Tour Cruise & Rail: Venice, Istanbul & The Balkans (2025) (Venice

Transport

Golden Eagle Danube Express S.S. La Venezia

Meals

All meals onboard cruise and train, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients 18 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 16 dinners Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions Welcome and Farewell Gala Dinners Unlimited beverages onboard, including fine wine, beer, spirits, specialty coffee and tea, soft drinks and mineral water

Guide

Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager 15 days of excursions, all fully hosted by English-speaking local experts

Accommodation

6 nights in a luxury cabin onboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express private train 2 nights in Istanbul at the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet (or similar) 7-night cruise in a riverview stateroom onboard the elegant S.S. La Venezia Well-appointed en-suite sleeping cabins and suites on the train have remote-controlled air-conditioning and heating, individual bathrobes and slippers, wardrobes, large viewing windows, and day seating that converts into comfortable beds for the evening Lavishly appointed riverview staterooms and suites on the cruise have handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, high thread count 100% Egyptian cotton sheets and European duvets, and a menu of pillow options Free Wi-Fi

Others

7 countries: Italy, Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey 5 UNESCO World Heritage sites Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager Group Transfers are included on arrival and departure days (please see terms and conditions for transfer guidelines) Gratuities for onboard personnel (ship staff, crew, Cruise/Tour Manager) are included during the cruise/tour Captivating onboard local entertainment Cultural enrichment Excursions included: - A Walk in Venice with Doge’s Palace Visit - Nights Out: Private After-Hours Visit to Saint Mark’s Basilica - Evening Stroll in Burano - Torcello: Hidden Treasure of the Lagoon - Murano Glass Blowing Demonstration Additional excursions to choose from: - Vicenza with Teatro Olimpico - Padua Walking Tour - Bragozzo Ride with Tastings at Ca’ Zen - Chioggia Market Visit - Let’s Go: Biking Chioggia - A Noble Country Villa and Its Wines - Po Delta Sailing - Castello del Catajo Visit - Venice Walk with Gondola Artisans Visit - Do as the Locals Do: Venice Walking Tour - Ca’ Macana Mask Atelier - Rowing Venice

Not included:

Optional

Other activities and services are not included

Flights

International flights are not included

Insurance

Travel Insurance is not included

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Venice (Embark)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Venice (Embark)

Arrive at Venice Marco Polo International Airport, where you will be transferred to the ship. Unpack, relax and enjoy your first evening on the Venetian Lagoon.
Day 2 Day 2: Venice
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Venice

With your early morning arrival at Doge’s Palace, you’ll be able to marvel at the estate in total peace. Wander through a Venetian neighborhood and experience daily life in an authentic Venetian residential quarter. Later in the evening, cap the day off with a private once-in-a-lifetime experience at an after-hours lighting ceremony inside St. Mark’s Basilica without the crowds.

Excursions included:
- A Walk in Venice with Doge’s Palace Visit
- Nights Out: Private After-Hours Visit to Saint Mark’s Basilica
Day 3 Day 3: Venice, Mazzorbo (Burano)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Venice, Mazzorbo (Burano)

Start your morning in one of two of the Veneto region’s UNESCO World Heritage cities, Vicenza or Padua. In the afternoon, you’ll reboard the ship for scenic sailing across the lagoon as we head towards Mazzorbo and Burano.

Excursions included:
- Evening Stroll in Burano

Excursions to choose - pick 1:
- Vicenza with Teatro Olimpico
- Padua Walking Tour
Day 4 Day 4: Mazzorbo, Burano, Chioggia
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Mazzorbo, Burano, Chioggia

Spend the day exploring the northern lagoon of Venice and its captivating islands. Start with a visit to Torcello’s famous basilica with an art historian, then stroll through the agricultural island of Mazzorbo and the rainbow-hued island of Burano during your free time after lunch. Alternatively, you can take the afternoon to see the renowned glassblowing artisans of Murano at work.

Excursions included:
- Torcello: Hidden Treasure of the Lagoon
- Murano Glass Blowing Demonstration
Day 5 Day 5: Chioggia
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Chioggia

Today, you’ll admire the greatest sites of charming and coastal Chioggia, including a stop at the local and lively market.

Excursions to choose - pick 1:
- Bragozzo Ride with Tastings at Ca’ Zen
- Chioggia Market Visit
- Let’s Go: Biking Chioggia
- A Noble Country Villa and Its Wines
Day 6 Day 6: Chioggia, Venice
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Chioggia, Venice

This morning, join a sailing excursion where you’ll explore the Po Delta where the Po River and the Adriatic Sea meet. Later, during lunch, we sail back to Venice.

Excursions to choose - pick 1:
- Po Delta Sailing
- Castello del Catajo Visit
Day 7 Day 7: Venice
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Venice

As your water taxi glides past narrow side canals and the Canal Grande, you’ll arrive in style at the Rialto Bridge. The iconic stone arch bridge sits at the narrowest point of the Canal Grande and holds numerous shops and restaurants.

