Itinerary
- Day 1
Budapest
You'll arrive in Budapest, Hungary's capital situated along the Danube River. This is your time to settle in and get comfortable at your own pace. Take it easy, grab a bite at a local café, and get a feel for the city before things pick up tomorrow.
- Day 2
Budapest
Start with a guided city tour that hits Heroes' Square and other key landmarks. After the tour wraps, the afternoon is free so you can check out the Chain Bridge, browse the Christmas market, or wander into one of Budapest's famous cafés and pubs. If you're up for it, hiking through the hills above the Danube gives you some nice views of the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided City Sightseeing including Heroes' Square
Optional Activities
- Explore Chain Bridge
- Visit Christmas market
- Discover local cafés and pubs
- Hike through hills above the Danube
Landmarks Heroes' Square Chain Bridge - Day 3
Budapest to Vienna
You have a full free day to explore Budapest before boarding your evening cruise. Head to the Royal Palace grounds for photos, then consider spending time at one of the thermal bath spas the city is known for. Grab lunch at a garden or rooftop restaurant, and by evening you'll head to the ship for your departure to Vienna.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Overnight cruise to Vienna
Optional Activities
- Photograph Royal Palace grounds
- Visit thermal bath spas
- Lunch at garden or rooftop eatery
Landmarks Royal Palace - Day 4
Vienna
You'll sail the Danube through Hungary and Slovakia today. As you cruise, Bratislava comes into view with its distinctive red rooftops and rolling landscape. During the day there's an Austrian cookie tasting while you're on the water. Later this evening, you can opt to attend a Royal Waltz Concert if you'd like some live music and a more formal evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Austrian Cookie Tasting while sailing
Optional Activities
- Royal Waltz Concert
Landmarks Bratislava - Day 5
Vienna to Krems
A guided tour shows you Vienna's gilded landmarks, including the Imperial Palace, Vienna Opera House, and St. Stephen's Cathedral. The afternoon is free so you can browse Christkindlesmarkt, relax at a traditional Viennese café, or take the optional tour of Schönbrunn Palace. There's live entertainment before the ship heads to Krems.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided City Tour of Vienna's Imperial Palace complex, Vienna Opera House, and St. Stephen's Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Christkindlesmarkt
- Viennese café
- Guided Optional Excursion to Schönbrunn Palace
Landmarks Imperial Palace Vienna Opera House St. Stephen's Cathedral Schönbrunn Palace - Day 6
Melk - Passau
You'll take a guided walk through a small valley town, then sail into the Wachau Valley toward Melk where lunch happens. A guided tour of Melk's Benedictine Abbey lets you see the frescoed ceilings, statues, library, and ornate pipe organ. By evening the ship sails on to Passau.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walk through Krems valley town
- Sailing through Wachau Valley
- Guided Tour of Melk's Benedictine Abbey
Landmarks Melk Benedictine Abbey Wachau Valley - Day 7
Regensburg
A guided city walk introduces you to Passau, known as the 'City of Three Rivers.' You'll have free time to check out the Christkindlmarkt near St. Stephen's Cathedral or browse shops. There's also a full-day optional excursion to Salzburg if you want to see Mozart's city and experience Austrian Christmas traditions. Later you'll meet the ship for the sail to Regensburg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided City Walk of Passau
Optional Activities
- Christkindlmarkt shopping
- Full-day Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg
Landmarks St. Stephen's Cathedral - Day 8
Nuremberg
Join a guided walk through Regensburg to see the Altes Rathaus and Porta Pretoria, that Roman fortress entrance built in 179 AD. After dinner there's live entertainment before sailing continues to Nuremberg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided City Walk featuring Altes Rathaus and Porta Pretoria
Landmarks Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) Porta Pretoria - Day 9
Nuremberg
You'll start with a Christmas Traditions Lecture on board. Then choose between a guided tour of Nuremberg's medieval old town with its gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle, or a guided tour of the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds. The rest of the day is free to walk through the Christmas Markets and try Bavarian food like bratwurst, gingerbread, and mulled wine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Christmas Traditions Lecture on board
Optional Activities
- Guided Sightseeing of Nuremberg (medieval architecture, gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, Kaiserburg Castle)
