AmaWaterways, Grand Danube Cruise from Vilshofen, December 11, 2023

Cruising from: Vilshofen, Germany;

Departure Date: 11 December, 2023;

Cruise Line: AmaWaterways;

Cruise Ship: AmaBella;

Duration: 14 days;

Ports of Call: Vilshofen, Passau, Linz, Wachau Valley, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Budapest, Mohacs, Novi Sad, Belgrade, Iron Gates, Vidin, Ruse, Giurgiu;

Day 0 Vilshofen, Germany

Vilshofen, Germany. Cruising Danube. Germany river cruise.

Day 1 Passau, Germany

Passau in the southeast of Germany is located at the Austrian border. Situated at the confluence of the rivers Danube, Inn and Ilz, Passau is worldwide known as "The Three Rivers City". In the heart of Passau on the Old Town's highest point rises St. Stephen's Cathedral, in which the world's largest cathedral organ sounds. The majestic fortress Veste Oberhaus on the Danube's side and the Pilgrimage Church "Mariahilf" on the Inn's side give the city outstanding beauty.

Day 2 Linz, Austria

Linz is a beautiful and sometimes underrated city located in the northern part of Austria on the River Danube. Since 2014 Linz has been part of the UNESCO Creative Cities network and also a great tourist destination with many interesting sights and activities. The great combination of historical buildings, stunning architecture, vast areas of green space, and modern innovations mean that Linz has as much to offer as such high-ranking Austrian cities. Linz is famouse for Linzer Tart, one of the oldest cakes and many cofeehouses.

Day 3 Wachau Valley, Austria

Austria's Wachau Valley, nestled between the towns of Krems and Melk, is a 30-kilometer (18-mile) stretch alongside the Danube River. Just about an hour's drive away from the capital city of Vienna, it's a place worth exploring for its intriguing history and its incredible wines. The Wachau Valley is very European- in the sense the countryside reminds you of historic times with rivers, castles and churches. The towns and landscapes of the Wachau Valley have survived the test of changing times, whilst keeping the natural evolution intact. The entire valley was listed as an UNESCO Heritage site in 2000.

Day 4 Vienna, Austria

Vienna is the federal capital, largest city and one of nine states of Austria. It is famous for its cultural events, imperial sights, coffee houses, cozy wine taverns, and the very special Viennese charm. Apart from being regarded as the City of Music because of its musical legacy, Vienna is also said to be "The City of Dreams" because it was home to the world's first psychoanalyst - Sigmund Freud. Vienna is Austria's main centre of education and home to many universities, professional colleges and high schools.

Day 5 Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is one of the smaller capitals of Europe but still the country's largest city. One of the city dominants is The Castle of Bratislava. The most attractive part of Bratislava is the Old Town where the most historical sights, as well as cultural institutions, are concentrated. Its tiny lanes offer an ideal atmosphere for romantic walks to those who love to follow signs of history in the middle of the modern world.

Day 6 Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is the capital and the most populous city of Hungary. With its wide boulevards and stunning architecture, steamy thermal baths, Budapest is a true cosmopolitan European capital. No trip to Budapest is complete without a visit to the Castle Quarter, including Buda Castle, Fisherman's Bastion, and the quaint cobbled streets and pastel buildings throughout. In a city filled with spectacular architecture and sites, the Hungarian Parliament Building stands out as a symbol of the city and impossible-to-ignore presence on the Danube.

Day 7 Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is the capital and the most populous city of Hungary. With its wide boulevards and stunning architecture, steamy thermal baths, Budapest is a true cosmopolitan European capital. No trip to Budapest is complete without a visit to the Castle Quarter, including Buda Castle, Fisherman's Bastion, and the quaint cobbled streets and pastel buildings throughout. In a city filled with spectacular architecture and sites, the Hungarian Parliament Building stands out as a symbol of the city and impossible-to-ignore presence on the Danube.

Day 8 Mohacs, Hungary

Mohacs is a town in Hungary on the right bank of the Danube. The town's identity is rooted in a major battle that took place here in 1526 when the Turks swept in, defeated the Hungarians, and then ruled over them for some 450 years. The Historical Memorial Park just outside of town has a comprehensive collection of clothing, tools, and arms. Main sights are the Cathedral of Pecs, and Szechenyi Square.

Day 9 Novi Sad, Serbia

Novi Sad is the second-largest city in Serbia. Lying on the banks of the Danube river, the city faces the northern slopes of Fruška Gora. Novi Sad is the city of young people, music, fun and great nightlife. It is the home of The EXIT festival, one of the best music events in Europe. The most visited tourist attraction in Novi Sad is Petrovaradin Fortress.

Day 10 Belgrade, Serbia

Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. One of the oldest cities in Europe and the only one built on the confluence of two rivers, Belgrade is the city that never sleeps and the symbol of great nightlife. Belgrade has wildly varying architecture. The oldest architecture is found in Kalemegdan Park. Like any other metropolis, it has many museums, annual cultural events and different sites to visit

Day 11 Iron Gates, Serbia

The Iron Gates is a gorge on the river Danube. It forms part of the boundary between Serbia (to the south) and Romania (north). In the broad sense, it encompasses a route of 134 km. At this point in the Danube, the river separates the southern Carpathian Mountains from the northwestern foothills of the Balkan Mountains. The Romanian side of the gorge constitutes the Iron Gates natural park, whereas the Serbian part constitutes the Đerdap national park.

Day 12 Vidin, Bulgaria

Vidin is one of the oldest towns along the Bulgarian Danube bank. The small town has a lovely, tree-lined city park along the Danube that leads from the cruise ship dock to Baba Vida, a medieval fortress built by the Bulgars in the 10th to the 13th centuries. Baba Vida is one of the last remaining intact Bulgar fortresses. Vidin also has intact sections of the city wall, a large downtown square, and a lively city market, so it's a fun place to spend a few hours exploring on foot. Some of the old buildings along the river are quite impressive, and the architecture of the town is an interesting blend of many cultures such as Roman, Bulgarian, Turk, Communist, and modern

Day 13 Ruse, Romania

Whether you spell it Ruse, Russe, or Rousse, this city in northern Bulgaria is located on the right bank of the Danube River, not far from the mouth of the Rusenski Lom River and directly across from the Romanian city of Giurgiu via the Friendship Bridge. This is a major commercial, cultural, and industrial hub, and one of the largest cities in the country. Ruse was also known as "The Small Vienna" because to the stunning architecture and intricate interior design of the buildings created by Italian, Austrian, German, and Bulgarian architects. Ruse Carnival, March Music Days, Autumn Days of Arts and Science, etc., are only a few of the cultural events that take place in the city. There are many cultural institutions in Ruse, such as an agricultural research center, an opera house, a state symphony orchestra, a museum, and an art gallery.

Day 14 Giurgiu, Romania

Giurgiu is a city in southern Romania. It is situated amid mud-flats and marshes on the left bank of the Danube facing the Bulgarian city of Ruse on the opposite bank. Three small islands face the city, and a larger one shelters its port, Smarda. The Giurgiu-Ruse Friendship Bridge, in the shared Bulgarian-Romanian section of the Danube, crosses the river in the outskirts of the city.