Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverboat
15 Day River Cruise
Pass through five countries including the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary, and explore legendary cities such as Amsterdam, Vienna, Köln, Nürnberg, Bratislava and Budapest. Tauck’s all-included private shore excursions take you to many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the historic districts of Budapest, Vienna, and Bamberg, and the Wachau and Rhine valleys. In Vienna, take your choice of visits to Schönbrunn Palace or the Sisi Museum at the Hofburg, and attend a grand Imperial Evening in a traditional palace. In Amsterdam, tour the famed Rijksmuseum. Visit Köln Cathedral, Melk Abbey, medieval towns like Regensburg, Budapest’s Heroes’ Square and much more!
Countries: Austria, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Slovakia
River(s): Danube, Main, Rhine
Pricing
River cruise starting at $9,600* CAD per person, based on double occupancy
15 Days – Amsterdam to Budapest (reverse itinerary available)
Exclusive experiences
- A private Imperial Evening at a traditional palace in Vienna featuring a gala dinner and Viennese performers
- As a special Dutch treat, visit Floriade 2022 – “the World’s Fair of horticultural shows.”
Inclusions
- Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director
- All private Tauck shore excursions – CAD $2,597 Value!
- In Amsterdam, a guided tour of the famed Rijksmuseum, home to many masterpieces
- Day exploring Nürnberg, the walled medieval town whose history is forever intertwined with World War II
- Choice of sightseeing in Vienna – a visit to the Sisi Museum and the Imperial Apartments in the Hofburg or to Schönbrunn Palace
- Memorable visits to Melk Abbey, Kölner Dom, and Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett in Rüdesheim
- Guided sightseeing in the historic European capitals of Bratislava, Slovakia, and Budapest
- Unlimited complimentary beverages aboard ship include regional wine, beer and premium spirits in addition to specialty coffee, water and soft drinks
- Airport and train station transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
- All meals included – 41 in total; select meals in local restaurants
- Service charges, taxes, porterage, and applicable fuel surcharges
Day
Day 1
Location(s)
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Meals
Dinner
Description
A transfer is included from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport or Central Station directly to your riverboat. Enjoy a welcome briefing and a leisurely dinner as you settle into your floating hotel for a memorable two-week-cruise on the Main, Rhine and Danube Rivers.
Day 2
Floriade
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
As a special Dutch treat included on this river cruise, visit Floriade 2022, “the World’s Fair of horticultural shows.” Explore an international horticultural wonderland that celebrates Green Cities of the Future on 148 acres of land repurposed and reclaimed from the sea for a future rich in sustainability, greenery, food, energy and healthy living. Featuring four themed districts connected by bridges, walkways, gondolas and trains, this once in a decade exposition showcases green-themed, flower-filled exhibitions from more than 40 countries, along with cultural entertainment, art and cuisine that make it fun for everyone. Truly an energizing experience!
Return to the ship in the afternoon; following dinner, chart a course to Germany.
Day 3
Köln, Germany
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After a morning of cruising and lunch aboard the riverboat, your explorations continue in Köln (Cologne), the oldest city in Germany. A guided walking tour of city sights includes a visit to twin-spired Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), boasting one of the world’s largest church façades; it is one of Europe’s most beloved Gothic cathedrals. You’ll have some free time to wander through Cathedral Square and the Hohe Strasse pedestrian area in the afternoon.
Join us tonight for a reception and a chef’s signature dinner followed by an onboard performance by local musicians.
Day 4
Rüdesheim
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The perfect Rhine cruise… glide along the river until early afternoon, and relax as your Tauck Director shares a tale or two during the cruise through the scenic – and literally legendary – Lorelei Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Arrive in Rüdesheim, where an entertaining lunch in a local German restaurant with an old-world ambiance precedes a visit to Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett, an eclectic collection of mechanical musical instruments housed in a 15th-century castle in Rüdesheim, followed by free time; walk back to the ship or ride the mini train.
Back aboard the riverboat this evening, enjoy dinner while cruising the Rhine.
Day 5
Full day cruise on the Main
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy the views as your Rhine cruise continues into the Main River, for a full day of cruising through scenic valleys studded with castles, cathedrals, and fortified towns. Enjoy a Bavarian-themed dinner aboard the riverboat tonight.
Day 6
Rothenburg or Würzburg & wine tasting
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Spend the morning cruising and have lunch aboard the riverboat before arriving in Würzburg. Upon arrival, visit the town’s 18th-century Residenz – a lavish Baroque palace where the town’s prince bishops once lived, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and sample some excellent Franconian wines in the wine cellar (Hoffskeller).
Then you’ll have two choices of sightseeing. On one, explore Würzburg’s Old Town with a local guide; tour more of the Residenz (it was built and decorated by an international team of architects, painters, and sculptors); see the ornate Alte Mainbrücke (a bridge over the River Main); and spend some time on your own. Alternatively, depart on an excursion to the nearby town of Rothenburg; nestled on Germany’s “Romantic Road,” it lives up to its reputation as Europe’s “most perfect fairy-tale town.” View its Gothic cathedral, towered walls and gabled houses on a walking tour, and enjoy some time at leisure.
Both groups will return to the riverboat for dinner aboard ship.
