AMSTERDAM SIGHTSEEING TOUR

First, on a drive through the principal city of the Netherlands, you will see its most important buildings and monuments. Next we pay a visit to the Rijksmuseum, the country’s largest, where you can admire its incomparable collection of art of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, including works by Rembrandt and other Dutch painters such as Vermeer. You then discover Amsterdam via a tour of its canals. From the water you get good views of the elegant houses in which the city’s ruling families used to live, and of the churches and merchant houses of the same period.

ZAANSE SCHANS & VOLENDAM

Today’s excursion enables you to see the windmills at the open air museum at Zaanse Schans, a small village to the north of Amsterdam. There were about 700 windmills here in the eighteenth century, of which 5 have been preserved. The trip includes a visit to a traditional Dutch clogger. Following a short visit to a cheese farm in Katwoude we go on to the medieval town of Volendam.

KEUKENHOF

Join our Keukenhof excursion to marvel at the fields of tulips between Haarlem und Leiden.  Keukenhof’s flower exhibition consists of millions of flowers on display in a lovely parkland setting.    The trip ends at Hoorn, a picturesque port, where the vessel will be waiting for us to reboard.

enkhuizen WALK

See this charming port, which had great maritime importance in former times, on foot.  Our tour includes the historic buildings from its golden age, such as the Wester and Zuider churches, the town hall, the market hall where the most varied merchandise was traded, the Westhaus, the Pepperhaus – which is now the Zuiderzee museum -, and the town’s prison and walls.

Nord Ost Polder

Leaving Lemmer, we drive over the land reclaimed from the sea known as the North East "Polder" to one of the best known and most traditional fishing villages, the former island of Urk, which you can explore at your own pace. You can visit the museum in Schokland, another former island, where many interesting facts can be learned about the development of the area from prehistoric times through to the recent land reclamation.

Venice of the north

Our tour with this title covers the Hanseatic town of Kampen (through which we take a short walk), and continues by coach to Giethoorn, which shares the same unofficial title and was originally known for its extensive peat cutting. The tour switches to water again here, as the beautiful old farmhouses and their cultivated gardens, the thatched hump-backed roofed cottages and the bridges are best seen by boat.

kroller-muller museum

This excursion shows you the Hoge Veluwe National Park and the "Kroller-Muller Museum", which houses a world famous collection of fine art, mainly from the 19th and 20th centuries. The focal points of the museum are the extensive range of works by Vincent van Gogh and the sculpture garden. This museum and the Hoge Veluwe National Park, the legacy of Mr and Mrs Kroller-Muller, together present a formidable ensemble of art, architecture and natural beauty. 

Delft & Rotterdam

Drive to Delft and walk through this historically interesting little town. The famous painter Vermeer painted one of his most impressive pictures here - "View of Delft" - which was where he was born. You will visit a porcelain factory in which the famous blue and white Delft pottery is made. The excursion continues to Rotterdam, where a city tour shows you the old harbour town, called Delfshaven, as well as the new parts that were re-built after World War II.

The Hague with madurodam

From Rotterdam you will drive to The Hague along the North Sea coast (short seaside stopover en route), where there will be a tour, followed by a walk through the parliament buildings and a visit to the miniature village of Madurodam.

Passau walk

During the two-hour tour of the old city of Passau, our knowledgeable guide will point out to you many buildings that bear witness to its historical importance. You will be particularly impressed by St. Stephan’s Cathedral, which has the world’s largest organ (17,774 pipes and 233 stops), by the New Episcopal Residence, by the Town Hall and by many other fine buildings.

LINZ sightseeing tour

The tour of the capital of the province of Upper Austria includes the "Brucknerhaus", the "Freinberg", the provincial governmental buildings and the "Martinskirche". You drive up to the "Pöstlingberg" - the "local" mountain of the city of Linz - from which there are fine views, and end up with a walk through the old quarter of the city.

 GREIN walk

The tour on foot of this little Danube port, attractively and idyllically situated, takes you past its most important sights, including the town square, parish church and town theatre - the oldest theatre in Austria. The walk then proceeds to the Greinberg castle, which has one of the largest and most beautiful sets of interior arcades from the late Renaissance period.

