Cruise & Rail: Venice & Istanbul (2022)

16 days
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USTOA

River Cruise
Travel between northern Italy and the diverse nations of the Balkan Peninsula, and discover a unique blend of eastern and western cultures on a one-of-a-kind journey by land, cruise and train.

Overview

Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy

What's this trip about?

    Travel between northern Italy and the diverse nations of the Balkan Peninsula, and discover a unique blend of eastern and western cultures on a one-of-a-kind journey by land, cruise and train.

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeOperator does not provide
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityVenice
End CityIstanbul

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • Italy
  • Turkey

Attractions

  • Belgrade
  • Istanbul
  • Mosta
  • Sarajevo
  • Sofia
  • Venice

Activities

  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing
  • River cruise

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map
2019 version

Venice to Istanbul

Day 1 - Venice (Embark)
Port - Venice 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 - Venice
Port - 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.

Excursion(s)
- A Morning Walk in Venice with Doge’s Palace Visit Excursion Price - $70

Please note that the amount of walking during this excursion is extensive.

Venice has no need to designate a pedestrians-only historic district because no cars are permitted within the is...

Excursion(s)
- Night Out: Private After-Hours Visit to Saint Mark's Basilica Excursion Price - $70

Welcome to Saint Mark’s Basilica. The doors of this icon are specially opened for you tonight. You will see the glorious church in the evening light and without the crowds. You’ll fi...

Day 3 - Venice, Chioggia
Port - Chioggia Begin your morning with a walk through Venice to meet a local gondola artisan, then head back onboard for a lunchtime sailing across the lagoon. Upon arrival in the fishing town of Chioggia, you'll be able to choose between a ride in a traditional b...
Excursion(s)
- Venice Morning Walk with Gondola Artisans Visit Excursion Price - $70

Get an early morning start to see a side of Venice most of the tourists miss—The Dorsoduro. One of Venice’s six main sestieri, or districts, The Dorsoduro is quieter than some of the more pop...

Excursion(s)
- Padua Walking Tour Excursion Price - $70

Join your local guide on a walking tour of medieval Padua. Discover the city’s great squares, churches and palaces.

Padua flourished as a hub of learning and discovery in the 13th and 14th centuries. The sec...

Excursion(s)
- Noble Country Villas and Their Wines Excursion Price - $70

With a sommelier as your guide today, you'll learn all about Italian wines from the Veneto region. We start off with a visit of the Villa Foscari di Malcontenta. This remarkably elegant property was built b...

Excursion(s)
- Bragozzo Ride with Tastings at Ca’ Zen Excursion Price - $70

Head to one of the most enticing islands of the Venice lagoon, Chioggia. A small fishing port often referred to as a Venice in miniature, with a well-preserved tradition due to its relative lack of crowds,...

Day 4 - Polesella (Bologna or Ferrara)
Port - Polesella Explore Italy’s culinary capital Bologna on a full-day tour packed with an exclusive pasta-making workshop and lunch or explore Ferrara on a half-day tour.

Excursion(s)
- Private Pasta-Making and Italian Lunch in Bologna Excursion Price - $70

There are those who believe that the best tortellini in the world is made in Bologna. Taste and decide for yourself today. Of course, there’s Bolognese sauce, but that’s just one possible toppin...

Excursion(s)
- Ferrara: Renaissance, Elegance and Italian Lifestyle Town Walk Excursion Price - $70

Square towers rise sternly above the moat that still surrounds Castle Estense, the huge fortress the Este family built in the center of Ferrara in the 14th century. It was a demonst...

Day 5 - Porto Viro, Chioggia, Burano
Port - Chioggia Today, you’ll admire the greatest sites of charming and coastal Chioggia, including a stop at the local and lively market. Your ship will move to dock overnight in Burano, where you’ll enjoy a lovely evening stroll through this multicolored island. IMPO...
Excursion(s)
- Chioggia Market Visit Excursion Price - $70

Chioggia is the quintessential Venetian Lagoon fishing village. Founded in the fifth century, it was known as the pantry of Venice because of its many small truck farms, which supplied Venetian households with produce unti...

Excursion(s)
- Evening Stroll in Burano Excursion Price - $70

Excursion(s)
- Castello del Catajo Visit Excursion Price - $70

Set off for the Euganean hills to discover one of Europe’s most majestic castles. Enjoy a guided tour of a palace so beautiful that it became a resort for the Habsburg Dynasty before being returned to Italy follow...

Excursion(s)
- "Let's Go" Biking Chioggia Excursion Price - $70

Set off on a light bicycle ride along the beaches of Chioggia, an island often described as a second Venice in miniature. Head to Lusenzo Lagoon, break to see the fishing boats, and then continue on to Isola dell’Unione.

