Delightful Danube & Prague
An extraordinary journey for aficionados of European history, music and art
Experience dynamic Budapest, imperial Vienna and exquisitely preserved Prague. Marvel at ravishing scenery as your luxurious ship glides through the Wachau Valley, celebrated as one of the world’s most beautiful landscapes, into Germany and past charming Bavarian villages. Exclusive treasures are plentiful on this delightful journey.
Partake in an exclusive insider’s look at Prague’s historic Estates Theatre with its exquisite jewel-box theatre, where operas are staged to this day, and listen to a short music concert composed by Mozart and his contemporaries in the Mozart Salon.
Go behind the scenes at a BMW factory to get an up-close view of Germany’s rich automotive heritage, and “Let's Go” with guided hiking and biking excursions along the Danube.
This enchanting voyage provides a variety of ways to enjoy captivating destinations as well as plenty of time to relax on-board as you sail from Budapest to Nuremberg and spend two nights onshore in Prague.
Who will enjoy this cruise/tour
Travellers who love history, music and architecture will be able to tailor their travel to their interests along the mighty Danube and in spectacular Prague.
Generations Family Programme (select sailings)
Share the enchantment of this region with the special young people in your life. These cruise/tours not only feature unique, fun-filled adventures for families to enjoy together, they’re also packed with culturally and historically significant experiences designed to spark creativity and lifelong learning.
Day To Day Itinerary
DAY 1: Budapest (Embark)
Arrive at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport. If your cruise/tour package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship.
DAY 2: Budapest, Cruising the Danube River
Located on opposite sides of the Danube, Buda and Pest each has a distinctive character and allure all its own. Explore this dynamic and multi-faceted city with your choice of excursions—you can see it from a local’s perspective on our exclusive walking tour, or cover more ground with a panoramic tour.
Vibrant Budapest, Hungary’s capital, offers an enchanting combination of East and West, old and new. Even its geography is made up of two parts—Buda (the hills) and Pest (the flatlands)—divided by the Danube. Appropriately enough, you have your choice of two different ways to explore it today.
Featured Excursion:
Choice of Budapest city tour or Exclusive “Do as the Locals Do” Budapest walking tour
Generations Excursion:
Hospital in the Rock
This excursion is only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
Budapest city tour
This panoramic tour is a wonderful way to get an overview of the city if you have never been here before. It will carry you from Heroes’ Square, created in 1896 to honor the thousand-year anniversary of Hungary’s founding and its greatest historical figures, past some of the city’s most striking architectural sights—Dohány Street Synagogue, the Hungarian National Museum, the state opera house, St. Stephen’s Basilica and the truly stunning Parliament Building—to Castle Hill, which has been called the heart of the nation.
The city of Buda began here, when King Béla built a strong keep in 1243 as a defense against Mongol invaders; a castle replaced the simple fortress, and over the centuries other castles replaced that one.
The current castle is primarily 18th century; a museum dedicated to Budapest’s archaeological finds is housed there, and the Castle Hill district has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You’ll go inside the magnificent 700-year-old Matthias Church, named for one of Hungary’s greatest kings, and then wend your way on foot to the picturesque Fisherman’s Bastion, whose seven fairytale-like towers represent the seven tribes that originally settled the region. It offers a glorious view of the city and the Danube below. Note: Visits to the interior of Matthias Church may not be possible on some weekends and Catholic holidays.
Exclusive “Do as the Locals Do” Budapest walking tour
Get ready for a fun immersion in daily life in Budapest— your local guide will show you how to use the metro (one of the oldest in Europe) to easily reach all the city has to offer.
Start with a visit to one of the city’s irresistible market halls. Stalls spill over with produce, sausages and meats, festoons of dried paprika, cheeses, and jars of honey, all of it authentically Hungarian.
After you leave the market, stop for coffee and a sweet treat at Szamos Gourmet Palace, a combination pastry shop, café and chocolate maker in Vörösmarty Square. Marzipan is a favorite confection in Budapest, and Szamos has specialized in making it since the 1930s, so you might want to try some—but the shop’s truffle selection is equally irresistible.
Refreshed, you’ll be ready to hop back on the tram for a visit to the gracious green spaces of Károlyi Garden, sometimes described as Budapest’s most charming small park. You’ll ramble along the boulevards and pass the Hungarian National Museum, truly getting the feel for this dynamic city, as you head back toward the ship.
