8 Day AmaWaterways River Cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest 2027

Day 1 Nuremberg

Board the ship for your Iconic Christmas Markets cruise. (D)

Day 2 Nuremberg

Join a city tour of WWII highlights and then walk through Nuremberg’s cobblestone streets to the Imperial Castle and 900-year-old city ramparts, followed by a visit to Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt, one of the world’s largest and most famous Christmas Markets. You can also choose to spend the entire morning exploring this iconic Christmas Market. For those looking for a taste of Nuremberg, depart for Nuremberg Imperial Castle and visit City Brewery where you will delight your palate with savory Nuremberg sausage and beer. Then continue to Sebalder Kirche (church) where you will nibble on sweet and spicy lebkuchen, a baked treat similar to gingerbread. End the day crossing the Continental Divide via the Main-Danube Canal. (B,L,D)

Day 3 Regensburg

Regensburg is one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Join a guided walking tour showcasing the city’s architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Praetoria, before visiting the Old Town Christmas Market. As an alternate option, sample some of Bavaria’s specialties—beer, sausage and pretzels. Or bike to the base of Walhalla where there is a neoclassical white marble temple inspired by the Parthenon in Athens. For those in a festive mood, head to one of Bavaria’s most beautiful and romantic Christmas Markets at Thurn and Taxis, where you can watch artisans make their unique arts and crafts. (B,L,D)

Day 4 Passau

Join a walking tour of this 2,000-year-old city, noted for its Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture and St. Stephen’s. Go in search of Bavarian-style crafts at the Christmas Market. Or, for the active adventurer, join a guided bike tour along the Danube. Alternatively, you can travel through the serene Austrian Alps to Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart. Your full-day excursion in Salzburg includes a walking tour of the UNESCO-designated Old Town, its magnificent cathedral and its Christmas Markets. (B,L,D)

*Not combinable with other tours on this day.

Day 5 Melk — Vienna

High on a rocky outcrop lies the Melk Abbey, one of Europe’s most revered Baroque monasteries. Visit this magnificent and storied abbey, which now houses a museum chronicling its history and a famous library with countless medieval manuscripts. Alternatively, go on a guided bike ride around Melk. (B,L,D)

Day 6 Vienna

The “City of Waltzes” offers a treasure trove of gems just waiting to be discovered. Join a tour showcasing its regal splendors, such as the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs along with an opportunity to visit the city’s Christmas Markets. If you prefer a more active adventure, then join a guided bike along the Danube River. In the afternoon, visit Schönbrunn Palace Christmas Market and its spectacular festive atmosphere. (B,L,D)

Day 7 Budapest

Today you have the opportunity to visit both the Buda (hilly) and Pest (flat) sides of the Danube River. Start on the Buda side, following your guide through the city’s Castle District where you will marvel at the fairytale turrets of Fisherman’s Bastion, gaze upon the breathtaking panorama below and see Matthias Church, renowned for its striking tower and colorful mosaic roof. You will also visit the city’s famed Christmas Markets. For a more active tour, hike to Budapest’s Castle Hill. In the afternoon, explore the treasures of Pest, admiring the colossal Hungarian Parliament Building, Heroes’ Square and the moving “Shoes on the Danube Bank” memorial. (B,L,D)

Day 8 Budapest

Disembark the ship in Budapest and bid farewell to the city before preparing for your return flight home. (B)