare, cream cakes, superb coffee, the angelic strains of the Vienna Boys' Choir, and the proud prancing of the Lipizzaner stallions at the world-famous Spanish Riding School.

Starting out as a Celtic settlement on the banks of the Danube, Vienna became one of Rome's most important central European bases. Its favourable location on the strategic river contributed to the city becoming the stronghold of a mighty empire, reaching its peak during the tumultuous reign of the dazzling Habsburg dynasty.

At the end of the 19th century, the golden age of the Austrian Empire began to decline as Vienna's coffee houses filled with radical intellectuals such as Freud, Klimt and Mahler. The World War II Nazi occupation left scars, but Vienna survived to remain a captivating capital that blends Italian romanticism with Germanic orderliness.

Most of the city's tourist attractions are within the largely pedestrianised inner city area, which was once enclosed by the city walls. The walls have been replaced with the Ringstrasse, a wide ring road. Further out in the suburbs is the thrilling Prater amusement park with its massive Ferris wheel, and the opulent Schonbrunn summer palace. Visitors also should not miss a trip to the Vienna Woods, peppered with wine taverns called heurigen.

Vienna is truly a paradise for classical music aficionados, with unrivalled history, influence and majesty. But it's also a city of sophistication and class, a romantic outpost of old world grandeur shining through the heritage of imperial power.

Melk is an Austrian town situated on the River Danube. Located west of Vienna, the town is mostly famous for its 11th Century Melk Abbey, a magnificent monastery built high above the town. Melk Abbey is the largest example of Baroque architecture in the Wachau Valley, with the valley itself awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2000. Its steep terraced vineyards mean vinters cultivate with traditional manual practices and the springtime sees this unique landscape covered in apricot tree blossoms. Strolling around the streets of Melk Old Town, visitors will find the Town Hall Square, the Main Square, the old Post Office, now a local museum, Old Abbey Tavern, and Kremser Strasse. River cruises, self-guided walking tours and cycle tours are also extremely popular around Melk, as the Wachau Valley offers unique landscape to be explored and enjoyed. Art festivals and Baroque music is celebrated each year with the Melk Baroque Days, an international festival.

Passau is a German city located in the Southeast of Germany on the Austrian border. It is situated at the confluence of the rivers Danube, Inn and Ilz. The Three Rivers City, as it’s also known, is unique for its three contrasting currents of blue, green and black. Old Town of Passau is home to towering buildings of striking architecture: the majestic fortress Veste Oberhaus, the Pilgrimage Church Mariahilf and St Stephen's Cathedral. Many of Passau’s attractions can be found in this area, including the New Bishop’s Residence, the Gothic Town Hall, as well as many churches and museums. Visitors can stroll along the riverfront promenades and romantic lanes whilst enjoying the picturesque landscape. For modern art, The Museum of Modern Art and Glass Museum Passau are recommended as they offer something a bit different. Theatre and cabaret are a popular evening pastime, with performances at the former Prince Bishopric Theatre or some lively cabaret and Jazz at the Scharfrichterhaus. Visitors will also find many traditional local Bavarian and Austrian cafes and restaurants offering a cosy atmosphere with home cooked food from local produce.

Regensburg is a medieval city of Bavaria in southeast Germany. It is situated on the northern point of the Danube River at its confluence with the Regen and Naab rivers. The city is famous for its iconic 12th Century stone bridge and sixteen arches, crossing the Danube into Old Town and is the oldest preserved bridge in Germany. Regensburg is also noted for its 13th Century Regensburg Cathedral and Gothic twin spires that feature prominently on the city’s skyline. Recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, the city is home to many preserved sites. Visit the the 2nd Century Porta Praetoria which served as the north gate to a Roman camp and St Peter’s Cathedral, with its French Gothic architecture. Also the 18th Century Thurn and Taxis Palace and the Old Town Hall, which is now home to the Imperial Diet Museum, are also worth a visit. Regensburg benefits from lots of parks and gardens for visitors to relax in, as well as walks and cycle paths along the banks of the rivers.

Nuremberg is a medieval city located in northern Bavaria in Germany. It is Bavaria's second largest city and is noted for its iconic red roofed buildings and medieval architecture. The imperial Castle overlooks Nuremberg and was one of the most important fortifications of the Roman Empire. For more significant cultural history, the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, one of the largest cultural history museums in the German speaking world, offers visitors exhibitions from Prehistoric all the way to present day. Walking tours around the city offer an enjoyable and active way to learn of Nuremberg’s history and culture. Through Old Town, discover fountains, wells, churches, and art treasures, as well as learning of the colourful past and cosmopolitan present of the city and its people. Nuremberg is also home to one of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany, the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt, where visitors can purchase traditional handmade decorations and enjoy the famous gingerbread, mulled wine, and grilled sausage from over one hundred and eighty wooden stalls.

