Grand Danube Cruise with Munich, Brasov and Bucharest

Arrive in Munich and check into your hotel.

This morning you will tour Munich, the capital of Bavaria and one of Germany's largest cities, as well as the undisputed beer capital of the world. Enjoy a walking tour of the Old Town through the city ending at the famous Glockenspiel, with its 43 bells and 32 life-size figures that portray historic scenes, such as a wedding celebration. You will also see Frauenkirche, the “Cathedral of Our Dear Lady.” Later in the day, do like the Bavarians do, and go to a Bavarian Beer Hall for the famous beer and pretzels. This is the cradle of Bavarian tavern culture, and the origin of tradition, “gemütlichkeit” and hospitality. (B)

Excursions:

• Walking tour
• Bavarian Beer Hall and pretzel tasting

Board the ship in Vilshofen for your Grand Danube cruise. In the evening, be treated to a festive Oktoberfest celebration – an AmaWaterways exclusive. (D)

Excursions:

• Transfer to the ship
• Exclusive Oktoberfest celebration

Enjoy a free morning to walk around the quaint village of Vilshofen. Later, cruise to Passau, where you have the option of exploring it one of three ways. Take a walking tour and marvel at Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture and St. Stephen's Cathedral. Or choose between a guided bike tour along the Inn River or a guided hike up to the Veste Oberhaus fortress. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Free Time
• “City of Three Rivers” walking tour OR Passau Castle hike OR River Inn Bike Tour

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. Alternatively, you can visit the charming mountain town of Český Krumlov, a guest favorite located just over the Czech-Austrian border, on a full-day excursion. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• “UNESCO City of Media Arts” walking tour OR “Cultural Mile” bike tour OR Full-day Salzburg excursion OR Český Krumlov excursion

Head up to the Sun Deck for panoramic views as you unwind with a scenic cruise through the Strudengau and UNESCO-designated Wachau Valley. After reaching Weissenkirchen, you'll be treated to several choices of excursions. Take a walking tour of Dürnstein before visiting the UNESCO-designated Melk Abbey. Or hike the trail up to the ruins of Durnstein Fortress, where Richard the Lionheart was once held captive, and where you'll find spectacular views of the valley, river and village below. You can also choose to cycle through the Wachau Valley on a guided bike tour. For a more culinary-focused experience, sample special apricot treats from a local boutique. In the evening, enjoy a wine tasting hosted by a local vintner. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Scenic cruising through Strudengau and UNESCO Wachau Valley
• Dürnstein walking tour and Melk Benedictine Abbey OR Apricots and Sweets tasting OR Dürnstein Fortress hike OR Wachau Valley bike tour
• Evening wine tasting at local winery

The “City of Waltzes” is a treasure trove 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 the UNESCO-designated historic city center and visit St. Stephen's Cathedral. For a more active exploration, take a guided bike ride through Vienna. During the afternoon, enjoy leisure time exploring this iconic city even more. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• “Imperial Vienna” tour OR Vienna City Tour by Bike

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 special “Tastes of Slovakia” tour. For a more active adventure, hike up to Bratislava Castle, offering magnificent views of the city. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• “Coronation City” walking tour OR Tastes of Slovakia OR Bratislava Castle hike

Today you have the opportunity to visit both the Buda (hilly) and Pest (flat) sides of the Danube River. Start on the Buda side, following your guide through the city's Castle District where you will marvel at the fairytale turrets of Fisherman's Bastion, gaze upon the breathtaking panorama below and see Matthias Church, renowned for its striking tower and colorful mosaic roof. For a more active tour, hike to Budapest's Castle Hill. In the afternoon, explore the treasures of Pest, admiring the colossal Hungarian Parliament Building, Heroes' Square and the moving “Shoes on the Danube Bank” memorial. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Buda city tour OR Castle Hill hike
• Pest city tour

Visit the 19th-century Gödöllő Palace with its royal stables and Baroque theater, followed by lunch at Gödöllő Restaurant. Afterward, head for Puszta, the vast flat Great Hungarian Plain where you will tour a genuine Hungarian csárda (farm) run by the carriage-driving world champion brothers Lazar. Following the tour, witness a unique, unforgettable performance of Hungarian horsemanship, a tradition that goes back to the hordes of Magyar tribes conquering Hungary in the 9th century. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Gödöllő Palace and Puszta excursion

Welcome to Pécs, founded more than 2,000 years ago by the Romans. Visit the UNESCO-designated Christian Necropolis; St. Peter's Basilica, the city's main Catholic cathedral along with its catacombs; and Széchenyi Square, the heart of Old Town Pécs. You will also see the Mosque of Pasha Qasim the Victorious, one of the symbols of the city. Or choose a guided bike tour through Mohács. For wine connoisseurs, you'll want to go instead to the Szekszárd wine region, one of the oldest red-wine-growing areas in Hungary, established more than 2,000 years ago. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Pécs excursion OR Szekszárd wine tasting OR Guided bike ride along the Danube

Enjoy your morning in Vukovar on a guided city tour where you may visit sites such as Eltz Manor House and Vukovar's famous water tower. Alternatively, you may see Osijek on a guided tour. For those looking for a more active experience, you may explore Vukovar on an active bike tour. In the afternoon, enjoy a Croatian wine tasting and tour in the Old Cellars, famous for their Grasevina, Traminac and Frankovka wines. You can also choose to explore the Vucedol Museum, home to fascinating exhibits on prehistoric culture and one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Vukovar City tour OR Osijek Tour OR Vukovar bike tour
• Croatian wine tasting OR Vucedol Museum

Explore Serbia's capital, Belgrade, on a city tour that includes the Kalemegdan Fortress and the Serbian Orthodox Temple of St. Sava. Or hike to the well-preserved Belgrade Fortress with its conical towers. In the afternoon, enjoy a taste of the region by sampling a few types of Serbian brandy paired with delicious local appetizers, including Šlivovitz, which was added in 2022 to UNESCO's list of “Intangible Cultural Heritage.” For those wishing a more active adventure, join a guided bike tour. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• “The City by Two Rivers” tour OR Belgrade Fortress hike
• “Brandies of Belgrade” Tasting OR Belgrade bike tour OR Novi Sad tour

The Iron Gates are some of Europe's most awe-inspiring natural wonders. The Danube narrows as it winds through a series of magnificent gorges between the Carpathian and Balkan mountains. In the afternoon, visit Golubac Fortress – one of the best preserved medieval fortresses in Europe and enjoy a tasting of locally sourced delicacies. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Golubac Fortress with tasting of local fare
• Scenic Cruising – The Iron Gates

Explore Vidin, one of Bulgaria's oldest cities, and surrounding areas with a choice of excursions. Discover Baba Vida Fortress, the largest preserved medieval castle in Bulgaria. Alternatively, visit a local home for a demonstration of traditional Bulgarian yogurt and Banitsa, a pastry you will also get to make. You also have the choice to bike through Vidin and to the castle. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Baba Vida Fortress and Vidin Walking Tour OR Banitsa pastry and yogurt tasting OR Vidin bike tour

Visit Bulgaria's ancient capital, Veliko Tarnovo, with its medieval fortress and multiple orthodox temples. You can opt instead to go to Rousse, known for its 19th- and 20th-century Neo-Baroque and Neo-Rococo architecture, and then afterwards visit the UNESCO-designated Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo with frescos revealing exceptional artistry of 14th-century paintings. Alternatively, you may opt to travel through the Romanian countryside to the capital of Bucharest, known as the “Little Paris of the East.” Enjoy a panoramic tour of the historic city center and its elegant architecture, followed by a visit to the Palace of the Parliament, the second largest administrative building in the world. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Veliko Tarnovo excursion OR Ivanovo Rock-Hewn Churches & Rousse Highlights Tour OR Bucharest Excursion

Disembark the ship in Giurgiu and continue to the legendary region of Transylvania, a place deeply rooted in myth and history. Arrive in the quaint mountain town of Bran where you will have lunch and visit the famous Bran castle, otherwise known as Dracula's Castle. After your tour of Bran Castle, you will continue to Braşov. Considered the heart of Romania and surrounded by the beautiful Southern Carpathians, Braşov is one of the most visited cities in Romania. (B)

Excursions:

• Bran Castle Tour
• Hotel Check-in

Enjoy a walking tour around Braşov. Afterward, Dracula lovers will be in for another treat with an excursion to Sighişoara, birthplace to Transylvania's most notorious ruler, Vlad Ţepeş, also known as Vlad the Impaler or Dracula. It's hard to believe that this perfectly preserved UNESCO-designated town filled with resplendent pastel-colored buildings, stone lanes, medieval towers and pedestrian-friendly Old Town was Vlad's place of birth. His home is still here, marked with a placard; however, today it houses a kitschy restaurant called “Casa Dracula.” Considered the heart of Romania and surrounded by the beautiful Southern Carpathians, Brasov is one of the most visited cities in Romania. After returning from your excursion to Sighisoara you will enjoy a walk through history as you take a tour of Braşov's Old town before ending at your hotel. (B)

Excursions:

• Sighisoara excursion
• Brașov city tour

En route to Bucharest, you'll visit the quaint mountain town of Sinaia. While in Sinaia you will visit Peles Castle. Peles Castle is considered by many to be one of the most stunning castles in Europe and a masterpiece of German new-Renaissance with 160 rooms filled with priceless European art. After your tour of Peles Castle you will depart for Romania's capital city of Bucharest. (B)

Excursions:

• Peles Castle tour
• Transfer to Bucharest

This morning, enjoy a walking tour through the historic old town of Bucharest. Observe the many changes this capital city has experienced through a mixture of architectural styles and cultural influences. Your guided tour will take you through the old town and show you the most popular places in Bucharest while hearing stories of its history and getting local insights for shopping and dining opportunities. (B)

Excursions:

• Old Town walking tour

Bid farewell to Bucharest as you prepare for your flight home. (B)