Day 6 - Burano (Torcello, Mazzorbo, and Burano), Venice
Port - Burano 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.

Excursion(s)
- Torcello: Hidden Treasure of the Lagoon Excursion Price - $70

Settled before Venice was founded, Torcello was once the greatest, most populous city in the lagoon. Now, however, only a handful of people live there. Its centerpiece is the basilica of Santa Maria ...

Excursion(s)
- Murano Glass Blowing Demonstration Excursion Price - $70

Murano’s glassblowers are renowned for being amongst the best in the world—and how could they not be, with a tradition of craftsmanship dating back eight centuries? Watch a glass-master shape beautiful wo...

Day 7 - Venice
Port - 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. A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

Excursion(s)
- “Do as the Locals Do” Venice Walking Tour Excursion Price - $70

Back when Venice was at the height of its power, only the Rialto Bridge spanned the Grand Canal—and the city’s famous Rialto markets for fish and produce have sprawled at its feet as long as the bridge ...

Excursion(s)
- Rialto Walking Tour with Casanova Excursion Price - $70

Giacomo Casanova, born in 1725, is one of the most notorious names to ever come out of Venice. Though a Renaissance man on all counts as a philosopher, Freemason, alchemist, spy and adventurer, his many romanti...

Excursion(s)
- Ca' Macana Mask Atelier Excursion Price - $70

An integral feature of the Carnival of Venice, masks are known for their intricate beauty and wide variety of styles. See for yourself how these masks are created at one of the top handmade mask ateliers in town.

Day 8 - Venice (Disembark), Transfer to Train (Embark), Trieste
Port - Trieste Join the Golden Eagle Balkan Explorer in Venice Santa Lucia Station in time for lunch. Your cabin attendants will be waiting on the platform to welcome and escort you to your cabins. As you take your seats for lunch, the train will thread its way out of t...
Day 9 - Lake Bled, Ljubljana, Zagreb
Port - Zagreb Have an early breakfast onboard as the train heads for Lake Bled, one of the most picturesque and photographed lakes in Eastern Europe. Next, travel down to the Capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, to tour the lovely, compact city by foot and by a cruise on the...
Day 10 - Sarajevo, Mostar
Port - Sarajevo Early in the morning, you’ll arrive in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo, which has an intriguing blend of Eastern and Western culture. It has mosques and minarets, an ancient bazaar and an atmospheric old Turkish quarter. Discover the city’s poignant hist...
Day 11 - Belgrade
Port - 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 bath...
Day 12 - Skopje, Thessaloniki
Port - 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 ...
Day 13 - Sofia, Plovdiv
Port - Sofia After breakfast, your train arrives in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital at the foot of Vitosha Mountain. 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 th...
Day 14 - Istanbul (Disembark)
Port - Istanbul As breakfast is served, the train winds its way along the Sea of Marmara towards Istanbul’s historic Sirkeci station. Mid-morning, your journey from Venice comes to an end and you will say goodbye to the Golden Eagle train that has been home for the past...
Day 15 - Istanbul
Port - Istanbul Continue your adventure in the spectacular and bustling 3,000-year-old city of Istanbul. As the only city in the world built on two continents, Istanbul has a unique mix of Eastern and Western culture. Experience it all during your free time here by brow...
Day 16 - Istanbul
Port - Istanbul Check out of your hotel and head to Istanbul Airport for your flight home.

Istanbul to Venice

Day 1 - Istanbul
Port - Istanbul Arrive at Istanbul Airport. If your cruise/tour package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, a Uniworld representative will be on hand to greet you and escort you to the Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul (or similar).

