Framed by Austrian Alps, lush vineyards, and medieval castles, the Danube River casts the lure of romance that has caught many artists, musicians, and poets throughout the centuries. Travel through each of these captivating cities, beginning with a 3-night stay in fairytale Prague followed with a 7 night river cruise on the timeless Danube River from Vilshofen to Budapest. Explore a 2,000-year- old city and visit Europe’s largest pipe organ, savor local wines throughout the Wachau Valley, and have your senses heightened with the timeless beauty and rich history of Vienna and Budapest.
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Arrive in Prague and transfer to your hotel. The balance of the day is free to start exploring this beautiful city.
Day 2: Prague
Your morning's sightseeing tour reveals why Prague is considered one of Europe's most attractive cities. Visit the 1,000-year-old Hradcany Castle courtyard, St. Vitus and then walk over the Charles Bridge to the Old Market Square. This afternoon, participate in an optional tour to Terezin, the infamous Nazi WWII concentration camp, now a memorial to those who perished. The evening is free to mingle with the locals at Wenceslas Square, shop for souvenirs or enjoy one of the many charming cafés or restaurants in Prague. (B)
Day 3: Free day Prague
Spend a day at your leisure to relax and stroll through a museum or gallery, wander along the banks of the Vlatava River, relax at an outdoor restaurant or shop for local handicrafts and art work. (B)
Day 4: Prague / Embark / Vilshofen, Germany
Depart Prague this morning and stop in Regensburg for a guided walking tour of one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch on your own, continue on to the charming 1,200-year-old Bavarian town of Vilshofen and board your luxurious ship. Later this afternoon, join your fellow passengers at a private “Oktoberfest” celebration in Vilshofen, with traditional beers and Bavarian folk music and dancing. Later, enjoy a festive Welcome Dinner aboard the ship. (B,D)
Day 5: Passau
This morning you are free to explore Vilshofen’s beautiful old town before cruising to Passau. This afternoon you have a choice of two tours. The first option is a walking tour of this 2,000-year-old city, noted for its Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture, cobblestoned streets, and St. Stephan’s Cathedral, home to one of the world’s largest pipe organs. Another option is a guided bike tour along the Inn River to Weinstein (capacity controlled). (B,L,D)
Day 6: Linz / Gmunden
The ship arrives this morning in Linz, the second largest city in Austria. You will have a choice of three different excursions. The first option is a visit to the historic town of Gmunden in the scenic “Salzkammergut” region, the Austrian Lake District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The second option is an excursion to the Czech town of Cesky Krumlov, a wonderfully preserved medieval town nestled in the hills just over the Austrian-Czech border. The third choice is an excursion to Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace, where you will take a walking tour of the historic center made famous by the “Sound of Music.” Enjoy free time on your own before returning to the ship. (B,L,D)
Day 7: Melk / Durnstein
Cruise through the narrow Strudengau and reach the Wachau Valley this morning. A guided tour takes you to Melk's magnificent Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe's largest Baroque monasteries. From here, continue on a short cruise to Dürnstein, for a walking tour through cobblestone streets that reveal quaint 16th-century town houses and taverns. Continue through the lovely Wachau Valley, dotted with castles, to the town of Weissenkirchen, for some wine tasting tonight. (B,L,D)
Day 8: Vienna
During your morning city tour of Vienna, you will see the famous Opera House, the Ringstrasse, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The afternoon is free to stroll through the historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or take an optional excursion to Schonbrunn Palace. This evening, you will have the opportunity to enjoy an optional Mozart and Strauss concert. The ship moors in Vienna overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 9: Bratislava, Slovakia
Enjoy a scenic morning cruise to Bratislava, where you will have a walking tour that includes the Old Town Hall, Mirbach Palace and St. Martin’s Cathedral. As an alternative, take a “Communist” tour that includes such architectural landmarks as the Radio Building, Liberty Square and Soviet War Memorial. The remainder of the day is free to explore on your own. (B,L,D)
Day 10: Budapest, Hungary
This morning, your sightseeing tour takes you to the historic Buda Castle, which offers a splendid view of the river and the twin cities of Buda and Pest. Your tour also features the Fisherman’s Bastion, Royal Palace, St. Stephen’s Basilica, and Heroes’ Square. After dinner, the ship will sail a special “Illuminations Cruise” past the illuminated river front of Budapest. (B,L,D)
Day 11: Budapest / Return Home
Your cruise comes to an end as you transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)
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Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
Nancy Sin
TrustScore 4.7 | 116 reviews
TrustScore 4.7 of 5
Based on 116 reviews on
6 hours ago
The travel specialists we've worked with for 2 vacations have made the trip planning process easy! They ask good questions to ensure they understand our goals and likes and have done an excellent job matching adventures with our preferences - even suggesting things we would not have thought about on our own!
Amy
1 day ago
Erin is great to work with on our adventure to Antartica. She gave us great choices and is very knowledgeable about the options. Her recommendations saved us from making some big mistakes.
Carla
2 days ago
A Mind Blowing Adventure!
Adventure Life kept me well informed and up to date in the lead up to my trip and Albatros delivered a once in a lifetime adventure in full. A totally awesome experience from start to finish.
Jan Price
2 days ago
Jane Packer helped us through the cancellation of our trip due to American Queen Voyages bankruptcy and then finding another cruise with American Cruise Lines.
Jane is very prompt in response, answers any questions, and makes good suggestions thereby making the process much easier!
Deb Donaldson
3 days ago
Adventure Life did an excellent job of planning, organizing and executing a great trip to Argentina. It was nice to have the trip with just the two of us which allowed for a more personable tour with excellent tour guides in all four locations visited. We learned lots of details of the beautiful sites in BA, Mendoza,Baliloche and Iguazu Falls. We want to do another trip with Adventure Life some day.