Welcome to the “Pearl of the Danube”. Upon arrival to the airport, transfer to the luxurious surrounds of your Emerald Waterways Star-Ship.

This evening, join fellow guests for a traditional Hungarian dinner and folklore performance. Afterwards, enjoy a night-time cruise along the Danube showcasing the illuminated façades of some of the capital’s most illustrious buildings, including the magnificent domed Parliament. Relax on the Sun Deck and watch the way that the city lights dance across the surface of the water. 

Explore Budapest’s cobbled medieval quarter today on a coach tour through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city center. A local guide will highlight several architectural wonders from across the ages, enabling you to follow a journey from Budapest’s Roman beginnings to the addition of ornate Romanesque and Baroque architecture in the centuries that followed.

For those that wish to do something more active, hike to Buda Hill. The surrounding area has been rebuilt several times, most recently following the air raids of WWII. Some 18th-century Baroque houses still stand, best explored from the medieval paths and alleyways in the area around Buda Castle.

Relax on board as the ship sails into the capital of Slovakia this morning. This graceful nation of leafy avenues became an independent country in 1993, and since then, Bratislava has flourished as the new capital and made a name for itself as a cultural center where different styles of music are as readily celebrated as the region’s medieval past. With local guides, explore the romantic cobblestone lanes that weave through the city on a walking tour of the ancient town center, including the Slovak National Theatre and a range of Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings.
 
Alternatively, embark on a guided hike to Bratislava Castle, a landmark steeped in legends that looks as though it came from the pages of a child’s fairytale. This striking building has been rebuilt several times over the last millennia, most recently in a Renaissance style.

Vienna, known for its sweeping boulevards and world-famous art exhibitions, is also the birthplace of revolutionary breakthroughs in the fields of music and psychology. The city perfectly encapsulates the opulence of the Habsburg Monarchy and their ornate Baroque palaces, some of which will be seen during the guided coach tour of the Ringstrasse. Continue on a walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city center and its surrounding classical architectural styles, evidence of the melting pot of artistic influences that existed here at the turn of the 20th century. 

For something more active, choose to explore on two wheels, cycling along the river to Danube Island, before reaching Prater and its nostalgic 19th-century Ferris wheel.

Effortlessly suspended in time, Dürnstein is one of the most frequented parts of the Wachau wine region, where warm weather creates the perfect setting for viticulture. Today, choose to hike the ruins of Dürnstein Castle, where a delightful panoramic view of the surrounding medieval villages, rows of vines in beautifully arranged vineyards and a forested backdrop is certain to delight.

Later, sail through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wachau Valley, passing medieval villages, terraced vineyards and areas of natural beauty. Upon arrival in Melk, enjoy a guided tour of Melk Abbey, originally a lavish castle that was gifted to Benedictine monks during the 11th century. This opulent Baroque building is home to some of the most important collections of medieval manuscripts in the world, as well as some of the most photographed spiral staircases. 

Upon arrival to Linz, transfer by coach to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed center of Ceský Krumlov, a town built around a 13th-century castle. With a local guide, traverse a labyrinth of winding cobblestone streets, passing the colorful façades of buildings that highlight different periods and learn about how they have survived the test of time thanks to the regions peaceful past. The town surrounds the national heritage site that is Ceský Krumlov Castle. Included in this tour, visit the 15th-century St. Vitus’ Church and several delightful High Gothic façades. 

Narrow cobblestone streets and the aroma of freshly baked gingerbread welcome all to Passau, a town nestled on the confluence of three of Europe’s main waterways. This important historic trading center borders Austria and Croatia, and a distinctive blend of cultures can be found here.

Enjoy a locally guided sightseeing tour of the town, touching on its distinctive historic buildings, including the Baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral with its ornate columns and arches and the Altes Rathaus, or Town Hall, a collection of eight historic patrician houses that were built between the 14th and 15th centuries.

After breakfast, disembark the ship and transfer to the airport.