Why dip your toes in the Danube when you can explore and adore its landmarks, legends, customs, and cuisine in the most interactive ways? Avalon’s Active & Discovery cruises on the Danube invite dreamers and doers to activate their curiosity. To look closer, dive deeper, and forage further into the hamlets and hills of Germany, Austria, and Hungary. Uncover ancient traditions and local flavors in immersive ways. Enjoy leisurely sightseeing or on-your-own discoveries. Whether you walk through winding alleyways, hike to a castle, bike to a palace or row to your own sanctuary of scenery, our diverse offerings of Classic, Discovery and Active excursions along the Danube redefines the rules of engagement. Move.Enjoy a little get-up-and-go on your cruising vacation when you:• Sink your teeth into Count Dracula’s Visegrád prison tower on a hike to new heights.• Paddle a canoe on an excursion through the picturesque Bend region.• Pedal along the postcard-perfect Wachau Valley. And be moved.Get off the beaten path and relish the world when you:• See the ancient jousting skills of the St. George Knightly Order at Visegrád Castle.• Experience inspiring and interactive culinary and cultural adventures with an insider’s tour of Vienna.• Meet the Count of Clam at Austria’s 12th-century and beautifully preserved Clam Castle. Plus, Classic sightseeing is always available in every port along the way.Start sooner with a one-night hotel stay in Budapest! Avalon Choice sightseeing is the perfect highlight of your stay.Activate your senses and discover a world of wonder in all-new, entirely “you” ways on your personal, passion-packed cruise along the Danube.A Journey That Changes with the Seasons.From the energy of summer to the softer rhythms of fall and spring, this iconic journey on the Danube reveals something special in every season. Depending on when you sail, you may explore Austria’s cherished farming traditions with a visit to a vineyard or apricot orchard to discover culinary customs passed down through generations or be welcomed into a cider cellar in autumn where an expert sommelier unveils the secrets of Upper Austria’s beloved ciders. It’s the same iconic Danube – beautifully shaped by the season in which you experience it.

1. Day 1
   BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

   Sat, Sep 04, 2027

   Welcome to Budapest—Hungary’s Captivating CapitalThe day is yours to relax and enjoy Eastern Europe’s shining city on the Danube.
2. Day 2
   BUDAPEST (EMBARKATION)–DANUBE BEND

   Sun, Sep 05, 2027

   The Pearl of the DanubeVisit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.ACTIVE See the sights from a different perspective by joining a Guided Bike Tour along the bike paths and pedestrian areas of the city, OR: DISCOVERY Join a local Hungarian for an unforgettable introduction to the local people, places, and experiences that makes Budapest so special, OR:CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of Budapest to see the city’s most iconic sites.Spend free time shopping for Hungarian paprika or handcrafted souvenirs, or savor a piece of cream cake in one of the many cafés.Enjoy a Hungarian Dinner on board during a scenic cruise through the Danube Bend. EVENING CRUISE TO VISEGRÁD(B,D)
3. Day 3
   VISEGRÁD

   Mon, Sep 06, 2027

   Jousting Tournaments and Dracula’s TowerACTIVE Visit Count Dracula’s prison tower on a Hiking Tour, OR: ACTIVE Take part in a Canoe Excursion through the picturesque Bend Region of the Danube for a truly unique perspective of one of the river’s most beautiful stretches, OR: DISCOVERY Join a Guided Visit to the Medieval Knights Tournament at Visegrád’s Lower Castle, featuring targeting and fighting demonstrations by members of the St. George Knightly Order.Spend free time after your selected activities to explore Palotaház, where stonemasons, smiths, potters, and papermakers produce their traditional items using age-old techniques.AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIENNA(B,L,D)
4. Day 4
   VIENNA, AUSTRIA

