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Illuminations on the Danube with 2 Nights in Prague (Eastbound) 2026
12 Day River Cruise Prague to Budapest
Tour Description:
Your European vacation begins with two nights in Prague, capital of the Czech Republic. Guided sightseeing shows you its best-known treasures. See the Astronomical Clock, Hradčany Castle, and St. Vitus Cathedral. Regensburg is one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities. Guided sightseeing will show you the Old Town Hall, the Porta Pretoria and many mansions with high towers denoting the status and wealth of their early owners. Transfer to Vilshofen where your Danube River cruise begins. Passau, Germany, the “City of Three Rivers” lies at the confluence of the Danube, Inn, and Ilz rivers. Explore the city with a Local Guide and admire the Patrician houses and baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral. In Linz, Austria, see the Hauptplatz, Austria’s largest medieval square that forms the center of the city. Enjoy the magnificent views as your river cruise takes you through the picturesque wine region of Wachau Valley. Stops include Melk to visit the magnificent Benedictine Abbey and Krems. Vienna, the “City of Music,” makes an immediate impression with its lavish Hofburg Imperial Palace and neo-renaissance Vienna Opera House. In Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, a guided walk takes you through the delightful Old Town and to the Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral. Sail to Esztergom for a visit to its Basilica and a Palinka tasting, then continue to Visegrad for a canoe excursion along the Danube river or a hike in the Danube-Ipoly National Park. In Budapest, the vibrant capital of Hungary, see the must-see sights with a local expert. In your free time stroll along the main shopping street of Váci utca, or take pictures from Fisherman’s Bastion, for the best panoramic views of Budapest. From the Golden City of Prague to the Pearl of the Danube in Budapest, your European river cruise is an experience not to be missed!
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Dates & Pricing
| Thursday 23 Apr 26 — Tuesday 05 May 26 | Starting at $4,248 |  SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Friday 15 May 26 — Wednesday 27 May 26 | Starting at $4,898 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 01 Jun 26 — Saturday 13 Jun 26 | Starting at $4,548 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Friday 31 Jul 26 — Wednesday 12 Aug 26 | Starting at $4,548 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 31 Aug 26 — Saturday 12 Sep 26 | Starting at $5,298 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Sunday 04 Oct 26 — Friday 16 Oct 26 | Starting at $4,948 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & Sightseeing| Day 1 Prague: | Welcome to Prague |
| Day 2 Prague: | Guided sightseeing, see the Astronomical Clock and visit Hradcany Castle grounds |
| Day 3 Prague-Regensburg, Germany-Vilshofen (Embarkation): | Travel by motorcoach to Regensburg, guided sightseeing; transfer to Vilshofen; onboard welcome reception |
| Day 4 Passau-Linz: | Choice of guided walk or hike with your Adventure Host; Schlögen Oxbow scenic cruising |
| Day 5 Linz: | Guided sightseeing, see Hauptplatz and the Trinity Column |
| Day 6 Melk-Wachau Valley-Krems: | Guided tour of the Benedictine Abbey in Melk or walk with your Adventure Host; scenic cruise through the Wachau Valley; guided tour in Krems |
| Day 7 Vienna: | Choice of bike tour, or Insider’s tour of Vienna, or guided tour, visit to Belvedere Palace |
| Day 8 Vienna: | Choice of early risers walking tour with breakfast at a Viennese café, or guided tour, see Habsburg private art collection and the Italian or Dutch masters works, or guided tour, see Habsburg private art collection and the Military Museum |
| Day 9 Bratislava: | Choice of guided sightseeing in Bratislava, visit St. Martin’s Cathedral or hike to Bratislava Castle with your Adventure Host |
| Day 10 Esztergom-Visegrád-Budapest: | Choice of visit of the ancient Esztergom Basilica with Palinka tasting or e-bike tour; choice of medieval knights tournament, or guided hike in the Danube-Ipoly National Park, or canoe tour in Visegrád; scenic cruising into Budapest |
| Day 11 Budapest: | Choice of guided tour, see Heroes’ Square or hike with your Adventure Host |
| Day 12 Budapest (Disembarkation): | Your vacation ends this morning |
Notes:
- In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
- Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
- Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
ITINERARY
ITINERARYDay 1
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC Welcome to the Golden City of Prague—Explore the City of 100 Spires
Enjoy free time to explore the Golden City and its surrounding countryside at your leisure.
