Melodies of the Danube (New Year’s Celebration)

Budapest is one of Eastern Europe's most appealing cities, a vibrant and welcoming capital that straddles the Danube. The history of Budapest has been somewhat turbulent - ransacked by the Mongols in 1241, occupied by the Ottoman Turks for over a century, and almost flattened by the Soviets in 1945 - but plenty of older buildings survive, including the imposing Parliament and iconic St Stephen's Basilica. Although a pedant might point out that Budapest has only really existed since 1873; up until then the city's two distinct halves, Buda and Pest, were separate towns.

Bratislava, Slovakia’s quaint little capital, straddles the Danube close to the border with Austria and Hungary. The compact old town is the best place to begin your exploration, before heading up to the hilltop castle for commanding views of the city and surrounding countryside.

Vienna is jam packed full of thrusting, bombastic buildings that stand as a reminder of Austria’s glorious imperial heyday. From mid-November the city's squares are transformed into magical Christmas markets, where fairy lights twinkle and the air is heady with aromas of sizzling sausage, gingerbread and Glühwein.

The cute little of village of Weissenkirchen is situated on the Danube in the picturesque Wachau Valley, and takes its name from a fortified 14th century Gothic church. It won’t take long to explore the village itself, but nearby attractions include the beautiful abbey at Melk.

Despite its small size, Grein is rich in history, culture, and scenic beauty, set on a bend of the Danube. This intimate postcard-pretty city is wonderfully easy to explore on foot with its pastel-colored buildings that frame the main square, cosy cafés and a hilltop castle, the perfect setting for strolls or bike rides along the river.

The city of Linz is included on river cruise itineraries due to its proximity to Salzburg, which is where you’ll most likely be headed. Salzburg’s Altstadt attracts millions of visitors every year with its fairytale skyline of domes and spires, and the city is renowned as both the birthplace of Mozart and the setting for ‘The Sound of Music’.

The pretty Bavarian town of Passau, situated close to Germany’s border with Austria, enjoys a unique setting at the confluence of three rivers: the Inn, the Ilz and the Danube. The narrow cobbled streets of the handsome old town, the Altstadt, are quite delightful.

Vilshofen an der Donau is known as the ‘Little Town of Three Rivers’, situated at the point where the Vils and Wolfach flow into the Danube. At its heart is the delightful old town, home to several interesting buildings including the Church of St John the Baptist, the Benedictine Abbey of Schweiklberg and the iconic clock tower.