Arrive in Budapest and board your luxurious river cruise ship. You will meet your fellow passengers at an evening Welcome Aboard Wine Toast. 

Budapest offers an unmatched combination of culture and tradition. Your city tour begins with a visit to the Great Market Hall before going to both the Buda (hilly) and the Pest (flat) sides of the river. You’ll see Heroes’ Square and Castle Hill, home to the Fisherman’s Bastion and Mattias Church. As an alternative, you can hike up to Castle Hill for breathtaking views of the city below. 

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.

The “City of Waltzes” offers a wealth of gems and your city tour showcases its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs. Conclude your tour in Vienna’s historic city center and then visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral, or discover Vienna by bike. During the afternoon, enjoy leisure time to further explore this iconic city.

After reaching Weissenkirchen in the heart of the Wachau Valley, you’ll be treated to several choices of excursions. Choose a walking tour along the cobblestone streets of Dürnstein followed by a wine tasting. For those who would like a more culinary-focused experience, visit a local boutique where you'll enjoy a tasting of special apricot treats. Prefer more active adventures? Join a guided hike to the fortress where Richard the Lionheart was once held captive. Afterwards, you have a choice to tour the UNESCO-designated Melk Abbey or go on a guided bike tour from Dürnstein to Ybbs along the famous Danube bike path. You’ll then sail to Grein, known during the Middle Ages as the "golden city”; and today, it continues to shine. The city is home to both Austria’s oldest residential castle, Greinburg Castle, dating back to 1488, and its oldest theater, Stadttheater, built in 1791. Be treated to an exclusive visit to the more than 500-year-old Greinburg Castle, looming regally above the village, and while here, enjoy a folklore show along with a wine reception.

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 Basilica St. Michael. Or join a morning walking tour through the old city center of Linz and by the Mozart House; or go on a bike tour of the city’s famed “Cultural Mile” and the Danube. In the afternoon, you can also choose to visit charming Český Krumlov, located just over the Czech-Austrian border. 

Discover the 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. Alternately, choose between a guided hike up to the Veste Oberhaus fortress or a guided bike tour along the Danube River. Later, cruise to Vilshofen, where you will be treated to a festive Oktoberfest celebration— an AmaWaterways exclusive. 

Bid farewell to Vilshofen and prepare for your flight home.