AMAWATERWAYS
15 Days | Grand Danube
Westbound

GIURGIU TO NUREMBERG

Day 1 | Giurgiu, Romania. Embark. Embark on your cruise in Giurgiu. Tonight gather on board and meet your fellow passengers. (D)

Day 2 | Giurgiu. Rousse, Bulgaria. 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 frescoes revealing exceptional artistry of 14th-century paintings and Bulgarian medieval art. (B,L,D)

Day 3 | Vidin. Explore Vidin, one of Bulgaria’s oldest cities, and surrounding areas with choice of excursions. Discover Baba Vida Castle, the largest preserved medieval castle in Bulgaria overlooking the Danube. Continue on to Belogradchik, one of Bulgaria’s natural wonders, where you can hike around its most spectacular rock formations. 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)

Day 4 | Scenic Cruising on the Danube. Iron Gates. The Iron Gates is one of Europe’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders. The banks of the river dazzle with sheer-faced rocks stretching high overhead along this natural border between Serbia and Romania. (B,L,D)

Day 5 | Belgrade, Serbia. Explore Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, on a city tour, which includes the Kalemegdan Fortress and the Serbian Orthodox Temple of St. Sava. Later, choose from three intriguing excursions. Visit the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Serbian Royal Family; and then tour the House of Flowers, the mausoleum of Marshal Tito, who became the first President of Yugoslavia. Or enjoy a taste of the region by sampling Serbian plum brandy, Šlivovitz, and delicious local delights at the Quburich Distillery. For those wishing a more active adventure, join a guided bike tour. (B,L,D)

Day 6 | Novi Sad. Vukovar, Croatia. Discover Novi Sad, the “Serbian Athens,” on a walking tour to Dunavski Park and through Stari Grad, the old town center. If you prefer a more active exploration, join a guided biking or hiking tour. Later, visit Petrovaradin Fortress, a mighty stronghold no enemy has ever breached. Back on board, cruise to Vukovar, a Croatian symbol of resistance, which you’ll better understand on your city tour showcasing the Ovčara Memorial and the Baroque Eltz Palace. Alternatively, choose a wine tasting in Ilok, a center of wine production since Roman times, where you'll sample its famous Grasevina, Traminac and Frankovka wines. (B,L,D)

Day 7 | Mohacs, Hungary. Pecs. Enjoy a scenic morning cruise 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. (B,L,D)

Day 8 | Budapest. Tradition will be on full display in Puszta, the Great Hungarian Plain. Tour a genuine Hungarian csárda (farm) run by the world champion carriage-drivers, the Lazar brothers. Afterwards, be treated to an unforgettable performance of Hungarian horsemanship and then experience the Hungarians’ warm hospitality, along with a traditional lunch complete with typical Goulash. During the evening, be treated to a special Illuminations cruise past the capital’s glittering river front. (B,L,D)

Day 9 | Bratislava, Slovakia. Bratislava certainly has earned the title “Coronation City of Kings” as you’ll discover during your walking tour that includes the Old Town Hall, Mirbach Palace and St. Martin’s Cathedral. Or for more adventure, go high above the city by hiking up to Bratislava Castle. (B,L,D)

Day 10 | Vienna, Austria. The “City of Waltzes” offers a treasure trove of gems, and you'll discover them on a city tour showcasing its many regal splendors, such as the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs before concluding in Vienna’s historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Prefer a more active adventure? Join a guided bike ride along the Danube. Later in the day, enjoy leisure time in Vienna or cycle to Klosterneuburg Monastery on a bike tour. (B,L,D)

Day 11 | Durnstein. Melk. Partake in a walking tour along Dürnstein’s cobblestone streets to the luminous blue facade of the Baroque Stiftskirche, its famed church tower, before enjoying a wine tasting in a local cellar. For a beautiful view of the Wachau Valley, hike up to the fortress where Richard the Lionheart was once held. Alternatively, visit a local boutique, where you’ll be treated to the region’s finest apricot products. After your morning excursions, you have a choice to cruise through the Wachau Valley to Melk or join a bike tour along the Danube. Upon reaching Melk, take a tour of the UNESCO-designated Melk Abbey. (B,L,D)

Day 12 | Linz. Passau, Germany. Enjoy a scenic cruise to Linz en route to Passau, a city to discover in one of three ways. Admire the Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture and St. Stephen’s Cathedral on a walking tour. Guests looking for a more active day can choose between a guided bike tour or a hike up to the Veste Oberhaus Fortress for panoramic views of the city. (B,L,D)

Day 13 | Regensberg. Explore one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities, Regensburg, on a guided walking tour showcasing the city’s architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Praetoria. Alternatively, sample some Bavarian specialties—beer, sausage and pretzels; and for those who wish to be more active, join a bike tour to Walhalla. (B,L,D)

Day 14 | Nuremberg. You have two choices of excursions while in Nuremberg: one focusing on the medieval highlights and another focusing on WWII. Enjoy a guided tour through this medieval city, showcasing the Imperial Castle, famous town wall and Market Square’s legendary fountain. Or turn back the pages of a darker history with a guided tour of the city’s most important WWII sites, including the enormous Documentation Center. You’ll also visit the Nuremberg Trials Memoriam and Courtroom 600, if it’s not in session. En route to Regensburg, cruise through the man-made marvel, the Main-Danube Canal. (B,L,D)

Day 15 | Nuremberg. Disembark. This morning, disembark your ship in Nuremberg. (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.

WESTBOUND ITINERARY 15 DAYS | GIURGIU TO NUREMBERG Click HERE to view 15-day EASTBOUND itinerary.