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The Blue Danube – Eastbound
2008 Itinerary featuring 13 days from $3,990       River Cruising  Two Week  
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Glide past fairy-tale castles and medieval villages aboard Tauck's Swiss Emerald or new Swiss Sapphire, traveling the second-longest river in Europe on one of our popular Danube River cruises. Take in views of the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. Enjoy an Imperial evening with dinner and music in Vienna, a wine tasting in Dürnstein, and Slovakian and Austrian entertainment aboard your riverboat. Explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the historic districts of Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg, and Prague, plus the castle-studded Wachau Valley, and Schönbrunn Palace. Admire frescoes, stained glass windows, and stunning architecture as you spend two nights in Budapest and three nights in Prague in 5-star hotels, checking out these cities' remarkable bridges, cathedrals, museums, and grand Habsburg palaces.
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2008 Itinerary


Westbound

Click here for Eastbound, Prague to Budapest.

• Indicates day of cruising

Day 1: Begin your adventure in Budapest
Tour starts at 6:00 p.m. at InterContinental Budapest. A transfer is included from Budapest's Ferihegy Airport to the InterContinental Budapest. Meet your fellow travelers and Tauck Directors at the welcome reception and dinner to kick off one of Tauck's popular Danube River cruises.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: InterContinental Budapest, Hungary*

Day 2: Discover the landmarks of Pest
Budapest is split into the sections of Buda and Pest by the Danube River. Explore the Pest side of the city, including Heroes’ Square, bounded by some of the finest architectural works in Hungary. Enjoy a special visit to the opulent State Opera House, opened in 1884 with a gilded vaulted ceiling, murals, and a three-ton chandelier. View the Parliament building, a Neo-Gothic masterpiece; and stroll Váci Utca, a fashionable promenade.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: InterContinental Budapest, Hungary*

Day 3: Explore Buda and embark your Riverboat
On the Buda side, head to Gellért Hill for panoramic views of the city. Take 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 in Matthias Church. Board the riverboat to launch your Danube River cruise. Note: Matthias Church may be closed on some departures due to services.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 4: Baroque in Bratislava
The first port-of-call is Bratislava, capital of Slovakia. On a guided walking tour you'll view several Baroque palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall and St. Martin's Cathedral, and visit the 13th-century Old Town Hall. Your riverboat sets off for magical Vienna tonight to continue one of our popular Danube River cruises.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 5: Music and more in Imperial Vienna
Arrive in Vienna, Austria; get an overview on 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 tour of the Imperial Silver Room inside the Hofburg. Tonight, attend a very special private Imperial Viennese evening at a traditional palace, which features dinner and live Viennese music.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 6: Explore Vienna and journey to Dürnstein
Pursue your own interests this morning in Vienna – which boasts over a hundred museums – and then return to the riverboat for a cruise past castles and abbeys en route to medieval Dürnstein. High above this village sits the ruins of the castle fortress where England’s King Richard the Lionhearted was held for ransom during the Crusades.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 7: Picturesque Dürnstein and Wachau Valley cruise
Your discovery of the Danube River cruises to Dürnstein; take a walking tour amidst its cobblestone streets, 16th-century houses, and former Augustinian monastery. Enjoy some free time, and attend a wine tasting at a local winery. Cruise through the Wachau Valley, Austria's lush wine-growing region, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved medieval landscapes.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 8: Salzburg sights or relax in Linz
Choose to enjoy the city of Linz, Austria, or take the full-day excursion to old Salzburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Mozart's hometown. The day trip includes Mirabell Gardens and a guided walking tour through the historic district of ornate church towers and grand palaces.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 9: Spend the day in Passau and cruise the Danube
Dock in the German town of Passau; take a walking tour through the cobblestone streets of this Baroque town renowned for its lovely stained glass. 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 past idyllic German landscapes to Regensburg.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 10: Disembark in ancient Regensburg and on to Prague
Your Danube river cruise concludes when you disembark your riverboat in the well-preserved Bavarian town of Regensburg. Visit the Steinerne Brücke, a medieval stone bridge over the Danube, and the remains of the town’s Roman wall. Have lunch on your own and explore at leisure before driving to Prague, capital of the Czech Republic, known as the City of 100 Spires.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic

Day 11: Discover the Legacy of Prague and Attend a Private Gala
Choose to take a walking tour of Prague’s Old Town – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – as well as Wenceslas Square and other "Velvet Revolution" sites. Or opt to visit Josefov, Prague's historic Jewish Quarter, where a walking tour includes the Jewish Museum and Pinkas Synagogue (may not be available on some departures due to Jewish holidays). Tonight, join us for an exclusive gala farewell evening at the Renaissance-era Nelahozeves Castle; meet members of the former Czech nobility, and enjoy wine from their vineyards.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic

Day 12: Explore Hradcany and Prague Castle
Visit Prague's ancient Hradcany district today, where you'll see Prague Castle's 1,000-year-old complex of palaces, courtyards and gardens; visit the Cathedral of St. Vitus and enjoy an exclusive private tour of Strahov Monastery's grand libraries. Spend the rest of the day exploring Prague as you please or enjoying the amenities of your hotel, named one of the Top 100 Best Luxury Hotels of the World.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic

Day 13: Homeward bound
Tour ends in Prague, Czech Republic. A transfer is included from the Prague Marriott Hotel to Prague's Ruzyne International Airport.
Meals: Breakfast

*Note: Tour of 5/22 will stay at Le Méridien Budapest on nights 1 & 2.

Quiet medieval landscapes and vibrant cities beckon on one of Tauck's Danube river cruises – book today!


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