Day 2 - Istanbul
Port - Istanbul Your adventure begins in the spectacular and bustling 3,000-year-old city of Istanbul. As the only city in the world built on two continents, Istanbul has a unique mix of Eastern and Western culture. Experience it all during your free time here by browsi...
Day 3 - Istanbul (Embark)
Port - Istanbul In the afternoon you will be taken to Istanbul’s historic Sirkeci railway station, starting point of the world famous Orient Express. The station is currently only used by the Venice Simplon Orient Express and the Golden Eagle Danube Express. Your cabin ...
Day 4 - Plovdiv, Sofia
Port - Sofia After breakfast, your train arrives in 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. Spend the morning here exploring the Roman Forum ...
Day 5 - Thessaloniki, Skopje
Port - Skopje This morning, you'll cross into Greece and after breakfast arrive in the vibrant city of Thessaloniki. Soak up the atmosphere of this vibrant city by heading to Aristotelous Square and the seafront before returning to the train for lunch. In the afternoon,...
Day 6 - Belgrade
Port - 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 bath...
Day 7 - Mostar, Sarajevo
Port - Sarajevo Over breakfast, you’ll travel along a very scenic line to the historic city of Mostar, the crossroads of many civilizations, cultures and religions. Mostar was one of the most important cities of the Ottoman Empire. The town’s renowned stone arch bridge ...
Day 8 - Zagreb, Ljubljana, Lake Bled
Port - Zagreb Have breakfast onboard as the train heads to Croatia’s Capital, Zagreb, then spend the morning touring the city. Return to the train for lunch as the train follows the scenic River Sava to the Capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana. Tour this lovely, compact city ...
Day 9 - Trieste and Venice (Disembark), Transfer to ship (Embark)
Port - Trieste After an early breakfast, you’ll stop in the medieval port city of Trieste, once amongst the oldest and largest cities in the Habsburg Empire. Then return to the train and prepare to disembark at the Venice Santa Lucia Station on the Canal Grande, where you will be transferred to the ship. Unpack, relax and enjoy your first evening on the Venetian Lagoon.

Day 10 - Venice
Port - 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.

Excursion(s)
- A Morning Walk in Venice with Doge’s Palace Visit Excursion Price - $70

Please note that the amount of walking during this excursion is extensive.

Venice has no need to designate a pedestrians-only historic district because no cars are permitted within the is...

Excursion(s)
- Night Out: Private After-Hours Visit to Saint Mark's Basilica Excursion Price - $70

Welcome to Saint Mark’s Basilica. The doors of this icon are specially opened for you tonight. You will see the glorious church in the evening light and without the crowds. You’ll fi...

Day 11 - Venice, Chioggia
Port - Chioggia Begin your morning with a walk through Venice to meet a local gondola artisan, then head back onboard for a lunchtime sailing across the lagoon. Upon arrival in the fishing town of Chioggia, you'll be able to choose between a ride in a traditional b...
Excursion(s)
- Venice Morning Walk with Gondola Artisans Visit Excursion Price - $70

Get an early morning start to see a side of Venice most of the tourists miss—The Dorsoduro. One of Venice’s six main sestieri, or districts, The Dorsoduro is quieter than some of the more pop...

Excursion(s)
- Padua Walking Tour Excursion Price - $70

Join your local guide on a walking tour of medieval Padua. Discover the city’s great squares, churches and palaces.

Padua flourished as a hub of learning and discovery in the 13th and 14th centuries. The sec...

Excursion(s)
- Noble Country Villas and Their Wines Excursion Price - $70

With a sommelier as your guide today, you'll learn all about Italian wines from the Veneto region. We start off with a visit of the Villa Foscari di Malcontenta. This remarkably elegant property was built b...

Excursion(s)
- Bragozzo Ride with Tastings at Ca’ Zen Excursion Price - $70

Head to one of the most enticing islands of the Venice lagoon, Chioggia. A small fishing port often referred to as a Venice in miniature, with a well-preserved tradition due to its relative lack of crowds,...

Day 12 - Polesella (Bologna or Ferrara)
Port - Polesella Explore Italy’s culinary capital Bologna on a full-day tour packed with an exclusive pasta-making workshop and lunch or explore Ferrara on a half-day tour.

Excursion(s)
- Private Pasta-Making and Italian Lunch in Bologna Excursion Price - $70

There are those who believe that the best tortellini in the world is made in Bologna. Taste and decide for yourself today. Of course, there’s Bolognese sauce, but that’s just one possible toppin...

Excursion(s)
- Ferrara: Renaissance, Elegance and Italian Lifestyle Town Walk Excursion Price - $70

Square towers rise sternly above the moat that still surrounds Castle Estense, the huge fortress the Este family built in the center of Ferrara in the 14th century. It was a demonst...

Day 13 - Porto Viro, Chioggia, Burano
Port - Chioggia Today, you’ll admire the greatest sites of charming and coastal Chioggia, including a stop at the local and lively market. Your ship will move to dock overnight in Burano, where you’ll enjoy a lovely evening stroll through this multicolored island. IMPO...
Excursion(s)
- Chioggia Market Visit Excursion Price - $70

Chioggia is the quintessential Venetian Lagoon fishing village. Founded in the fifth century, it was known as the pantry of Venice because of its many small truck farms, which supplied Venetian households with produce unti...

