Jewels of Europe: 15 days Budapest to Amsterdam

Your journey begins in the vibrant city of Budapest, the capital of Hungary and one of Europe’s oldest and prettiest cities.   

This afternoon, board your all-inclusive ultra-luxury Scenic Space-Ship and settle into your suite. Balcony suites have windows that convert into a Scenic Sun Lounge, allowing you fresh air and uninterrupted views of ever-changing landscapes and life along the riverbanks. Relax and raise a glass to the days ahead at this evening’s welcome reception.

Divided by the Danube, with Buda on one side and Pest on the other, this city became united in 1873 when a newly built bridge connected the two. It’s an architectural treasure trove comprising styles from Gothic to Art Nouveau and everything in between. Budapest is also well known for its hot springs and thermal baths, which you can visit at your leisure during an afternoon of free time.  

Scenic Freechoice:
Choose from a range of included Scenic Freechoice activities on offer this morning:

Budapest in depth: Explore this magical city by coach. Starting in Buda, see the Várkert Bazár before crossing the Margaret Bridge to Pest, the other side of the river to see Széchenyi square and Elizabeth square. End your tour with a mesmerising piano recital at the Institute for the Blind.

Budapest’s past and present: This walking and coach tour will give insight on Budapest’s communist past and life today as part of the European Union, including the 1956 Hungarian revolution and the significant Jewish events that have shaped modern culture.

Hospital in the Rock: Go underground to explore the labyrinths of the Hospital in the Rock, set underneath the city's Castle district. The complex was built as a secret hospital during WWII and was later converted to a nuclear bunker.

Guided hike of Buda: Put on your walking shoes for a beautiful hike through the Buda district of the city. On your walk, see Varket Bazar and beautifully landscaped gardens, all while enjoying great views over the Danube River and the city architecture.

Hungarian culinary market tour: This foodie tour in Budapest promises an unforgettable journey through the city’s culinary delights.  Visit the bustling Grand Central Market and other locations for tasting the local delicacies, and hear fascinating stories about the city’s traditions.

This afternoon is at leisure.

Relax on board this morning as you cruise towards Vienna. You may like to ask your butler to bring coffee to your suite so you can savour it as the beautiful scenery rolls by your window. 

Arrive in the Austrian capital of Vienna this afternoon. A centre of art, music and culture, the city fostered the musical geniuses Mozart and Beethoven, and oozes charm with magnificent Baroque buildings, ample green spaces, a vibrant coffee-house scene, and masterpiece-filled galleries and museums.  

Scenic Enrich
Classical concert at Palais Liechtenstein: Breathe in the opulence and luxury of Palais Liechtenstein this evening as you relish an exclusive private classical concert. Enjoy a glass of fine Austrian Sekt and listen to the timeless music of Strauss and Mozart performed by a renowned orchestra. Accompanied by ballet dancers and vocalists, and surrounded by world-famous art, this will be a concert that you’ll remember for a lifetime. 

Wake this morning with Vienna on your doorstep. A city full of grandeur, Austria’s imperial capital is famous for having the world’s most beautiful boulevard, The Ringstrasse, and for the legacy of the Habsburg monarchy. Slow down and spend a full day exploring Vienna or venture further afield with Scenic Freechoice. 

Scenic Freechoice:
Choose from today’s Scenic Freechoice activities:

Schonbrunn Palace: Explore Schönbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Habsburg family. Wander its ornately designed rooms, hear tales about the royal family that lives here and see the impressive gardens.

Cycle to Danube Island: Explore a different side of Vienna on a guided e-bike tour to Danube Island, a recreational playground where locals come for bathing, boating, cycling and relaxing on its beaches and open spaces.

Excursion to Bratislava: Travel to Bratislava, Slovakia’s capital since independence in 1993. This modern multicultural metropolis has an intriguing history. The glorious Old Town and well-preserved hilltop castle contrast with its brutalist socialist architecture. Your local guide will show you Bratislava Castle, the Hlavné Námestie, the main square and the Old Town Hall.

