Avalon Waterways, Enchanted Europe (Eastbound) from Basel, September 4, 2023

Cruising from: Basel, Switzerland;

Departure Date: 4 September, 2023;

Cruise Line: Avalon Waterways;

Cruise Ship: Artistry II;

Duration: 16 days;

Ports of Call: Basel, Breisach, Strasbourg, Rhine Gorge, Frankfurt, Main River, Wurzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Roth, Regensburg, Linz, Wachau Valley, Vienna, Budapest, Budapest;

Day 0 Basel, Switzerland

Basel, nestled on the Rhine river, is Switzerland's third-largest town and, partly because of its proximity to France and Germany, has a strong sense of its own identity. Historic landmarks of the city include the large market square with its richly decorated red sandstone town hall and the late Romanesque-Gothic cathedral. The city of culture, for connoisseurs, has the highest concentration of museums in the country. Basel also has a beautiful Old Town, modern architecture, and famous traditional Basel honey cake.

Day 1 Breisach, Germany

Breisach upon Rhine, a town with a long-standing history is where the Black Forest spills into Alsace. Cobbled streets lined with pastel-painted houses are the main characteristic of the town. The museum for municipal history has an impressive collection dating from the Stone Age to the present. The Romanesque St. Stephansmunster,the cathedral in Breisach, has a late Gothic altar by an unknown craftsman and paintings by Martin Schongauer, who is also the eponym of the Gymnasium in the city.

Day 2 Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg is the capital and largest city of the Grand Est region of France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Strasbourg is the second most popular tourist city in France, after Paris. There are three main attractions: the cathedral, historic quarter of Petite France, with its half-timbered medieval houses and its quays overlooking branches of the river Ill and the Strasbourg Christmas market, the oldest and biggest historic Christmas market in Europe. The old town is a maze of narrow streets and alleys and the reflections of half-timbered houses with sloping roofs, reminiscent of those seen in fairytales

Day 3 Rhine Gorge, Germany

Rhine Gorge, Germany. Cruising Rhine. Germany river cruise.

Day 4 Frankfurt, Germany

Frankfurt is a metropolis and the fifth-largest city of Germany. Frankfurt has also long been an important center for cultural and tourism activities. Its huge trade fair complex, Messe Frankfurt, hosts important events such as the Frankfurt Book Fair (the world's most important publishing event). Frankfurt is an unexpectedly traditional and charming city, with half-timbered buildings in medieval Altstadt (old town), cosy apple-wine taverns serving hearty regional food, neighbourhoods filled with outdoor cafes, boutiques and street art, and beautiful parks, gardens and riverside paths.

Day 5 Main River, Germany

The Main river cruises provide travellers with the opportunity to cruise along the serene waters of the Main, through the heart of Germany. The Main river is considered the most significant right tributary of the Rhine and bridges western and eastern Europe together by connecting to the Danube via the Main-Danube canal. Cruising the Main is a nice way to take in the beauty of Germany's rolling countryside, forests, and vineyards, and charming architecture.

Day 6 Wurzburg, Germany

Wurzburg, a city in the region of Franconia, is located on the Main River. The city itself is set in a beautiful hilly location on a river and possesses a wealth of history. One of the city's most important sites is the Fortress Marienberg, a castle on a hill across the Old Main Bridge, that overlooks the whole town area as well as the surrounding countryside. Another significant point-of-interest is the Wurzburg Residenz, a vast compound on the eastern edge of the town. Wurzburg is also smack in the middle of one of Germany's biggest wine-producing areas and has superb connections to other parts of the country.

Day 7 Bamberg, Germany

Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a German medieval town in Upper Franconia, Bavaria. The town consistently charms tourists with its beautiful architecture, abundant culture, beauty spots and lively gardens. Some of the main sights are: Cathedral, Altenburg, and The Neue Residenz and its Rosengarten with over 4500 roses. Bamberg is known for its smoked Rauchbier and is home to nine breweries.

Day 8 Nuremberg, Germany

Nuremberg is the second-largest city in Bavaria and the unofficial capital of Franconia. Beautiful German, medieval Old Town is home to a 1000 year-old castle. The Imperial Castle in Nuremberg was one of the most important fortified imperial palaces of the old Holy Roman Empire., Nuremberg is also famous for its bratwurst and Franconian beer.

Day 9 Roth, Germany

Roth is located about 25 km south of Nuremberg, Germany. The main tourist attraction is the Schloss Ratibor, a castle built as a hunting lodge, a remarkable sight for its various styles of decor, ranging from German Renaissance to Louis XVI. The Marktplatz (Market Square) is a charming area full of shops and restaurants, surrounded by cheerfully-painted buildings and a cobblestone walk.

Day 10 Regensburg, Germany

Regensburg is a city in south-east Germany, at the confluence of Danube, Naab and Regen rivers. Long an important trade and cultural center, Regensburg's medieval Old Town, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is made up of lovely churches and fine old aristocratic houses from the 13th and 14th centuries.Located near the Stone Bridge in Old Town lies the Domplatz, the Cathedral Square, for centuries the hub of the city.

Day 11 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 12 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 13 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 14 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 15 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.