Your ship sets sail from Budapest after your tour, cruising along the Danube Bend, which is lined with scenic towns—among them are the oldest settlements in the country—nestled at the foot of lovely wooded hills.
Generations Excursion: Hospital in the Rock
Imagine living underneath Budapest for 34 years in a secret abandoned hospital. That’s what one couple did, tending miles of echoing caverns lined with ghostly hospital beds, boxes of files, gas masks . . . gas masks? Yes, gas masks. The Hospital in the Rock began as a hospital during WWII, when Budapest was besieged, but it became a secret nuclear bomb shelter—and hospital/torture chamber for prisoners—during the Soviet era in the 1950s.
It was so secret that once it was abandoned in 1970, a single couple continued to live here as caretakers, telling no one what they did. Explore these once-secret caves, seeing 70-year-old hospital equipment still in place, along with some 200 wax figures that stand in for the real people who worked on this site of heroism and horror.
Why was this place such a dark secret for so many decades? Can you help unravel its mysteries?
This excursion is only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
In the evening, a special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you.
DAY 3: Cruising the Danube River, Vienna
A city tour will show you the architectural highlights of the Austrian capital as well as the legendary opera house in the heart of the city.
Or, indulge your passion for art with visits to two distinctively different collections—a “cabinet of curiosities” collected by the Habsburgs and the Belvedere’s extraordinary cache of paintings by Klimt and other renowned artists.
The grand dame of the Danube, Vienna was the heart of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and remains, to this day, the political and cultural center of Austria. Klimt painted here; Beethoven and Mozart composed here; Freud developed his theories here. It’s a treasure trove of splendid architecture, astonishing art collections and inviting cafés—and today it is yours to explore.
Featured Excursion:
Choice of Vienna city tour with Vienna State Opera visit or Exclusive “Vienna, City of Arts” tour
Generations Excursion:
Viennese delights or Schönbrunn Palace
This excursion is only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
Vienna city tour with Vienna State Opera visit
A panoramic tour will show you the architectural highlights of the Habsburg capital—the City Hall, the Hofburg, St. Charles’s Church and other landmarks—but it will also take you to the legendary opera house in the heart of the city.
The neo-Renaissance theater opened in 1869 with a performance of Mozart’s Don Giovanni (Mozart’s operas continue to be a mainstay of its annual season, during which some 50 operas are staged).
Though the building was damaged during WWII, the main entrance, foyer and grand staircase were unharmed and retain their original grandeur and artwork. Spend some time admiring this handsome structure, then stroll through the neighborhood—which just happens to include the Hotel Sacher, the imperial palace complex, Vienna’s poshest shopping streets and St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
You’ll be able to explore the cathedral on your own: It is truly magnificent. Erected in the 14th century, partly from Roman ruins, St. Stephen’s is as closely linked to the musical history of the empire as it is to imperial politics and religion. Mozart was married and buried here; Vivaldi’s funeral took place here; and Beethoven realized he was completely deaf when he could not hear the great bell ringing.
Note: The Vienna State Opera House is occasionally closed to visitors for rehearsals or special events without advance notice. If we cannot visit the opera house, we will visit an alternative venue instead.
Exclusive “Vienna, City of Arts” tour
The sheer number of artistic gems on view in Vienna is overwhelming. Let an art historian provide you with knowledgeable guidance as you visit two extraordinary— and quite different—collections.
The objects assembled at the Kunstkammer Vienna almost defy description. For centuries the Habsburgs collected curiosities that caught their fancies: an automaton of the goddess Diana riding a centaur, a priceless salt cellar made by Benvenuto Cellini, Renaissance tapestries, exquisite gold communion cups, sculptures and ivories—the range is staggering.
The Kunstkammer Vienna was closed for more than a decade and only reopened in 2013; now these precious, idiosyncratic and magical pieces are once again on public view.
The collections at the Belvedere, by contrast, concentrate on paintings and sculpture. The Belvedere palace complex, a triumph of baroque architecture, was built for Prince Eugene of Savoy, the Habsburg Empire’s leading general in the early 18th century.
The Upper Belvedere houses the world’s largest group of works by Gustav Klimt, including his exquisite The Kiss, as well as paintings by Monet, Van Gogh and Renoir, among many others.
