Bavaria to Budapest on the Danube with Tauck

Fly from the UK to Munich to begin your river cruise with Tauck. On arrival, you will be privately transferred from Munich International Airport to your luxury riverboat. Settle in onboard and meet your fellow passengers this evening at a welcome cocktail reception followed by dinner as your vessel sets off along the Danube.

Stay: MS Joy or MS Savor

Spend today exploring Passau, Germany, or Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. Passau, a quintessentially Bavarian riverside town, is over 2,500 years old. Its pastel houses, cobblestone lanes, and riverfront promenades are perfect for a walking tour to admire the town’s blended architectural influences. Afterwards, join your Tauck Director for a walk to a hilltop fortress, attend a public concert at St Stephen’s Cathedral, or cycle 12 miles along the Danube.

Alternatively, travel to Cesky Krumlov to explore a well-preserved medieval town. Visit Krumlov Castle, one of Central Europe’s largest. Along with viewing some of the 40 buildings featuring Renaissance and Rococo designs, you can also stroll the courtyards and gardens. Return to your riverboat this evening for the chef’s signature dinner.

Stay: MS Joy or MS Savor

Today brings you to the picturesque Austrian village of Grein. Enjoy a day of sightseeing or visit the Mauthausen Memorial. A guided walking tour includes stops at Austria’s oldest theatre, the historic town square, and St Giles Church. You can also visit Schloss Greinburg, a privately owned castle of the Ducal House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, to learn about one of Europe’s most storied ruling families.

Alternatively, make the poignant trip to the museum and memorial at Mauthausen-Gusen, the last major concentration camp to be liberated by the Allied forces in World War II. Tour the complex to learn the history of this site and to pay your respects at the memorial. Back onboard, enjoy dinner and local entertainment.

Stay: MS Joy or MS Savor

Sail into Austria’s Wachau Valley this morning as you arrive in Dürnstein. You may choose to explore this postcard village on a guided walking tour and enjoy some time to continue your explorations at your leisure. Why not use the extra time to climb the ruins of Kuenringerburg Castle high above the town?

Alternatively, a cycling excursion is available for experienced cyclists only. Set off through the Wachau Valley, making a loop back to Dürnstein and taking in the incredible sights along the way. Re-join the boat around lunchtime as you set sail at a leisurely place toward Vienna.

Stay: MS Joy or MS Savor

An introductory tour of the Austrian capital of Vienna shows you some of the landmark sights. Afterwards, tour the Imperial Treasury in the Hofburg to see the Austrian Crown Jewels and the Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire, or visit the Belvedere, an opulent 18th-century palace housing masterpieces ranging from medieval to modern.

Enjoy lunch on the boat or in town, and then spend the afternoon wandering Vienna on your own. Then, this evening, your Tauck Exclusive takes you to Palais Pallavicini for an unforgettable gala evening of dining and musical performances in Viennese style. The ornate décor and magnificent state rooms of the palace transport you to another time—1784, to be exact, which was when it was built.

Stay: MS Joy or MS Savor

Choose from a variety of activities in and around Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia. Set off on a walking tour of the pedestrianised cobblestone centre of the city, noting as you go the way that medieval, Baroque, and modern architecture seamlessly blend. Visit sites such as the Old Town Hall, the Opera House, Baroque palaces, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, and more.

Alternatively, take an excursion to the vineyard-filled countryside for a wine tasting and visit to Pezinok Castle, one of the best-preserved in Slovakia. During your visit, take in historical furnishings and artwork as well as an impressive falconry demonstration. Back onboard, have lunch and settle in for a leisurely afternoon. Dinner is onboard as your ship sails to Budapest.

Stay: MS Joy or MS Savor

Arrive at your final stop this morning in Budapest, Hungary. Split as it is into two sections (Buda and Pest) by the Danube River, your guided tour begins with the Pest side to see Heroes’ Square, Parliament, and more. Next, discover the Buda side on a drive up Castle Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take in the Neo-Romanesque design of Fishermen’s Bastion and the stained-glass windows of Matthias Church.

After lunch, explore whichever aspects of this historic, artistic city most interest you, with your Tauck Director happy to offer suggestions. This evening, join your fellow travellers and Tauck Director for a toast to your journey followed by a farewell dinner.

Bid farewell to your riverboat today as you disembark and take your private transfer to the Budapest airport for your onward flight home to the UK.