Bamberg is a German town located over a landscape of seven hills and the confluence of Regnitz and Main rivers. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage Centre with Old Town home to structures dating back to the 11th century. An iconic landmark to visit in Bamberg is the town hall Altes Rathaus, located on an island in the Regnitz and covered in murals. Bamberg Cathedral, with its four towers and numerous stone carvings, is a striking example of Romanesque architecture. Head to the Market Gardeners District and visit the historical houses where centuries ago the town gardeners would grow and export produce such as onions, seeds and liquorice. In the town centre and heart of Little Venice, the rivers and arched bridges connecting the island city are reminiscent of Venice, with a lively atmosphere and modern shops set in historical surroundings. After a day shopping, head to one of the many Brewery pubs for some popular German beer. Bamberg is famous for its beer and is where its name originated from, with the town being populated by nine traditional breweries.

Sprawling Frankfurt on the River Main is celebrated more by the business crowd than curious tourists. The city is a major transport hub and an industrial and financial powerhouse, not only in Germany, but the whole of central Europe. Frankfurt is home to Germany's central bank, the Bundesbank and one of Europe's most important stock exchanges, which has been trading since 1585.

For tourists, Frankfurt offers many intriguing sights, some great restaurants, a variety of cultural events and excellent shopping opportunities, not to mention an energetic nightlife scene. Attractions are mostly confined to the historical district known as the Römerberg, where Charlemagne erected his fort in medieval times. Most of the original buildings were destroyed during World War II, but some have been reconstructed, including the home of Goethe, Frankfurt's most famous son who became Germany's greatest writer. For shopping, it's hard to beat the Zeil, Germany's equivalent of New York's Fifth Avenue.

With its excellent rail connections and autobahn system, Frankfurt is the natural hub for travellers wishing to explore the surrounding towns and countryside. It's also the venue for numerous trade fairs, exhibitions and congresses, drawing about 12 million event-goers a year. The largest and best known is the annual International Book Fair, attended by thousands of publishers, writers and avid readers.

Located in the West of the country, Koblenz is one of the oldest cities in Germany. It is situated on both banks of the river Rhine, at its confluence with the Moselle River. The beginnings of Koblenz can be traced back to its military beginnings around 8 BC. The city is rich in its history and heritage and is easily explored on foot. Take the cable car crossing over the river Rhine for spectacular aerial views or enjoy the city from the one thousand year old fortress, Ehrenbreitstein. The upper middle Rhine Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its unique landscape can be enjoyed and discovered through the interactive multimedia journey at the Romanticum. Historical and architectural sites of interest include Stolzenfels Castle, the Electoral Palace of Koblenz and Old Town. From the romantic winding streets and small squares of Old Town, stroll through the alleyways from the Church of the Holy Virgin to the St Kastor Basilica and enjoy the picturesque buildings and squares along the way. Koblenz is also very popular for its Riesling and strong Spatburgunder wines since the Romans introduced it two thousand years ago.

Cologne (Köln) is one of the largest cities in Germany, and a bustling hub of media and business on the Rhine. The dramatic Kölner Dom can be seen from miles away, and a number of other beautiful Gothic and Romanesque churches are dotted around the city. There are also museums dedicated to Roman history, modern and religious art, ethnology, sports and even chocolate.

There are two lovely, massive green lungs in the city containing a number of parks, recreational areas and beer gardens. In warm weather, there's a fun outdoor culture in Cologne and thousands of people gather in these areas for picnics, sports and socialising. The two pedestrian strips of Hohe Strasse and Schildergasse offer great shops, cafes and street music.

Cologne is well known for its Veedel or traditional neighbourhoods. One of the most interesting districts for tourists is the bohemian Agnesviertel neighbourhood where visitors can find local fashion designers, bookshops, bars and art galleries.

Cologne has a vibrant and colourful cultural life, with tourists sampling locally-brewed Kölsch beer and other gastronomic specialties. The city is also known as the gay capital of Germany with a large pride event held every year. The local inhabitants are known to be friendly, sociable and liberal, making Cologne one of the best German cities in which to meet new people and make new friends.

Dusseldorf is one of Germany's economic hubs, with a densely populated city centre housing about 600,000 people. The city is lively, with a love of music and culture that is hard to resist. Dusseldorf is famous for its trade and fashion fairs and attracts visitors from all over the world to these big and exciting events. Streets like Bolkerstraße, Ratinger Straße and Kurze Straße are alive with entertainment in the evenings. Those looking for an authentic drink can sample the locally-produced Altbier (meaning old-style beer) for which Dusseldorf is known.

Much of Dusseldorf was destroyed in World War II. The city is therefore not as scenic as others in Germany despite its ancient history, the first mention of which dates back to 1135. Modern architecture enthusiasts will find plenty to enjoy, however, in Frank Gehry buildings and the colourful Colorium, all clustered in the harbour district.

There are several pedestrian malls to stroll through and plenty of museums and parks to enjoy. Visitors will be hard-pressed to find a cleaner and more elegant city in Germany, even if there are fewer historic buildings than may be expected. There is a long-standing rivalry between Dusseldorf and Cologne but both cities are gems for visitors - just order the right beer in the right city!

Dusseldorf is located within easy distance of Bonn and Cologne, and due to its proximity to the border also makes a good base for weekend trips to Amsterdam, Paris, or Brussels.