AMAWATERWAYS' AMAMAGNA
13 Days | Melodies of the Danube Wine Cruise
with Budapest & Prague
Westbound

BUDAPEST TO PRAGUE

Let wine and song carry you along the melodious Danube—muse for musicians, artists and poets for centuries. Explore Prague, Vienna and Budapest, magnificent capital cities with storybook architecture and the tales to match. Visit Salzburg, the setting for the beloved film classic, "The Sound of Music," complete with a stop in Mondsee, home of the famed Basilica St. Michael where the movie’s wedding scene was filmed. Indulge in the flavors of the region, from delicate, apricot-scented wines of Austria’s Wachau Valley to the hearty Bavarian beer at a traditional Bavarian Oktoberfest in Vilshofen. Each bend and twist in the river affords new surprises just waiting for you to discover.

Day 1 | Budapest, Hungary. Arrive in Budapest and transfer to your hotel.

Day 2 | Budapest. Hidden Budapest Tour. Once the co-capital of the Austro-Hungarian empire (along with Vienna), Budapest is one of Europe’s most regal and storied cities—and many of its most iconic sights can be seen right off the banks of the Danube. Today’s tour takes you to another side of Budapest to the Jewish Quarter, where there are some real treasures. The Great Synagogue, the largest Synagogue in Europe and the second largest in the world, located in Dohány Street, represents the beating heart of this quarter. Other prominent attractions include the Holocaust Memorial, a weeping willow tree with the names of Hungarian Jews killed during the Holocaust inscribed on each leaf; and the Shoes on the Danube, a memorial to the Budapest Jews who were shot by Arrow Cross militiamen between 1944 and 1945. (B)

Day 3 | Budapest. Embark. Welcome Aboard Wine Toast. Illuminations cruise. Check out of your hotel to board your luxurious ship. During the evening, be treated to a Welcome Aboard Wine Toast and a special Illuminations cruise around Budapest’s famed Parliament building as at night, the city virtually glitters as these landmarks are awash in lights. (B,D)

Day 4 | Budapest. Queen of the Danube Tour. Home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Buda Castle quarter in Castle Hill and Heroes’ Square, Budapest offers an unmatched combination of culture, tradition and even a secret labyrinth of caves and caverns under the city. Your city tour begins with a visit to the vibrant Great Market Hall brimming with vendors selling everything from food to souvenirs. The remainder of this tour takes you to both the Buda (hilly) and the Pest (flat) sides of the river (B,L,D).

Day 5 | Vienna, Austria. Imperial Vienna Tour. The heart of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Vienna, remains as renowned today as it has throughout history. The entire city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site awash with Baroque treasures. Your city tour showcases its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs, before concluding in Vienna’s historic city center. You’ll then visit the majestic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, which has stood watch over Vienna for 700 years and is one of the most important and beloved landmarks in Austria. (B,L,D)

Day 6 | Vienna. Krems. Schloss Gobelsburg cellar tour and tasting.
Choice of Excursions —
Vienna’s Royal Treasures Tour –OR– Alte Donau Bike Tour

Discover more of Vienna’s on you “Royal Treasures” tour, or for a more active exploration of the area, take a guided bike ride along the Danube. During the afternoon, enjoy a scenic cruise through the Wachau Valley en route to Krems, the wine capital of this region. While in Krems, you will discover the town’s rich array of wine-related history and culture with a visit to Schloss Gobelsburg wine cellar, dating back several centuries. Some of the finest vineyards in Austria belong to Schloss Gobelsburg, so you’ll be in for a real treat tasting some of it vintages, including Riesling and Grüner Veltliner.

Day 7 | Weissenkirchen. Grein. Exclusive castle visit with private reception.
Choice of Excursions —
Dürnstein walking tour and wine tasting –OR– Dürnstein Fortress hike –OR– Apricots and sweets.

Ybbs –OR– Ybbs Bike tour.