Hidden Gems of Vienna tour: Enjoy a guided tour of the city, brimming with history, elegance and diverse architecture. Stroll toward Schwedenplatz, passing iconic Prater and Augarten park, home to the Vienna Boy’s Choir. Explore the peaceful Greek Quarter, uncovering hidden courtyards, coffee houses and restaurant’s popular with local’s. Hear tales of the construction of St Stephen’s before enjoying some free time. 

This morning, arrive in the charming town of Krems, located in the spectacular Wachau Valley. 

Scenic Freechoice:
Today offers a variety of Scenic Freechoice excursions to choose from:

Göttweig Abbey: Founded in the sixth century, the abbey burned down during the 18th century and was rebuilt to be one of the most magnificent in the Wachau Valley. Your local guide will show you its magnificent frescoes as well as the staircase, the largest Baroque staircase in Austria.

Wachau Valley wine tasting: The Wachau valley is one of the prominent regions for wine growing in Austria. Today you'll visit a local winemaker and learn about the age-old traditions of winemaking while sampling the delicious wines produced on site.

E-biking from Krems to Dürnstein return: Join your guide on a bicycle tour along the Danube to the pretty town of Dürnstein. Pass by charming villages and scenic vineyard landscapes. You will have time to stop along the way to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Danube.

Later, dock in Dürnstein, a small and picturesque town in the Wachau Valley. Enjoy some free time to explore this World Heritage-listed town, perched on the edge of the Danube River and surrounded by ancient, terraced vineyards.

After a short stop in Brandstatt, arrive in Passau. Set at the meeting point of three rivers and close to the border with Austria, Passau was an important trading point for centuries. It was also a significant town in the Holy Roman Empire and the charming Old Town was mostly built by powerful prince-bishops in an Italianate style. 

Scenic Freechoice:
Select from the following Scenic Freechoice excursions:

Full day excursion to Salzburg: Cross the border into Salzburg, Austria, a storybook city surrounded by alpine peaks and best known as the home of Mozart and The Sound of Music. On a guided tour, learn about its art and music scene, visit Mozart’s birthplace, and see the vast Hohensalzburg fortress. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and some free time.

Full day excursion to Ceský Krumlov: Journey to the Czech town of Ceský Krumlov, a World Heritage site brimming with charm. Explore with your local guide, admire the well-preserved Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture, and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.

Highlights of Passau: Join your local guide on a walking tour, admiring the brightly coloured buildings that line the waterways. Visit St Stephens Cathedral, originally built in the year 450 but destroyed by fire in 1662 and rebuilt in the Baroque style. 

Boasting a staggering 2,000-year history, Regensburg has one of Germany’s best preserved medieval town centres, with more than 900 of its Romanesque and Gothic buildings listed as World Heritage sites.  Within its narrow laneways, the city lays claim to having the highest concentration of bars in the country. 

Scenic Freechoice:
Today, Regensburg offers a selection of Scenic Freechoice activities to choose from:

Walking tour of Regensburg: On the confluence of three rivers in Bavaria, Regensburg is known as the best-preserved medieval city in Germany. Guests will join a walking tour with a local guide to see the old stone bridge, the Church of St James, and the Porta Praetoria.

Weltenburg Abbey: Take a ferry through the Danube Gorge to Weltenburg Abbey, the oldest monastery in Bavaria, founded by monks in approximately 600AD. Explore the Abbey and Cloister Church, then sample the award-winning beer produced on site since 1050.

Thurn und Taxis Active Walking Tour: Join an active walking tour from the ship to Thurn und Taxis Castle, for a guided tour followed by free time. Thurn und Taxis is a German noble family who can trace their history back to the 12th century.

Cycle to Walhalla Memorial: Cycle through the wonderful scenery of the Donau Valley along the river and through the countryside, to Walhalla Memorial. Commissioned by King Ludwig l of Bavaria, Walhalla Memorial honours notable Germans from past centuries.

