From Budapest to Amsterdam, you’ll be immersed in the culture and music of Central Europe. Delight in the vibrant and expressive voices of our opera singers who accompany you through a variety of musical experiences on this timeless river cruise vacation. Enjoy an exclusive choir performance and a memorable concert in one of the unique venues that Europe offers.

As your journey starts, visit three of Europe’s vibrant capital cities: Budapest, Hungary; Bratislava, Slovakia; and Vienna, Austria. A Local Guide shows you the must-see sites in each city, with plenty of time to explore on your own. Admire the view from Fishermen’s Bastion in Budapest, stroll through Bratislava’s Old Town with its winding streets and bronze sculptures, and be sure to stop in a classic Viennese café for a decadent treat. Sail through the picturesque Wachau Valley, along the engineering feat that is the Main Danube Canal, and through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, where you too can be enchanted by the Lorelei melody. Visit Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey and Würzburg’s baroque Bishop’s Residenz. Enjoy a tasting of Wachau wines and German beers and Bratwurst. Explore quaint towns like Dürnstein, with its blue and white baroque Stiftskirche; and Bamberg, with its town hall straddling River Regnitz. Visit Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg and where the hills come alive with “The Sound of Music.” Enjoy guided walks in historic Nuremberg; Regensburg, one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities; and Würzburg, on the Main River. In charming Rüdesheim, visit the unique Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum and enjoy a stroll through its famous cobblestone Drosselgasse. Straddling both sides of the Rhine River is Cologne, Germany—a 2,000-year-old city known for its gothic architecture. On a guided walk, see the famous twin-spired cathedral and explore the cobblestone streets of the Old City!

This European river cruise ends in Holland’s lively capital, Amsterdam. See the treasures of this 700-year-old city from a unique perspective—on a canal cruise along the elegant grachten.

City Highlights

Day 1 Budapest (Embarkation): welcome receptionDay 2 Budapest: guided sightseeing, see Fishermen’s Bastion and Heroes’ Square, visit the Opera House Day 3 Bratislava: guided sightseeing, visit St. Martin’s CathedralDay 4 Vienna: guided sightseeingDay 5 Krems–Melk: guided walk in Krems; cruise through the Wachau Valley; guided visit of the Benedictine Abbey; wine tastingDay 6 Passau: choice of Passau guided walk or full day excursion to Salzburg with lunch includedDay 7 Regensburg: guided walk; enjoy a snack at the Historische Wurstküche; choir concertDay 8 Roth–Nuremberg: choice of guided sightseeing in Nuremberg or Nuremberg Rally Grounds tour or guided sightseeing of RothDay 9 Bamberg: guided walk, see the Old Town HallDay 10 Würzburg: guided sightseeing, visit the Bishop’s ResidenzDay 11 Main River Village: guided walkDay 12 Rüdesheim–Rhine Gorge: visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum; enjoy a special treat; cruise through the Rhine GorgeDay 13 Cologne: choice of guided walk or Jewish Heritage walkDay 14 Amsterdam: canal cruiseDay 15 Amsterdam (Disembarkation): your vacation ends this morning

Notes

In the event of water level problems or any problems of a technical nature, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or to alter the program.Included visits and special features are subject to change. If a change becomes necessary, a substitute will be offered.Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.In the event that a high-speed train is not available due to strikes or technical reasons, the route will be operated by motorcoaches.

PRODUCT_LINE: AVALON-WBA-T1-2018