BEAUTIES of the Wachau

We take you through the picturesque landscape of the Wachau to the 900-year old Baroque Benedictine abbey of Melk, where you will go on a guided tour and attend an organ recital. You will stroll through Dürnstein, idyllically situated and probably the most famous wine-growing town of the entire Wachau region. To end a splendid day, you will be invited to sample a fine selection of local wines at the "Teisenhofer Hof" in Weissenkirchen. 

 beauties of the wachau
(Festival of Classical Music)

Your tour of the Wachau begins in Dürnstein, a famous place in the world of wine.  You can see most of this gloriously situated village in the course of a short walk through it.  The tour continues to the Göttweig abbey, a masterpiece of Austrian Baroque located on a little hill commanding a wonderful view of the scenery of the Wachau and the Danube valley.  After visiting the seminary you then drive through that magnificent scenery to Weissenkirchen, where you are invited to round off the excursion with a glass of Wachau wine in the idyllic setting of the “Teisenhofer Hof”.

vienna sightseeing tour

This 3-hour city tour gives you a comprehensive impression of most of the most important sights of this vast Danube city, steeped in tradition. The drive along the Ringstrasse takes us past the magnificent buildings of the Austrian national opera and parliament, and the Burgtheater, town hall, university and catholic church buildings - right into the heart of the city and to the Stephansdom, Vienna’s utterly unique cathedral of St. Stephen.

The Schönbrunn castle

The coach will take you from the port to one of Vienna’s most beautiful buildings, the Schönbrunn castle, which was modeled on the palace of Versailles, the residence of Louis XIV (Le Roi Soleil). Here you can view the state apartments of the Hapsburgs’ summer residence for many years, and then take a stroll through the beautifully laid out gardens in the grounds of the castle.

vienna woods

This tour takes you to the Southern Vienna Woods, to the Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz, where you visit the medieval cloister that houses the remains of the last Babenberger. We then drive to the former Mayerling hunting lodge, today a commemorative chapel, where Crown-Prince Rudolph, the only son of Emperor Franz Joseph, committed suicide with Baroness Vetsera in 1889. Passing the Roman city of Baden, which is famous for its thermal springs, we take you through the romantic Helenental valley back to Vienna.

evening excursion VIENNa

An experience during which you will absorb the magic of Vienna after dark. The Prater - Vienna’s amusement park - invites you to an unforgettable view of the city all lit up, from the top of the Giant Ferris Wheel! The tour continues with a ride along the Ringstrasse, past the beautifully illuminated historical buildings, to a traditional Austrian "Heuriger" wine tavern in Grinzing, where you can experience Viennese hospitality at its best with music and a glass of wine.

vienna residence orchestra

Enjoy an unforgettable evening in Vienna’s most famous and beautiful baroque palace. Dressed in historical costumes, the "Vienna Residence Orchestra" - together with famous opera singers and ballet dancers - will enchant you with the most beautiful melodies by Mozart and Johann Strauss.

Bratislava SIGHTSEEING TOUR

Bratislava, known as Pressburg until 1945, is the capital of Slovakia and one of the most famous cities on the Danube. The bus takes you past the Archiepiscopal Palace and the National Theatre to the Castle, from which you can see as far as the border with Austria. Other attractions include the city gates, the Baroque palaces of the noblemen, and the elegant residences that have all survived from the days of the Danube monarchy. A walk through the pedestrian precinct, past St. Martin’s Cathedral, the Town Hall and Michael’s Gate, brings you back to the ship.

szentendre-ESZTERGOM

This enchanting excursion takes you through beautiful scenery and highlights marvelous cultural attractions. You’ll travel from Budapest, along the banks of the Danube, to the charming artists’ village of Szentendre and continue, via the Visegrad Fortress, to Esztergom with its world-famous cathedral. Following a wine tasting you will rejoin the ship in Esztergom.

ESZTERGOM-szentendre

Esztergom, the old residence of the Hungarian kings and seat of the Archbishop, is one of the highlights of this excursion. After visiting the impressive cathedral (Hungary’s largest place of worship), the excursion continues along the Danube to the imposing castle ruins of Visegrad from which there is a splendid view of the great "knee" of the Danube. Traveling along the banks of the Danube again we take you to the artists’ village of Szentendre. Following a stroll through the picturesque village the excursion goes on to Budapest to rejoin the ship. Lunch en route is included.

Budapest sightseeing tour

Budapest - "Queen of the Danube" - ranks among Europe’s most beautiful cities. The Danube flows through its heart, dividing the two halves of the city "Buda" and "Pest". The drive starts with the "Pest" side, passing by magnificent baroque buildings, the town hall and the national parliament, then to the Heldenplatz with its memorials to many Hungarian kings, and on to the famous chain bridge. Then it continues on to the "Buda" side and up to the castle quarter, where you visit the church of St. Matthew and the Fishermen’s Bastion.

