Compare Danube Symphony - Cruise Only Eastbound by Avalon Waterways vs Budapest to Prague Adventure by Explore!

Day 1: Passau, Germany (Embarkation)

Meals: Dinner

This afternoon board your river cruise vessel and meet your crew at a welcome reception this evening.

Day 2: Passau–Linz, Austria

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Passau is a maze of narrow cobblestone streets lined with beautiful patrician houses. St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a masterpiece of Italian baroque architecture, houses one of the world’s largest church organs with 17,774 pipes. Join your Local Guide for a WALKING TOUR through this charming town, and find out much more about the “City of Three Rivers.” (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3: Linz

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Linz is Austria’s third-largest city and an important river port where culture plays a significant role in everyday life. A guided tour of the city shows you the 13th-century Hauptplatz, Austria’s largest medieval square, and the Trinity Column, built in 1723 as thanks for the city escaping the ravages of the plague, war, and fire. Perhaps wander around the old castle grounds and take in the beautiful views of the river, or visit the neo-gothic New Cathedral, Austria’s largest church, with capacity for 20,000 visitors. This afternoon relax on board enjoying the views of the peaceful riverscapes from the comfort of the Sky Deck or join an optional excursion.

Day 4: Melk–Dürnstein

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

A day of charming towns and magical scenery awaits you today! In Melk, you may choose between a GUIDED VISIT of the magnificent 11th-century BENEDICTINE ABBEY, one of Europe’s largest monasteries, or renaissance SCHALLABURG CASTLE. Melk’s abbey towers over the town and its church houses stunning frescoed ceilings and an ornate library with a large collection of medieval manuscripts. Schallaburg Castle was built as a defensive stronghold 900 years ago, but was later redesigned as a magnificent princely home. Next, head into the heart of the Wachau wine region to Dürnstein known for its magnificent baroque Stiftskirche with its blue façade, - and join a Certified Local Guide for a guided walk.

Day 5: Vienna

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Wake up this morning in Vienna, known as the “City of Music” and the place that inspired the creative genius of Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss. Once the center of the mighty Habsburg Empire, Austria’s magical capital on the blue Danube is a showcase of gilded architecture. This is home to the lavish Hofburg Imperial Palace complex with its Vienna Boy’s Choir and dazzling Lipizzaner stallions; the neo-renaissance Vienna Opera House; and awe-inspiring St. Stephen’s Cathedral—plus, countless other sights you’ll see on your GUIDED SIGHTSEEING TOUR. Stroll through the pedestrian Kärntnerstrasse, and be sure to take a break and enjoy a piece of decadent Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel in a neighborhood café.

Day 6: Vienna (Disembarkation)

Meals: Breakfast

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Day 1 Join trip in Budapest, Hungary; orientation walk of the city

Our adventure begins in the Hungary's capital city, Budapest, where we spend the night. Situated on a beautiful stretch of the Danube River, the city consists of two parts: Buda and Pest. Buda is the older, more graceful part, with cobbled streets and medieval buildings, whilst the latter is the modern business centre. For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 4:30pm for the welcome meeting and, utilising local transport, they will to take us on an orientation walking tour of the main sights of this impressive city. We'll see the Basilica of Saint Stephen and the Parliament buildings before crossing the Chain Bridge to the Castle District and Watertown. Here lie Buda's most ancient gems - Castle Hill with the Old Town, Fisherman's Bastion and the Royal Palace. After the tour for those that wish there will be the chance to go for dinner. If you would like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Budapest Airport (BUD). There is a lot to see and do in Budapest; if you can spare the time, we suggest arriving a day early to make the most of this fascinating city. Alternatively, you could consider combining this holiday with the Krakow to Budapest Adventure to make a two-week holiday. Please note that if you wish to join the orientation tour today, you must arrive at the hotel by 4.30pm. If you are booking your own flights, we recommend giving yourself at least one hour to clear the airport. It's around 45 minutes' drive from the airport to the hotel, so therefore the latest your flight can arrive is 2.30pm. Should you miss the meeting, your Leader will leave you information giving the meeting time for the next day in the hotel reception and will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

