TAUCK RIVER CRUISES
15 Days | Budapest To Amsterdam
Northbound

BUDAPEST TO AMSTERDAM

Day 1 | Budapest, Hungary. Embark. Your Danube, Main and Rhine river cruise starts at 4:00 PM in Budapest. A transfer is included from Budapest's Ferihegy Airport directly to your riverboat. Kick off Tauck's two-week Danube, Main, and Rhine River cruise with dinner aboard ship tonight. (D)

Day 2 | 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; and Fishermen’s Bastion. Enjoy some free time in the city, then join us aboard the riverboat for the Captain’s welcome reception and dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 3 | Bratislava, Slovakia. Arrive in Bratislava, capital of Slovakia, where 17 centuries of history are chronicled on a walking tour. Highlights are Baroque palaces from the Habsburg era, St. Martin's Cathedral, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, and a visit to the Old Town Hall. Back on board the riverboat, Slovakian performers entertain you after dinner; continue your Danube, Main and Rhine river cruise to Vienna this evening. (B,L,D)

Day 4 | Vienna, Austria. Get an overview of grand old Vienna, Austria, with a morning sightseeing tour of this historic city, once the center of Europe's Habsburg empire. Then take your choice of a tour of grandiose Schönbrunn Palace, built to rival Versailles, or a visit to the Imperial Silver Room inside the Hofburg – the former Imperial Palace and today the residence of Austria's president. Tonight, you'll receive the royal treatment with a private Imperial Evening at a traditional palace in Vienna, where welcome cocktails and dinner precede a spectacle of elegant finery and a musical performance that celebrates the legacy of Mozart. (B,L,D)

Day 5 | Melk. Durnstein. Your riverboat continues along the Danube to Dürnstein, whose twisting medieval lanes you'll explore on a walking tour. High above the town lie the ruins of Kuenringerburg, the castle where English King Richard the Lionhearted was held prisoner during the Crusades; an invigorating walk up the hill to the ruins leads to beautiful vistas of the river, town and surrounding countryside. Enjoy more great views of castles and lush vineyards from the top deck or through the panoramic windows of your riverboat while cruising through the wine-growing Wachau Valley. Stop in Melk for a guided tour of its 900-year-old Benedictine Abbey, perched on a rocky outcrop above the river. Inside this Baroque masterpiece are fine frescoes, early manuscripts, and a high altar. Your evening aboard the riverboat includes a wine tasting and a performance by local entertainers. (B,L,D)

Day 6 | Passau, Germany. Cruise the Danube. After crossing the border from Austria to Germany, dock in the Bavarian town of Passau on the Danube and Inn rivers, whose history dates back to the days of the Roman empire. A walking tour reveals the Baroque treasures of this lovely riverside town, known for its stained glass and its many churches; visit St. Stephen's Cathedral, where you’ll see (and perhaps even hear) the largest pipe organ outside of the U.S., and the biggest cathedral organ in the world. Your Danube, Main and Rhine river cruise continues to Regensburg. (B,L,D)

Day 7 | Regensburg. It's on to the well-preserved medieval town of Regensburg, once a campsite for the Roman legions, today. Our local guide leads you on a delightful walking tour of Old Town including the Steinerne Brücke over the Danube, the oldest stone bridge in Germany; massive Dom St. Peter, the town's 14th-century Gothic cathedral; and Altes Rathaus, the 15th-century town hall that was once the seat of the Imperial Diet. (B,L,D0

Day 8 | Cruise the Main-Danube Canal. Nuremberg. Your Danube, Main and Rhine river cruise negotiates the Main-Danube Canal, which ultimately links the North Sea with the Black Sea; learn about the canal's history from a local expert during your transit. The idea goes back as far as Charlemagne, but wasn't realized until the canal's completion in the 1990s; pass through 16 locks as the waterway traverses the mountains. After lunch on the riverboat, arrive in historic Nürnberg; take a walking tour through Nürnberg’s medieval ramparts to the Imperial Castle and the old city, or visit sites associated with World War II and its aftermath, including the Courthouse, the Zeppelinfeld rally grounds and the Documentation Center. Sample traditional Bavarian specialties at dinner at a local restaurant tonight. (B,L,D)

Day 9 | Bamberg. Awaken in Bavaria's charming town of Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated atop seven hills. See the town’s magnificent 13th-century cathedral with four imposing towers, its lovely gardens, and its unique medieval architecture during a walking tour and time to explore as you please. (B,L,D)

Day 10 | Rothenburg. Würzburg. Today's travels take you to medieval Rothenburg, on Germany's "Romantic Road," to see its Gothic cathedrals and gabled houses. In charming Würzburg, discover the ornate Alte Mainbrücke, a bridge over the River Main, and the town's 18th-century Residenz, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; enjoy a wine tasting in the wine cellar of this Baroque masterpiece. And you'll know you're cruising through Bavaria when an oompa band plays for you aboard the riverboat this evening! (B,L,D)

Day 11 | Cruise the Main. Lohr. Enjoy an on-board glassblowing demonstration by practitioners of this time-honored craft as your riverboat meanders along the River Main through scenic valleys studded with castles, cathedrals, and fortified towns to Lohr. You’ll see the Bayersturm (the town’s 14th-century watchtower), half-timbered houses and other notable sites on a walking tour of this historic town nestled along the slopes of the Spessart mountain range in lower Franconia. (B,L,D)

Day 12 | Cruise the Main to the Rhine. Rüdesheim. Leave the Main behind today as your Rhine River cruise continues on to Rüdesheim. A visit to Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett – an eclectic collection of mechanical musical instruments housed in a 15th-century castle in Rüdesheim – precedes tonight's entertaining dinner in a local German restaurant with an old-world ambiance. (B,L,D)

Day 13 | Koblenz or Castles. Cologne. Arrive in Koblenz, where you can choose a walking tour of its Old Town or a visit to Marksburg Castle; set high above the Rhine, it dates back to the 13th century and offers a taste of medieval life. Your Rhine River cruise continues through the scenic Lorelei Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to Köln (Cologne). A guided walking tour includes the lofty Kölner Dom, elaborately decorated with pinnacles and buttresses; the tallest Gothic structure in the world, it took over 600 years to complete. Have a great time celebrating a wonderful cruise at the Captain's farewell dinner aboard the riverboat tonight. (B,L,D)

Day 14 | Amsterdam, Holland. Dock in Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, where you'll take a close-up look at acclaimed works by the Dutch Masters – including Rembrandt's The Night Watch and many others – at the world-renowned Rijksmuseum. Enjoy views of medieval and Renaissance architecture on a sightseeing cruise along Amsterdam’s 17th-century canals, and check out other treasures along the Museumplein before returning to the riverboat for dinner and a special musical performance tonight. (B,L,D)

Day 15 | Amsterdam. Your Danube, Main, and Rhine river cruise ends in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Disembark in Amsterdam; a transfer is included from the riverboat to Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport. Allow 3 hours for departure flight check-in. A transfer will also be provided to the airport for guests enjoying a stay at Tauck's selected Amsterdam hotel following their cruise. (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.

NORTHBOUND ITINERARY 15 DAYS | BUDAPEST TO AMSTERDAM Click here to view 15-day SOUTHBOUND itinerary. Click ship name to view deck plan.