Itinerary
- Day 1
Prague
You'll arrive in Prague, a city that's managed to preserve so much of its medieval character over more than 1,000 years. The Vltava River runs through the middle, splitting things nicely between Old Town on one side and New Town on the other. It's a good day to get your bearings and settle in.
Landmarks/POIs Vltava River Old Town New Town - Day 2
Prague
A local guide takes you through Prague's Gothic architecture, hitting Old Town and the famous Astronomical Clock that's been keeping time since 1357 when Charles IV commissioned it. You'll walk Charles Bridge, then the afternoon is yours to wander around at your own pace and soak in the city on foot.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Old Town
- Visit Astronomical Clock
- Visit Charles Bridge
Landmarks/POIs Old Town Astronomical Clock Charles Bridge - Day 3
Prague
Today you pick one of three freechoice options. There's a walking tour focusing on Communist-era Prague with brewery beer tasting, the Terezin Memorial to learn about WWII history, or Prague Castle including St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, and the Golden Lane. Pick what interests you most.
Optional Activities
- Communist walk of Prague with beer tasting
- Terezin Memorial visit
- Prague Castle tour including St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, and Golden Lane
Landmarks/POIs Prague Castle St. Vitus Cathedral Old Royal Palace Golden Lane Terezin Memorial - Day 4
Prague to Budapest
You'll travel by coach from Prague to Budapest, then board your river cruise vessel. It's mostly a travel day, so there's time to relax during the journey and get settled into your suite once you reach the Danube.
- Day 5
Budapest
Budapest sits on both sides of the Danube, and they really became one city in 1873 when a bridge connected Buda and Pest. You've got freechoice options: a coach tour of both districts, a look at Communist and modern history, the Hospital in the Rock tour, a guided hike through Buda, or a culinary market tour. The afternoon opens up so you can explore on your own or visit the thermal baths.
Optional Activities
- Budapest in depth coach tour
- Budapest's past and present walking and coach tour
- Hospital in the Rock underground tour
- Guided hike of Buda district
- Hungarian culinary market tour
Landmarks/POIs Danube River Buda Pest Margaret Bridge Széchenyi Square Elizabeth Square Institute for the Blind Hospital in the Rock Castle District Varkert Bazar Grand Central Market - Day 6
Budapest to Vienna
You'll cruise towards Vienna, watching the Danube scenery from your suite. By afternoon you're there, and this evening brings an exclusive classical concert at Palais Liechtenstein with Mozart and Strauss performed by an orchestra, ballet dancers, and vocalists. Vienna's an imperial capital known for art, music, and Baroque architecture.
Included Activities
- Classical concert at Palais Liechtenstein with Austrian Sekt
Landmarks/POIs Palais Liechtenstein - Day 7
Vienna
A full day in Vienna means choosing from freechoice activities: Schönbrunn Palace, an e-bike tour to Danube Island, an excursion to Bratislava in Slovakia, or a Hidden Gems tour through St Stephen's, the Greek Quarter, and local coffee houses. The city's famous for the Ringstrasse and its Habsburg heritage, so there's plenty to see.
Optional Activities
- Schönbrunn Palace tour
- Cycle to Danube Island e-bike tour
- Excursion to Bratislava including Bratislava Castle and Hlavné Námestie
- Hidden Gems of Vienna tour
Landmarks/POIs Ringstrasse Schönbrunn Palace Danube Island Bratislava Castle Hlavné Námestie Schwedenplatz Prater Augarten Park St Stephen's Greek Quarter - Day 8
Dürnstein
You arrive in Krems in the Wachau Valley and pick from freechoice options: touring Göttweig Abbey with its frescoes and Baroque staircase, wine tasting at a local winery, or e-biking along the Danube to Dürnstein through vineyards. Later you dock in Dürnstein, a World Heritage town surrounded by terraced vineyards right on the river.
Optional Activities
- Göttweig Abbey tour with frescoes and Baroque staircase
- Wachau Valley wine tasting at local winemaker
- E-biking from Krems to Dürnstein return
Landmarks/POIs Krems Wachau Valley Göttweig Abbey Dürnstein Danube River - Day 9
Passau
After a short stop in Brandstatt, you reach Passau where three rivers meet near the Austrian border. This former Holy Roman Empire trading town has charming Italianate architecture built by prince-bishops. Freechoice activities include a full day to Salzburg with Mozart's birthplace, a full day to Český Krumlov, or a walking tour of Passau's highlights like St Stephen's Cathedral.
Optional Activities
- Full day excursion to Salzburg including Mozart's birthplace and Hohensalzburg fortress with lunch
- Full day excursion to Český Krumlov with local guide and lunch
- Highlights of Passau walking tour including St Stephen's Cathedral
Landmarks/POIs Brandstatt Passau Salzburg Mozart's birthplace Hohensalzburg fortress Český Krumlov St Stephen's Cathedral - Day 10
Regensburg
Regensburg appears next with 2,000 years of history and over 900 World Heritage medieval buildings. You can choose a walking tour of the old stone bridge, a ferry through Danube Gorge to Weltenburg Abbey for their award-winning beer, an active walk to Thurn und Taxis Castle, or cycling to Walhalla Memorial through the countryside.