Excursions to choose - pick 1:
- Venice Walk with Gondola Artisans Visit
- Do as the Locals Do: Venice Walking Tour
- Ca’ Macana Mask Atelier
- Rowing Venice
Day 8 Day 8: Venice (Disembark), Transfer To Train (Embark), Trieste
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Venice (Disembark), Transfer To Train (Embark), Trieste

Disembark the ship and join the Golden Eagle Danube Express at Venice Santa Lucia Station. As you settle into your cabins, the train will thread its way out of the station and onto the causeway across the lagoon that links Venice to the mainland. Your first stop is the ancient port of Trieste for a tour of the city.
Day 9 Day 9: Postojna, Ljubljana
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Postojna, Ljubljana

Our morning tour takes us to the Postojna Cave. Ride an underground train deep into the cave and tour the network of magnificent halls, a myriad of cave formations, and mysterious animals. Later, we arrive in Ljubljana, the delightful capital of Slovenia. Discover the city’s combination of ancient architecture and youthful culture on our afternoon walking tour of Ljubljana’s Old Town, which includes a visit to Preseren Square, the Three Bridges, Dragon Bridge, and Plecnik Market.
Day 10 Day 11: Belgrade
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Belgrade

Arrive this morning in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, the former Yugoslavian capital. Located at the strategic meeting point of the Danube and Sava Rivers, this truly cosmopolitan city has fortifications from Celtic times, medieval tombs, and Turkish baths. We spend a full day here, and our city tour includes the ‘House of Flowers’—the mausoleum of Josip Tito, the Town Hall, Republic Square, and Knez Mihajlova Street, as well as ‘Varos’ Gate and a visit to the mighty Kalemegdan Fortress.
Day 11 Day 12: Bar, Podgorica
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Bar, Podgorica

This morning, we cross the border into Montenegro, still one of Europe’s largely undiscovered locations. Blessed with glorious beaches and spectacular landscapes of rugged mountains, gentle lakes, and medieval towns, Montenegro has a combination of incredible natural beauty and captivating history that makes it a fascinating place to visit. We’ll arrive in the coastal town of Bar for a sightseeing tour before getting back on the train and heading to our next destination. During lunch onboard, we travel onto the capital city of Podgorica. The city has passed through the empires of the Romans, the Ottomans, and the Austro-Hungarians. Its streets are an interesting blend of Ottoman oddments, Austrian shopfronts, communist tower blocks, and modern shopping malls.
Day 12 Day 13: Skopje
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Skopje

This morning, you’ll arrive in the little-visited Skopje and discover a city where the Ottoman influences are still strong. Explore the narrow streets of the Old Town with tiny shops and mosques with ceramic-tiled interiors. Meander through the Old Bazaar area, brimming with things to buy, and cross the 15th-century stone bridge that links the bazaar to the modern town.
Day 13 Day 14: Sofia, Plovdiv
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Sofia, Plovdiv

After breakfast, your train arrives in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital at the foot of Mt Vitosha. On your morning tour, you will visit sections of the Roman wall and admire the ancient church of St George, the golden-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and the Turkish Bashi Mosque. Enjoy lunch on the train as you travel from Sofia to Plovdiv. The second largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia, ‘The City of Seven Hills’ is one of the oldest cities in Europe with more than 200 known archaeological sites. You’ll visit the charming Old Town, including its medieval walls and Ottoman baths. Enjoy the final night’s dinner onboard this evening as you head for Turkey.
Day 14 Day 15: Istanbul (Disembark)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 15: Istanbul (Disembark)

This morning we arrive in Istanbul, where we stay for two nights at the stunning Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet. Today we visit the crown jewel of the Ottoman Empire, Topkapi Palace. This stunning monument is the largest and oldest palace in the world and was the primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans from 1465 to 1853. With its treasury and exotic buildings overlooking the Golden Horn, your visit to Topkapi promises to be a truly fascinating experience. We also visit the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s largest covered markets with 58 streets and over 4,000 shops. In operation since the 14th century, the bazaar is especially known for its jewelry, leather, pottery, spices, and carpets.
Day 15 Day 16: Istanbul
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 16: Istanbul

Today see how old meets new and east meets west as we visit a selection of Istanbul’s must-see historic sites, including Hagia Sophia. Hagia Sophia was built in the 6th century by the Emperor Justinian and was one of the largest basilicas in the Christian world. After the Ottoman conquest, it was converted to a mosque and is today one of the most magnificent Grand Mosques in the world. One of the most famous monuments in both the Turkish and Islamic worlds, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque (the Blue Mosque) is a superb creation in the classical Ottoman style. We will have time to marvel at the exterior of the building, which features six towering minarets and 260 windows illuminating its vast main chamber. In the afternoon, we’ll embark on a cruise of the legendary Bosphorus and visit the Grand Bazaar. On the final evening, we enjoy a Farewell Dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 16 Day 17: Istanbul
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 17: Istanbul

This morning, you’ll check out of the hotel and be transferred to Istanbul Airport for your departure.

+13

16 days tour

Cruise & Rail: Venice, Istanbul & The Balkans (2025) (Venice

This tour includes:

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Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Cruise & Rail: Venice, Istanbul & The Balkans (2025) (Venice

Day 1: Venice (Embark)

Day 2: Venice

Day 3: Venice, Mazzorbo (Burano)

Day 4: Mazzorbo, Burano, Chioggia

Day 5: Chioggia

Day 6: Chioggia, Venice

Day 7: Venice

Day 8: Venice (Disembark), Transfer To Train (Embark), Trieste

Day 9: Postojna, Ljubljana

Day 11: Belgrade

Day 12: Bar, Podgorica

Day 13: Skopje

Day 14: Sofia, Plovdiv

Day 15: Istanbul (Disembark)

Day 16: Istanbul

Day 17: Istanbul

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