Meals Provided : None

Day 2 Drive to Bratislava, Slovakia with a walking tour on arrival

After the journey from Budapest we will spend a nice leisurely afternoon in historical Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia. It used to be the capital of the former Hungarian Kingdom and was known as 'Pressburg' and went through tough times at war with the Ottoman Empire. We will walk through the Old Town's maze of pretty Medieval streets and squares surrounded by numerous cafes and trendy bistros. We pass by Michael's Gate which is the only remaining old entrance to the city, the pretty Main Square, Neoclassical Primate's Palace and Cathedral of Saint Martin. After the walk you can continue your discovery by visiting one of the oldest castles in Slovakia or by enjoying a birds eye view from city's most famous landmark, the so-called UFO bridge, which affords views over the 'panelaky' typical communist era blocks of flats and various other fairly radical urban projects.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 3 Train to Vienna, Austria; chance to travel back by boat

This morning we take a short train ride (about 1 hour) to Austria's capital, Vienna, where we enjoy a walking tour of the Old City with a local guide. This should offer a good initial overview of the history and the structure of the city. Sights during the walk will include the Karlsplatz, Heroes Square, Hofburg (Imperial Palace Complex), Imperial Treasury, National Library, Spanish Riding School, Vienna's ancient housing estates, Saint Stephens Church and the Opera. We won't have time to enter any of these places on our tour but afterwards you will be free to return to visit any that you wish. You can choose to return to Bratislava by train at your leisure (we will provide a return ticket) or you may prefer to book a boat trip back along the Danube River (taking approximately 2 hours).

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 4 Visit to Lednice-Valtice and wine tasting in Mikulov, Czechia

We start our day with a train trip (taking around 1 hour), followed by a short bus journey to the beautiful town of Mikulov. Filled with history embodied in architectural monuments, this small town offers something for everyone. Situated in the very heart of the wine region, it has plenty of walking paths with local and family run wine cellars or wine tasting centres along the way. En route to Mikulov we stop at Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's one of the largest artificial landscapes in Europe and here we will take a walk around the castle park of Chateau Lednice. In the afternoon we visit the Jewish Cemetery in Mikulov with centuries old tombs and it is the final resting place of many prominent rabbis. Following our visit we'll enjoy a wine tasting of Mikulov's local produce.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 5 Train to Prague and explore on foot

A train journey takes us to our final destination of Prague, the capital city of the Czechia. Our train travel today will involve a change of trains and take approximately 4.5 hours in total. Twelve centuries have adorned it with a labyrinth of old streets and wonderful palaces and bridges. We enjoy a guided city tour, which will take in some of the main highlights including the Old Town Square and City Hall, set amid antique houses and arcades. Other sites include the Astronomical Clock, Powder Tower and Prague Ghetto, which includes the Jewish Cemetery and Synagogues. We also see Charles Bridge, the most handsome bridge over the Vltava River and the area of Hradcany which contains the castle of the Bohemian Kings.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 6 Free day in Prague with the option to visit Konopiste Castle

On our second day in Prague you are free to enjoy the city at your leisure. You may wish to head by local train to the 700 year old Konopiste Castle. The castle was once owned by Archduke Ferdinand, whose assassination in Sarajevo triggered the start of World War I. A boat trip on the Vltava River is another possibility. There are also many classical music concerts to be found. If the timing is right, you may be lucky to see a performance in one of the old atmospheric churches. There the option of visiting the Bunker Museum, where a range of Cold War relics are on display from an age when paranoia and spying was at an all-time high, which is housed in a former communist bunker underneath the city.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 7 Trip ends in Prague

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Prague. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Prague at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like an airport transfer today, you need to depart from Prague Airport (PRG).

Meals Provided : Breakfast