Day 1 - Saturday - Apr 6, 2024
Arrive in Munich and check into your hotel.
Day 2 - Sunday - Apr 7, 2024
This morning you will tour Munich, the capital of Bavaria and one of Germany's largest cities, as well as the undisputed beer capital of the world. Enjoy a walking tour of the Old Town through the city ending at the famous Glockenspiel, with its 43 bells and 32 life-size figures that portray historic scenes, such as a wedding celebration. You will also see Frauenkirche, the "Cathedral of Our Dear Lady". Later in the day, do like the Bavarians do, and go to a Bavarian beer hall for the famous beer and pretzels. This is the cradle of Bavarian tavern culture, and the origin of traditional "gemutlichkeit" and hospitality. (B)
Day 3 - Monday - Apr 8, 2024
Check out of your hotel and transfer to Vilshofen where you will board your luxury ship. Later in the day, attend an exclusive Oktoberfest celebration with traditional beer and Bavarian folk music and dancing. (B,D)
Board the ship in Vilshofen for your Grand Danube Cruise. In the evening, be treated to a festive Oktoberfest celebration - an AmaWaterways exclusive. (D)
Day 4 - Tuesday - Apr 9, 2024
Enjoy a free morning to walk around the quaint village of Vilshofen. Later, cruise to Passau, where you have the option of exploring it one of three ways. Take a walking tour and marvel at Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture and St. Stephan's Cathedral. Or, choose between a guided bike tour along the Inn River or a guided hike up to the Veste Oberhaus fortress. (B,L,D)
Day 5 - Wednesday - Apr 10, 2024
| Mondsee, Austria, Austria |
|
|
The ship arrives in Linz where you'll have several choices of excursions. Opt for a full-day excursion to Salzburg where you'll tour the historic center, Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square, and the Old Market. En route to Salzburg, stop at Mondsee, home of the Basilica of St. Michael. Or join a morning walking tour through the old city center of Linz and by the Mozart House; or go on a bike tour of the city's famed "Cultural Mile" and the Danube. Alternatively, you can visit the charming mountain town of Cesky Krumlov, a guest favorite located just over the Czech-Austrian border, on a full-day excursion. (B,L,D)
Day 6 - Thursday - Apr 11, 2024
Head up to the Sun Deck for panoramic views as you unwind with a scenic cruise through the Strudengau and UNESCO World Heritage-designated Wachau Valleys. After reaching Weissenkirchen, you'll be treated to several choices of excursions. Take a walking tour of Durnstein before visiting the UNESCO-designated Melk Abbey. Or hike the trail up to the ruins of Durnstein Fortress, where Richard the Lionheart was once held captive, and where you'll find spectacular views of the valley, river, and village below. You can also choose to cycle through the Wachau Valley on a guided bike tour. For a more culinary-focused experience, sample special apricot treats from a local boutique. In the evening, enjoy a wine tasting hosted by a local vintner. (B,L,D)
Day 7 - Friday - Apr 12, 2024
The "City of Waltzes" is a treasure trove 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 the UNESCO-designated historic city center and visit St. Stephen's Cathedral. For a more active exploration, take a guided bike ride through Vienna. During the afternoon, enjoy leisure time exploring this iconic city even more. (B,L,D)
Day 8 - Saturday - Apr 13, 2024
Host to the crowning ceremonies of many 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)
Day 9 - Sunday - Apr 14, 2024
You cannot help but fall in love with Budapest, known as the "Queen of the Danube". Your city tour begins with a visit to the Great Market Hall. The remainder of this tour takes you to both the Buda (hilly) and the Pest (flat) sides of the river. Alternatively, hike up to Castle Hill for breathtaking views of the city. (B,L,D)
Day 10 - Monday - Apr 15, 2024
| Puszta Cultural Experience, Hungary |
|
|
Visit the 19th-century Godollo Palace with its royal stables and Baroque theater, followed by lunch at Godollo Restaurant. Afterward, head for Puszta, the vast flat Great Hungarian Plain where you will tour a genuine Hungarian csarda (farm) run by the carriage-drive world champion Lazar brothers. Following the tour, witness a unique, unforgettable performance of Hungarian horsemanship, a tradition that goes back to the hordes of Magyar tribes conquering Hungary in the 9th century. (B,L,D)
Day 11 - Tuesday - Apr 16, 2024
Enjoy a scenic morning cruise to Mohacs and then visit Pecs, founded more than 2,000 years ago by the Romans. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Christian Necropolis; St. Peter's Basilica, the city's main Catholic cathedral along with its catacombs; and Szechenyi Square, the heart of Old Town Pecs. You will also see the Mosque of Pasha Qasim the Victorious, one of the symbols of the city. Or choose a guided bike tour through Mohacs. For wine connoisseurs, you'll want to go instead to the Szekszard wine region, one of the oldest red-wine-growing areas in Hungary, established more than 2,000 years ago. (B,L,D)
Day 12 - Wednesday - Apr 17, 2024
Enjoy your morning in Vukovar on a guided city tour where you may visit sites such as Eltz Manor House and Vukovar's famous water tower. Alternatively, you may see Osijek on a guided tour. For those looking for a more active experience, you may explore Vukovar on an active bike tour. In the afternoon, enjoy a Croatian wine tasting and tour in the Old Cellars, famous for their Grasevina, Traminac, and Frankovka wines. You can also choose to explore the Vucedol Museum, home to fascinating exhibits on prehistoric culture and one of the most important archeological sites in Europe. (B,L,D)
Day 13 - Thursday - Apr 18, 2024
Explore Serbia's capital, Belgrade, on a city tour, which includes the Nikola Tesla Museum, encompassing the world-renowned inventor's life and inventions, as well as the Kalemegdan Fortress and the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, the largest such church in the world. Alternatively, you can hike to Belgrade Fortress. In the afternoon, enjoy a taste of the region by sampling a few types of Serbian brandy paired with delicious local appetizers, including slivovitz, which was added in 2022 to UNESCO's list of "Intangible Cultural Heritage". For those wishing a more active adventure, join a guided bike tour. Or explore Novi Sad, a city rich in tradition and culture, on an afternoon walking tour. Begin your tour at the Dunavski (Danube) Park; stroll through Stari Grad, the old town center; and explore Liberty Square, which is dominated by the Old Town Hall. (B,L,D)
Day 14 - Friday - Apr 19, 2024
The Iron Gates are some of Europe's most awe-inspiring natural wonders. The Danube narrows as it winds through a series of magnificent gorges between the Carpathian and Balkan mountains. Visit also Golubac Fortress - one of the best preserved medieval fortresses in Europe and enjoy a tasting of locally sourced delicacies. (B,L,D)
Day 15 - Saturday - Apr 20, 2024
Explore Vidin, one of Bulgaria's oldest cities, and surrounding areas with a choice of excursions. Discover Baba Vida Fortress, the largest preserved medieval castle in Bulgaria. Alternatively, visit a local home for a demonstration of traditional Bulgarian yogurt and banitsa, a pastry you will also get to make. You also have the choice to bike through Vidin and to the castle. (B,L,D)
Day 16 - Sunday - Apr 21, 2024
Visit Bulgaria's ancient capital, Veliko Tarnovo, with its medieval fortress and multiple Orthodox temples. You can opt instead to go to Rousse, known for its 19th- and 20th-century Neo-Baroque and Neo-Rococo architecture, and then afterward visit the UNESCO-designated Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo with frescos revealing exceptional artistry of 14th-century paintings. Later in the day, travel through the Romanian countryside to the capital of Bucharest, known as the "Little Paris of the East". Enjoy a panoramic tour of the historic city center and its elegant architecture, followed by a visit to the Palace of the Parliament, the second-largest administrative building in the world. (B,L,D)
Day 17 - Monday - Apr 22, 2024
Disembark the ship and bid farewell to Giurgiu as you prepare for your flight home. (B)
Disembark the ship in Giurgiu and continue to the legendary region of Transylvania, a place deeply rooted in myth and history. Your first stop on the road to Transylvania will be the quaint mountain town of Sinaia. While in Sinaia you will visit Peles Castle. Peles Castle is considered by many to be one of the most stunning castles in Europe and a masterpiece of German Neo-Renaissance with 160 rooms filled with priceless European art. After your tour of Peles Castle, you will depart for Brasov. (B)
Day 18 - Tuesday - Apr 23, 2024
Dracula lovers will be in for another treat with an excursion to Sighisoara, birthplace to Transylvania's most notorious ruler Vlad Tepes, also known as Vlad the Impaler, or Dracula. It's hard to believe that this perfectly preserved UNESCO World Heritage-designated town filled with resplendent pastel-colored buildings, stone lanes, medieval towers, and pedestrian-friendly Old Town was Vlad's place of birth. His home is still here, marked with a placard; however, today it houses a kitschy restaurant called "Casa Dracula". (B)
Day 19 - Wednesday - Apr 24, 2024
En route to Bucharest, you'll visit Transylvania's legendary Bran Castle, forever linked with the legend of Dracula. Later in the day, transfer to Bucharest and check into your hotel. (B)
Day 20 - Thursday - Apr 25, 2024
Bucharest, Romania's capital, has earned its nickname "Little Paris of the East" with its wide boulevards and Arc de Triomphe. Enjoy a visit to the city's most impressive sites-including the historic city center and the Palace of the Parliament. Alternatively, you can choose a walking tour the historic old town. (B)
Day 21 - Friday - Apr 26, 2024
Bid farewell to Bucharest as you prepare for your flight home. (B)