After reaching Weissenkirchen in the heart of the Wachau Valley, you’ll be treated to several choices of excursions. Choose a walking tour along the cobblestone streets of Dürnstein followed by a wine tasting. For those who would like a more culinary-focused experience, visit a local boutique where you'll enjoy a tasting of special apricot treats. Prefer more active adventures? Join a guided hike to the fortress where Richard the Lionheart was once held captive. Afterwards, you have a choice to tour the UNESCO-designated Melk Abbey or go on a guided bike tour from Dürnstein to Ybbs along the famous Danube bike path. You’ll then sail to Grein, known during the Middle Ages as the "golden city”; and today, it continues to shine. The city is home to both Austria’s oldest residential castle, Greinburg Castle, dating back to 1488, and its oldest theater, Stadttheater, built in 1791. Be treated to an exclusive visit to the more than 500-year-old Greinburg Castle, looming regally above the village, and while here, enjoy a folklore show along with a wine reception. (B,L,D)

Day 8 | Linz.
Choice of Excursions —
UNESCO City of Media Arts Walking Tour –OR– Full-day Salzburg excursion –OR– “Cultural Mile” bike tour

Half-day Salzburg excursion –OR– Český Krumlov excursion –OR– Austrian Lake District excursion

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 famed Basilica St. Michael and site of the wedding scene in “The Sound of Music.” Alternatively, you can join a morning walking tour through the old city center of Linz and by the Mozart House; or go on a guided bike tour along the city’s famed “Culture Mile” and the Danube. During the afternoon, you have three more options of excursions. Choose a half-day excursion to Salzburg or take a scenic drive through the beautiful Austrian Lake District with a stop in St. Wolfgang. You can also choose to visit the charming mountain town, Český Krumlov, located just over the Czech-Austrian border. (B,L,D)

Day 9 | Passau, Germany. Vilshofen. Exclusive Oktoberfest Celebration.
Choice of Excursions —
“City of Three Rivers” walking tour –OR– Passau bike tour –OR– Passau Castle hike

Discover the 2,000-year-old city of Passau in one of three ways. Enjoy a walking tour and marvel at Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Guests looking for a more active morning can choose between a guided bike tour along the Danube River, or a guided hike up to the Veste Oberhaus Fortress. Later, the ship cruises to Vilshofen, where you will be treated to a festive Oktoberfest celebration with local beer, Bavarian folk music and dancing—an AmaWaterways exclusive. (B,L,D)

Day 10 | Vilshofen. Disembark. Regensburg. Prague, Czech Republic. Depart the ship and drive through the countryside to Regensburg, one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities, which you’ll discover on a guided walking tour showcasing the city’s architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Praetoria. After touring Regensburg, continue your journey on to Prague. (B)

Day 11 | Prague.
Choice of Excursions —
“Golden City of a Hundred Spires” tour –OR– Prague Castle hike

Discover Prague with a choice of a city tour or a castle hike. Both will reveal why Prague is considered one of Europe’s most attractive cities, with a historic city center that’s recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See all the key highlights, including the National Museum, Wenceslas Square, the 1,000 year-old Prague Castle and Old Market Square, where you will find the famous Astronomical Clock. (B)

Day 12 | Prague. Czech beer tasting. Beer has a long and illustrious history in the Czech Republic with the first brewery known to have existed in 993. Pilsner Urquell was created in 1842, being the first pilsner ever made, whilst Budweiser came into being in the city of Budweis. Beer is a core part of the country’s national identity, so much so the Czechs are the biggest consumers of beer in the world. The country is home to more than 100 breweries with a combination of big names and micro establishments offering a huge range of styles, so join a Czech beer tasting and discover for yourself what makes the Czech’s beer some of the very best in the world. (B)

Day 13 | Prague. Bid farewell to Prague and prepare for your homeward flight. (B)

NOTE: Itinerary is subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the itinerary schedule you receive with your final documents.

AMAMAGNA WINE CRUISE WESTBOUND ITINERARY 13 DAYS | BUDAPEST TO PRAGUE Click HERE to view 8-day WESTBOUND Wine Cruise itinerary.