Jewels of Europe: 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.

Budapest is one of the great embarkation cities in European river cruising, and boarding Scenic Amber here as the city lights come on across the Danube is exactly the right beginning.
This afternoon, settle into your suite and raise a glass at the welcome reception. Scenic Amber will remain docked overnight, so the city is yours this evening — the Chain Bridge, the Parliament building illuminated above the river and the ruin bars of the Jewish Quarter are all waiting.

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. Your ship will remain docked in Budapest overnight, so you may like to head out and discover some of the city’s famed nightlife.

Inclusions: Dinner

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. It is also well known for its hot springs and thermal baths and has a vibrant nightlife scene.

Scenic Freechoice:
Choose from a range of 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 the Pest side 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.

National Opera House: Get a captivating glimpse into the stunning architecture and rich history of the Hungarian State Opera. Admire the opulent interiors and learn about its significance to Hungarian culture.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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 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 Arsenal Military Museum: Take in the wonderful architecture of Arsenal Military Museum, while enjoying a glass of fine Austrian Sekt. Then be enthralled by an enchanting private Viennese evening concert featuring the timeless music of Strauss and Mozart.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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.

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

Schönbrunn 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.

Central Vienna with free time: Experience the best of Vienna on this captivating city tour. Admire the famous Ringstrasse, Vienna’s grand boulevard, then enjoy an immersive walking tour of Vienna’s historic downtown, including grand City Hall (Rathaus) with its gothic spires, the majestic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and the renowned Vienna State Opera.

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 see Bratislava Castle, the Hlavné Námestie, the main square and the Old Town Hall.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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 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.

UNESCO Wachau Valley e-bike experience: Join your guide on a bicycle tour along the Danube to the quaint town of Dürnstein. Pass by charming villages and rolling 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 village, perched on the edge of the Danube River and surrounded by ancient, terraced vineyards.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Dürnstein is a small town on the Danube river in the Krems-Land district, in the Austrian state of Lower Austria. It is one of the most-visited tourist destinations in the Wachau region and also a well-known wine growing area.

Arrive in Passau today. Set at the meeting point of three rivers and close to the border with Austria, it 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:
Take your pick 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 eat 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.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Passau, a German city on the Austrian border, lies at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers. Known as the Three Rivers City, it’s overlooked by the Veste Oberhaus, a 13th-century hilltop fortress housing a city museum and observation tower. The old town below is known for its baroque architecture, including St. Stephen’s Cathedral, featuring distinctive onion-domed towers and an organ with 17,974 pipes.

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.

Thurn und Taxis palace tour: Enjoy a guided tour of the magnificent Thurn and Taxis palace, followed by some free time. Thurn und Taxis is a German noble family who can trace their history back to the 12th century and is the largest privately inhabited castle.

Bavarian beer tasting: Learn about intricacies of beer making and the region’s rich brewing heritage. Visit a traditional brewery to taste a variety of distinctive Bavarian brews.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cruise into Nuremberg, Bavaria’s second-largest city, where the Old Town is 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 facade, 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.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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 quaint ‘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.

Guided tour of Neue Residence: Step behind the elegant facade of Bamberg’s Neue Residenz. Explore the opulent Baroque and Rococo interiors, from the grand halls to the meticulously curated art collections. Take in the breathtaking views over the historic city and gain insight into the rich heritage of the prince-bishops who once called this residence home.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Wurzburg is the capital of Franconian wine country and home to one of the finest baroque palaces in Europe, and a morning’s cruise down the Main River through the vine terraces is the ideal approach.
The Würzburg Residence, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Tiepolo’s famous ceiling fresco covering the entire staircase vault in a single uninterrupted painting, is one of the great interior spaces in Germany. The Romantic Road Freechoice to Rothenburg is among the most celebrated day trips in Bavaria — the perfectly preserved medieval walled town is exactly what the fairy tale image of Germany promises.

