7 Night Gems of the Danube Cruise from Budapest

Welcome to Hungary and its vibrant capital, Budapest. 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. The city is an architectural treasure trove comprising styles from Gothic to Art Nouveau and everything in between. This afternoon is at leisure to settle into your luxurious suite onboard your all-inclusive luxury Scenic Space-Ship. Most suites have an all-weather balcony that converts into a Scenic Sun Lounge, allowing you uninterrupted views to watch a rolling tapestry of river life as you cruise the Danube. At this evening's welcome reception, award winning hosts Debbie Travis and Tommy Smythe will be introduced. Please book your flight to arrive into Budapest prior to 5 PM. Inclusions: Dinner.

The diverse city of Budapest is a cultural melting pot, renowned for its thermal baths and vibrant nightlife scene, peppered with Roman ruins, Gothic buildings, bohemian coffee houses, world-class operas, and an historical Jewish quarter where the scars of WWII can still be seen to this day. Freechoice: A range of Scenic Freechoice activities are on offer to choose from this morning: Budapest in Depth: Explore this magical city by motorcoach. Visit both Buda and Pest, the two districts that are separated by the Danube that make up the city. Starting on the Buda side see the Varkert Bazar before crossing the Margaret Bridge to the Pest side where you will see Szechenyi and Elizabeth squares. End your tour with a mesmerizing piano recital at the Institute for the Blind. Budapest's Jewish history (not available on Saturday): Discover Jewish history on a guided tour with an expert local guide and learn about the significant Jewish events from history that have shaped the culture of today. The tour includes Synagogue, cemetery, memorial park, and guided tour of the Jewish Museum. Ancestry of the Kitchen - Goulash cooking class: Traditional recipes have long been passed down through generations. Today, you'll be let in on the secrets of a family recipe as you learn how to make traditional Hungarian goulash. Excursion to Szentendre: Journey to the riverside town in Pest County, Szentendre. Known for its museums, galleries, and artists, this charming city will captivate you during a guided tour. Guided hike to Buda Hill: Strap on your walking shoes for a beautiful hike up to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed site of Buda Hill. On your walk, see Varkert Bazar and beautifully landscaped gardens, all while enjoying great views over the Danube River and the city architecture. Your 5-star Space-Ship will only depart Budapest later this afternoon, allowing you some free time to explore the city on your own. Pack your swimsuit and make your way to one of Budapest's thermal baths for a relaxing soak in the therapeutic waters, or perhaps set out to explore the Central Market Hall - the largest market in the city, built in Neo-Gothic style for a combination of shopping and sightseeing. Alternatively, check out the Jewish Quarter's famous ruin bars, which are housed in old and abandoned buildings that were left in decay after WWII. Exclusive for Debbie Travis & Tommy Smythe Guests: This afternoon, enjoy a talk by design expert Tommy Smythe. Day of event is subject to change. Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Today, perhaps wake to a coffee delivered to your suite by your personal butler. Be sure to download the Scenic Tailormade app to listen to river commentary and gain insight to the villages and sites you're passing as you relax onboard while sailing to the Austrian capital, Vienna. Vienna oozes charm with magnificent Baroque buildings, ample green spaces from parks to vineyards, a vibrant coffee-house culture, and masterpiece-filled galleries and museums. Exclusive for Debbie Travis & Tommy Smythe Guests: Enjoy an onboard morning presentation by multi award-winning designer, TV host, and author Debbie Travis. Day of event is subject to change. Enrich: Join Debbie Travis and Tommy Smythe for tonight's Scenic Enrich: Classical concert at Palais Liechtenstein: Breathe in the opulence and luxury of Palais Liechtenstein this evening as you relish an exclusive private classical concert. Enjoy a glass of fine Austrian Sekt and listen to the timeless music of Strauss and Mozart performed by a renowned orchestra. An experience only shared with your fellow Scenic guests, you'll be seated in Vienna's largest secular Baroque hall, an ornate space where royals and nobles have sat for centuries. Accompanied by ballet dancers and vocalists and surrounded by world-famous art, this will be a concert that you'll remember for a lifetime. Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Vienna is Austria's imperial capital - a city full of grandeur, featuring the world's most beautiful boulevard, Ringstrasse, and the legacy of the Habsburg monarchy. Also known as the City of Music, Vienna fostered the musical geniuses Mozart and Beethoven, among others. Sigmund Freud also lived and worked here in the late 19th century. Freechoice: Explore your way with a selection from today's Scenic Freechoice activities: Schonbrunn Palace: Explore Schonbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Habsburg family, one of the most prominent dynasties in European history, as you wander its countless ornately designed rooms, hear tales about the royal family that lived here, and see the impressive gardens. Cycle to Danube Island: Explore a different side of Vienna on a guided e-bike tour to Danube Island, a recreational playground where locals come to enjoy bathing, boating, cycling, and relaxing on its beaches and open spaces. Excursion to Bratislava: Take a motorcoach to Bratislava. The Slovakian capital since independence in 1993 is a modern multicultural metropolis with an intriguing history. Its Old Town is glorious in medieval and Gothic architecture and its well-preserved hilltop castle, which has history dating back to the 9th century, still dominates the town. These charming historic sites contrast with its brutalist socialist architecture, which is evident around the city. Take a tour with a local guide to see Bratislava Castle, Hlavne Namestie, the main square, and the Old Town Hall. Belvedere Museum: Visit one of Europe's most stunning Baroque landmarks and explore the greatest collection of Austrian art dating from the Middle Ages to the present day, complemented by the work of international artists such as Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, and Max Beckmann. This afternoon is free to wander around Vienna, so perhaps join one of the provided shuttles to the city center or simply relax onboard your Scenic Space-Ship. Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Your Scenic Space-Ship will dock in the quaint town of Durnstein this morning, where you have some time to wander at your leisure. Surrounded by vineyards, the town has historical buildings that date back to the 12th century, including the hilltop ruins of Durnstein Castle where Richard the Lionheart was famously imprisoned between 1192 and 1193. As we continue sailing the scenic Wachau Valley, you will be mesmerized by the sloping vineyards and charming villages. This afternoon, we will dock in the small and picturesque town of Melk. The city's breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage-listed Benedictine abbey built high over the city is the most spectacular building in the region. Freechoice: There are a variety of Scenic Freechoice excursions to choose from today: E-biking from Durnstein to Melk: Embark on a guided e-bike ride to soak up the scenery along the Danube as you cycle from the quaint village of Durnstein to Melk. You'll pass by small villages and through rolling vineyards, stopping along the way to enjoy the river views. Glorious Melk Abbey: No visit to Melk would be complete without a guided tour to its magnificent 18th-century Baroque Benedictine abbey. Wander its 900-year-old hallowed halls, visit the decorated Marble Hall and the library, which is filled with more than 80,000 books, and be awed by the Abbey Church, which is adorned in frescoes and intricate statues. Artstetten Castle: Meet the current owners of Artstetten Castle, which dates to the 13th century. It was once home to the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination sparked the beginning of WWI in 1914. See the family crypt and visit the on-site museum. While you indulge in the spectacular views this afternoon, it's also the perfect opportunity to indulge in some delicious local produce from the Wachau Valley. Your cruise director will organize a special treat for you and invite a local producer onboard to share some regional delicacies that are famous in this region. Sample some apricot dumplings and local schnapps among other delights in this breath-taking location. Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Freechoice: Today, choose from two completely different yet equally fascinating full-day Scenic Freechoice excursions. Full-day excursion to Salzburg: This morning, you will disembark your Scenic Space-Ship in Brandstatt, from where you will journey via motorcoach to Salzburg, Austria. Surrounded by alpine peaks and on the banks of the Salzach River, Salzburg is best known as the home of Mozart and The Sound of Music. This storybook city has a thriving art scene, music and concert halls filled with classical music, a Baroque old town where you'll find Mozart's birthplace, and Hohensalzburg, Central Europe's largest intact fortress, which sits high above the rooftops with panoramic views of the city. During a guided tour explore this incredible city before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant and some free time to explore at your leisure. You will return to your Scenic Space-Ship in the German town of Vilshofen. Full-day excursion to Cesky Krumlov: From Brandstatt journey via motorcoach to the Czech town of Cesky Krumlov. This delightful UNESCO World Heritage town is brimming with charm. Sitting on the banks of the Vltava River, Cesky Krumlov is considered one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe with its vast array of well-preserved Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. Wander this fairy-tale location with your local guide and explore the historic center before delighting in a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. After some free time to explore at your leisure, you will return to your Scenic Space-Ship in the German town of Vilshofen. Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Boasting a staggering 2,000-year history, Regensburg has one of Germany's best-preserved medieval town centers, with more than 900 of its Romanesque and Gothic buildings UNESCO World Heritage-listed. Within its narrow laneways, the city lays claim to having the highest concentration of bars in the country. Regensburg is also fringed by the Bavarian Forest, home to hundreds of kilometers of hiking trails and deer, wild boar, fox, and otter. Freechoice: This morning, Regensburg offers up a selection of Scenic Freechoice touring activities to choose from: Walking tour of Regensberg: Join your local guide for an afternoon walking tour of the Old Town of Regensburg. You'll be in awe of the many perfectly preserved medieval buildings that have been standing sentinel over the Danube for centuries. Weltenburg Abbey: Take a ferry through the Danube Gorge to Weltenburg Abbey, the oldest monastery in Bavaria, founded by monks in approximately 600 AD. Explore the Abbey and Cloister Church, then sample the award-winning beer produced on site, which has been produced here since the year 1050 making it the oldest monastic brewery in the world. Cycling to Walhalla: Join a guided bike tour through the wonderful scenery of the Danube Valley. You will ride for approximately 60 minutes along the riverside and through countryside to Walhalla. Reached by 358 steps, this memorial is considered the most important of all works commissioned by King Ludwig l of Bavaria, a Parthenon-like structure built to commemorate distinguished people in German history. Regensburg's Jewish heritage: Discover Regensburg's Jewish heritage - the city was the first documented Jewish community in Germany. Learn about the rich culture that has evolved throughout the centuries and the devastation caused by the Nazi regime. After your Scenic Freechoice, you will return to the ship by motorcoach in the town of Kelheim. In the afternoon enjoy a "Joint Conversation with Debbie & Tommy", with plenty of chance to snap a photo to keep as a memory of your special trip. Day of event is subject to change. Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

This morning, you will arrive in Bavaria's second-largest city, Nuremberg. After a hearty breakfast, you'll be transferred to Munich Airport for your onward or homebound flight, taking a lifetime of wonderful memories with you. Please book your flight to depart out of Munich after 2 PM. Inclusions: Breakfast.; Note: This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above.