Excursion(s)
- Evening Stroll in Burano Excursion Price - $70

Excursion(s)
- Castello del Catajo Visit Excursion Price - $70

Set off for the Euganean hills to discover one of Europe’s most majestic castles. Enjoy a guided tour of a palace so beautiful that it became a resort for the Habsburg Dynasty before being returned to Italy follow...

Excursion(s)
- "Let's Go" Biking Chioggia Excursion Price - $70

Set off on a light bicycle ride along the beaches of Chioggia, an island often described as a second Venice in miniature. Head to Lusenzo Lagoon, break to see the fishing boats, and then continue on to Isola dell’Unione.

Day 14 - Burano (Torcello, Mazzorbo, and Burano), Venice
Port - Burano 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.

Excursion(s)
- Torcello: Hidden Treasure of the Lagoon Excursion Price - $70

Settled before Venice was founded, Torcello was once the greatest, most populous city in the lagoon. Now, however, only a handful of people live there. Its centerpiece is the basilica of Santa Maria ...

Excursion(s)
- Murano Glass Blowing Demonstration Excursion Price - $70

Murano’s glassblowers are renowned for being amongst the best in the world—and how could they not be, with a tradition of craftsmanship dating back eight centuries? Watch a glass-master shape beautiful wo...

Day 15 - Venice
Port - 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. A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

Excursion(s)
- “Do as the Locals Do” Venice Walking Tour Excursion Price - $70

Back when Venice was at the height of its power, only the Rialto Bridge spanned the Grand Canal—and the city’s famous Rialto markets for fish and produce have sprawled at its feet as long as the bridge ...

Excursion(s)
- Rialto Walking Tour with Casanova Excursion Price - $70

Giacomo Casanova, born in 1725, is one of the most notorious names to ever come out of Venice. Though a Renaissance man on all counts as a philosopher, Freemason, alchemist, spy and adventurer, his many romanti...

Excursion(s)
- Ca' Macana Mask Atelier Excursion Price - $70

An integral feature of the Carnival of Venice, masks are known for their intricate beauty and wide variety of styles. See for yourself how these masks are created at one of the top handmade mask ateliers in town.

Day 16 - Venice (Disembark)
Port - Venice Disembark the ship. If your cruise/tour package includes a group departure transfer or if you purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to Venice Marco Polo International Airport for your flight home.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $19,199
Price per day$1,200
Last Updated: 5/14/2023

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Uniworld.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Uniworld Reviews & Ratings

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Other Uniworld Reviews

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Bradley Acuff

Jan 2023

Provided byUniworld

Personnel were all very polite and happy to serve.

Personnel were all very polite and happy to serve. Service was timely and ...

M

Marie Rossiter

Jan 2023

Provided byUniworld

The staff is most efficient and kind.

The staff is most efficient and kind.

L

Leslie Gleiser

Jan 2023

Provided byUniworld

The service on the Tosca was OUTSTANDING.

The service on the Tosca was OUTSTANDING. The crew was very attentive, concerned always that we had what we needed and wanted. They could not be more helpful! It was...

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Tour Operator

Uniworld

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Award-winning Uniworld—the world's ONLY authentic boutique cruise line™—offers itineraries in spectacular destinations throughout Europe, Russia, and Asia. The company’s European fleet features luxurious ships with an average capacity of 130 guests, the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the river cruise industry, enticing shore excursions, world-class gourmet cuisine, impeccable hospitality, and numerous other all-inclusive benefits.

In 2004, Uniworld was acquired by The Travel Corporation (TTC), a highly successful international travel group founded by Stanley Tollman. TTC has more than 30 top brands, including Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, and Contiki, as well as Red Carnation Hotels, a renowned collection of four- and five-star luxury properties.

TTC has made major investments in Uniworld's ships, crew, and staff, with an eye towards providing guests with all the elements of an unforgettable Six-Star Experience: Expertise; Service; Luxurious Ships, Uniquely Designed; Culinary; Choice; and Truly All-Inclusive. Combining the tour planning and hotel management expertise of TTC’s sister companies with Uniworld’s decades of superior nautical experience has created an entirely new category of luxury river cruising.

In partnership with its sister company, Red Carnation Hotels, Uniworld takes pride in its long-lasting relationships with guests, for whom there is “No request too large, no detail too small.” Uniworld employs a professionally trained, dedicated, English-speaking staff, so guests never have to worry about communication.

Why we love this operator
They have the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the river cruise industry and a reputation for excellent service.
What they’re known for
Posh all-inclusive river cruises with fascinating shore excursions in destinations across Europe and Asia.

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Logistics

Ship & cabin information
S.S. La Venezia
S.S. La Venezia
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Trip ID
Uniworld-270

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