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Regensburg including old stone bridge, Church of St James, and Porta Praetoria
- Ferry through Danube Gorge to Weltenburg Abbey with beer tasting
- Thurn und Taxis active walking tour and guided castle tour
- Cycle to Walhalla Memorial through Donau Valley
Landmarks/POIs Regensburg Old stone bridge Church of St James Porta Praetoria Danube Gorge Weltenburg Abbey Thurn und Taxis Castle Walhalla Memorial Donau Valley - Day 11
Nuremberg
Nuremberg's your next stop, Bavaria's second-largest city surrounded by ancient walls and dominated by the 12th-century Imperial Castle. Despite its charming look, the city carries difficult WWII history. Freechoice options include a guided Old Town tour with the castle, a WWII history tour, or an active walking tour of the castle and walls.
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Nuremberg Old Town including Imperial Castle, St. Egidien's Church, and market square
- World War II tour of Nuremberg
- Nuremberg's Castle and City Walls active walking tour
Landmarks/POIs Nuremberg Imperial Castle Old Town St. Egidien's Church Ancient city walls - Day 12
Bamberg
Bamberg is a World Heritage town built on seven hills with cobblestoned streets, medieval buildings, an island Town Hall, and Gothic and Romanesque cathedrals. You can take a guided tour of the Old Town exploring medieval and Baroque buildings or go on an excursion to Coburg to visit its castle with museums. The afternoon is free to relax on deck or explore.
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Bamberg Old Town
- Excursion to Coburg including castle visit with carriage, weapons, and art collections
Landmarks/POIs Bamberg Old Town Town Hall Cathedral Old Residence New Residence Little Venice Coburg Coburg Castle - Day 13
Würzburg
After a relaxed morning on board, you dock in Würzburg, a glamorous Franconian wine town with lavish Baroque and Rococo architecture, a World Heritage palace, a fortress on a hilltop, and the 15th-century Old Main Bridge. Freechoice includes a walking tour with the Würzburg Residence and Baroque gardens, or a coach excursion on the Romantic Road to Rothenburg.
Optional Activities
- Walking tour and Würzburg Residence guided tour with manicured gardens
- Romantic Road to Rothenburg coach excursion with guided medieval old town tour
Landmarks/POIs Würzburg Würzburg Residence Main River Old Main Bridge Hilltop fortress Romantic Road Rothenburg - Day 14
Miltenberg - Rüdesheim
Wertheim awaits, a medieval town on the Main and Tauber Rivers with the distinctive 13th-century Spitze Turm watchtower. Freechoice options are a Wertheim tour with winery visit, Gamburg Castle with a private reception from the Baron and Baroness, a local farm visit with animals and tastings followed by Miltenberg, or schnapps distillery tasting with Miltenberg. You reboard in Miltenberg and cruise overnight to Rüdesheim.
Optional Activities
- Wertheim tour and winery visit
- Gamburg Castle tour with private reception and sparkling wine
- Miltenberg tour and local farm visit with animal encounters and tastings
- Schnapps tasting at local distillery with Miltenberg orientation tour
Landmarks/POIs Wertheim Spitze Turm Main River Tauber River Gamburg Gamburg Castle Miltenberg - Day 15
Rhine Gorge - Bonn
You disembark in Rüdesheim, a wine town surrounded by steep vineyards with half-timbered houses, cobbled streets, and wine taverns. Freechoice activities are Siegfried's Musikkabinett Museum with mechanical instruments and an optional cable car to Niederwald Monument, or a guided vineyard hike with cable car down. Later you cruise through the Rhine Gorge with 40 hilltop castles, then travel to Bonn for an exclusive gala dinner and classical concert at La Redoute Recital Hall from 1792.
- Meals
- Dinner (Gala Dinner at La Redoute Recital Hall with classical music)
Included Activities
- Gala Dinner and classical concert at La Redoute Recital Hall in Bonn
Optional Activities
- Siegfried's Musikkabinett Museum tour with mechanical instruments
- Cable car to Niederwald Monument
- Hike and Cable Car through Rüdesheim vineyards
Landmarks/POIs Rüdesheim Siegfried's Musikkabinett Museum Niederwald Monument Rhine Gorge Lorelei statue La Redoute Recital Hall - Day 16
Cologne
You dock in Cologne, a 2,000-year-old city that saw heavy WWII damage but got carefully restored. A walking tour takes you through the Old Town with historic buildings, beautiful squares, and the World Heritage Cologne Cathedral. After lunch, you cruise to Amsterdam.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Cologne Old Town
- Visit Cologne Cathedral
Landmarks/POIs Cologne Old Town Cologne Cathedral - Day 17
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is your final cruise stop, known as the Venice of the North with beautiful architecture, galleries, 16th-century canals, cobbled streets, and lots of cyclists. Freechoice options include a one-hour canal cruise, a walking tour exploring canals and Dutch culture with herring tasting, an e-bike tour through the countryside, or an excursion to 16th-century windmills at Schermerhorn and Alkmaar.
Optional Activities
- Canal cruise viewing Golden Age mansions and bridges
- Walking tour of Amsterdam exploring history, modern lifestyle, and Dutch culture with herring tasting
- Dutch countryside e-bike tour
- Excursion to Schermerhorn windmills and Alkmaar
Landmarks/POIs Amsterdam Amsterdam Canals Schermerhorn Alkmaar - Day 18
Amsterdam
Your journey ends this morning in Amsterdam. You'll have one last breakfast on board before disembarking, taking lasting memories of the river cruise with you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