- Guided Tour of historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds
- Christmas Markets of Nuremberg
- Bavarian cuisine sampling
Landmarks Kaiserburg Castle Nuremberg Rally Grounds Gothic Cathedral - Day 10
Munich - Basel
You'll transfer from your first ship to a second Avalon vessel heading to Basel. There's a guided city tour of Munich showing Nymphenburg Palace, a former Bavarian royal residence, plus both the Old and New Town Halls at Marienplatz.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided City Tour of Munich including Nymphenburg Palace and Town Halls of Marienplatz
Landmarks Nymphenburg Palace Marienplatz - Day 11
Bamberg
Today is yours to explore Nuremberg at your own pace. Stroll through the festively decorated streets, pick up last-minute Christmas gifts, or ask your Cruise Director for recommendations on what to see. There's live entertainment on board later before you sail to Bamberg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Stroll through festively lit streets
- Christmas gift shopping
- Cruise Director suggestions for activities
- Day 12
Würzburg
A guided tour takes you through Bamberg, the medieval home of German and Roman Empire dynasties. You'll see dozens of nativity scenes, some tiny and some life-sized. Free time lets you wander the Christmas markets and try traditional German dumplings, sausage, and Bavarian ale. There's a Christmas Traditions Lecture while sailing to Würzburg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bamberg
- Christmas Traditions Lecture on board
Optional Activities
- Explore nativity scenes
- Christmas markets
- Traditional German cuisine
Landmarks Bamberg - Day 13
Miltenberg
A guided sightseeing tour shows you Würzburg, called the 'Pearl of the Romantic Road,' with the Old Main Bridge, fortress, and baroque Bishop's Residence. You can optionally visit the Bavarian town of Rothenburg and the Käthe Wohlfahrt German Christmas museum with its collection of traditional decorations. Free time at Würzburg's Christmas markets and live entertainment happen later.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Würzburg
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Rothenburg
- Käthe Wohlfahrt German Christmas museum
- Würzburg Christmas markets
Landmarks Old Main Bridge Bishop's Residence - Day 14
Frankfurt
Take a guided tour of Miltenberg showcasing medieval half-timber homes and Germany's oldest inn. The afternoon and evening involve cruising to Frankfurt.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Miltenberg
Landmarks Miltenberg - Day 15
Rüdesheim - Speyer
You'll tour the Mechanical Music Museum in Rüdesheim, a unique place to see and hear historical instruments. In the evening the ship sails to Speyer.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tour of Mechanical Music Museum in Rüdesheim
Landmarks Mechanical Music Museum - Day 16
Heidelberg
Choose between a guided tour covering Heidelberg Castle and the Great Vat, the world's largest wine barrel, plus local Christmas markets, or a more relaxed morning sailing followed by exploring Speyer's Christmas markets for seasonal treats and handmade items. Live entertainment happens before sailing to Strasbourg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour including Heidelberg Castle and the Great Vat
Optional Activities
- Heidelberg Christmas markets
- Relaxing morning sailing
- Speyer Christmas markets exploration
Landmarks Heidelberg Castle Great Vat - Day 17
Breisach
A city sightseeing tour includes Strasbourg's Gothic cathedral with stained glass and an astronomical clock, plus the charming La Petite France District. There's an optional guided excursion to a French wine-country village in Alsace. Free time lets you wander through French winter markets enjoying the lights, music, and seasonal atmosphere before sailing to Breisach.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- City Sightseeing including Gothic cathedral and La Petite France District
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Alsace wine-country village
- Strasbourg Christmas markets
Landmarks Gothic Cathedral La Petite France District - Day 18
Freiburg - Basel
You can choose a guided tour of Freiburg's medieval city center surrounded by the Black Forest with vineyards and gardens, or a guided tour into the Black Forest itself to experience local traditions and Christmas atmosphere. The afternoon offers an optional visit to Colmar with its half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings. The ship sails to Basel in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided Tour of Freiburg's medieval city center and Black Forest
- Guided Tour to Black Forest
- Guided Optional Excursion to Colmar
Landmarks Black Forest Colmar - Day 19
Basel
Your trip ends after breakfast this morning. If flying from Zurich, don't book a flight before 10 am. From Basel, don't book before 8 am.
- Meals
- Breakfast
