European Jewels – Amsterdam to Budapest

Delve into the glories of Amsterdam’s golden age: the doors to the Van Gogh museum open early just for you and your fellow passengers, and an art expert guides you through this remarkable collection (The Potato Eaters and Sunflowers are just two of its highlights), followed by one of two ways to experience the historic city. You may cruise the 400-year-old canals or stroll through the medieval Begijnhof, home to Amsterdam’s oldest wood houses, and visit the elegant 17th-century Van Loon mansion.

You have an array of choices for how you wish to experience Cologne’s many treasures. Those interested in history and architecture can stroll with a local expert through Old Town to the city’s iconic UNESCO-listed Gothic Cologne Cathedral.

Rüdesheim am Rhein is a town in the Rhine Valley, Germany. It’s known for winemaking, especially of Riesling wines. In the center, Drosselgasse is a lane lined with shops, taverns and restaurants. Nearby, Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet is a museum of automated musical instruments. Medieval Brömserburg Castle is home to the Rheingau Wine Museum, exhibiting wine paraphernalia from ancient times to the present.

Get an overview of modern-day Frankfurt as well as its charming Old Town, or experience Frankfurt as a local.

Wertheim is a town in southwestern Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg with a population of around 23,400. It is located on the confluence of the rivers Tauber and Main. Wertheim is best known for its landmark castle and medieval town centre.

Art lovers will want to visit the Würzburg Residence, and fairytale lovers will want to go to Rothenburg and Weikersheim, where you can visit a grand palace.

Kitzingen is a town in the German state of Bavaria, capital of the district Kitzingen. It is part of the Franconia geographical region and has around 21,000 inhabitants. Surrounded by vineyards, Kitzingen County is the largest wine producer in Bavaria. It is said to be Franconia’s wine trade center.

City dwellers will wish to discover Bamberg—a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and country dwellers will wish to experience a Franconian village outing.

Nuremberg is the largest city of the German federal state of Bavaria after its capital Munich, and its 518,370 inhabitants make it the 14th-largest city in Germany.

Discover Germany’s best-preserved medieval city on a walking tour; visit a Bavarian hops farm.

Discover Passau with a variety of choices, either on an intimate walking tour, panoramic city tour or via a “Go Active” choice with a ride along one of the most beautiful stretches of the Danube and into the heart of Passau.

Melk is an Austrian town on the River Danube, west of Vienna. It’s known for the 11th-century Melk Abbey, a vast monastery built high above the town. Gold statuary adorns its domed Abbey Church, and the huge library houses medieval manuscripts. The Marmorsaal is a baroque hall with a ceiling fresco and red marble walls. South of Melk, gardens surround Renaissance Schallaburg Castle, which hosts cultural exhibitions.

Get acquainted with Vienna’s treasure trove of imperial gems with a city tour or visit Prince Eugene’s Winter Palace. If you prefer to experience the city’s artistic gems,you can join an art tour, featuring a Gustav Klimt exhibit at the Belvedere.

Budapest, Hungary’s capital, is bisected by the River Danube. Its 19th-century Chain Bridge connects the hilly Buda district with flat Pest. A funicular runs up Castle Hill to Buda’s Old Town, where the Budapest History Museum traces city life from Roman times onward. Trinity Square is home to 13th-century Matthias Church and the turrets of the Fishermen’s Bastion, which offer sweeping views.

Budapest, Hungary’s capital, is bisected by the River Danube. Its 19th-century Chain Bridge connects the hilly Buda district with flat Pest. A funicular runs up Castle Hill to Buda’s Old Town, where the Budapest History Museum traces city life from Roman times onward. Trinity Square is home to 13th-century Matthias Church and the turrets of the Fishermen’s Bastion, which offer sweeping views.