Itinerary
- Day 1
Prague
You arrive in Prague and have the day to yourself. Wander through the historic streets at your own pace, checking out the old town and the countryside around the city however you'd like. It's a good chance to get your bearings and start feeling out the Golden City.
Optional Activities
- Explore the Golden City of Prague and surrounding countryside
Landmarks Prague - Day 2
Prague
A guided walk takes you through Prague's main sights. You'll see Hradcany Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, then head to the Old Town to catch the Astronomical Clock. Charles Bridge gives you time to walk its historic arches and watch street performers. By afternoon, you're in Wenceslas Square, and there's food to try - local plum dumplings and Pilsner beer both worth sampling.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided City Walk visiting Hradčany Castle Grounds
- Visit St. Vitus Cathedral
- Visit Old Town's Astronomical Clock
- Explore Charles Bridge
Optional Activities
- Sample plum dumplings and traditional Pilsner lager
- Watch street performers in Wenceslas Square
Landmarks Hradčany Castle St. Vitus Cathedral Old Town's Astronomical Clock Charles Bridge Wenceslas Square - Day 3
Prague to Regensburg to Vilshofen
After breakfast, you drive to Regensburg for a guided walk through the Old Town Hall and the ancient Porta Pretoria fortress entrance from 179 AD. You'll have free time for lunch and a local beer before heading to Vilshofen. There you'll board your Avalon Suite Ship, settle in at a welcome reception, and sail overnight to Passau.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided City Walk in Regensburg
- Visit Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall)
- Visit Porta Pretoria
- Welcome reception onboard ship
Optional Activities
- Enjoy hearty lunch and local beer in Regensburg
- Explore historic lanes and squares of Regensburg
Landmarks Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) Porta Pretoria - Day 4
Passau to Linz
Pick your activity in Passau: hike from Oberhaus down to the Ilz River valley, or take a guided walk learning about the 'City of Three Rivers'. You can explore cobblestone streets and Artists' Alley on your own, plus visit St. Stephen's Cathedral. Later, cruise through the dramatic Schlögen Oxbow. Live entertainment happens onboard as you sail overnight to Linz.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hiking from Oberhaus along Ilz River trail OR Guided City Walk
- Explore Passau's cobblestone streets and galleries
- Cruise through Schlögen Oxbow
- Live entertainment onboard
Optional Activities
- Visit St. Stephen's Cathedral to catch a concert rehearsal
Landmarks Oberhaus Ilz River St. Stephen's Cathedral Schlögen Oxbow - Day 5
Linz
The Adventure Center offers choices: bike along the Danube with your host or join a guided walk through Linz's historic sites and Hauptplatz. Full-day trips to Salzburg or Cesky Krumlov are optional, or you can do a biking picnic along the Danube or hike to Pöstlingberg for views. You sail overnight to Ybbs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike ride along the Danube OR Guided Walk through historic sites
- Visit Hauptplatz
- View Trinity Column
Optional Activities
- Full-day Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg
- Full-day Guided Optional Excursion to Cesky Krumlov
- Biking picnic along the banks of the Danube
- Hike through Linz's nature trails to Pöstlingberg
Landmarks Hauptplatz Trinity Column Pöstlingberg - Day 6
Ybbs to Dürnstein
Several options await: visit family-owned farms to learn about traditional specialties, explore Ybbs and Artstetten Castle, or take a guided tour of Melk's Benedictine Abbey with its frescoed ceilings and ornate pipe organ. As you sail through the Wachau Valley, relax on the Sky Deck and pass vineyards and castles. In Dürnstein, hike to castle ruins for views or join a guided walk about King Richard the Lionheart's imprisonment. Live entertainment before sailing overnight to Vienna.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit family-owned farms and learn about traditional specialties OR Visit Ybbs and Artstetten Castle OR Guided Tour of Melk's Benedictine Abbey
- Sail through Wachau Valley
- Hike to castle ruins in Dürnstein OR Guided Walk in Dürnstein
- Live entertainment onboard