Note: The Kunstkammer Vienna is closed on Mondays between September and May. If the tour lands on a Monday, Albertina Museum will be visited instead.
Generations Excursion: Viennese delights or Schönbrunn Palace
Here’s a fun way to see Vienna: Head to Prater Park. Tweens and teens can zoom around the park on Segways, but there’s plenty for younger travelers to do too, including a ride on the Giant Ferris Wheel, built more than a century ago. Unlike American Ferris wheels, which have open seats, the carriages of the Riesenrad resemble miniature railroad cars. It’s one of the tallest wheels in the world, so you get a fabulous view of the city from the top.
Back on the ground, you’ll encounter some mouthwatering classic Viennese sweets—because Vienna loves sweets!—by watching the famous Sacher torte being made at Café Demel, one of the city’s most elegant cafés, and sampling yummy Lilliput chocolates at a shop near St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Younger travelers can get a taste of Habsburg splendor at Schönbrunn Palace. At the Children’s Museum in the palace, girls may dress up in the ruffles and brocades of long ago, and boys can don imperial uniforms. Try on tricorns and powdered wigs, flirt with your fan, figure out how to set the table for an imperial banquet—it’s all fun, but it’s also a glimpse into a long-ago world of protocol and grandeur.
This excursion is only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
DAY 4: Cruising the Wachau Valley, Spitz (Spitz or Melk)
Sit back and enjoy the ever-changing views as your ship cruises through the Wachau Valley, famous for its apricot groves, Rieslings and natural beauty.
Later, take your pick of excursions—a stroll and wine tasting in the centuries-old village of Spitz, or a visit to Melk Abbey and its opulent baroque-style library.
You’ll want to find a comfortable seat in the lounge or on the Sun Deck today as your ship cruises through the Wachau Valley toward Spitz. Over the eons, the Danube cut a gorge through the foothills of the Bohemian mountains, resulting in a 19-mile (30-kilometer) stretch of riverine scenery so beautiful, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Landscape.
Castle ruins dominate hilltops; baroque church towers appear on the riverbanks, marking historic villages and splendid abbeys; and apricot orchards and vineyards cling to the rocky slopes. Some of Austria’s finest white wines are produced from grapes ripening on the dry-stone terraces above the river, where grapes have been grown for 2,000 years.
Your ship will dock in Spitz, midway through this glorious landscape, where you are faced with a difficult choice: Do you explore a charming riverbank village or visit one of the most beautiful libraries in the world?
Featured Excursion:
Choice of Spitz village stroll with exclusive wine tasting or Melk Abbey with library visit
Generations Excursion:
Treasure hunt hike in the vineyards
This excursion is only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
Spitz village stroll with exclusive wine tasting
Wine grapes grow in the heart of the village, which was built around “Thousand Bucket Mountain,” so called because the vineyards planted on it have produced a thousand buckets of wine a year. What kind of wine? Riesling and Grüner Veltliner,
Austria’s very own varietal. Ramble with your local guide along the cobblestone lanes of Spitz, passing baroque and Renaissance-era houses and perhaps pausing to admire the 15th-century parish church, on your way to one of the wine estates that dominate the slopes above the town. There you’ll sample some of the wonderful local wines and have a chance to check out another specialty of the Wachau, apricots, which are turned into all sorts of delicacies, from jam and schnapps to strudel.
You may opt to walk back to the ship on your own, browsing through the tiny shops along the way, or continue with your guide to hike uphill to the Red Gate, the only remaining gate in the medieval wall that once guarded Spitz. (Legend says that the gate got its name during the Thirty Years’ War, when the defenders’ blood stained the gate red.)
Leave the town behind and hike through the steep vineyards with your guide, learning about the unique qualities of the soil, climate and terrain that make the region’s wine so special.
Melk Abbey with library visit
The Babenbergs, a great medieval ducal family that controlled a wide swath of Austria before yielding to the Habsburgs, were the first to erect a castle on the hill above Melk, which they subsequently gave to Benedictine monks. These monks, some 900 years ago, turned it into a fortified abbey—and the greatest center of learning in Central Europe. Their library was celebrated far and wide (and still is: Umberto Eco paid tribute to it in his best-selling novel The Name of the Rose); monks there created more than 1,200 manuscripts, sometimes spending an entire lifetime hand-lettering a single volume.
