You will be met on arrival at Budapest International Airport and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Dinner on your own. OVERNIGHT: Hotel Zenit Budapest Palace
Following breakfast, we depart the hotel for a tour of this amazing city. Budapest is one of Europe’s most regal and storied cities, with many of its iconic sights just off the banks of the Danube. Often described as the “Queen of the Danube,” Budapest is well-known for Fisherman’s Bastion, Buda Hill and its magnificent Hungarian Parliament building. However, this sprawling city is full of rich history and culture and offers many “hidden” treasures as you venture further past its river banks. During this excursion, your guide will take you deeper into the city to discover fascinating sites lesser-known to the average traveler. Lunch and Dinner on your own. (B) OVERNIGHT: Hotel Zenit Budapest Palace
This morning is at leisure. Check out of the hotel midday. Lunch on your own. This afternoon you will be transferred to the AmaSonata to begin our Danube 7-night cruise program. (B,D)
Arrive in Budapest to board your luxurious river cruise ship, the AmaSonata. (D)
Host to the crowning ceremonies of 11 Hungarian kings and queens between 1536 and 1830, Bratislava certainly has earned the title “Coronation City of Kings,” as you’ll discover during your walking tour. Or join a special “Tastes of Slovakia” tour. For a more active adventure, hike up to Bratislava Castle, offering magnificent views of the city. (B,L,D)
The “City of Waltzes” offers a treasure trove of gems and your city tour showcases its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs. Conclude your tour in Vienna’s historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and then visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral. For a more active exploration of the area, take a guided bike ride. During the afternoon, enjoy leisure time exploring this iconic city even more. (B,L,D)
After reaching the Wachau Valley in the morning, you’ll have a choice of three excursions in Dürnstein. Partake in a walking tour along cobblestone streets to the luminous blue façade of the Baroque Stiftskirche, with its famed church tower, Visit a local boutique, where you’ll be treated to the region’s finest apricot products. Alternatively, for a beautiful view of the Wachau Valley, hike up to the fortress where Richard the Lionheart was once held. After your morning excursions, you have the choice to cruise through the Wachau Valley to Melk or join a bike tour along the Danube. Upon reaching Melk, take a tour of the UNESCO-designated Melk Abbey. (B,L,D)
For those who love The Sound of Music, disembark in Linz and set off on a full-day excursion to Salzburg and tour the historic center, Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square and the Old Market. En route to Salzburg, stop at Mondsee, home of the Basilica St. Michael, where the famous wedding scene in the movie was filmed. Those who remain on board will enjoy a scenic morning sailing to the medieval city of Passau. Join a walking tour through this 2,000-year-old city, noted for its Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Guests looking for a more active morning can choose between a guided hike up to the Veste Oberhaus Fortress overlooking Passau or a guided bike tour along the Inn River. (B,L,D) *Passau tours not available with full-day Salzburg
Explore Regensburg, one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on a guided walking tour showcasing the city’s architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Praetoria, gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 A.D. As an alternate option, sample some of Bavaria’s specialties—beer, sausage and pretzels; or bike to Walhalla where you’ll see the neoclassical white marble temple inspired by the Parthenon in Athens. (B,L,D)
Enjoy a scenic morning cruise as the ship crosses the Continental Divide via the Main-Danube Canal to Nuremberg. Explore the medieval city center with a tour that showcases the Imperial Castle and the famous town wall, as well as Albrecht Dürer’s home and Market Square with its legendary fountain. Or you can take a guided tour of the city’s WWII history, including a visit to the infamous Zeppelin Field, a museum built on the site of former Nazi rallies and the site of the Nuremberg Trials when not in session. Alternatively, savor traditional Franconian specialties by sampling famously delicious Nuremburger Bratwurst, Rot bier (red beer) and Lebkuchen (gingerbread). (B,L,D)
After breakfast, Bid farewell to Nuremberg and prepare for your flight home or onward travel. (B)
Disembark the AmaSonata and depart for Prague. Stop in Pilsen — known for the Pilsner Urquell Brewery, specializing in bottom-fermented beer since 1842, with brewing cellars and a bottling plant. Ringed by parks, the old center has the 19th-century Great Synagogue, which also hosts concerts. The Cathedral of St. Bartholomew, completed in the 16th century, has Renaissance paintings and a tall spire with a viewing gallery. Following lunch, enjoy a walking tour and free time to explore the city’s historic district. Continue on to Prague, taking in the scenic beauty of the countryside before arriving at your hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner on your own. (B,L) OVERNIGHT: Andaz Prague Hotel
Your morning’s sightseeing tour reveals why Prague is considered one of Europe’s most attractive cities, with a historic city center that’s recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will see Rudolfinum, the National Museum, Wenceslas Square and the Hundertwasser Dancing House. After your morning walking tour, enjoy the vintage tram from Old Town to Prague Castle. Visit the Strahov Library — one of the most valuable and best-preserved historical libraries consisting of approximately 200,000 volumes. Following your visit to the Strahov Library, enjoy a beer tasting. Either take the coach or walk over the romantic Charles Bridge to the Old Market Square, where you will find the capital’s famous Astronomical Clock, Tyn Church and the statue of Jan Husek. The rest of the day is at your leisure. This afternoon you may want to visit the Jewish Quarter & Old Town on an optional tour or perhaps you may just want to enjoy yourself in one of the city’s many charming cafés. Lunch and dinner on your own. OVERNIGHT: Andaz Prague Hotel
Spend a day at your leisure, perhaps to stroll through a museum or gallery, wander along the banks of the Vltava River, relax at an outdoor café, or shop for local handicrafts. Alternatively, we have several optional sightseeing excursions available include either a visit to the Terezin Memorial (a former concentration camp), or a Prague Castle tour. Tonight our group enjoys a private dinner at one of Prague’s elegant riverside restaurants. (B,D) OVERNIGHT: Andaz Prague Hotel
Bid farewell to Prague. You will be transferred to Prague Airport for your homeward flight. (B)