Optional Activities
- Bike ride along Wachau's bike trails
Landmarks Artstetten Castle Melk Benedictine Abbey Wachau Valley Dürnstein Castle - Day 7
Vienna
Vienna's highlights come through a guided city tour covering the Imperial Palace, Vienna Opera House, and St. Stephen's Cathedral, or bike around Danube Island with your Adventure Host. Stroll Kärntnerstrasse shopping avenue, grab Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel at a café, and spend free time exploring. An optional Royal Waltz Concert is available before you cruise overnight to Bratislava.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Vienna's Danube Island by bike OR Guided City Tour of Vienna's gilded landmarks
- Visit Imperial Palace complex
- Visit Vienna Opera House
- Visit St. Stephen's Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Schönbrunn Palace
- Stroll Kärntnerstrasse shopping avenue
- Optional Excursion to attend a Royal Waltz Concert
Landmarks Imperial Palace Vienna Opera House St. Stephen's Cathedral Schönbrunn Palace Kärntnerstrasse - Day 8
Bratislava
In Bratislava, hike up to Bratislava Castle or take a guided walk through Old Town's streets, the Town Hall, and St. Martin's Cathedral where royal coronations took place. You'll have free time to explore this Slovak capital and its nearby forests and parks before an evening cruise to Budapest.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Bratislava Castle OR Guided City Walk of Old Town
- Visit Town Hall
- Visit St. Martin's Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Explore Bratislava on your own
Landmarks Bratislava Castle Town Hall St. Martin's Cathedral - Day 9
Budapest
Choose between hiking to a viewpoint with your Adventure Host or joining a guided sightseeing tour that includes Heroes' Square. Browse the Central Market Hall, walk the Chain Bridge, visit Fisherman's Bastion, or relax in a café. Several optional guided excursions are available for the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to viewpoint in Budapest OR Guided City Sightseeing
- Visit Heroes' Square
Optional Activities
- Explore Chain Bridge
- Visit Fisherman's Bastion
- Browse Central Market Hall
- Hike the hills above the Danube
- Wide range of optional guided excursions available
Landmarks Heroes' Square Chain Bridge Fisherman's Bastion Central Market Hall - Day 10
Budapest
Spend your second day in Budapest however you like. The famous thermal baths are available, or you can hike in the hills above the Danube, explore local cafés and restaurants at your own pace. By evening, you sail to Vukovar overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Enjoy Budapest's famed thermal baths
- Take a scenic hike in the hills above the Danube
- Explore the city's cafés and restaurants
- Day 11
Vukovar to Novi Sad to Ilok
The Adventure Center has your day's activities. In Vukovar, choose a guided walking tour with beer tasting or a guided city tour exploring local heritage. Lunch is onboard during a brief cruise to Novi Sad. Later, visit Ilok to explore 1,000-year-old wine making traditions and a medieval fortress with wine tasting, or bike the city walls and explore the church and museum. You sail overnight to Novi Sad.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walking Tour of Vukovar with beer tasting OR Guided City Tour of Vukovar
- Cruise to Novi Sad
- Guided tour of Ilok OR Guided Bike Tour of Ilok
Optional Activities
- Wine tasting in a local cellar in Ilok
Landmarks Vukovar Ilok Principovac Castle and Estate - Day 12
Novi Sad
Explore Novi Sad on a guided tour admiring its Austro-Hungarian old town with baroque buildings and ancient fortifications. Pick between a guided hike to Petrovaradin for Danube views or a guided tour of the Honey Museum with local honey tastings. Live entertainment happens onboard before you cruise overnight to Belgrade.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Novi Sad
- Guided Hike to Petrovaradin OR Guided Tour of Honey Museum with tastings
- Live entertainment onboard
Landmarks Novi Sad Petrovaradin Honey Museum - Day 13
Belgrade