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

Guided 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.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 offers the most personalised day of the entire voyage, with five distinct Scenic Freechoice options covering wine, castle visits, active hiking, local food culture and schnapps distilling.
The itinerary begins in Wertheim, a half-timbered medieval town at the confluence of the Main and Tauber rivers, before moving to Miltenberg, one of the most picture-perfect small towns in Franconia. The standout option is the Gamburg Castle tour, where you will meet the Baron and Baroness von Mallinckrodt for a private reception in their own home — an experience that few travellers anywhere in Europe can access.

Scenic Freechoice:
Today, choose from the following Scenic Freechoice tours:

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

Gamburg Castle tour: Transfer to 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 hike: Be immersed in the elegant Franconian landscape on a guided hike through the hills and forests encircling Miltenberg. Led by an expert local guide, this active walk reveals panoramic views of the Main River, ancient, vineyard terraces, and timeless villages. Along the way, discover the region’s quiet charm and hear stories of its medieval past.

Tastes and treasures of Miltenberg: Step into the local life of Miltenberg as you seek out the town’s finest local producers, from artisanal butchers and bakers to independently run Schnapps producers, offering an authentic taste of Franconian craftsmanship.

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.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Relax on board this morning 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.

Spend this afternoon in Koblenz. This historic hub is home to many things, a wine city, a fortress city and one of Germany’s oldest cities. Founded by the Romans more than 2,000 years ago it is strategically placed where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet. Its long history ensures there’s something for everyone, from rich history to a mélange of French and German cultures and beautiful scenery. It is, of course, also the gateway to both the romantic Rhine Valley and the beautiful Moselle Valley.

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

Walking tour of Koblenz: A guide will lead you on a journey through the old town’s winding streets, charming squares, impressive townhouses and historic churches as well as the famed Florinsmarkt, the former political and economic centre of the city.

Winter winery visit: Learn about the production of ‘Ice Wine’ at a local vineyard. Taste some of the locally produced delicacy while you discover what is required to produce this sweet wine.

Scenic Enrich
Gala Dinner and classical concert at La Redoute: 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 whose previous guests include Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana and US Presidents.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cologne is one of the great cities of the Rhine, founded by the Romans in 50 AD, and the twin-spired Gothic cathedral that anchors the old town is one of the most extraordinary buildings in Germany.
Construction of the Cologne Cathedral began in 1248 and was not completed until 1880, making it the largest project in medieval European construction history. The old town, painstakingly reconstructed after wartime bombing, surrounds it with Romanesque churches, the Romano-Germanic Museum and the Museum Ludwig — home to one of the finest Picasso collections outside Spain. The Altstadt’s waterfront restaurants and traditional Kölsch beer halls make an excellent final evening in Germany before Amsterdam tomorrow.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Amsterdam arrives as a finale worthy of the voyage, its 17th-century canal ring and gabled merchant houses rising from the morning mist as Scenic Amber docks in the heart of the city.
Four Freechoice options today offer the full range: a walking tour through the canal district with herring tasting, windmills and Alkmaar village, the Rijksmuseum with its Van Gogh and Rembrandt collections, and a canal cruise through the UNESCO World Heritage waterways. Any one of these is a complete afternoon; choosing between them is the only genuine difficulty of the day.
Scenic Freechoice:
Discover more of the city on one of these excursions:

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.

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

Rijksmuseum visit: The iconic Rijksmuseum is one of the premier museums in the Netherlands and has more than 8,000 pieces in its collection, including works from Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Vermeer. Your local guide will give you an overview before free time to explore at your leisure.

Canal cruise: Amsterdam has more than 100 kilometres of canals. Stay warm as you see some of the most picturesque sights of the city on a one-hour cruise along these historic waterways. Admire Golden Age mansions, grand warehouses and narrow bridges.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

our Jewels of Europe journey concludes this morning in Amsterdam after 14 nights and five countries.
From Budapest’s thermal spas to Vienna’s imperial palaces, the Wachau vineyards, the Rhine Gorge’s hilltop castles and the extraordinary evening at La Redoute — Scenic Amber has covered the most celebrated waterways in Europe in the most comfortable way possible. Disembark after a final breakfast and your return flights home are included.

Inclusions: Breakfast