Highlights

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Itinerary

Day 1 – Overnight Flight

Depart the US for an overnight flight to Budapest

Day 2 – Budapest

Today your flight arrives in beautiful Budapest. Meet your local transfer and check into your hotel for the evening. Depending on flight schedules, your group may have time to explore on their own.

Day 3 – Budapest (Embarkation)

After breakfast at the hotel you will be transferred to your AmaWaterways ship waiting for you. From the moment you step aboard, you will be greeted by a friendly crew member with a flute of bubbly to the moment you bid farewell, the warm and welcoming staff will go above and beyond to ensure your journey is extra special. Enjoy a seven night cruise from Budapest to Vilshofen aboard one of the highest rated ships in Europe.  Later be sure to be on your balcony or on the upper deck for a special evening illuminations cruise. (B,D)

Day 4 – Budapest

Home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Buda Castle quarter in Castle Hill and Heroes’ Square, Budapest offers an unmatched combination of culture, tradition and even a secret labyrinth of caves and caverns under the city. Your city tour begins with a visit to the vibrant Great Market Hall brimming with vendors selling everything from food to souvenirs. The remainder of this tour takes you to both the Buda (hilly) and the Pest (flat) sides of the river. (B,L,D)

Day 5 – Bratislava, Slovakia

Host to the crowning ceremonies of 11 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 culinary host to sample traditional Slovakian specialties, as well as learn how to prepare stuffed potato ravioli with an opportunity to taste your own creation. For a more active adventure, hike up to Bratislava Castle, offering magnificent views of the city.  (B,L,D)

Day 6 – Vienna, Austria

The “City of Waltzes” offers a treasure trove of gems and you have two ways to discover them. Join a city tour showcasing its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs before concluding in Vienna’s historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and then visiting St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Or, for a more active exploration of the area, take a guided bike ride along the Danube. During the afternoon, you can enjoy leisure time or pedal your way to Klosterneuburg Monastery on a guided cycling tour.  (B,L,D)

Day 7 – Weissenkirchen-Grein

After reaching Weissenkirchen in the heart of the Wachau Valley, you’ll be treated to several choices of excursions. Discover the best of both Dürnstein and Melk with a walking tour in Dürnstein before visiting the UNESCO-designated Melk Abbey. You can also opt for a walking tour of Weissenkirchen followed by a visit to the abbey. For those who would like a more culinary-focused experience, join a walking tour in Dürnstein and then be treated to a wine tasting hosted by a local vintner as well as visit a local boutique where you’ll enjoy a tasting of special apricot treats. Prefer more active adventures? Join a guided bike tour to Melk. Later in the day, set sail through the scenic Strudengau Valley to the medieval riverside town of Grein. Be treated to an exclusive visit to the more than 500-year-old Greinburg Castle, looming regally above the village. While here, enjoy a folklore show along with a wine reception.  (B,L,D)

Day 8 – Linz, 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 famed Basilica St. Michael and site of the wedding scene in “The Sound of Music.” Alternatively, you can join a morning walking tour through the old city center of Linz and by the Mozart House; or go on a guided bike tour along the city’s famed “Culture Mile” and the Danube. During the afternoon, you have three more options of excursions. Choose a half-day excursion to Salzburg or take a scenic drive through the beautiful Austrian Lake District with a stop in St. Wolfgang. You can also choose to visit the charming mountain town, Český Krumlov, located just over the Czech-Austrian border.  (B,L,D)

Day 9 – Passau, Germany

Discover the 2,000-year-old city of Passau in one of three ways. Enjoy a walking tour and marvel at Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Guests looking for a more active morning can choose between a guided bike tour along the Danube River, or a guided hike up to the Veste Oberhaus Fortress. Later, the ship cruises to Vilshofen, where you will be treated to a festive Oktoberfest celebration with local beer, Bavarian folk music and dancing—an AmaWaterways exclusive.   (B,L,D)

Day 10 -Vilshofen-Munich (Disembark)

This morning disembark your ship in Vilshofen, where you will meet a local representative and transfer to your hotel in Munich. (Eden Wolff Hotel or similar) (B)

Day 11 -Munich, Germany

After breakfast at your hotel, depart with an English speaking guide for a day of touring. Our first stop is the Neuschwanstein Castle. This fairy-tale palace built by King Ludwig II gives the impression of stepping into a dreamworld. After lunch at the Castle, continue to the ornately decorated church of Wies, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, representing the most perfect expression of Bavarian Roccoco. Return to your hotel in Munich for an overnight stay. (B,L)

Day 12 – Oberammergau

After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Oberammergau. This afternoon join in the 42nd Passion Play. This nearly 400 year old tradition happens only every 10 years and attracts millions of visitors from around the world. During the 3-hour intermission, you are transferred to a local restaurant for dinner. Then return back to the Passion Play for the remainder of the performance. Following the play, you will be transferred to your Oberammergau hotel for the evening. (Romantik Boeld Hotel, or similar) (B,D)

Day 13 -Oberammergau-Munich-Flight to US

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Munich for your return flight back to the US. (B)