Travel
Signposts Newsletter |
|
|
Amsterdam to Budapest - European River Cruise Routes
The big one! Here is a typical itinerary for a river cruise on the Rhine, Main and Danube that takes you all the way from Amsterdam to Budapest, in this case with Tauck. The actual cruise takes 15 days or so, but some operators sell parts of it, eg to Vienna, which takes less, and some add on days at the beginning, which takes longer. Tauck uses the MS Emerald, MS Switzerland II or MS Swiss Diamond; Avalon uses the MS Poetry and MS Artistry, Trafalgar and Uniworld use the River Princess, River Empress, River Countess and River Duchess, Viking use the Viking Spirit, Viking Neptune, Viking Pride or Viking Europe.
For a 15 page review of a different version of this tour, see our Amsterdam to Budapest River Cruise pages which tell you about our trip on the MS Poetry in 2005.
When you check out the different tour aggregators' or agents' websites, you'll notice that many of them use the same copy, this is usually because they're taking it direct from the riverboat operator's brochure. In fact, I've noticed that even the different operators have very much the same information, so to some extent it's a case of read one, read 'em all (the links go to photos in our Destinations Gallery):
| Day 1: Gin tasting in Amsterdam
Upon arrival at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, transfer to Tauck’s hospitality room at the Amsterdam Marriott Hotel if you arrive before 2:00 p.m., or transfer directly to the ship if you arrive after 2:00 p.m. Your transfer is included in the tour. Tour starts at 6:00 p.m. in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Your two-week Danube, Main and Rhine cruise begins with a Dutch gin tasting.
Meals: Dinner |
Day 2: Art in Amsterdam
See acclaimed art by Dutch Masters at the Rijksmuseum. Then enjoy views of medieval architectural styles on a canal boat cruise along Amsterdam’s 17th-century canals. Pursue your own interests in the afternoon, and then attend the Captain’s Champagne reception and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner |
| Day 3: Köln, Namesake of Eau de Cologne
Next stop on your Rhine cruise is Köln (Cologne), Germany. Tour the lofty Kölner Dam, elaborately decorated with pinnacles and buttresses – it is the tallest Gothic structure in the world. Stroll the Hohe Strasse at your leisure in the afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
|
| Day 4: Koblenz (photos or information) or Castle Marksburg
Dock in Koblenz, and choose either a walking tour of Old Town, or a trip to 13th-century Castle Marksburg, built high above the Rhine. Relax on an afternoon’s cruise through the scenic Lorelei Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit a winery for a wine tasting before dinner ashore.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
|
| Day 5: Rhine Cruise to the Main River
Enjoy the views, as the Rhine River becomes the Main River on this leisurely daylong Rhine cruise. Glide through scenic valleys studded with castles, cathedrals, and fortified towns.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
|
| Day 6: Rothenburg or Würzburg
Choose either a visit to medieval Rothenburg to see the Gothic cathedrals and gabled houses, or a visit to Würzburg to see the 18th-century Residenz and the ornate Alte Mainbrücke, a bridge over the River Main.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
|
| Day 7: Bound for Bamberg
Journey to the hilltop town of Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The walking tour highlight is the town’s 13th-century cathedral with four dominating towers.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
|
| Day 8: Main-Danube Canal & gingerbread
(Nuremberg photos or information)
In Nürnberg, visit the Hauptmarkt, famous for gingerbread and sausage. See the Schöner Brunnen, and turn the gold ring for luck. Cruise the Main-Danube Canal linking the North Sea with the Black Sea; it was started by Charlemagne but unfinished until late in the 20th century. Pass through 16 locks as the waterway rises through the mountains.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner |
| Day 9: Ancient Regensburg (photos)
or information
Visit Weltenburg Monastery, known for its award-winning in-house brewery. Stop in the well-preserved medieval town of Regensburg, once a campsite for the Roman legions. Visit the Steinerne Brücke, a medieval stone bridge over the Danube; massive Dom St Peter; and Altes Rathaus, the 15th-century town hall that was once the seat of the Imperial Diet.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
|
| Day 10: Explore Passau
Dock in the German town of Passau, dating back to Roman times. A walking tour highlight is Dom St Stephan, a cathedral built in Italian Baroque style with lovely stained glass windows. Cruise the Danube in the afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
|
Day 11: Medieval Austrian castles (Melk photos or information)
Stop in the town of Melk, Austria, for a guided tour of Stift Melk, a Benedictine Abbey on a rocky outcrop above the river. Inside this baroque masterpiece are fine frescoes, early manuscripts, and a high altar. Enjoy the views of medieval castle ruins while cruising through the Wachau Valley. In Dürnstein, see the ruins of Kuenringerburg, the castle where England’s King Richard the Lionheart was held prisoner during the Crusades.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner |
| Day 12: Music in Vienna
Get an overview of Vienna, Austria, with a tour of the historic district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then choose which palace you want to explore. Hofburg Palace, or the Imperial Palace, or a tour of Schönbrunn Palace, built to rival Versailles. Attend a private palace concert featuring famed Viennese selections in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
|
Day 13: Baroque in Bratislava (photos) or information
Dock in Bratislava, capital of Slovakia, where 17 centuries of history are chronicled on a walking tour. Highlights are the baroque palaces from the Habsburg era, and the Slavin War Memorial.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
|
| Day 14: Discover Budapest
Explore Budapest on both sides of the Danube River. Sites include Heroes’ Square, bounded by some of the finest architectural works in Hungary; the Parliament building, a Neo-Gothic masterpiece; Fishermen’s Bastion; and the famed stained glass windows in Matthias Church. Enjoy some free time, and then attend the farewell reception and dinner aboard your riverboat.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
|
Day 15: Journey home
Tour ends in Budapest, Hungary. Disembark from the ship, and transfer to Budapest Ferihegy Airport (included in the tour). Allow 2 1/2 hours for departure flight check-in.
Meals: Breakfast |
As you can see, the descriptions are a bit florid, but they give a pretty fair idea of the kind of experiences you can expect.
OUR ADVICE: concentrate on the ship you want to travel on and the route you want to travel, rather than the tour aggregator (of course, there's also price!). Be sure to check out our "Things to watch for" page too!
Next page: the Amsterdam to Budapest river cruise route |
 |