Today the library contains some 100,000 volumes, among them more than 80,000 works printed before 1800. This beautiful complex, completely redone in the early 18th century, is a wonderful example of baroque art and architecture, and the views from its terrace are spectacular.
As you walk through the abbey’s Marble Hall with your guide, look up at the ceiling fresco painted by Paul Troger: Those classical gods and goddesses represent Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI, allegorically bringing his people from dark to light and demonstrating the link he claimed to the original Roman Empire.
After your tour of the abbey, you’ll have time to explore Melk on your own, or you can take the motorcoach back to the ship.
Generations Excursion: Treasure hunt hike in the vineyards
Head outdoors to the beautiful Wachau Valley, one of Austria’s great nature habitats. Hike through vineyards high above the river with a nature expert who will guide you in a hunt for the treasures hiding in this habitat. Can you spot one of the orchid species that only grows here in the Wachau? How about the rare native feather grass? Glimpse a European green lizard basking on a stone terrace or a falcon soaring far overhead, but don’t forget to look out over the river and the valley; these views are so lovely, the memory will stay with you forever.
This excursion is only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
DAY 5: Engelhartszell, Cruising the Danube River, Passau
Passau is a crossroads in more ways than one—three rivers meet here and three nations nearly do, making for a fascinating cultural mosaic.
Get to know the town and its main claim to fame, Europe’s largest pipe organ, or “Go Active” with an invigorating riverside hike or bike ride.
Your ship cruises through a scenic highlight of the Danube today, the Schlögener Schlinge—a hairpin loop in the Danube that was once very hazardous for ships and is now a lovely, serene stretch of water—and leaves Austria behind today.
Your first German port of call is Passau, where three rivers meet—the Inn, the Ilz and the Danube—and three nations almost meet: Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic. Explore the historic Old Town or choose a more active adventure.
Featured Excursion:
Choice of Passau walking discovery tour or Passau city tour with Old Town walk or Exclusive guided “Let's Go” Bavarian river bicycle ride
Generations Excursions:
Let's Go!
These excursions are only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
Geo cache tour of Passau
These excursions are only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
Passau walking discovery tour
The skyline of Passau is dominated by two buildings that owe their existence to the prince-bishops who ruled the city until 1803: the great fortress looming on a hill above the three rivers, home to the bishops until the 17th century, and the green onion domes of St. Stephan’s Cathedral.
As you walk through the cobblestone streets toward those green onion domes, you’ll realize that Passau retains the layout of the medieval town. However, many of the wooden medieval buildings burned to the ground in the 17th century, and the prince-bishops imported Italian artists to build a new cathedral and a magnificent new residence for the bishops themselves.
As a result, these splendid structures flaunt Italian baroque and rococo style and ornamentation, complete with opulent gilding and wonderful frescoes.
Your guide will introduce you to some of the architectural highlights—the rococo stairways of the New Residence; the cathedral; and the Town Hall, which boasts a magnificent atrium adorned by large paintings by Ferdinand Wagner—and make sure you get a close-up view of the point where the three rivers meet.
Passau city tour with Old Town walk
Board a motorcoach for a drive along the Danube, crossing over the river and climbing the hill to the Oberhaus fortress. It may look like typical red-roofed Bavarian palace now, but for hundreds of years, the prince-bishops used it to enforce their rule over the region; the citizens of Passau assaulted it twice— without success—in an effort to gain their freedom from the bishops. The bishops threw religious dissidents as well as political enemies into the Oberhaus prison, so it was known as the Bastille of Bavaria for a time.
From the walls here you can see how the fortress dominated the city below, and you also get a fabulous view of the three rivers merging.
Your panoramic tour continues with a drive through Passau, over the Inn River, and into the heart of the old city. A stroll through historic Passau shows you the highlights: the town hall, the lovely baroque churches, the twisting medieval layout.
It’s no mistake that St. Stephan’s Cathedral stands on the highest ground in the old town; Passau has flooded often over the centuries. You can see the high-water marks on the buildings as you pass them, and your knowledgeable local guide can tell you about the city’s plans to control flooding in the riverfront areas as you head back to the ship.
Generations Excursion: Let's Go!
