AmaWaterways

Daily Itinerary

1. Day 1

   Budapest

   Hungary

   

   Budapest, divided by the Danube into the hilly Buda of thermal baths and medieval castle lanes on one bank and the grand Pest of coffee-house culture and Art Nouveau splendor on the other, delivers the most theatrical first impression of any European capital — whether approached by river as the neo-Gothic Parliament materializes from the water or by night from the Citadella's sweep of illuminated panorama below. The city's celebrated thermal bath culture, rooted in Ottoman-era hammams and perfected in palatial Secession-era pools like the Széchenyi, is an experience entirely unlike anything else in Europe. Visit spring and autumn for comfortable temperatures; Vienna is two and a half hours west by train.

2. Day 2

   Bratislava

   Slovakia

   

   Bratislava, the only national capital bordering two sovereign states, sits sixty kilometres downstream from Vienna on the Danube — close enough for a day trip to the Austrian capital, yet possessed of its own entirely distinct character: a pastel-hued medieval old town of hidden courtyards, playful bronze statues, and hilltop castle views, where wine bars pour outstanding Slovak Riesling at prices that make the Viennese feel extravagant. The city's dramatic reinvention since 1989 has produced a dynamic, youthful culture that fills the old quarter's restaurants and concert halls with genuine warmth. Pair with Vienna or Budapest for the classic Danube river trilogy; all three cities are within two hours of each other.

3. Day 3

   Vienna

   Austria

   

   The port of Vienna is a cultural gem along the Danube River, famous for its stunning architecture, rich history, and vibrant culinary scene. Must-do experiences include sampling authentic Wiener Schnitzel and visiting the picturesque village of Dürnstein. The best season to visit is spring or early fall, when the city's gardens bloom and outdoor activities abound.

4. Day 4

   Durnstein

   Austria

   

   Dürnstein is the jewel of the Wachau — that UNESCO-protected stretch of the Danube where medieval villages, baroque spires, and precipitous terraced vineyards create the most picturesque river landscape in Central Europe. The blue-and-white tower of the Augustinian monastery and the dramatic ruins of the castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in 1192 define a skyline of romantic perfection. The surrounding vineyards produce some of Austria's greatest Grüner Veltliners and Rieslings; tasting rooms open directly onto the river path. May through October offers the finest conditions, with harvest season in September an especially memorable time to visit.

5. Day 4

   Melk

   Austria

   

   Melk Abbey is among the most theatrical expressions of Baroque ambition in all of Europe — a gilded monastery perched on a granite outcrop above the Danube, its domed church and frescoed library presiding over the Wachau Valley with serene authority since Benedictine monks replaced the Babenberg fortress in 1089. Umberto Eco immortalised it as the inspiration for his labyrinthine monastery in "The Name of the Rose," and the library's 100,000 medieval manuscripts remain one of the continent's supreme collections. After the abbey, stroll down to the historic market town and sample the valley's celebrated Grüner Veltliner wines. The Wachau is at its most bewitching in April and October.

6. Day 5

   Linz

   Austria

   

   Austria's third city has accomplished one of Europe's most convincing urban transformations — reinventing itself from industrial centre to cultural powerhouse, a journey recognised in 2009 when it was named European Capital of Culture. The Ars Electronica Center, a museum of digital art and technology that glows with LED light across the Danube each evening, epitomises Linz's forward-looking identity. Yet the city's Roman roots, its baroque Hauptplatz (one of Austria's finest main squares), and its proximity to the Wachau Valley anchor it firmly in history. The Upper Austrian cuisine — particularly Linzer Torte, the world's oldest-documented cake recipe — is exceptional. Linz is most agreeable May through September.

7. Day 5

   Linz

   Austria

   

   Austria's third city has accomplished one of Europe's most convincing urban transformations — reinventing itself from industrial centre to cultural powerhouse, a journey recognised in 2009 when it was named European Capital of Culture. The Ars Electronica Center, a museum of digital art and technology that glows with LED light across the Danube each evening, epitomises Linz's forward-looking identity. Yet the city's Roman roots, its baroque Hauptplatz (one of Austria's finest main squares), and its proximity to the Wachau Valley anchor it firmly in history. The Upper Austrian cuisine — particularly Linzer Torte, the world's oldest-documented cake recipe — is exceptional. Linz is most agreeable May through September.

