Romantic Danube - A Taste of Christmas Markets By AmaWaterways

ROMANTIC DANUBE

VACATION HIGHLIGHTS

DAY 1 Vilshofen: EMBARKATION Exclusive Oktoberfest

Board the ship for your Romantic Danube cruise. (D)

DAY 2 Vilshofen: Free Time

Passau: “City of Three Rivers” walking tour OR Passau Castle hike OR River Inn Bike Tour

Explore Vilshofen’s beautiful old town before cruising to Passau, known as the “City of Three Rivers.” Join a walking tour or if you prefer to be more active, hike high into the hills for a visit to the “Veste Oberhaus,” Passau’s Castle Hill; or go on a River Inn bike tour. (B,L,D)

DAY 3 Linz: Full-day Salzburg excursion

OR Full-day Český Krumlov excursion

OR “UNESCO City of Media Arts” walking tour

OR “Cultural Mile” bike tour

The ship arrives in Linz where you’ll have several choices of excursions. For those who love The Sound of Music, enjoy a full-day excursion to Salzburg and 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, where the famous wedding scene in the movie was filmed. You may also choose to join a full-day excursion to the charming Czech mountain town of Český Krumlov, where you can stroll its cobblestone streets; marvel at the city’s picturesque Baroque and Renaissance-style buildings; and tour Krumlov Castle, one of Europe’s largest castle complexes. Following these full-day excursions, you may also choose to take a brief walking tour in Linz. Alternatively, join a walking tour through the old city center of Linz and by the Mozart House; or bike along the city’s famed “Cultural Mile” and the Danube. (B,L,D)

DAY 4 Scenic Cruising: Scenic cruising through Strudengau and UNESCO Wachau Valley

Weissenkirchen: Dürnstein walking tour and Melk Benedictine Abbey OR Apricots and sweets tasting OR Dürnstein Fortress hike OR Wachau Valley bike tour Evening wine tasting at local winery

Cruise through the Strudengau and Wachau valleys to Weissenkirchen, gateway to Dürnstein. Once here, you can choose to join a walking tour in Dürnstein along its cobblestone streets to the Baroque Stiftskirche, and then visit Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey. For the more active adventurer, you can opt to hike up to the fortress where Richard the Lionheart was once held, or take a bike ride along the Danube through the Wachau Valley. As an alternative excursion, visit a local apricot grower, where you’ll enjoy the region’s finest apricot treats. Later in the evening, enjoy a special wine tasting of locally grown, world-renowned Riesling and Grüner Veltliner in Weissenkirchen. (B,L,D)

DAY 5 Vienna: “Imperial Vienna” tour OR Vienna bike tour Free time

The “City of Waltzes” offers a treasure trove of gems and your city tour showcases them, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace. Your tour concludes in the historic city center with a visit to St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Or if you prefer a more active tour, take a guided bike ride through Vienna. During the afternoon, enjoy leisure time to further explore this iconic city. (B,L,D)

DAY 6 Bratislava: “Coronation City” walking tour OR Tastes of Slovakia OR Bratislava Castle hike

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 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 7 Budapest: Buda city tour

OR Castle Hill hike

Pest city tour

Your city tour begins at Budapest’s Great Market Hall, where you’ll discover plenty of delicious food and shopping. Afterwards, you’ll visit both the Buda (hilly) and Pest (flat) sides of the Danube River. You’ll see the 19th-century Chain Bridge, which connects the Buda district with Pest; and the UNESCO-designated Castle Hill district, which contains some of Budapest’s most important medieval monuments and museums. As an alternative choice, you can hike up to Castle Hill for breathtaking views of the city below. (B,L,D)

DAY 8 Budapest: DISEMBARKATION

Disembark the ship as you prepare for your flight home. (B) Note: The Great Market Hall is closed on Sundays

Ships:

AmaSonata: https://www.amawaterways.com/ships/amasonata-river-cruise-ship

AmaLea:https://www.amawaterways.com/ships/amalea-river-cruise-ship

AmaVerde:https://www.amawaterways.com/ships/amaverde-river-cruise-ship