Compare Explore Central Europe by G Adventures vs The Blue Danube Discovery with 2 Nights in Prague by Avalon Waterways
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 9 days | 10 days |
| Price From | $ 2,549 | $ 4,188 |
| Price Per Day | $ 283 | $ 419 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | River cruise |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | No |
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| Meals Included | 8 breakfasts | N/A |
| Description |
Delve into the cultural wonders of Central Europe on a survey of its most celebrated landmarks, from Germany’s iconic Brandenburg Gate to Czechia’s centuries-old Charles Bridge. Step into the past in Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, and the Bohemian countryside, exploring ancient castles and historic districts alongside local historians. Taste culinary specialties, discover contemporary art, and experience the ever-evolving vibrancy of these storied places. |
This timeless European river cruise vacation begins in Budapest, Hungary, then sails along the Danube River with exciting stops in Austria and Germany. Your Danube River cruise is followed by two nights in the golden city of Prague! Enjoy an amazing view of the landscapes of Bratislava while embarking from Budapest, and cruise to Vienna, Austria, offering stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Habsburg Palace, and the Vienna Opera House. In the heart of the Wachau wine region is Dürnstein, a 16th-century town with charming cobblestone streets and the baroque Stiftskirche with its luminous blue façade. In Melk, visit the majestic Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe’s largest monasteries, and enjoy a tasting of some of the Wachau Valley’s famous Austrian wines. You’ll love a guided walk through Passau, with its narrow streets and beautiful Patrician houses. Further up the Danube River, you’ll come to the medieval walls of Regensburg—the only German city not bombed during WWII. Your last stop is the 1000-year-old city of Nuremberg, where you’ll marvel at the medieval fortifications, extraordinary Gothic churches, and the Imperial Castle. Disembark your Avalon Suite Ship® and travel to beautiful Prague. See the sights with a Local Guide and enjoy exploring on your own. Stroll across Charles Bridge, mix with the locals on Wenceslaus Square, and shop for hand-cut crystal and art books. A perfect ending to a memorable European river cruise vacation! |
Day 1 Berlin
Arrive at any time.
Please make your own way to the joining hotel. We recommend arriving a day or two early to fully explore this world-renowned city.
Check-in time at hotel is approximately 3:00pm.
Day 2 Berlin
Set out on an orientation walk with your CEO to get your bearings. Then discover sections of the Berlin Wall with a local historian, delving deeper into the political and social history of the so-called Iron Curtain from its rise to its fall. During free time this afternoon, opt to join a river tour, people-watch at the historic Brandenburg Gate, or glimpse the city’s flourishing art scene at local galleries and museums.
Berlin is an amazing city with tangible historical importance and is a melting pot of different cultures and flavours.
Day 3 Berlin/Prague
Travel by private vehicle to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic and one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities. Enjoy a guided tour of the historic centre, which dates largely to the 14th century and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. As you walk along the cobbled streets, chart the city’s development through the centuries according to architectural style, from the Middle Ages to present day. This evening, opt to watch the sunset from a lively beer garden on the banks of the Vltava River.
A great way to spend the evening is watching the sunset from the heights of the Letna Beer Garden, where you can sample Czech beer, world-famous for its superb quality and low cost.
Day 4 Prague
Enjoy a free day to explore the “city of a hundred spires.” Wind your way past baroque domes and Gothic spires, sprawling plazas and spectacular cathedrals. Cross the iconic Charles Bridge, amble through the historic Jewish Quarter, marvel at the medieval astronomical clock, and delve into modern history at Wenceslas Square, where citizens rallied for an end to communism during the Velvet Revolution. Opt to climb more than 200 steps up to the palaces and courtyards of the monumental Prague Castle, the world’s largest ancient castle complex. Check out a local restaurant and try traditional Czech cuisine, such as goulash and dumplings.
Charles Bridge by day is packed with vendors and street musicians. At night, it is less crowded, and it's much easier to appreciate the scenery as well as the ever-so-slightly sinister quality of the statues looming overhead. Cross the bridge and you'll find yourself in Mala Strana, a far less crowded district that offers the perfect atmosphere for some introspective wandering. If you're in the area and want to experience traditional Czech pubs which are guaranteed to be loud, lively, and packed with locals on any night of the week, this is the place for it. You'll find restaurants serving traditional Czech cuisine like fried pork cutlets, goulash, and dumplings.
Day 5 Prague/Český Krumlov
Take a scenic drive through the Bohemian countryside to the fairytale town of Český Krumlov, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Opt to visit the Český Krumlov State Castle and Chateau, and get lost in the Gothic castle’s hidden passageways, Baroque theatre, and hedge maze as you explore these epic grounds built between the 14th and 19th centuries.
The inclusion of Ceský Krumlov on UNESCO's List of Natural and Cultural Heritage was undoubtedly a turning point in the modern history of the town. It sent a clear signal to the rest of the cultural world that South Bohemia has something unique to offer.
Day 6 Český Krumlov/Vienna
Cross the border into Austria, and go on orientation walk around Vienna. Stop by a local café to pair a cup of rich Viennese coffee with a slice of the famed Sacher torte—a decadent chocolate and nougat confection historically linked to the city’s distinguished coffee houses. Enjoy free time this evening to see Vienna’s world-renowned opera house or simply enjoy a walk around the elegant capital.