Get into the water this morning: The Ilz River is a great place to paddle a canoe or a kayak—or you could even try some stand-up paddleboarding. It’s splashy fun! Later in the day, you can mount a bike and join a group for a river-hugging ride that starts at the bike ferry across the Danube. You’ll pedal through the lovely countryside between Engelhartszell and Passau—orchards and meadows glide past, along with the occasional castle, charming village or picturesque ruin. Your expert bike guide will have a surprise waiting for you somewhere along the route, too!
This excursion is only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
DAY 6: Straubing, Cruising the Danube River, Regensburg
You have two tantalizing excursions to experience today, including a walking tour and brewery visit in Straubing, plus a choice of adventures in Regensburg, famous for its beautiful, UNESCO protected old city center. “Regensburg is so beautifully situated; this region had to attract a town,” wrote Goethe in his Diary of an Italian Voyage. And attract a town it did, but not due to its beautiful location alone. Ambitious and farseeing locals built a bridge (Steinerne Brücke, or Stone Bridge) over the Danube back in the 12th century, making Regensburg an international trading hub.
Because so many of the handsome buildings from that period remain, UNESCO declared the old city center a World Heritage Site in 2006. But first, you’ll visit Straubing and visit a brewery—simply a must-do experience in Germany!
Featured Excursion:
Straubing walking discovery tour with brewery visit
Choice of “2,000 Years in One Hour” Regensburg walking discovery tour or Jewish Regensburg walking discovery tour or BMW factory visit
Generations Excursion:
Fascination BMW or student stroll
This excursion is only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
Straubing walking discovery tour with brewery visit
Perfectly situated on the banks of the Danube, Straubing is an old town filled with centuries worth of history, culture and tradition. How old is it? The first known settlements here can be traced all the way back to 6000 BC. Your local expert will show you the highlights, followed by a visit to a local brewery.
Reboard the ship and enjoy lunch onboard before choosing your own adventure in the next port of call.
“2,000 Years in One Hour” Regensburg walking discovery tour
People have been describing Regensburg as “old and new” for a thousand years. A single structure perfectly illustrates this: Porta Praetoria, the gate built by the Romans during Marcus Aurelius’s reign.
The gate and adjacent watchtower have been incorporated into a much newer building, but the plaster has been removed to reveal the ancient stones laid so long ago.
As you walk through the cobbled lanes of the UNESCO-designated Old Town, the city’s 2,000-year history similarly revealed: the Stone Bridge built by ambitious residents in the 12th century that made Regensburg a trading powerhouse, the Gothic town hall where the Imperial Diet met for three centuries, the 13th-century fortified patrician houses, and the spectacular Cathedral of St. Peter, whose magnificent 14th-century stained glass windows alone are worth your walk.
You’ll have free time to explore on your own; it’s very hard to get lost in Regensburg because the spires of the cathedral are visible all over town, so don’t hesitate to roam. The historic quarter not only boasts almost a thousand beautiful old buildings but also many cozy pubs and some great shopping—and the ship is docked conveniently close, so it’s easy to drop your treasures off and go back for more.
Jewish Regensburg walking discovery tour
A white marble installation called Place of Encounter stands on the spot where a synagogue was destroyed in 1519. The installation, by Dani Karavan, reflects the outlines of the synagogue, taken from a drawing made immediately before the interior was demolished. It’s just one of the mementos you’ll see on your tour of this historic Jewish district, which was home to a thriving Jewish community for 500 years; its celebrated school drew Talmudic scholars from all of Central Europe.
Jews in Ratisbon, as the town was known in medieval documents, enjoyed imperial protection, but following the death of Maximilian I, the town council banished all Jews and razed their homes and synagogue. The community grew again over the centuries, though the sad history of death and destruction was repeated in the 1930s.
The Jewish quarter was re-established in 1945 by Holocaust survivors. It has taken decades, but the synagogue and much of the surrounding area have now been restored, standing as a symbol of both destruction and hope.
BMW factory visit
Here is your opportunity to see German engineering, famous the world over, in operation as you tour the state-of-the-art BMW factory on the outskirts of Regensburg. About a thousand cars a day roll off the assembly line here, many of them in the BMW 3 series. You’ll see the fascinating production process from beginning to end, starting with rolls of sheet metal that are stamped out into body parts and continuing as the body is built and the various other elements are robotically assembled.
