Overview and Day to Day Itinerary Blue Danube Discovery

Danube River (Courtesy Avalon Wataerways)

Overview:

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. 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.
In the picturesque town of Melk, visit Austria’s majestic Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe’s largest monasteries, 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 thousand-year-old city of Nuremberg, where you’ll marvel at the medieval fortifications, extraordinary gothic churches, and the Imperial Castle.

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. A perfect ending to a memorable river cruise vacation!

Day 1 – Sunday, 9/8/19: Budapest: Welcome to Budapest! The day is yours to relax and enjoy the shining city on the Danube.

Day 2 – Monday, 9/9/19: Budapest: Enjoy a guided city sightseeing tour, including the iconic Heroes’ Square.  Enjoy a free afternoon exploring such famous sights as the Chain Bridge.  Get to know the city’s cafes and pubs.

Vienna, Austria (Courtesy Avalon Waterways)

Day 3 – Tuesday, 9/10/19: Budapest (Embarkation day) With a free day to explore before your cruise, take time to take photographs on the Royal Palace grounds in this treasure trove of historical architecture.  Try Budapest’s famous thermal bath spas, then lunch in a garden or rooftop eatery before boarding your suite ship.  Enjoy an onboard welcome reception.  We will cruise overnight to Vienna

Day 4 - Wednesday 9/11/19: Vienna – Vienna Waltzes and the Beautiful Blue Danube.  Start the day with a morning stretch with your Avalon Adventure Host.  Enjoy sailing the Danube.  Relax on the Sky Deck to see the rolling landscape and red-rooftops of the Slovakian capital of Bratislava come into view.  This evening in Vienna, you may choose to join an optional excursion to attend a Royal Waltz Concert for an unforgettable evening of music in an elegant hall. Overnight docking in Vienna.

Day 5 – Thursday, 9/12/19: Vienna: Venture into the Habsburg empire this morning on a guided city tour of Vienna’s gilded landmarks.  See the Imperial Palace complex – the winter residence of the Imperial Family, the historic Vienna Opera House and stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Join a guided optional excursion to Schonbrunn Palace – a Habsburg Empire summer home for 300 years.  In the afternoon, enjoy free time to take a tram to visit Austria’s Prater amusement park or one of the many museums nearby.  You may also decide to borrow a bike from the ship to explore the streets and squares of Vienna, or ride along the banks of the Danube at your leisure. 
 Melk Abbey (Courtesy Avalon Waterways)

Day 6 – Friday, 9/13/19: Dürnstein–Wachau Valley–Melk: Choice of guided tour, or hike up to the castle ruins in Dürnstein; scenic cruise through the Wachau Valley; guided tour of the Benedictine Abbey in Melk; wine tasting on board.

Day 7 – Saturday, 9/14/19: Passau: Join a guided city walk to learn more about this beautiful “City of Three Rivers” OR join a full day guided optional excursion to Salzburg – the city of Mozart – or a full day guided optional excursion to the picturesque Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov.

Day 8 – Sunday, 9/15/19: Regensburg: Join a guided city walk and see the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and Porta Pretoria, built in 179 AD as the entrance to Castra Regina Fortress.  You may choose to join a guided optional excursion to visit the Benedictine Monastery in Weitenburg.  Spend a free afternoon exploring Regensburg on foot or by bike.  Later indulge in a beer tasting onboard.

Day 9 – Monday, 9/16/19:   Roth – Excursion to Nuremberg: Choose a guided sightseeing of Nuremberg with its medieval architecture, gilded fountain, and Kaiserburg Castle OR take a guided tour of the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds used by the Third Reich.

Day 10 – Tuesday, 9/17/19: Nuremberg (Disembarkation)– Prague: Travel to Prague. Enjoy free time to explore the Golden City of Prague.  Consider sampling delicious plum dumplings and traditional Pilsner lager beside the Vitava River.

Day 11 – Wednesday, 9/18/19:  Prague: Take a guided city walk and visit the Hradcany Castle Grounds; see St. Vitus Cathedral and Old Town’s Astronomical Clock.  Spend free time hiking the nearby hillsides or stay in town to stroll the city of Prague to photograph its stunning cityscape.  You might catch the entertaining street performers, visit the market stalls at Charles Bridge and sample Prague’s famous beer varieties in a local restaurant.  Tonight you may decide to join an optional folklore dinner show, sampling traditional Czech cuisine in an authentic Prague setting.

Day 12 – Thursday, 9/19/19: Prague: Your vacation ends this morning following breakfast.