Viking River Cruises, Grand European Tour Budapest to Amsterdam, December 2, 2023

Cruising from: Budapest, Hungary;

Departure Date: 2 December, 2023;

Cruise Line: Viking River Cruises;

Cruise Ship: Viking Longship Skadi;

Duration: 15 days;

Ports of Call: Budapest, Budapest, Vienna, Vienna, Melk, Passau, Regensburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Wurzburg, Wertheim, Koblenz, Cologne, Kinderdijk, Amsterdam;

Day 0 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 1 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 2 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 3 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 4 Melk, Austria

Melk, located on the banks of the River Danube, is a picturesque city with a rich history in lower Austria's Wachau valley. Melk is best known for its massive Benedictine Abbey, one of the most splendid monastic houses in Austria. The countryside surrounding Melk also has several attractions for tourists. The Donauradweg cycling path is one of the loveliest bicycle routes in all Europe, connecting riverside towns and scenic natural areas. Several castles are within a few kilometers, including the 900-year-old Renaissance Schloss Schallaburg, Schloss Schonbuhel, and Aggstein Castle, in romantic ruins.

Day 5 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 6 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 7 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 8 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 9 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 10 Wertheim, Germany

Wertheim is a town in southwestern Germany. It is located on the confluence of the rivers Tauber and Main. Wertheim is best known for its landmark castle and medieval town centre. High above the town, with an astonishing view over the valleys of Main and Tauber, there is Wertheim Castle which is the landmark of the town. The St. Kilian's Chapel from the late gothic epoque is considered to be one of the finest gothic chapels in Germany. Wertheim Glass Museum is the only glass museum in Baden-Wuerttemberg. It shows glass manufacture from ancient time up to the industrial glass production.

Day 11 Koblenz, Germany

Koblenz is a German city situated on both banks of the Rhine where it is joined by the Moselle. The main sights are the old castle of Ehrenbreitstein, which dominates the right bank of the wide Rhine, and Fort Konstantin, strategically located in the heart of the old city, with views over both rivers. One of the newer tourist attractions in the city, the Koblenz Cable Car takes visitors on a thrilling aerial journey to Ehrenbreitstein castle

Day 12 Cologne, Germany

Cologne is fourth largest city in Germany and largest city of the Land of North Rhine-Westphalia. One of the key inland ports of Europe, it is the historic, cultural, and economic capital of the Rhineland. Cologne is famous for its 12 great Romanesque churches - especially the magnificent Cologne Cathedral - all an easy walk from the historic Old Town. Its university is one of the oldest and largest in Europe. Among its attractions are Roman remains, medieval churches, Baroque palaces, and museums that reflect such diverse subjects and the various products for which it is known: fragrances, mustard, and chocolate.

Day 13 Kinderdijk, Netherlands

Kinderdijk is a village in the municipality of Molenlanden, in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. It is located about 15 km east of Rotterdam. Kinderdijk is a beautiful landscape of empty marshes and waterways above which 19 historic windmills rise like sentinels. The mills are kept in operating condition and some still function as residences. They have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997.

Day 14 Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam is the capital and most populous city of the Netherlands. Amsterdam has a rich history and famous Amsterdam residents include the diarist Anne Frank, artists Rembrandt and Van Gogh, and philosopher Baruch Spinoza. Beside many parks, open spaces, and squares throughout the city, Amsterdam is famous for De Wallen, the red-light district. It is an unusual city to explore.