8. Day 6

   Regensburg

   Germany

   

   Regensburg, Bavaria's medieval masterpiece on the Danube, is one of Central Europe's most intact ancient cities — its Roman origins visible in the Porta Praetoria stone gate, its medieval prosperity celebrated in the soaring twin towers of St. Peter's Cathedral and the twelfth-century Stone Bridge. UNESCO World Heritage status acknowledges a skyline dotted with patrician towers, while the famous Historische Wurstküchl, Germany's oldest operating sausage kitchen, has been serving spit-grilled bratwurst since the 1140s. The surrounding hills produce excellent Bavarian whites. May through September offers the most convivial riverbank atmosphere.

9. Day 7

   Nuremberg

   Germany

   

   Nuremberg commands the imagination on two levels: as the glittering medieval city where Holy Roman Emperors held court, Albrecht Dürer was born, and craftsmen produced the first pocket watch — and as the site of the 20th century's darkest chapter, where Nazi rallies and subsequent war crimes trials left permanent marks on European history and conscience. The Kaiserburg castle crowning the hill above the perfectly preserved old town offers sweeping views of a cityscape that, despite wartime bombing, remains one of Germany's most beautiful. The Documentation Centre on the former Nazi Rally Grounds is essential, sobering history; the Christmas Market on the Hauptmarkt, held since 1628, is among Europe's finest. Visit May through October or December.

10. Day 8

    Nuremberg

    Germany

    

    Nuremberg commands the imagination on two levels: as the glittering medieval city where Holy Roman Emperors held court, Albrecht Dürer was born, and craftsmen produced the first pocket watch — and as the site of the 20th century's darkest chapter, where Nazi rallies and subsequent war crimes trials left permanent marks on European history and conscience. The Kaiserburg castle crowning the hill above the perfectly preserved old town offers sweeping views of a cityscape that, despite wartime bombing, remains one of Germany's most beautiful. The Documentation Centre on the former Nazi Rally Grounds is essential, sobering history; the Christmas Market on the Hauptmarkt, held since 1628, is among Europe's finest. Visit May through October or December.

11. Day 9

    Bamberg

    Germany

    

    Bamberg, the 'Franconian Rome,' is a UNESCO World Heritage city whose medieval old town — seven hills, four Romanesque-Gothic cathedral towers, and an Old Town Hall balanced impossibly on an island in the Regnitz River — survived World War II entirely intact, a miracle of preservation unique in Germany. The city is equally celebrated for its extraordinary smoked beer, Rauchbier, a speciality brewed in family-owned breweries for centuries and best tasted in the old quarter's atmospheric taverns beside a plate of smoked meats. Spring and early summer are ideal for the surrounding Franconian countryside in bloom. Nuremberg is forty minutes by rail.

12. Day 10

    Wurzburg

    Germany

    

    Würzburg, presiding over the Main River at the northern gateway of the Romantic Road, is Bavaria's most elegantly baroque city — its skyline commanded by the medieval Marienberg Fortress and its streets presided over by the magnificent Residenz, a UNESCO-listed princely palace whose frescoed Treppenhaus ceiling by Tiepolo is considered the largest fresco in the world. The surrounding Franconian wine country produces some of Germany's most distinctive Silvaner and Riesling, sold in the iconic bocksbeutel flask from cellars carved directly beneath the old city. Spring through autumn reveals the vine-clad hillsides in their most photogenic splendor; the historic Weinfest am Stein wine festival each September is a highlight of the Franconian calendar.

13. Day 11

    Wertheim

    Germany

    

    Perched at the confluence of the Main and Tauber rivers beneath the romantic ruins of a 12th-century count's castle, Wertheim is one of Franconia's most perfectly preserved medieval towns — a place where timber-framed houses lean over cobbled market squares and where the bone-dry Silvaner poured from the distinctive Bocksbeutel bottle defines the regional table. Day trips to baroque Würzburg, the medieval perfection of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and the half-timbered town of Miltenberg complete the picture. September's wine harvest brings the Tauber Valley to its most golden.

14. Day 11

    Miltenberg

    Germany

    

    Miltenberg is a captivating port town in Germany, renowned for its stunning half-timbered architecture and rich historical heritage. Must-do experiences include indulging in local specialties like Miltenberger Käse and Schäufele, and exploring the nearby towns of Wertheim and Bernkastel. The best season to visit is during the late spring and summer months when the town's vibrant markets and outdoor atmosphere come alive.