Cruise into Nuremberg, Bavaria’s second-largest city, today, protected by an ancient city wall. The city is dominated by one of the most significant imperial forts of the Holy Roman Empire, the 12th century Imperial Castle, which was the preferred residence of German kings. 

Behind its charming façade, Nuremberg also has a turbulent history. During WWII, the city was favoured by the Nazis for party rallies and many of the anti-Jewish laws began here. By 1945, the city was reduced to rubble, including large sections of the Imperial Castle and Old Town. After the war, Nazi leaders were tried here for their war crimes. 

Scenic Freechoice:
Make your choice from today’s Scenic Freechoice experiences:

Guided tour of Nuremberg Old Town: Drive into Nuremberg’s city centre, passing by the ancient city walls, then join your local guide for a walking tour of the Old Town to see the Imperial Castle, St. Egidien’s Church and the market square.

World War II tour: Your local guide will highlight the main events that occurred in Nuremberg during the Nazi regime. Learn about this dark time in Germany's history and visit some of the most important sites.

Nuremberg's Castle and City Walls: The historic city of Nuremberg is yours to explore during this active walking tour. Follow the cobblestone streets surrounding the Imperial castle and admire the impressive city walls that remain since medieval times.

Built on seven hills, this World Heritage-listed town has surprises at every turn. Intersected by rivers and canals, Bamberg’s Old Town is resplendent with cobblestoned streets and well-preserved medieval buildings. Admire the charming Town Hall which occupies an island on its own, a Gothic and Romanesque-style cathedral, and the Old and New Residences – comprising an episcopal palace, a pretty ‘Little Venice’ and a 12th century castle that teeters on the highest of the seven hills.

Scenic Freechoice:
Stay in Bamberg or choose to explore further afield:

Guided tour of Bamberg Old Town: Bamberg is known for its charming World Heritage-listed Old Town, one of Europe’s largest intact old town centres. Learn about its fascinating history as you wander through stunning Medieval and Baroque buildings on a guided city tour.

Excursion to Coburg: Journey via coach to Coburg. Visit the impressive castle, which looks over the city, and is considered one of the largest and best-preserved forts in Germany. Its museum houses a large collection of carriages, weapons, armoury and paintings by renowned artists.

This afternoon, spend some time relaxing in your spacious suite or perhaps join your fellow guests on the Sun deck.

After a relaxed morning on board, dock in Würzburg. With its lavish Baroque and Rococo architecture, you’ll be captivating by this glamorous port. This city straddles the Main River in the heart of Franconian wine country. Surrounded by undulating vineyards, Würzburg is home to a World Heritage-listed palace, a dominating hilltop fortress, the 15th century Old Main Bridge, and three universities, including Bavaria’s oldest. 

Scenic Freechoice:
Spend today at your preferred pace with one of these Scenic Freechoice options:

Walking tour and Würzburg Residence: Visit the Würzburg Residence, a Baroque palace surrounded by manicured gardens, for a guided tour to see its many valuable paintings, tapestries and period furniture. Then take a short stroll into the city for some free time.

Romantic Road to Rothenburg: From Würzburg, drive by coach to Rothenburg along the famed Romantic Road, an important trading route during the Middle Ages. Take a guided tour of the well-preserved medieval old town and enjoy some free time to explore on your own.

Arrive in Wertheim this morning, a small town with a medieval centre sitting on the picturesque banks of the Main and Tauber Rivers. Look out for the distinctive Spitze Turm, a 13th-century pointed watchtower that stands tall above the town. Today is all about connecting with culture and meeting the locals. 

Scenic Freechoice:
This morning, choose from the following Scenic Freechoice tours that will immerse you in local life:

Wertheim tour and winery: Travel to Wertheim am Main, another historic town filled with half-timbered houses for a tour and some free time. Visit a local winery to meet the winemaker and learn about the production process before transferring to the nearby town of Miltenberg.

Gamburg Castle tour: Visit the town of Gamburg for a guided tour of Gamburg Castle. Here you will also meet the Baron and Baroness for a private reception and learn about their modern aristocratic life over a glass of sparkling wine.

