Compare Active & Discovery on the Danube with 1 Night in Budapest & 2 Nights in Prague (Westbound) by Avalon Waterways vs Germany, Czech Republic, Austria & Hungary in 11 days - Capitals of Central Europe - CHARM BY BUS by Exoticca
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Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
Price From | $ 4,797 | $ 1,899 |
Price Per Day | $ 436 | $ 173 |
Highlights |
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Trip Style | River cruise | Small group tour |
Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
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Travel Themes |
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Countries Visited | ||
Cities and Attractions |
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Flights & Transport | No | Airfare included |
Activities |
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Meals Included | N/A | 10 breakfasts. |
Description | Why dip your toes in the Danube when you can explore and adore its landmarks, legends, customs and cuisine in the most interactive ways? Avalon’s Active & Discovery cruises on the Danube invite dreamers and doers to activate their curiosities. To look closer, dive deeper, and forage further into the hamlets and hills of Germany, Austria, and Hungary. Uncover ancient traditions and local flavors in immersive ways. Enjoy leisurely sightseeing or on-your-own discoveries. Whether you walk through winding alleyways, hike to a castle, bike to a palace or row to your own sanctuary of scenery, our diverse offering of Classic, Discovery and Active excursions along the Danube redefines the rules of engagement. Move.Enjoy a little get-up-and-go on your cruising vacation when you:•Sink your teeth into Count Dracula’s Visegrád prison tower on a hike to new heights.•Paddle a canoe on an excursion through the picturesque Bend region.•Pedal along the picture-perfect postcard views of the Wachau Valley. And be moved.Get off the beaten path and relish the world when you:•See the ancient jousting skills of the St. George Knightly Order at Visegrád Castle.•Savor a merry morning walk, Vienna’s infamous café culture and VIP access to an art museum.•Meet the Count of Clam at Austria’s 12th-century and beautifully preserved Clam Castle. Plus, Classic sightseeing is always available in every port along the way.Start sooner and stay longer with a one-night hotel stay in Budapest, and a two-night hotel stay in Prague! Avalon Choice sightseeing is the perfect highlight of your stay.Activate your senses and discover a world of wonder in all-new, entirely “you” ways on your personal, passion-packed cruise along the Danube. |
Get to know the magical cities and charming culture of Central Europe! Unearth the history of bohemian Berlin, a melting pot of cultures. In Prague, stroll through the fairytale streets of this 'City of a Hundred Spires' before discovering the artistic legacy of enchanting Vienna. Finally, explore the Hungarian capital of Budapest, on the banks of the River Danube. |
Day 1: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Welcome to Budapest—Hungary’s Captivating Capital
The day is yours to relax and enjoy Eastern Europe’s shining city on the Danube.
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Day 2: BUDAPEST (EMBARKATION)–DANUBE BEND
The Pearl of the Danube
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.
ACTIVE See the sights from a different perspective by joining a Guided Bike Tour along the bike paths and pedestrian areas of the city, OR:
DISCOVERY Join a local person for an unforgettable introduction to the local people, places, and experiences that makes Budapest so special," OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of Budapest to see the city’s most iconic sites.Spend free time shopping for Hungarian paprika or handcrafted souvenirs, or savor a piece of cream cake in one of the many cafés.
Enjoy a Hungarian Dinner on board during a scenic cruise through the Danube Bend.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.
EVENING CRUISE TO VISEGRÁD
(Breakfast,Dinner)
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Day 3: VISEGRÁD
Jousting Tournaments and Dracula’s Tower
ACTIVE Visit Count Dracula’s prison tower on a Hiking Tour, OR:
ACTIVE Take part in a Canoe Excursion through the picturesque Bend Region of the Danube for a truly unique perspective of one of the river’s most beautiful stretches, OR: DISCOVERY Join a Guided Visit to the Medieval Knights Tournament at Visegrád’s Lower Castle, featuring targeting and fighting demonstrations by members of the St. George Knightly Order.Spend free time after your selected activities to explore Palotaház, where stonemasons, smiths, potters, and paper-makers produce their traditional items using age-old techniques.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIENNA
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 4: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Strauss, Schnitzel, Strudel and Sachertorte Viennese Waltzes on the Blue Danube
ACTIVE Take a Guided Bike Tour along the famed Ringstrasse and pedestrian avenues of Vienna to see the city’s highlights from a unique perspective, OR:
DISCOVERY Take an Insider’s Tour of Vienna to get behind the scenes of her sights and attractions. You will meet locals, have the chance to prepare some food, and enjoy other surprises, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Vienna, including a tour of Belvedere Palace to see Gustave Klimt’s renowned “Kiss” painting.Spend free time this afternoon strolling through the pedestrian Kärntnerstrasse then take a break for a piece of Sachertorte. Or enjoy an optional excursion in Schönbrunn.