15. Day 12

    Rudesheim

    Germany

    

    Rüdesheim am Rhein, a jewel of the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley, is where Germany's most storied wine river cuts through vine-terraced slopes and medieval castle ruins. The pedestrianised Drosselgasse laneway — beloved since the Romantic era — hums with wine taverns pouring the region's celebrated Rieslings, crisp and mineral from the slate soils. The Niederwald Monument surveys the river from the heights, reached by cable car above the vineyards. Day trips by boat unlock Bacharach, Boppard, and the legendary Lorelei rock. September's harvest festivals transform the entire valley into a convivial celebration of the vintage.

16. Day 12

    Rüdesheim am Rhein

    Germany

    

    Rüdesheim am Rhein, a jewel of the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley, is where Germany's most famous wine river cuts through vine-terraced slopes and medieval fortresses. The storied Drosselgasse laneway hums with taverns pouring the region's celebrated Rieslings — wonderfully crisp and mineral from the slate soils — while the Niederwald Monument crowns the vineyards above, accessible by cable car. Rheingau estates offer cellar door tastings of exceptional depth and character. Day excursions by river boat reveal Bacharach, Boppard, and the legendary Lorelei rock. September's harvest season transforms the entire valley into a celebration of the vintage.

17. Day 12

    Lahnstein

    

18. Day 13

    Cologne

    Germany

    

    Cologne's twin-spired Gothic cathedral, six hundred years in the building and still the city's defining monument, is the inevitable starting point — but this ancient Rhine city rewards exploration well beyond its iconic silhouette. The Romano-Germanic Museum reveals the city's Roman foundations, while the Chocolate Museum on the riverbank offers a distinctly sweeter history lesson. Cologne's famed Kölsch beer culture thrives in the old town's traditional brew-houses, where one round follows another in centuries-old wooden halls. The city is welcoming year-round, though the legendary Christmas markets (November–December) attract visitors from across Europe.

19. Day 14

    Amsterdam

    Netherlands

    

    Amsterdam's UNESCO-listed canal ring — a concentric web of seventeenth-century merchant houses and arching stone bridges — remains one of the Western world's most perfectly preserved Golden Age cityscapes, best explored by bicycle or canal boat at a pace that lets the city's genius reveal itself slowly. The Rijksmuseum's collection of Rembrandt and Vermeer masterpieces is essential, while the Anne Frank House offers one of Europe's most profoundly moving historical encounters. Spring brings the iconic tulip season; summer fills the terraces of the Jordaan district. Schiphol Airport makes Amsterdam a seamless gateway to the entire European continent.

20. Day 15

    Amsterdam

    Netherlands

    

    Amsterdam's UNESCO-listed canal ring — a concentric web of seventeenth-century merchant houses and arching stone bridges — remains one of the Western world's most perfectly preserved Golden Age cityscapes, best explored by bicycle or canal boat at a pace that lets the city's genius reveal itself slowly. The Rijksmuseum's collection of Rembrandt and Vermeer masterpieces is essential, while the Anne Frank House offers one of Europe's most profoundly moving historical encounters. Spring brings the iconic tulip season; summer fills the terraces of the Jordaan district. Schiphol Airport makes Amsterdam a seamless gateway to the entire European continent.

Cabin Categories

French Balcony

Balcony

170 sq ftMax 2CA

In-room temperature control Deluxe hotel-style bedding with Egyptian linen, down pillows and duvet Spacious bathrooms with multi-jet showerheads Large wardrobe, full-length mirror, hair dryer, safe and direct-dial telephone Flat-screen TV that also works as a computer Entertainment on Demand system providing complimentary TV, movies and music library Complimentary internet and Wi-Fi Complimentary bottled water replenished daily Desk and chair

Media/Entertainment StationTelephoneAir ConditioningQueen or Twin ConfigurationShowerToiletries Provided+6

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French Balcony

Balcony

155 sq ftMax 2CB

In-room temperature control Deluxe hotel-style bedding with Egyptian linen, down pillows and duvet Spacious bathrooms with multi-jet showerheads Large wardrobe, full-length mirror, hair dryer, safe and direct-dial telephone Flat-screen TV that also works as a computer Entertainment on Demand system providing complimentary TV, movies and music library Complimentary internet and Wi-Fi Complimentary bottled water replenished daily Desk and chair

Media/Entertainment StationTelephoneAir ConditioningQueen or Twin ConfigurationShowerToiletries Provided+6

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Twin Balcony

Balcony

235 sq ftMax 2AB

In-room temperature control Deluxe hotel-style bedding with Egyptian linen, down pillows and duvet Spacious bathrooms with multi-jet showerheads Large wardrobe, full-length mirror, hair dryer, safe and direct-dial telephone Flat-screen TV that also works as a computer Entertainment on Demand system providing complimentary TV, movies and music library Complimentary internet and Wi-Fi Complimentary bottled water replenished daily Desk and chair

Free Wi-FiMedia/Entertainment StationAir ConditioningQueen or Twin ConfigurationShowerToiletries Provided+6

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Twin Balcony

Balcony

210 sq ftMax 2BB

In-room temperature control Deluxe hotel-style bedding with Egyptian linen, down pillows and duvet Spacious bathrooms with multi-jet showerheads Large wardrobe, full-length mirror, hair dryer, safe and direct-dial telephone Flat-screen TV that also works as a computer Entertainment on Demand system providing complimentary TV, movies and music library Complimentary internet and Wi-Fi Complimentary bottled water replenished daily Desk and chair

Media/Entertainment StationAir ConditioningQueen or Twin ConfigurationShowerToiletries ProvidedRoom Service Available+6

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Twin Balcony

Balcony

210 sq ftMax 2BA

In-room temperature control Deluxe hotel-style bedding with Egyptian linen, down pillows and duvet Spacious bathrooms with multi-jet showerheads Large wardrobe, full-length mirror, hair dryer, safe and direct-dial telephone Flat-screen TV that also works as a computer Entertainment on Demand system providing complimentary TV, movies and music library Complimentary internet and Wi-Fi Complimentary bottled water replenished daily Desk and chair

Queen or Twin ConfigurationShowerToiletries ProvidedRoom Service AvailableTVFree Wi-Fi+3

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Twin Balcony

Balcony

235 sq ftMax 2AA

In-room temperature control Deluxe hotel-style bedding with Egyptian linen, down pillows and duvet Spacious bathrooms with multi-jet showerheads Large wardrobe, full-length mirror, hair dryer, safe and direct-dial telephone Flat-screen TV that also works as a computer Entertainment on Demand system providing complimentary TV, movies and music library Complimentary internet and Wi-Fi Complimentary bottled water replenished daily Desk and chair

Media/Entertainment StationTelephoneAir ConditioningQueen or Twin ConfigurationShowerToiletries Provided+6

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Fixed Window

Outside

160 sq ftMax 2D

In-room temperature control Deluxe hotel-style bedding with Egyptian linen, down pillows and duvet Spacious bathrooms with multi-jet showerheads Large wardrobe, full-length mirror, hair dryer, safe and direct-dial telephone Flat-screen TV that also works as a computer Entertainment on Demand system providing complimentary TV, movies and music library Complimentary internet and Wi-Fi Complimentary bottled water replenished daily Desk and chair

Media/Entertainment StationTelephoneAir ConditioningQueen or Twin ConfigurationShowerToiletries Provided+6

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Fixed Window

Outside

160 sq ftMax 2E

In-room temperature control Deluxe hotel-style bedding with Egyptian linen, down pillows and duvet Spacious bathrooms with multi-jet showerheads Large wardrobe, full-length mirror, hair dryer, safe and direct-dial telephone Flat-screen TV that also works as a computer Entertainment on Demand system providing complimentary TV, movies and music library Complimentary internet and Wi-Fi Complimentary bottled water replenished daily Desk and chair

Media/Entertainment StationTelephoneAir ConditioningQueen or Twin ConfigurationShowerToiletries Provided+6

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Suite

Suite

350 sq ftMax 2SS

In-room temperature control Deluxe hotel-style bedding with Egyptian linen, down pillows and duvet Spacious bathrooms with multi-jet showerheads Large wardrobe, full-length mirror, hair dryer, safe and direct-dial telephone Flat-screen TV that also works as a computer Entertainment on Demand system providing complimentary TV, movies and music library Complimentary internet and Wi-Fi Complimentary bottled water replenished daily Desk and chair

Media/Entertainment StationTelephoneAir ConditioningQueen or Twin ConfigurationLounge AreaShower+9

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