8 Day AmaWaterways River Cruise from Budapest to Budapest 2025

Day 1 Budapest

Arrive in Budapest and board your luxurious river cruise ship. (D)

Day 2 Budapest

Budapest offers an unmatched combination of culture and tradition. Your city tour begins with a visit to the Great Market Hall before going to both the Buda (hilly) and the Pest (flat) sides of the river. You’ll see Heroes’ Square and Castle Hill, home to the Fisherman’s Bastion and Mattias Church. As an alternative, you can hike up to Castle Hill for breathtaking views of the city below. (B,L,D)

Day 3 Bratislava

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 June 8, 2023 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)

Day 4 Dürnstein — Melk

Join us for a walking tour in Dürnstein, the “Pearl of the Wachau,” with its breathtaking scenery, traditional architecture, brilliant blue Baroque Stiftskirche tower, and wine taverns, where you will be treating to a wine tasting. If you prefer a more active adventure, stretch your legs on a hike to ruins of Dürnstein Fortress where Richard the Lionheart was once held captive and take in sweeping views of the village and Danube River below. Or join a guided bike tour. Return to the ship for lunch and a scenic cruise through Austria’s breathtaking Wachau Valley before arriving in Melk. Located above Melk on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube, Melk Abbey is one of Europe’s largest and most revered Baroque monasteries and a breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally founded in the 11th century, the magnificent abbey now houses a museum chronicling its history and a famous library with countless medieval manuscripts. During your tour you will see some of Melk’s musical manuscripts as well as frescoes painted by Johann Michael Rottmayr and Paul Troger. (B,L,D)

Day 5 Tulln

One of the oldest towns in Austria, Tulln, referred to as “City of Flowers,” is your gateway to Klosterneuburg Abbey. Join a tour that takes you inside this majestic 12th-century Augustinian monastery, where, legend has it that Margrave Leopold III’s wife’s wedding veil landed after riding on a gust of wind. Alongside your knowledgeable local guide, examine the abbey’s gilded interior, which boasts high ceilings, lovely frescoes, and intricately carved statues. (B,L,D)

Day 6 Vienna

Explore Austria’s capital on a tour that includes the Vienna Opera House, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and the city’s historic center, rich in architectural marvels, Baroque castles, and lush gardens. Alternatively, pedal through Vienna on an exhilarating guided bike tour. In the afternoon, be treated to a visit to Vienna’s famous Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens. Marvel at some of the Rococo palace’s 1,441 rooms, including the Imperial Apartments, the living quarters of the Emperors, which still contain their original furnishings. Plus, delight in the lovely gardens outside with their maze, arboretum, and small zoo. Later in the day, enjoy free time to explore more of Vienna or perhaps pop into a café for a slice of rich chocolate Sacher-Torte. (B,L,D)

Day 7 Danube Bend

Cruise through the scenic Danube Bend where you’ll see the Börzsöny and Visegrád hills and some of Hungary’s oldest settlements, including Esztergom, Visegrád, and Szentendre. Nature, culture, and history intertwine into a picturesque sight as the Danube River turns into a sharp bend. (B,L,D)

Day 8 Budapest

Bid farewell to Budapest and prepare for your flight home. (B)

(B,L,D) – Indicates Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are included on this day.