This evening consider joining an Optional Excursion to attend a Royal Waltz Concert in an elegant hall.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN VIENNA
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 5: VIENNA
A Feast for the Soul
DISCOVERY Enjoy a morning Guided Walking Tour to see the city in her best light, along with breakfast at a Viennese café, OR:
CLASSIC Dive into one of the world’s most important museums with a Guided Tour of the Habsburg family’s private art collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, and enjoy Italian or Dutch master works, OR:CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of the Museum of Fine Arts, followed by the Military Museum, commemorating the past of the Habsburg Empire.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KREMS
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 6: KREMS
Take a Canoe or a Bike through Austria’s Wine Country
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
ACTIVE Paddle a canoe on a Guided Tour to see the Austrian waterways and shoreline scenery from a unique perspective, OR:
ACTIVE Take a Guided Bike Tour from Krems to Spitz, and enjoy a stop in Dürnstein to see the mesmerizing blue Stiftskirche, and to sample local specialties, OR:
DISCOVERY Join an interactive Wine World Experience with wine tasting, OR:
DISCOVERY Enjoy a Guided Visit that showcases production of regional fruits, vegetables, wine, or other products.Relax on board this afternoon to enjoy the picturesque Wachau Valley scenery as you cruise to Grein.
GREIN
A Modern-Day Castle and the Count
DISCOVERY See Burg Clam on a Guided Visit, and meet the Count of Clam during your tour. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN GREIN
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 7: GREIN
Theater History...Alive and Well in Grein
CLASSIC Take a Guided Walk of Grein, including its historic theater, the oldest in Austria still holding regular performances.Take a mid-morning cruise to Mauthausen.
MAUTHAUSEN
History Lessons and Monastic Life
ACTIVE Take a Guided Bike Tour along the Danube and discover how fertile this area is. Stop at a local farm and learn more about farming life and flood protection, OR:
CLASSIC Visit the 9th-century St. Florian Monastery—the largest monastery in upper Austria and home to Augustine monks, OR:
CLASSIC Join a sobering Guided Tour of Mauthausen Memorial, one of the largest and most brutal Nazi camp of WWII. This afternoon sail to Linz arriving this evening.
LINZ
Legendary, Lovely Linz
Tonight, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ENGELHARTSZELL
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 8: ENGELHARTSZELL–SCHLÖGEN OXBOW
Memories and Beer in the Making
ACTIVE Bike your way to a local trappist monastery in Engelhartszell, OR:DISCOVERY Join a Guided Tour to a cider cellar where an expert sommelier will reveal the secrets of Upper Austria’s beloved ciders, OR:
CLASSIC Visit the stunning rococo-style Engelszell Abbey, and explore its Sensory Garden—complete with stone labyrinth, herb garden, and vineyard. Sample cheese and beer made by the resident Trappist monks. ACTIVE This afternoon, enjoy a scenic Guided Hike along the Danube’s Schlögen Oxbow, a dramatic bend carved by centuries.
Or, as a relaxing option, enjoy free time on the Sky Deck this afternoon while you sail through the amazing horseshoe bend of the Danube’s Schlögen Oxbow on your way to Vilshofen.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VILSHOFEN
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 9: VILSHOFEN (DISEMBARKATION)–CESKY KRUMLOV–PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
CLASSIC Visit the picturesque Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov, also known as the “Pearl of the Bohemian Forest.Continue on to the Golden City of Prague.
(Breakfast)
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Day 10: PRAGUE
Gothic Cathedrals, Grand Castles, and Great Cuisine
ACTIVE Enjoy the natural wonders of Prokopské Valley Nature Reserve on this active, half-day Guided Hiking adventure on the outskirts of Prague, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk to visit Hradčany Castle Grounds; see St. Vitus Cathedral and Old Town’s Astronomical Clock. Consider sampling delicious plum dumplings and traditional Pilsner lager beside the Vltava River.
Mingle with the locals and be mesmerized by street performers in Wenceslas Square, or admire the arches and statues decorating Charles Bridge.