Miltenberg tour and local farm visit: Visit a charming, family-owned farmstead. Meet the owners, discover the rhythms of daily farm life, get up close with the animals, and enjoy tastings of local delicacies made right on the farm. Afterwards, visit the charming town of Miltenberg for an orientation tour followed by some free time.

Schnapps tasting: Visit a local schnapps distiller to understand how this flavoured liqueur is produced. Enjoy a tasting of the multiple flavours before taking an orientation tour of Miltenberg followed by some free time to enjoy the town.

After touring, you will reboard your ultra-luxury Space-Ship in Miltenberg and depart for Rüdesheim. Enjoy some of the all-inclusive on board entertainment this evening as you cruise through the night. 

This morning, disembark in Rüdesheim, a pretty town surrounded by steep vineyards that have been cultivating wine for more than two millennia. The charming town centre is filled with half-timbered houses lining cobbled streets, quaint shops selling trinkets such as traditional Christmas ornaments and cuckoo clocks, as well as a smattering of wine taverns and open-air beer gardens. 

Scenic Freechoice:
Make your selection from today’s Scenic Freechoice tours:

Siegfried’s Musikkabinett Museum: Visit Siegfried’s Musikkabinett Museum, where a local guide will introduce you to the weird and wonderful mechanical musical instruments. Then explore on your own or take the cable car up to the Niederwald Monument.

Hike & Cable Car: Join a local guide for a hike through the rolling vineyards of Rudesheim and enjoy spectacular views of the countryside and Rhine River below. After your hike, board the cable car to return to town.

Relax on board this afternoon as you cruise through the picturesque Rhine Gorge, where the landscapes could have been pulled from the pages of a fairytale. This 65-kilometre stretch of the river is dotted with some 40 hilltop castles and fortresses that span a period of 1,000 years. Look out for the Lorelei statue, dedicated to the tragic legend of a beautiful maiden. 

Scenic Enrich
Gala Dinner and classical concert at La Redoute Recital Hall: An exclusive experience awaits you this evening. Travel to Bonn and the magnificent La Redoute recital hall, built in 1792 by the last Elector of Cologne. Sit down to a lavish dinner accompanied by classical music. 

Dock in the 2,000-year-old city of Cologne today. Cologne suffered extensive damage during World War II but was painstakingly restored over the following decades. Set out on a walking tour of the Old Town, admiring its historic buildings, beautiful squares and the World Heritage-listed Cologne Cathedral. After lunch, we cruise to Amsterdam.

The Netherlands’ capital is a treasure trove of architectural beauty, galleries filled with masterpieces, 16th-century canals, narrow cobbled laneways, and streets busy with cyclists. Often referred to as the Venice of the North, much of the UNESCO-listed canal system exists today as it did hundreds of years ago, lined with well-preserved houses and intersected by charming bridges.   

Scenic Freechoice:
Discover more of the city on one of these excursions:

Canal cruise: Amsterdam has more than 100 kilometres of canals. See some of the prettiest sights of the city on a one-hour cruise along these historic waterways. Admire Golden Age mansions, grand warehouses and narrow bridges.

Walking tour of Amsterdam: Explore Amsterdam on foot, discovering the maze of canals and bridges in the city centre. Your guide will be covering history, modern lifestyle and Dutch culture. You also get to taste herring, a local delicacy not to be missed.

Dutch countryside e-bike tour: Amsterdam is known as the bicycle capital of the world. Take a small ferry to the outskirts of town for a biking tour. Your local guide will be at hand to offer information about everyday life of the Dutch people, many of whom you will see getting around on two wheels.

Excursion to Schermerhorn & Alkmaar: Leave the capital to visit the village of Schermerhorn, home to a number of authentic 16th-century windmills. Then travel to the charming town of Alkmaar, known for its historic buildings and picturesque canals.

Your journey concludes this morning in Amsterdam. After one final breakfast on board, depart with a lifetime of memories.

This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions.