Budapest, Hungary (on the Danube River)
Romantic Danube & Passion Play
July 20 – August 5, 2010
17 days
SOLD OUT
Day 1: Fly to Frankfurt, Germany.
Day 2: Arrive in Frankfurt then transfer to Cologne (German: Köln) on the Rhine River. There will be an evening welcome reception in Cologne.
Day 3: Enjoy a morning tour of Cologne, including the spectacular Cathedral and Roman ruins in the old city core (founded as a Roman city in 38 BC). After lunch, sail down the Rhine River from Koblenz to Mainz.
Cathedral in Cologne
Day 4: Morning tour of Mainz includes the Cathedral and Gutenberg Museum. This afternoon, drive into the Bavarian Mountains to Fuessen (German: Füssen), a former Roman settlement near the Austrian border.
Day 5: In the morning, tour King Ludwig II’s Neuschwanstein Castle, the most photographed building in Germany, a romantic composition of towers and walls in a setting of mountains and lakes. Spend afternoon free time taking in the awesome Bavarian scenery. Attend evening performance of King Ludwig, the patron of composer Richard Wagner. King Ludwig was deposed on grounds of mental illness without medical examination, and died a day later under mysterious circumstances.
Neuschwanstein Castle
Day 6: Drive to Oberammergau to participate in the Passion Play (German: Passionsspiele), staged every 10 years using 2000 actors on an open-air stage with the sky and mountains for backdrop. The show began in 1634 to offer thanks for being spared from the 1633 plague. Lunch is served before the first half of the play and dinner is served before the play's second half. Enjoy overnight in Upper Bavaria.
Day 7: Travel from Oberammergau to Munich. After lunch, enjoy historical Munich on a two-hour walking tour. A Traditional evening includes a buffet dinner and Bavarian music.
Marienplatz in Munich
Day 8: Free day in Munich to rest, shop, or explore on your own.
Day 9: After breakfast, journey to Dachau to tour the Nazi concentration camp, then drive through Bavarian countryside to Nuremberg to embark the MS Avalon Tapstry. The afternoon is free to explore this historic city on your own.
Day 10: Take a morning coach tour of Nuremberg, Bavaria’s second largest city, featuring the former Nazi parade grounds, Main Railway Station, Palace of Justice, and historic home of Nuremberg Trials Court House before returning to the Old Town area enclosed by ancient city walls. View Elizabeth and St. James Church. Walk from castle grounds, pass the Albrecht Dürer House, and Main Market Square. Return to the ship for lunch, then sail through the many locks that comprise Rhine-Main-Danube Canal, an engineering marvel stretching 106 miles from Bamberg on the Main River to Kelheim, on the Danube. Begun as Charlemagne’s dream in 793, it was completed in 1992 with 16 locks that raise water level 1,332 feet. It enables river travel from the North Sea to the Black Sea. Enjoy dinner aboard ship, then cruise during the night.
Old Stone Bridge in Regensburg
Day 11: This morning, meet your guide dockside for a walking tour through scenic town of Regensburg, considered one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities. View one of the largest groupings of 13th- and 14th-century church spires, towers and patrician houses north of the Alps. Encounter the 12th-century Old Stone Bridge, St. Peter’s Cathedral, plus a number of idyllic courtyards. Use free time to stroll the streets or shop before returning to the ship. This afternoon, enjoy scenic cruising along the Danube, or choose an optional excursion to Kelheim at southernmost point of the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal. Travel by road to Kelheim, then embark on a ferryboat ride to explore the Danube Gorge’s dramatic scenery with its spectacular 400-foot chalk cliffs. Visit the renowned Weltenburg Abbey, still echoeing with ancient chants and famous for its dark ale brewed by monks since 1050. Return to the ship for dinner. Cruise throughout the night.
Day 12: Arrive early morning in Passau, at confluence of the Inn, Ilz, and Danube Rivers. Take a guided walk along the town’s narrow streets, winding through the Old Town, then past traditional houses. View Oberhaus Fortress, visit impressive baroque St. Stephan’s Cathedral with ornate interior. Relish a special concert played on a 17,000-pipe organ, considered Europe’s largest church organ. Eat lunch aboard, explore the city on your own before an early evening departure and cruise.
Day 13: Relish the guided tour through the ornate interior of a baroque architectural gem, the Benedictine Abbey at Melk. Admire the frescoes and medieval manuscripts inside the large library; take time to see the garden courtyard. Return to the ship for lunch and an afternoon cruise along the Danube. After dinner, arrive in Vienna, Austria. Enjoy an evening at leisure.
The Rathaus in Vienna
Day 14: After breakfast, begin a half-day city tour of Vienna. Observe some of the lovely baroque architecture, then ride along the beautiful Ringstrasse, with sights including the Opera House, Stadtpark, and Hofburg Theater. Visit St. Stephan’s Cathedral. Return to ship for lunch. The afternoon is free for you to explore Vienna on your own. Dinner is served aboard the ship.
Day 15: Arrive in Budapest, Hungary’s vibrant capital, divided by the Danube River. By coach, tour the Pest side of the city. Journey along famous Andrássy Avenue, view numerous 19th- and 20th-century mansions, the National Opera House, the renowned Parliament Building, and the Chain Bridge. Stop in Heroes’ Square to discover Hungarian culture and history. Cross the Danube to the Buda side to visit the Castle District. Walk up the hill to see Fishermen’s Bastion, Matthias Church, and panoramic views of the city. Return to the ship for lunch. The remainder of day is free for you to explore both sides of the city.
Castle Hill in Budapest
Day 16: After breakfast, disembark the ship, then transfer to the hotel in Budapest. Enjoy your last free day in Budapest. In the evening, enjoy a wind-up banquet.
Day 17: Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
Cruise Company: Viking River Cruises
Note: Itinerary may change.
Contact us for a full itinerary, for price information or about any other questions you may have.
Image Credits: Budapest by ** Maurice ** on Flickr is CC-BY-2, Kölner Dom by JOE M500 on Flickr is CC-BY-2, Photo of Neuschwanstein Castle is public domain, Marien Platz (Munich) by Pablo Abad on Flickr is CC-BY-2, DSC03408, Regensburg, Germany by jimg944 on Flickr is CC-BY-2, Photo of Rathaus (Town hall) in Vienna, Austria by users Gryffindor and Berthold Werner on Wikipeida is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 license, No. 84 M Castle Hill (Budapest), page 296, 1000 Places To See Before You Die by Savannah Grandfather on Filckr is CC-BY-2. Note: "CC-BY-2" means the image is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 license.