(Breakfast)
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Day 11: PRAGUE
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
(Breakfast)
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Day 1: US - Night on board
Arrive at your US departure airport ready to board a flight to Berlin, the Germany capital. Night on board.* * If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.
Day 2: Berlin
Touch down in Berlin, the stylish and historic German capital. Get settled at the hotel and, if time allows, get to know the city at your leisure. Overnight stay in Berlin.
Day 3: Berlin
Tuck into a hearty German breakfast at the hotel and set off on an exciting panoramic city tour of East and West Berlin, to uncover the history and sights of the capital! Take an iconic photo at the majestic Brandenburg Gate, visit the poignant Holocaust Memorial and stroll along the leafy Unter den Linden Avenue. Discover Museum Island, the Red Town Hall, the Nikolai Quarter. Trace the turbulent history of the city at Checkpoint Charlie and see the fragmented remains of the Berlin Wall, noticing the contrasts between the different sides of the city. See the Forum of Culture and the idyllic Tiergarten Park. Potsdamer Platz shows you a modern side of the city before you spend the remainder of the day at your leisure. It's time for a well-deserved German beer after a day of sightseeing! Overnight stay in Berlin.
Day 4: Berlin
Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a day exploring Berlin at your leisure. Why not visit the brilliant amazing cultural treasures at Museum Island or spend the day exploring the flower gardens of the Tiergarten. Overnight stay in Berlin.
Day 5: Berlin - Prague
Breakfast at the hotel. Self-transfer to the bus station to catch a shared bus to the Czech capital of Prague, a journey of around 5 hours. Arrive in Prague, known for its fairytale old town, lively nightlife and nicknamed the 'City of a Hundred Spires'. Self-transfer to the hotel and spend the remainder of the day exploring at your leisure. Alternatively, enjoy an optional excursion to Kozel Brewery, the home of the most famous Czech beer! Overnight stay in Prague
Day 6: Prague
Breakfast at the hotel. Set off on a city tour of Prague, nicknamed the 'Golden City'. See the famous Powder Tower and explore the Old Town. Reach Old Town Square home to the famous Astronomical Clock, one of the most popular sights in Prague, and the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn. Finish the tour at the iconic Charles Bridge. The remainder of the day is free at your leisure to explore the sights and sample the local cuisine at your own pace. Overnight stay in Prague.
Day 7: Prague - Vienna
After breakfast at the hotel self-transfer to the bus station to catch a shared bus to Vienna, a journey of around 4.5 hours. Travel through the beautiful landscapes of Bohemia and Moravia towards Austria and its capital, Vienna. Arrive in Vienna, an imperial city famed for its artistic legacy and for being the home town of Mozart and Beethoven. Self-transfer to the hotel and spend the remainder of the day exploring at your leisure. We recommend heading to the historic centre to enjoy the charming atmosphere. During the summer the riverbanks come alive with lively bars and restaurants, so be sure to check this out if the weather is pleasant. Overnight stay in Vienna.
Day 8: Vienna
Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a day at your leisure, soaking up the cultural sights of Vienna at your leisure. Overnight stay in Vienna
Day 9: Vienna - Budapest
Breakfast at the hotel. Catch a shared bus this morning to travel to Budapest, the capital of Hungary, a journey of around 3 hours. After enjoying the changing landscapes of the Danube Delta arrive in Budapest and self-transfer to the hotel. The city is famously divided in two by the River Danube Buda and Pest, each with its own distinctive atmosphere. Overnight stay in Budapest
Day 10: Budapest
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, set off on an enthralling guided tour of Budapest, beginning with Heroes Square, the largest and most impressive in the city and an emblem of Pest's Golden Era. Next, see the National Opera Theatre and the amazing Parliament building, a true icon of the city on the banks of the Danube. Continue the tour across the river, in the Castle District, where you can enjoy the sweeping views from Castle Hill and the amazing architecture of the Fisherman's Bastion. Cross Margaret Bridge to visit the Király Baths before ending the tour at the oldest and most photographed bridge in the city, the glorious Chain Bridge. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure. Overnight stay in Budapest.
Day 11: Budapest
Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a day at your leisure in Budapest. Why not take in the views from Fisherman's Bastion or stroll along the riverside promenade. Overnight stay in Budapest.
Day 12: Budapest - US
Breakfast at the hotel. It's time to bring your journey through Central Europe to an end. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight back to the US. Arrive in the US and end your trip.