PRAGUE-TOWN-HALL.jpg
Day 2
PRAGUE Gothic Cathedrals, Grand Castles, and Great Cuisine
CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk to visit Hradčany Castle Grounds; see St. Vitus Cathedral and Old Town’s Astronomical Clock.
Consider sampling delicious plum dumplings and traditional Pilsner lager beside the Vltava River.
Mingle with the locals and be mesmerized by street performers in Wenceslas Square, or browse the market stalls at Charles Bridge.
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Breakfast
BreakfastDay 3
REGENSBURG, GERMANY–VILSHOFEN (EMBARKATION) Bavaria’s Medieval Miracle
After breakfast this morning, you’ll drive to Regensburg.
CLASSIC Join a Guided City Walk in Regensburg and see Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and Porta Pretoria—built in 179 AD as the entrance to Castra Regina fortress.
Take free time to enjoy a hearty lunch and a local beer, then step back in time through historic lanes and squares of today’s modern and vibrant Regensburg.
Continue on to Vilshofen to board your Avalon Suite Ship® for a welcome reception.
EVENING CRUISE TO PASSAU
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Day 4
PASSAU–SCHLÖGEN OXBOW Where the Danube, Inn, and Ilz Rivers Meet
ACTIVE Follow your Avalon Adventure Host for Hiking from Oberhaus along a trail down to the valley and along Ilz River, OR:
CLASSIC Join a Guided City Walk to learn more about this beautiful “City of Three Rivers".
Before sailing to Linz, take a little free time to explore Passau’s cobblestone streets and galleries of Artists’ Alley. Maybe stop at St. Stephen’s Cathedral to catch a concert rehearsal.
This afternoon, cruise to Linz through the Danube’s dramatic horseshoe bend called Schlögen Oxbow.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LINZ
PASSAU.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 5
LINZ, AUSTRIA Legendary and Lovely Linz
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.
CLASSIC Take a Guided Walk through the city’s historic and beautiful sites along the shore of the Danube and see Hauptplatz—Austria’s largest medieval square—and the towering white-marble Trinity Column.
Consider a full-day Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg—the city of Mozart, or to the picturesque Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov.
You may otherwise spend the afternoon on a biking picnic along the banks of the Danube or hike through Linz’s beautiful nature trails to Pöstlingberg for a bird’s-eye view of the city and river below.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MELK
LINZ.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 6
MELK–WACHAU VALLEY Frescoes Above and Vineyards Below
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey to marvel at its frescoed ceilings, statues, incredible library, and ornate pipe organ.
Later, stretch out on the Sky Deck as you sail through the Wachau Valley past vineyards, castles, and charming villages on your way to Krems.
KREMS
An Ancient Village and Vintages of the Wachau Valley
CLASSIC Join a guided walk to explore this small valley town, seemingly untouched by the new world.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIENNA
MELK-ABBEY.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 7
VIENNA, AUSTRIA Strauss, Schnitzel, Strudel and Sachertorte Viennese Waltzes on the Blue Danube
ACTIVE Take a Guided Bike Tour along the famed Ringstrasse and pedestrian avenues of Vienna to see the city’s highlights from a unique perspective, OR:
DISCOVERY Take an Insider’s Tour of Vienna to get behind the scenes of her sights and attractions. You will meet locals, have the chance to prepare some food, and enjoy other surprises, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Vienna, including a tour of Belvedere Palace to see Gustave Klimt’s renowned “Kiss” painting.
Spend free time this afternoon strolling through the pedestrian Kärntnerstrasse then take a break for a piece of Sachertorte. Or enjoy an optional excursion in Schönbrunn.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN VIENNA
VIENNA-HISTORY-MUSEUM.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 8
VIENNA Feast for the Soul
DISCOVERY Enjoy a morning Guided Walking Tour to see the city in her best light, along with breakfast at a Viennese café, OR:
CLASSIC Dive into one of the world’s most important museums with a Guided Tour of the Habsburg family’s private art collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, and enjoy Italian or Dutch master works, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of the Museum of Fine Arts, followed by the Military Museum, commemorating the past of the Habsburg Empire.