You’ll follow a car into the finishing department to see it painted, polished and have the final touch applied—the BMW roundel.
NOTE: If the tour lands on a day when the BMW factory is closed, we will visit the Audi factory instead. The Audi production line is closed on weekends, so if your visit is scheduled for a weekend, you will see the Audi museum instead.
Generations Excursion: Fascination BMW or student stroll
Don your safety goggles and discover how BMW builds a thousand cars a day at their Regensburg plant. Robots and humans work together to assemble a single car—which has about 550 parts—in less than 40 hours (it used to take weeks).
The place is huge, and though robots do a lot of the work, a great deal still needs to be done by the human hand. You get to see all aspects of the process, from stamping out metal parts to painting, in a tour tailored to young visitors.
If you’d rather see some of historic Regensburg, you can experience it from the viewpoint of its modern-day teenagers, who will show you where to shop, stop for a bite to eat at a thousand-year-old sausage stand and find the best ice cream. They’ll also point out all the must-see sights—the cathedral, the medieval bridge and the house where Oskar Schindler lived.
This excursion is only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
DAY 7: Cruising the Main-Danube Canal
The Main-Danube canal is a masterwork of engineering: It allows ships of all shapes and sizes to cruise from the Black Sea all the way to the North Sea, through no fewer than 15 countries. Sixteen locks punctuate the 106-mile (160-kilometer) stretch between Kelheim and Bamberg, linking the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. Building the canal was no small task, especially considering changes of altitude (each river is different); the locks gently lift and lower the ships an astonishing 1,332 feet (406 meters) over the continental divide.
Efforts to connect the rivers began with Charlemagne in AD 793, but the present-day canal was only completed in 1992.
A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.
DAY 8: Nuremberg (Disembark), Transfer to Prague
Nuremberg will forever be associated with the post-WWII Nuremberg trials, but the city’s profound historical and cultural significance stretches back many centuries before that. You’ll gain a newfound understanding and appreciation of both aspects of the city today on an in-depth tour with a local expert.
Disembark the ship early in the morning—leaving your luggage in Uniworld’s expert hands—and delve into Nuremberg’s history, which is both glorious and profoundly difficult.
One of Germany’s leading cities for many centuries, Nuremberg’s glowing heritage as a center of German arts, culture and economy was, sadly, also responsible for its disastrous experience in the 1930s and 1940s.
Following your excursion, you’ll enjoy lunch on your own and then transfer via motorcoach to Prague, where you’ll check into your hotel.
Featured Excursion: Nuremberg city tour
Nuremberg city tour
Hitler considered Nuremberg the perfect expression of German culture, partly because of its significance in the Holy Roman Empire (which he called the First Reich), and so beginning in 1927, he chose to hold his massive rallies in the city.
By 1933, his favorite architect, Albert Speer, had designed the vast Nazi Party Rally Grounds, where thousands upon thousands of Nazi troops saluted Hitler. (Leni Riefenstahl captured these events in her famous propaganda film Triumph of the Will.)
Not all of Speer’s plans were executed, and some of his grandiose structures were bombed out of existence during WWII, but the remainder stand as vivid testimony to Hitler’s megalomania. Leaving behind the Third Reich’s mementos, you’ll discover the medieval city built by the Holy Roman emperors.
Prosperous, secure and vibrant, Nuremberg lured artists and thinkers, merchants and scientists, for centuries.
Trace the great ramparts and gate towers around the Old Town. Stroll through the castle gardens and enjoy breathtaking views of the city, then walk through a maze of cobblestone lanes down to the central Market Square, gathering around the well-named Beautiful Fountain, first erected in 1396.
The red sandstone Church of Our Lady stands on the east side of the square—the 14th-century façade survived WWII bombing and, like much of Old Town, was meticulously reconstructed after the war, with the original stones plucked from the rubble.
View these sites on a panoramic tour of the city. Browse the area on your own after your tour; your guide can suggest some delightful spots where you can enjoy lunch on your own.
DAY 9: Prague
Is it possible not to be completely enchanted by Prague, with its fabled skyline of spires, fortress-like castle, beautifully preserved architecture and iconic Charles Bridge? A magnet for generations of artists, writers, scientists and composers, Prague is famous for its dynamic energy and elegant ambiance (and the beers here are pretty amazing, too).