Day 7 Vienna
This morning, join a local chef at the famed Naschmarkt, established in the 16th century as a marketplace for wooden milk bottles, sampling some of Vienna's finest delicacies as you explore the stalls and lanes. Enjoy time this afternoon to discover the city on your own. Take in some of Europe's most distinguished art galleries, visit the stunning Lipizzaner horses of the renowned Spanish Riding School, experience mass with the Vienna Boys Choir, or settle into a café.
Day 8 Vienna/Budapest
Catch a train to the Hungarian capital, Budapest. Head out for an orientation walk, then pay a visit to a G Adventures–supported café where proceeds support Hungarians living with a disability as well as rural Roma communities. During free time, opt to “take the waters” at a thermal bathhouse or explore the stunning Baroque castle, the historic resident of the Hungarian kings.
You might like to have an optional dinner at a local restaurant on Váci Utca, which is the bustling main street of Budapest. To gain deeper insight on local history, opt to pre-book the "Budapest History Walking Tour" on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
Day 9 Budapest
Depart at any time.
We recommend staying a few extra days to experience all this city has to offer.
Day 1: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (EMBARKATION)
Welcome to Hungary. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.
Flights into Budapest must arrive by 2 pm.
Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
The day is yours to relax and enjoy the city with time for photographs, cafés, and confections.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIENNA(Dinner)
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Day 2: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Vienna Waltzes on the Beautiful Blue Danube
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.
Enjoy sailing the Danube, which shares dozens of miles with Hungary and Slovakia. Relax on the Sky Deck to see the rolling landscape and red-rooftops of the Slovakian capital of Bratislava come into view.
This evening in Vienna, you may choose to join an Optional Excursion to attend a Royal Waltz Concert for an unforgettable evening of music in an elegant hall.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN VIENNA
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 3: VIENNA
Royal Collections and Amusing Attractions
ACTIVE Explore Vienna's Danube Island by bike with your Adventure Host, OR;
CLASSIC After a short walk of Vienna, join a Guided Visit of Austria’s largest museum, the legendary Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts), OR: CLASSIC Explore the Habsburg empire this morning on a Guided City Tour of Vienna’s gilded landmarks. See the Imperial Palace complex—the winter residence of the Imperial Family, the iconic Vienna Opera House and stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Join a Guided Optional Excursion to Schönbrunn Palace—summer home of the Habsburg Empire.
Enjoy free time this afternoon to take a tram to visit Vienna’s Prater amusement park or one of the many museums nearby. You may also borrow a bike from the ship to explore Vienna’s square or the banks of the Danube.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO DÜRNSTEIN
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 4: DÜRNSTEIN
A King’s Ransom and Castle Ruins CLASSIC Join a Guided Walk, and hear the legendary tale of King Richard the Lionheart—who was imprisoned in the castle above the village during the Crusades.
Enjoy coffee or a cocktail on the Sky Deck as you sail through the picturesque Wachau Valley to Melk.
ACTIVE Alternatively, experience Danube’s cycle path, follow your Adventure Host for a bike ride along the Danube.
MELK Frescoes Above and Vineyards BelowCLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey to marvel at its frescoed ceilings, statues, incredible library, and ornate pipe organ.
DISCOVERY Enjoy the flavors of the Wachau Valley with a Wine Tasting on board.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO PASSAU
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 5: PASSAU, GERMANY
Where the Danube, Inn, and Ilz Rivers Meet
CLASSIC Join a Guided City Walk to learn more about this beautiful “City of Three Rivers.”
Alternatively, join a full-day Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg—the city of Mozart—or to the picturesque Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov.
Meet your ship back in Passau after your full-day selected activity for sailing.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO REGENSBURG
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 6: REGENSBURG
Bavaria’s Medieval Miracle
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
ACTIVE Explore Walhalla by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC Join a Guided City Walk and see Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and Porta Pretoria—built in 179 AD as the entrance to Castra Regina fortress.
You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the Benedictine Monastery in Weltenburg.
Alternatively spend a free afternoon exploring Regensburg on foot or by bike through its charming streets.
This evening, enjoy live entertainment after dinner.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROTH
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 7: ROTH. EXCURSION TO NUREMBERG
Legends and History Lessons
DISCOVERY Enjoy an Onboard Lecture about the Main-Danube Canal—linking these two rivers to make a vital connection enabling navigation between the North and Black Seas.
ACTIVE Explore Roth's Lauter valley with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Sightseeing Tour of the Bavarian town of Roth—with its half-timbered houses, market square, and 1535 hunting lodge Schloss Ratibor, OR:
CLASSIC Choose a Guided Sightseeing of Nuremberg—with its medieval architecture, gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds—used by the Third Reich.
EVENING CRUISE TO NUREMBERG
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 8: NUREMBERG (DISEMBARKATION)–PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
Welcome to Prague! Explore the City of 100 Spires
Enjoy free time to explore the Golden City of Prague and its surrounding countryside. Consider sampling delicious plum dumplings and traditional Pilsner lager beside the Vltava River.
(Breakfast)
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Day 9: PRAGUE
Gothic Cathedrals, Grand Castles, and Great Cuisine CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk, and visit the Hradčany Castle Grounds; see St. Vitus Cathedral, and Old Town’s Astronomical Clock.
Spend free time hiking the nearby hillsides, or stay in town to stroll the city of Prague to photograph its stunning cityscape.
You might catch the entertaining street performers, visit the market stalls at Charles Bridge, and sample Prague’s famous beer varieties in a local restaurant.
(Breakfast)
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Day 10: PRAGUE
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
(Breakfast)
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