This evening consider joining an Optional Excursion to attend a Royal Waltz Concert in an elegant hall.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BRATISLAVA
VIENNA-FINE-ARTS-MUSEUM.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 9
BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA Cathedral Coronations and a Crowning Castle
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
ACTIVE Follow your Avalon Adventure Host on a hike to lofty Bratislava Castle, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk, including the quaint streets of Old Town, Town Hall, and the sight of royal coronations at St. Martin’s Cathedral.
Enjoy free time to discover on your own Bratislava, the beautiful capital of Slovakia, rich in history and culture, but also a green city with its forests and parks just a hop away from the city center.
Later, relax on board with live entertainment.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ESZTERGROM
BRATISLAVA.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 10
ESZTERGOM, HUNGARY Mountains Views and Pàlinka
ACTIVE Take an E-bike Guided Tour and explore the surroundings of the Pilis Mountains Region. Enjoy the view from the lockout point at Dobogókő, OR:
CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour into the scenic Carpathian Basin for a visit of the ancient Esztergom Basilica that includes the traditional Pàlinka tasting in its impressive cellar.
Enjoy a brief cruise to Visegrad during lunchtime.
VISEGRÁD
Jousting Tournaments and Dracula’s Tower
ACTIVE Explore Hungary’s beautiful Danube-Ipoly National Park and visit Count Dracula’s prison tower on a Hiking Tour, OR:
ACTIVE Take part in a Canoe Excursion through the picturesque Bend Region of the Danube for a truly unique perspective of one of the river’s most beautiful stretches, OR:
DISCOVERY Join a Guided Visit to the Medieval Knights Tournament at Visegrád’s Lower Castle, featuring targeting and fighting demonstrations by members of the St. George Knightly Order.
Spend free time after your selected activities to explore Palotaház, where stonemasons, smiths, potters, and paper-makers produce their traditional items using age-old techniques.
This evening, enjoy a sailing into Budapest and magnificent views of the beautiful Parliament Building.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BUDAPEST
ESZTERGOM.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 11
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY War Heroes and Hot Water
ACTIVE Hike up to a magnificent viewpoint in Budapest with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Sightseeing, including the iconic Heroes’ Square.
This afternoon choose among a wide offer of Optional Guided Excursions or take in the beauty of Budapest while enjoying some free time exploring such famous sights as the Chain Bridge. Get to know the city’s cafés and pubs, or take a hike through the hills above the Danube.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BUDAPEST
BUDAPEST-HEROS-SQUARE.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 12
BUDAPEST (DISEMBARKATION) Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
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Accommodations
Accommodations| Prague | Prague | Prague | Prague | Budapest |
Cosmopolitan Hotel Prague
Deluxe
Hotel as shown or similar
Zlatnicka 3/1126 Prague 1 Czech Republic
A stunning 106-room boutique hotel set in an historic townhouse that dates back to 1889, perfectly located on a quiet street in the heart of Prague's Old Town. Modern Czech cuisine is served in a trendy bistro style setting with an open plan kitchen. For relaxation and connectivity, there is a 24-hour fitness studio, sauna, and free Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout the property. The hotel is ideally located on a quiet street of the Prague Old Town, only a few steps from all important shopping and sightseeing attractions.
Deluxe
Hotel as shown or similar
Zlatnicka 3/1126 Prague 1 Czech Republic
A stunning 106-room boutique hotel set in an historic townhouse that dates back to 1889, perfectly located on a quiet street in the heart of Prague's Old Town. Modern Czech cuisine is served in a trendy bistro style setting with an open plan kitchen. For relaxation and connectivity, there is a 24-hour fitness studio, sauna, and free Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout the property. The hotel is ideally located on a quiet street of the Prague Old Town, only a few steps from all important shopping and sightseeing attractions.
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
