This timeless Europe river cruise vacation begins with two nights in vibrant Budapest, Hungary, then sail along the Danube River with exciting stops in Austria and Germany, and end with two nights in Prague—the capital of the Czech Republic.

In Budapest, Hungary’s lively capital, marvel at the eight bridges spanning the river and enjoy an introduction to the city by a local expert who shows you the must-see sights and will take you to a secret wine cellar for a tasting. Vienna, Austria, offers stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Habsburg Palace, and the Vienna Opera House. In the heart of the Wachau wine region is Dürnstein, a 16th-century town with charming cobblestone streets and the baroque Stiftskirche with its luminous blue façade. Discover one of Austria’s most established and notable wine regions and enjoy a tasting of some of the Wachau Valley’s famous wines. You’ll love a guided walk through Passau, with its narrow streets and beautiful Patrician houses. Further up the Danube River, you’ll come to the medieval walls of Regensburg—the only German city not bombed during WWII. Your last stop is the 1,000-year-old city of Nuremberg, where you’ll marvel at the medieval fortifications, extraordinary gothic churches, and the Imperial Castle.

A Master of Wine will travel with you on this cruise and will hold lectures, tastings and will introduce you to food and wine pairing. Disembark and travel to beautiful Prague, known as the “Golden City.” See the sights with a Local Guide and explore on your own. Stroll across Charles Bridge, mix with the locals on Wenceslaus Square, and shop for hand-cut crystal and art books. You will then learn about the lesser known but still very good Czech wines. A perfect ending to a memorable river cruise vacation!

City Highlights

Day 1 Budapest: welcome to Budapest! Day 2 Budapest: guided tour, see Heroes’ Square and visit a wine cellarDay 3 Budapest (Embarkation): onboard welcome receptionDay 4 Budapest–Vienna: cruising; onboard wine lectureDay 5 Vienna: guided sightseeingDay 6 Dürnstein–Wachau Valley: choice of guided tour, or hike up to the castle ruins in Dürnstein, or visit a local wine cellar; scenic cruise through the Wachau Valley; wine tasting on boardDay 7 Passau: guided walk; onboard food & wine pairing dinnerDay 8 Regensburg: guided walkDay 9 Nuremberg: onboard wine lecture; choice of guided sightseeing, or Rally Grounds in Nuremberg, or Roth guided tourDay 10 Nuremberg (Disembarkation)–Prague: travel to PragueDays 11 Prague. Excursion to Melnik: guided sightseeing, see the Astronomical Clock and visit Hradčany Castle grounds; excursion to Melnik wine areaDay 12 Prague: your vacation ends this morning

Notes

In the event of water level problems or any problems of a technical nature, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or to alter the program.Included visits and special features are subject to change. If a change is necessary, a substitute will be offered.Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.

PRODUCT_LINE: AVALON-WBN-T5-2019