In Belgrade where the Danube and Sava rivers meet, take a guided sightseeing tour or explore the central walkway by bike with your Adventure Host. See Saint Sava, one of the world's largest Orthodox churches. An onboard lecture covers Balkan history and culture, or spend free time on Knez Mihailova Street with cafés and shops. An optional authentic Bohemian dinner in Skadarlija Quarter is available before you cruise overnight to Golubac.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Belgrade's central walkway by bike OR Guided Sightseeing Tour of Belgrade
- Visit Saint Sava Orthodox Church
- Onboard Lecture about Balkan history and culture
Optional Activities
- Explore Knez Mihailova Street
- Optional authentic Bohemian Dinner in the Quarter of Skadarlija
Landmarks Saint Sava Knez Mihailova Street Quarter of Skadarlija - Day 14
Golubac to Iron Gates to Vidin
Visit Golubac Fortress, one of Europe's best-preserved medieval fortresses, learning about its history as a border control defense. Continue to Lepenski Vir, a Mesolithic archaeological site with views of the Danube Gorge. Sail through the spectacular Iron Gates Gorge, a natural border between Serbia and Romania, before an afternoon and overnight cruise to Vidin.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Fortress of Golubac
- Visit Lepenski Vir archaeological site
- Sail through Iron Gates Gorge
Landmarks Golubac Fortress Lepenski Vir Iron Gates Gorge - Day 15
Vidin to Belogradchik to Rousse
Bike around Vidin with your Adventure Host, or join a guided sightseeing tour to Baba Vida Fortress and Belogradchik to see remarkable rock formations on the Balkan Mountains' western slopes. Alternatively, explore two centuries of Bulgarian winemaking with a tour and tasting at a local winery. Later you sail to Rousse for an afternoon and overnight cruise.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike tour around Vidin OR Guided Sightseeing to Baba Vida Fortress and Belogradchik OR Guided Tour of local winery with tasting
Landmarks Baba Vida Fortress Belogradchik - Day 16
Rousse to Veliko Târnovo to Oltenita
Explore Rousse's old town by bike with your Adventure Host, or choose a full-day guided tour to Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria's former capital) with ancient stone houses clinging to cliffs, plus the 15th-century Bulgarian Revival town of Arbanassi. Alternatively, take a guided tour of Rousse and its Holy Trinity Church with a scenic drive to the UNESCO World Heritage rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo. A Bulgarian folklore show is onboard before sailing to Oltenita.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Rousse's old town by bike OR Full-day Guided Tour to Veliko Târnovo and Arbanassi OR Guided Sightseeing Tour of Rousse with visit to rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo
- Bulgarian folklore show onboard
Landmarks Veliko Târnovo Arbanassi Holy Trinity Church Ivanovo rock-hewn churches - Day 17
Oltenita to Bucharest to Brasov
You disembark and take a guided tour of Bucharest, Romania's capital. See tree-lined boulevards, the Arc de Triomphe honoring WWI soldiers, and Royal Palace Square, where the 1989 riots took place. After the visit, you transfer to Brasov for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Bucharest
- Visit Arc de Triomphe
- Visit Royal Palace Square
Landmarks Arc de Triomphe Royal Palace Square - Day 18
Brasov to Bran
A guided tour of Brasov shows you its gothic, baroque, and renaissance architecture. In the evening, depart for Bran Castle and take a guided tour of the 1377 structure famous from vampire legends, followed by dinner at this location.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner in Bran Castle location)
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Brasov
- Guided Tour of Bran Castle
- Dinner at Bran Castle
Landmarks Bran Castle - Day 19
Bran to Peles to Bucharest
Take a guided tour of Peles Castle, the royal family's summer residence until 1947. Drive through the Carpathians to Bucharest, enjoying a local lunch on the way. Spend free time exploring the city and discovering trendy shops, cafés, museums, and churches along Victory Avenue.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local lunch)
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Peles Castle
- Local lunch during drive
Optional Activities
- Explore Bucharest's shops, cafés, museums, homes, and churches along Victory Avenue
Landmarks Peles Castle - Day 20
Bucharest
Your trip ends with breakfast this morning.
- Meals
- Breakfast
