Fly to Prague for a three night stay in this dreamy city with its soaring spires, colourful Baroque buildings and hilltop castle that looks like it has come straight out of a fairy tale. Cross Charles Bridge for panoramic city views before wandering down narrow cobbled lanes to the medieval heart of the city, the Old Town Square, where the Astronomical Clock strikes the hour and starts its procession of Twelve Apostles, or you could seek out cosy traditional bars serving renowned locally-brewed beers.

After your Prague stay, you’ll be transferred to Engelhartszell to embark A-ROSA Mia where you’ll find a welcoming and informal atmosphere and all the facilities you need to enjoy a fantastic river cruise. For rest and relaxation, head to the sun deck complete with heated outdoor pool. Enjoy delicious freshly cooked cuisine plus a range of entertainment and even a whirl around the dancefloor during your evenings on board.

You’ll cruise to Austria’s cultured capital first and enjoy an overnight stay on board to explore its grand imperial palaces and treasure trove of museums, filled with masterpieces. Take your pick of palaces; from the Hofburg Palace where the Lipizzaner stallions perform their classical dressage at the Spanish Riding School to the beautiful Schonbrunn Palace with its stunning park and gardens; or coffee houses stacked high with extraordinary cakes and patisseries.

Spend some time exploring the city’s musical heritage – Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Strauss, Brahm and Mahler all found inspiration in Vienna and music still plays an important role in everyday life. Get tickets for one of the many concerts that take place in this city of music or watch one of the operas and ballets that are shown live outside the Vienna State Opera in April, May, June and September.

As Hungary’s former capital, birthplace of its first King and seat of the Hungarian Catholic church, Esztergom has played an important role throughout the country’s history. The famous Basilica towers over the city and you can walk around its imposing columns and up to the domed roofs, or take a stroll up to St Tamás Hill for beautiful views.

This pretty city is divided by the mighty River Danube into two neighbourhoods with distinct personalities: Buda with its steep hills and sweeping panoramas and Pest with its café culture and buzzing bars. Here, you’ll enjoy another overnight stay to explore Budapest’s poignant history and thermal springs in one of the many bathhouses.

In the capital of Slovakia, Bratislava, you’ll find stunning fairy-tale castles with fascinating panoramic views across the river. This relaxed and compact city is easy to explore, especially the traffic-free Old Town, and rewards you with baroque architecture, charming cafes and plenty of live music. One must-visit location are the Devin Castle ruins, standing on a high cliff, looped with walking trails.

Today you cruise through the picturesque Wachau Valley, whose steep slopes are lined with vineyards and orchards dotted with quaint villages and imposing castles. In the midst of this postcard-perfect landscape, you’ll stop at the sleepy village of Melk and visit its Benedictine Abbey, a beautiful gold building perched high on a hill.

Your river cruise ends when you see Engelhartszell come into view once more, where you’ll disembark your ship and fly home, filled with fond memories from your European escape.