BUDAPEST BY NIGHT

Watch a delightful performance of Hungarian folklore dancing, and taste excellent Hungarian wine and goulash soup, in an idyllic restaurant. A superb gypsy orchestra will entertain you with its finest melodies. End the evening with the truly memorable spectacle of Budapest seen, all lit up, from Gellert Hill.

Kalocsa

After a drive across the Hungarian plains you will witness an unforgettable performance of Hungarian horsemanship at a genuine Hungarian "Csarda" (farm). We will then take you to the charming town of Kalocsa, which is famous for its traditional Hungarian embroidery and, above all, for the cultivation of paprika - Hungary’s national product. Here you will attend a short organ recital in the cathedral, visit a typical Hungarian house and the paprika museum (the only one of its kind).

KALOCSA (The Beautiful Danube)

A coach takes you from Mohacs along the Hungarian plains to the charming little town of Kalocsa, where there will be a short organ recital in the cathedral.  Then you see round the world’s one and only paprika museum, and a small folklore museum that has a range of genuine Hungarian embroidery for sale.  The excursion continues to a “Csarda” (farmstead), where you witness an unforgettable display of Hungarian horsemanship before coming back aboard ship in Kalocsa.

novi sad sightseeing tour

After a short tour of the old quarter on foot, a bus takes you up to the Peterwardein fortress, one of Europe’s most massive defensive positions, which was constructed by the French architect Vauban in the 18th century.  From this masterpiece of a stronghold you get a marvelous view of the Danube, flowing majestically past it.

EVENING EXCURSION SKADARLIJA

The tour takes you through the illuminated city to a hotel in mid-town where you enjoy a superb folklore spectacle while wine is served. Dancers and musicians, dressed in colourful costumes, present haunting melodies and dances from all parts of the country. Later you visit the well-known artists’ area „Skadarlija“, the Serbian Montmartre. Serbian specialities are catered while a local orchestra completes an unforgettable evening.

BELGRADE SIGHTSEEING TOUR

From the Sava Harbour the bus takes you to Kalemegdan where you can admire this mighty fortress and visit the Military Museum and Turkish bath. You pass the National Museum and Terazije Square, named after the old town scales, and past the Parliament you reach the palace of Prince Milos. Further remarkable sights are the church of St. Sava – the largest Orthodox church – the Konak, the former royal palace, the Bajrak mosque, the café “Question Mark”, the palace of Princess Ljubica and remains of the Roman and Turkish occupation. Later enjoy free time for shopping or personal sightseeing around Republic Square before returning to the ship.

Veliko Tarnovo

A comfortable coach takes you from Svistov to Veliko Tarnovo – the former capital of Bulgaria.  The houses in this medieval town were built on narrow terraces along the steep rock faces.  A tour gives you an inkling of the town’s former importance.  After lunch we make a short detour to the ancient village of Arbanassi, which is known for its decorated churches and artists’ market.  The coach then takes you to Rousse, where the ship awaits you.

Bucharest sightseeing tour

Our coaches takes you to Bucharest. The city tour starts with a visit to the Patriarchie, and to the Parliament with the memorial to Freedom. You will be impressed by the grand avenues, lined with beautiful buildings on either side, which exude a certain "Parisienne" flair. Of particular interest is the Village Museum, where ancient Romanian farmhouses from various parts of the country have been carefully restored and set up again as they would have looked originally. Lunch is taken in a local restaurant followed by time for some leisure shopping, or an unaccompanied stroll through the city. We return to the ship to Giurgiu by coach.

The Danube Delta approx. 

The Danube Delta, which covers an area of about 4,340 square kilometres, reveals an unusual landscape, with flora and fauna unique in Europe. There is an incredible variety of bird life, with some 300 species, and also more than 110 species of fish. You will be taken through the narrow channels of the Delta in smaller boats, from which this very special natural habitat can best be appreciated.

WIELICZKA Salt mines

The historic Salt Mine of Wieliczka is the only place in the world where mining has been continuous since the Middle Ages. Lying on nine levels, its original excavations (longitudinals, traverses, chambers, lakes, as well as lesser and major shafts) stretch for a total of 300 kilometres, and reach a depth of 327 metres. All stages of the development of salt mining technology over the centuries are illustrated.