Day 1 - Friday - Oct 13, 2023
Arrive in Prague and transfer to your hotel.
Day 2 - Saturday - Oct 14, 2023
Discover fairytale Prague and its magical church spires via a city tour or a hike to Prague Castle. Both will reveal why Prague is considered one of Europe's most attractive and vibrant cities, with a historic city center that's recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (B)
Day 3 - Sunday - Oct 15, 2023
Beer has been an important part of the Czech Republic since 993 when the first brewery was established. Beer is vital to the country's national identity, so much so that the Czechs are the biggest consumers of beer in the world. Join a beer tasting and discover for yourself what makes Czech beer some of the best in the world. (B)
Day 4 - Monday - Oct 16, 2023
Depart from Prague via motorcoach and enjoy a stop in Regensburg. After a local highlights tour, drive to Vilshofen where you will board your ship. Later in the day, enjoy a festive Oktoberfest celebration - an AmaWaterways exclusive. (B,D)
Embark in Vilshofen to begin your cruise. Later in the day, enjoy a festive Oktoberfest celebration - an AmaWaterways exclusive. (B,D)
Day 5 - Tuesday - Oct 17, 2023
Enjoy a free morning to walk around the quaint village of Vilshofen. Later, cruise to Passau, where you have the option of exploring in 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 Danube River or a guided hike up to the Veste Oberhaus fortress. (B,L,D)
Day 6 - Wednesday - Oct 18, 2023
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 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. You can also choose to visit charming Cesky Krumlov, located just over the Czech-Austrian border. (B,L,D)
Day 7 - Thursday - Oct 19, 2023
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 valley. 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. 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 8 - Friday - Oct 20, 2023
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 9 - Saturday - Oct 21, 2023
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 10 - Sunday - Oct 22, 2023
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 11 - Monday - Oct 23, 2023
| Puszta Cultural Experience, Hungary |
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Tradition will be on full display in Puszta, the Great Hungarian Plain. Tour a genuine Hungarian csarda (farm) run by world-champion carriage-drivers. Afterwards, be treated to an unforgettable performance of horsemanship and then experience the Hungarians' warm hospitality, along with a traditional lunch complete with authentic goulash. (B,L,D)
Day 12 - Tuesday - Oct 24, 2023
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. If you prefer to see the city on two wheels, join a bike tour; and 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 13 - Wednesday - Oct 25, 2023
Vukovar is a Croatian symbol of resistance, which you'll better understand on your city tour showcasing the Ovcara Memorial and Eltz Castle. Alternatively, choose a wine tasting in Ilok, a center of wine production since Roman times, where you'll sample its famous Grasevina, Traminac, and Frankovka wines. Back onboard, cruise to Novi Sad, sometimes called the "Serbian Athens". Discover Novi Sad on a walking tour to Dunavski Park and through Stari Grad, the Old Town center. If you prefer a more active exploration, join a guided biking tour or hike through Fruska Gora National Park. During the evening, visit Petrovaradin Fortress. (B,L,D)
Day 14 - Thursday - Oct 26, 2023
Explore Serbia's capital, Belgrade, on a city tour that includes the Kalemegdan Fortress and the Serbian Orthodox Temple of St. Sava. Later, choose from three intriguing excursions. Visit the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Serbian Royal Family; and then tour the House of Flowers, the mausoleum of Marshal Tito, who became the first President of Yugoslavia. Or enjoy a taste of the region by sampling Serbian plum brandy, slivovitz, and delicious local delights at the Quburich Distillery. For those wishing a more active adventure, join a guided bike tour or hike to well-preserved Belgrade Fortress with its conical towers. (B,L,D)
Day 15 - Friday - Oct 27, 2023
The Iron Gates is one 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. (B,L,D)
Day 16 - Saturday - Oct 28, 2023
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. Continue on to Belogradchik, one of Bulgaria's natural wonders, where you can hike around its most spectacular rock formations. 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 17 - Sunday - Oct 29, 2023
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 afterwards visit the UNESCO-designated Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo with frescos revealing exceptional artistry of 14th-century paintings. (B,L,D)
Day 18 - Monday - Oct 30, 2023
Disembark the ship and bid farewell to Giurgiu as you prepare for your flight home. (B)
Disembark the ship in Giurgiu and board a motorcoach to Bucharest, where you will board your flight to Istanbul. Upon landing, check into your hotel. (B)
Day 19 - Tuesday - Oct 31, 2023
Allow yourself to be led through Istanbul's fascinating Old City, with its numerous Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman monuments. Admire the mighty defensive walls, the Roman aqueduct, and the hippodrome, among other iconic sites. (B)
Day 20 - Wednesday - Nov 1, 2023
Admire the grandeur of the spectacular Ottoman Sultans' Grand Palace of Topkapi, home to every Sultan from the 15th to the 19th century. During your tour, marvel at the private chambers of the Sultans, the Harem (women's quarters) and the Imperial Treasury's vast collection, including the jewel-encrusted Topkapi Dagger and the stunning 86-carat Spoonmaker's Diamond. (B)
Day 21 - Thursday - Nov 2, 2023
Bid farewell to Istanbul as you prepare for your flight home. (B)