   Tue, Sep 07, 2027

   Strauss, Schnitzel, Strudel and Sachertorte on the Blue DanubeACTIVE Take a Guided Bike Tour along the famed Ringstrasse and pedestrian avenues of Vienna to see the city’s highlights from a unique perspective, OR: DISCOVERY Take an Insider’s Tour of Vienna to get behind the scenes of her sights and attractions. You will meet locals, have the chance to prepare some food, and enjoy other surprises, OR:CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Vienna, including a tour of Belvedere Palace to see Gustave Klimt’s renowned “Kiss” painting.Spend free time this afternoon strolling through the pedestrian Kärntnerstrasse then take a break for a piece of Sachertorte. Or enjoy an optional excursion to Schönbrunn.This evening, consider joining an Optional Excursion to attend a Royal Waltz Concert in an elegant hall.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN VIENNA(B,L,D)
5. Day 5
   VIENNA

   Wed, Sep 08, 2027

   A Feast for the SoulDISCOVERY Enjoy a morning Guided Walking Tour to see the city in her best light, along with breakfast at a Viennese café.OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KREMS(B,L,D)
6. Day 6
   KREMS

   Thu, Sep 09, 2027

   Pedals and Paddles in Austria’s Wine CountryJoin your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.ACTIVE Paddle a canoe on a Guided Tour to see the Austrian waterways and shoreline scenery from a unique perspective, OR: ACTIVE Take a Guided Bike Tour from Krems to Spitz, and enjoy a stop in Dürnstein to see the mesmerizing blue Stiftskirche, and to sample local specialties, OR: DISCOVERY Enjoy a Guided Visit to a vineyard or apricot orchard to try your hand at harvesting practices and preparing local specialties. DISCOVERY As we sail through the scenic waters, join an authentic Austrian experience with a live cooking demonstration of the iconic Mozart Balls.Relax on board this afternoon to enjoy the picturesque Wachau Valley scenery as you cruise to Grein.GREINA Modern-Day Castle and the Count DISCOVERY See Burg Clam on a Guided Visit and meet the Count of Clam during your tour.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN GREIN(B,L,D)
7. Day 7
   GREIN

   Fri, Sep 10, 2027

   Theater History...Alive and Well in GreinCLASSIC Take a Guided Walk of Grein, including its historic theater, the oldest in Austria still holding regular performances.Take a mid-morning cruise to Mauthausen. MAUTHAUSEN History Lessons and Monastic Life ACTIVE Take a Guided Bike Tour along the Danube and discover how fertile this area is. Stop at a local farm and learn more about farming life and flood protection, OR: CLASSIC Visit the 9th-century St. Florian Monastery—the largest monastery in upper Austria and home to Augustine monks, OR: CLASSIC Join a sobering Guided Tour of Mauthausen Memorial, one of the largest and most brutal Nazi camp of WWII. This afternoon sail to Linz arriving this evening. LINZLegendary, Lovely LinzTonight, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship.OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ENGELHARTSZELL(B,L,D)
8. Day 8
   ENGELHARTSZELL–SCHLÖGEN OXBOW

   Sat, Sep 11, 2027

   Memories and Beer in the Making ACTIVE Bike your way to a former Trappist monastery in Engelhartszell and follow the Danube along the riverbank, OR:DISCOVERY Join a Guided Tour to a cider cellar where an expert sommelier will reveal the secrets of Upper Austria’s beloved ciders, OR: CLASSIC Join a guided visit to the stunning rococo-style Engelszell Abbey, and marvel at its opulent high altar and enchanting frescoes. In this former Trappist monastery, sample cheese and locally produced Engelszeller Klosterbräu beer.Relax on the Sky Deck this afternoon while you sail through the amazing horseshoe bend of the Danube’s Schlögen Oxbow on your way to Vilshofen.ACTIVE This afternoon, enjoy a scenic Guided Hike along the Danube’s Schlögen Oxbow, a dramatic bend carved by centuries. EVENING CRUISE TO VILSHOFEN(B,L,D)
9. Day 9
   VILSHOFEN (DISEMBARKATION)

   Sun, Sep 12, 2027

   Your vacation ends with breakfast this morningFlights should not leave Munich airport before 8 am.(B)