A thousand years of architecture, from ornate Gothic to fanciful postmodern, have been beautifully preserved in Prague, which has been a magnet for artists, writers, scientists and composers for centuries.
It also boasts great beer, a lively art scene and up-and-coming fashion designers, making it a fun as well as a beautiful place to visit.
Featured Excursion:
Choice of Prague city tour or Exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Prague’s Estates Theatre and Municipal House
Generations Excursion:
Fairytale Prague
This excursion is only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
Prague city tour
Get an overview of the city with a panoramic tour that carries you past such sights as the State Opera House, the National Museum and Wenceslas Square on your way to massive Prague Castle.
Step inside the castle’s protective walls and enter a self-contained city, with courtyards, palaces, towers, churches and gardens designed for kings and emperors, along with housing and workplaces for all those who tended the rulers.
Among the highlights are lofty St. Vitus Cathedral, which took 600 years to finish, and Vladislav Hall, whose complex stone-vaulting system was one of the most advanced engineering feats of the late Middle Ages.
After strolling through Golden Lane, a street of quaint cottages where Prague’s 17th-century goldsmiths lived (alas, there’s no truth to the legend that it was named for the royal alchemists).
You may reboard the motorcoach for a ride back to the hotel or continue your guided walk through the picturesque Lesser Quarter, the district around the castle, to Charles Bridge. Cross the landmark bridge named for Charles IV, who ordered its construction in 1357; it’s strictly for pedestrians now, so you can pause and look down at the Vltava below you and examine some of the statues that line the bridge, before you head to Old Town Square.
This was the original market square; the buildings that surround it form a case study in Prague’s architectural history. You’ll find Prague’s most famous Gothic church, Our Lady Before Týn, there, along with the 14th-century Old Town Hall (which boasts a famous medieval astronomical clock), the beautiful baroque St. Nicholas, the rococo Kinsky Palace and a group of Renaissance houses.
Exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Prague’s Estates Theatre and Municipal House
Prague adored Mozart, and Mozart adored Prague; he wrote his opera Don Giovanni specifically for the city and its handsome new theater and conducted its premiere there in 1787. Get an exclusive insider’s look at the exquisite jewel-box theater, where operas are staged to this day.
The proscenium, the king’s box and the putti decorating the rows of boxes all evoke Mozart’s era.
Listen to a short concert of music composed by Mozart and his contemporaries in the Mozart Salon before enjoying traditional Czech refreshments at the café in Municipal House, the premier art nouveau building in Prague.
DAY 10: Depart Prague
You’ve experienced the best of the Danube River and Prague, sampling myriad culinary delights and exploring fascinating stops along the way. Now your journey comes to a close.
If your cruise/tour includes a group departure transfer or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to Prague Václav Havel Airport for your flight home.
Your Uniworld adventure may be over, but we know you’ll enjoy the memories you’ve made for years to come.
All Inclusive Amenities
DINING
- All meals onboard, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
- 9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
- Welcome and Farewell Gala Dinners
- Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions
- Unlimited beverages onboard, including fine wine, beer, spirits, soft drinks, specialty coffee and tea, and mineral water
EXCURSIONS
- 7 days of excursions, including “Choice Is Yours” options, all fully hosted by English-speaking local experts
- Guided "Let's Go," "Do as the Locals Do" and "Gentle Walking" programs
- State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio headset system on all excursions
- Use of bicycles and Nordic walking sticks throughout your cruise
ACCOMMODATIONS
- 7-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the stunning River Beatrice
- 2 nights in Prague at the Art Deco Imperial Hotel (or similar) with breakfast
- Lavishly appointed riverview staterooms and suites have handcrafted Savoir® of England beds, high-thread count 100% Egyptian cotton sheets and European duvets, and a menu of pillow options
- Free Internet and Wi-Fi access
EXPERIENCES
- 4 countries: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary
- 5 UNESCO World Heritage sites
- All transfers on arrival and departure days
- All gratuities, both onboard and onshore
- Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager
- Cultural enrichment, including a Signature Lecture: “Main-Danube Canal: History of an Engineering Milestone"
- Exclusive Generations Family Programme on select summer departures