Your Munich / Oberammergau / Salzburg Extension begins at 6:30 PM at the Bayerischer Hof.  A transfer is included from Munich Airport to the Bayerischer Hof. If arriving early, you'll have time to explore Bavaria's capital city as you wish this afternoon. Please join your Tauck Director this evening for welcome drinks followed by dinner at your leisure at your historic hotel, a Munich landmark for more than a century.

Begin your day with a walking tour of historic Munich with your local guide, then head to the outskirts of the city for a tour of Schloss Nymphenburg, an imposing Baroque palace that served as a summer home for Bavaria's ruling family. Later, travel into the Bavarian Alps, arriving in the old market town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen - site of the 1936 Winter Olympics - for a two-night stay.

After a morning spent at leisure in alpine Garmisch-Partenkirchen, drive to the nearby village of Oberammergau, whose residents have joined together to produce their world-renowned Passion Play (Passionsspiele) once every decade for nearly 400 years! After lunch in the village - also renowned for its exquisite woodcarvings - you'll head over to Oberammergau's specially built Passion Play theater to attend a performance of this once-in-a-lifetime event in Tauck's premier seating in Section 1A - the best available. Tauck provides you with an English libretto to enhance your enjoyment of the performance (presented in German), which begins in the afternoon and resumes after a break for dinner at a local restaurant. It's a day you'll never forget!

Depart the Bavarian Alps after breakfast and cross the border into Austria, arriving mid-morning in the beautiful city of Salzburg, hometown of famed 18th-century composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Spend a delightful day and evening exploring the city's wealth of Baroque palaces, churches, fountains and gardens - first on a walking tour with a local guide, and later on your own.

Travel from Salzburg to Regensburg, Germany, today for the start of your river cruise. The well-preserved German cathedral town of Regensburg, whose roots stretch back to Roman days, is rich in medieval architecture. You'll embark the riverboat this afternoon for the start of your 7-night Danube River cruise.

Enjoy the views from your riverboat's sun deck, lounge, or the windows of your outside cabin. Your first port of call is Passau, Germany; accompanied by a local guide whose love for Passau is evident, take a walking tour through the cobblestone streets of this Baroque town renowned for its lovely stained glass and nearly 100 churches. See the Altes Rathaus, the old town hall with 15th-century origins, murals on the façade and a glockenspiel in the tower. Return to the riverboat for lunch as you cruise to Linz, Austria.

With your riverboat docked in Linz, you can choose to enjoy this Austrian port city, or take a full-day excursion to old Salzburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's hometown on the Salzach River. The day trip includes visits to Mozart's birthplace and beautiful Mirabell Gardens, and a guided walking tour through the historic district of ornate church towers and grand palaces. Back aboard the ship, enjoy dinner and a classical music performance this evening.

Your Danube River cruise continues through the Wachau Valley, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved medieval landscapes. Dock in Dürnstein and take a walking tour amidst its cobblestone streets, 16th-century houses, and former Augustinian monastery; if you like, hike up to the ruins of a hilltop castle above the town where Richard the Lionhearted was held for ransom during the Crusades. Enjoy some free time in this charming riverside town, and sample the fruits of the Wachau Valley vineyards surrounding it during a wine tasting at a local tavern.

Get an overview of the longtime capital of the old Habsburg Empire and one of Europe's grandest cities - Vienna, Austria - with a morning sightseeing tour of this historic city that includes the Ringstrasse, the Opera House, City Hall and Parliament. Then choose a tour of Schönbrunn Palace, built to rival Versailles, or a special visit to the Imperial Silver Room inside the Hofburg, now Austria's presidential residence. Tonight, indulge in a bit of royal treatment with a gala, private Imperial Viennese evening at a traditional palace in the heart of the city, featuring a sumptuous dinner and live Viennese music... an unforgettable highlight of your Danube River cruise!

Pursue your own interests this morning in glorious Vienna - which boasts over a hundred museums of all kinds - and then return to the riverboat to continue your Danube River cruise to Slovakia. Gliding along the "river of kings," admire the pastoral scenery and immerse yourself in Slovak culture aboard the riverboat, as you enjoy a taste of regional cuisine at dinner - and join in as Slovakian folkloric entertainers in traditional costumes perform for you.

Wake up today in ancient Bratislava, capital of modern Slovakia - and, strangely enough, the long-ago capital of Hungary! Your local expert shares insights and anecdotes about this beloved city on a guided walking tour; view several Baroque Habsburg-era palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall and St. Martin's Cathedral; visit the 13th-century Old Town Hall; and savor some delectable Slovakian pastry at a local café. After some exploring on your own, return to the riverboat and celebrate your memorable cruise with the Captain and crew at the Captain's shipboard farewell reception and dinner tonight.

Your extraordinary Danube River cruise ends this morning in Budapest, Hungary, split into the sections of Buda and Pest by the Danube River. After disembarking your riverboat and bidding the crew farewell, explore the city's Buda side on a walking tour of Castle Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; see Fishermen's Bastion with its Neo-Romanesque design, and admire the stained glass windows and centuries of history in Matthias Church. After lunch at a local café, spend the rest of the day pursuing what interests you most in Budapest; later, dig into dinner at your choice of select city restaurants. Note: Matthias Church may be closed on some departures due to services.

The Pest side of the city reveals itself to you today on a visit to Heroes' Square - bounded by some of the finest architectural works in Hungary - and sightseeing including the spectacular Parliament building and tree-lined Andrassy Avenue. There may be some surprises in store on a special visit to the opulent State Opera House, opened in 1884, with its gilded vaulted ceiling, murals, royal boxes and three-ton chandelier. Conclude your Danube River cruise adventure by spending the rest of the day exploring what interests you most in Budapest; you may want to stroll along fashionable Váci Utca, one of the city's grandest boulevards. Sample Budapest's wide variety of cuisines as you enjoy lunch and dinner on your own in a city abounding with fine restaurants and romantic cafés.