Day 7
Along the Main to Bamberg
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Your riverboat cruises along the Main to the Bavarian town of Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated atop seven hills. You have a choice between discovering the town’s lovely gardens, medieval architecture and 13th-century Gothic cathedral with its four imposing towers on a guided walking tour of Old Town (with time afterwards to explore this charming town on your own); or embarking on a bicycling excursion (due to the terrain, this activity is recommended for fit and experienced cyclists only).
Enjoy dinner back aboard the riverboat this evening.
Day 8
Nürnberg & the Main-Danube Canal
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Arrive this morning in historic Nürnberg for a walking tour through Nürnberg’s medieval ramparts to the Imperial Castle and the old city; view the Courthouse and other sites associated with World War II and its aftermath. Your riverboat negotiates the Main-Danube Canal today, which ultimately links the North Sea with the Black Sea – and which you’ll learn all about from a local expert during your transit. The idea goes back as far as Charlemagne, but wasn’t realized until this canal was completed in the 1990s; pass through 16 locks as the waterway traverses the mountains.
Have dinner aboard the riverboat this evening.
Day 9
Ancient Regensburg & on to Passau
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
With its roots as a Roman encampment on the Danube, the quintessential Bavarian town of Regensburg is home to more than 1,400 original historic buildings. Walking here is a delight and is the only way to view the sights up-close. A local guide will lead the way as you see the town’s 12th-century Steinerne Brücke (Germany’s oldest surviving stone bridge), the 15th-century Altes Rathaus (Town Hall), the towering Dom St. Peter, and the remains of the Roman wall. Visit the princely house of Thurn und Taxis on a guided tour, followed by free time.
Enjoy an onboard musical performance by a local quartet before your ship sets off for Passau.
Day 10
Baroque Passau & cruising the Danube
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The riverboat docks in the port city of Passau, dating way back to Roman times. Today, you have the choice of a walking tour revealing the Baroque treasures of this lovely riverside town, known for its stained glass and its many churches – including St. Stephan’s Cathedral, home to the largest pipe organ outside of the U.S., and the biggest cathedral organ in the world (inside cathedral visit may not be available on all departures); a cycling excursion around Passau, suitable for more experienced riders; or a full-day excursion to the lovely Austrian city of Salzburg, birthplace of W.A. Mozart (and setting of The Sound of Music). Back aboard the riverboat this afternoon and evening, listen to commentary from your Tauck Director as you continue your cruise, bound for Melk, Austria.
Tonight, enjoy a musical performance by a classical trio.
Day 11
Melk Abbey & a Grand Evening in Vienna
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Your next destination is the town of Melk, Austria, where you’ll step back in time on a guided tour of its 900-year-old Benedictine Abbey, perched on a rocky outcrop above the river. Inside this Baroque masterpiece are fine frescoes, early manuscripts, and a high altar. Back aboard the riverboat, enjoy views of castles, vineyards, small towns, monasteries and medieval ruins while cruising through the Wachau Valley toward the magnificent Austrian capital city of Vienna.
Tonight, a Tauck Exclusive – a private, gala evening in the beautiful Baroque Palais Pallavicini in the heart of the city, featuring a sumptuous dinner and live entertainment – just might sweep you off your feet!
Day 12
An “Imperial” day in Vienna
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Get an overview of Vienna, Austria’s capital and one of Europe’s greatest cities, with a morning sightseeing tour of this historic former capital of the Habsburg Empire. Take your choice of a tour of Schönbrunn Palace, the Habsburgs’ vast “summer residence” built to rival Versailles, or a guided visit to the Sisi Museum and the amazing Imperial Apartments inside the Hofburg, the Habsburg family’s former royal palace that today is the official residence of Austria’s president.
Explore the city as you wish this afternoon, or return to the riverboat; dinner is aboard ship tonight.
Day 13
A bit of Baroque in Bratislava
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart Vienna after breakfast, and spend the morning cruising to Slovakia. Arrive early afternoon in Bratislava, capital of Slovakia, where 17 centuries of history are chronicled on a walking tour led by a local guide. Highlights include Baroque palaces from the Habsburg era, St. Martin’s Cathedral and more, and a visit to Old Town Hall.
This evening, enjoy dinner aboard the riverboat followed by onboard Slovakian entertainment by local performers in the lounge; set off for Budapest tonight.
Day 14
Both sides of remarkable Budapest
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tauck’s memorable Amsterdam to Budapest river cruise arrives at your final destination – Budapest, Hungary’s remarkable capital. Standing on opposite banks of the Danube, Budapest’s two distinct sections – Buda and Pest – were once independent cities. Discover both on a day of sightseeing that includes views of patriotic Heroes’ Square in Pest, dominated by statues of great leaders from Hungarian history; the Gothic-Revival Parliament building, an iconic feature of the Budapest skyline along the Danube; and Fisherman’s Bastion, standing watch like a sentinel over the river. Spend the afternoon exploring on your own.
Join us for our farewell reception and dinner tonight onboard ship.
Day 15
Budapest
Breakfast
Tour ends: Budapest. Disembark in Budapest; a transfer is included from the riverboat to Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport and Budapest Keleti Railway Station. Allow 3 hours for departure flight check-in.
Reverse Itinerary
This trip also runs in reverse from Budapest to Amsterdam.
Interested in the itinerary above? Click on the “START PLANNING” button below and reference “Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverboat” in the form, or give us a call at 587.997.5969 to book.
An adventure designed specifically for you
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*Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to change and availability.