Itinerary

Day 1. Arrive Venice.

Be met by an APT Tour Director and transferred by private boat to your hotel, located in the heart of the city. Tonight is a Welcome Reception, then enjoy the remainder of the evening as you choose.
Two Night Stay: Venice.

Day 2. Venice Sightseeing.

This morning discover the treasures of Venice on a guided walking tour. See the famous Bridge of Sighs, then continue to St Mark’s Square and St Mark’s Basilica. Visit a glass blowing factory then enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
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Day 3. Venice – Portoroz.

Today visit the wine-growing town of Medana where we visit the Belica Farm for lunch and wine tasting. In the afternoon continue to Portoroz.
Stay: Portoroz.
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Day 4. Piran – Lipica – Postojna – Ljubljana.

Depart this morning and travel via the port town of Piran to Lipica, home to the famous white Lipizzaner horses, which are born black but turn white with age. Take a guided tour at a stud farm then head for Postojna to visit the world-famous cave. Journey aboard a cave train through this cavernous wonderland of underground halls and galleries, then continue to Ljubljana.
Three Night Stay: Ljubljana.
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Day 5. Bled & Bohinjska Bistrica Excursion.

Our day excursion starts with a visit to the prominent alpine resort town of Bled, located on the shores of Lake Bled. Visit Bled Castle which stands on a rock high above the lake, then take a boat ride to the lake’s tiny island and visit lovely St Maria’s Church. Continue to Bohinjska Bistrica and travel through the small villages and visit Oplen House, a museum of Duomostic culture. On return to Ljubljana visit the Pakljuka alpine plateau, famous for its fir tree forests.
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Day 6. Ljubljana Sightseeing.

After breakfast this morning, enjoy a guided tour of the Slovenian capital. See the Parliament Building, visit the National Museum of Contemporary History and view the Bishop’s Palace and Ljubljana Castle. Enjoy the afternoon and evening at leisure to explore on your own.
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Day 7. Ljubljana – Zagreb.

Cross into Croatia on the way to Zagreb. Here enjoy a city tour, including a visit to the Croatian National Theatre and Opera House. Walk through the Stone Gate and visit its little Chapel of our Lady of the Stone Gate.
Stay: Zagreb.
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Day 8. Arrive Budapest, Hungary.

Today travel to Budapest, the liveliest metropolis of Eastern Europe. Check in to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Stay: Budapest.
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Day 9. Budapest – Embark Ship, State Opera House Performance.

Your morning sightseeing tour of Budapest includes historic Buda Castle, Matthias Church, the Royal Palace and more. See a private music performance over a glass of champagne at the Hungarian State Opera House, then transfer to your luxurious river ship this afternoon and enjoy a Welcome Dinner with Gypsy violinists.
Stay: 7 nights aboard APT’s ms Amadante
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Day 10. Bratislava, Slovakia.

Relax this morning as you cruise towards Bratislava, the intriguing capital of Slovakia. An afternoon walking tour reveals to you the city’s major sights, including the Old Town Hall, Mirbach Palace and Gothic St Martin’s Cathedral. From Bratislava Castle, you will enjoy views overlooking three countries – Slovakia, Austria and Hungary. Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure, followed by an evening music performance on board as we cruise towards Austria and its capital city.
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Day 11. Vienna, Freedom of Choice Touring.

Today savour the Baroque elegance of Vienna with our two Freedom of Choice Touring options. A guided sightseeing tour includes Hofburg Imperial Palace, the Vienna Opera House, Ringstrasse and St Stephen’s Cathedral. The second option is to visit the Hundertwasser House, home of the works of arguably the best-known Austrian artist of contemporary times. Tonight perhaps come along for an optional Mozart and Strauss concert.
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Day 12. Dürnstein – Melk.

This morning we reach the beautiful Wachau Valley, stopping in Dürnstein for a walking tour through medieval cobblestone streets that reveal 16th century town houses and wine taverns. Here, high above town, lie the ruins of the castle where Richard the Lionheart, the King of England, was -imprisoned in 1192. At lunch, continue to Melk and take a guided tour of Melk’s Benedictine Abbey, one of the world’s most famous monastic sites. It is located above the town of Melk on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube and has the rare distinction of surviving as an active Benedictine monastery continuously since its foundation. An evening wine tasting highlights your visit to the Wachau Valley.
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Day 13. Linz – Passau, Freedom of Choice Touring.

With our Freedom of Choice Touring, perhaps join a full day tour to Salzburg and its popular ‘Sound of Music’ sights including the Wedding Church, Mirabell Gardens and the Great Salzburg Festival Hall. Alternatively, take the scenic cruise to Passau and take a fascinating tour of this historic city, where the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube.
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Day 14. Regensburg.

Arrive in Regensburg today, one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities, featuring one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube. A guided tour of the city’s architectural highlights includes the Old Town Hall and the Porta Pretoria – gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 AD. Tonight, folklore entertainers perform on board.
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Day 15. Nuremberg, Freedom of Choice Touring.

Enter the Main-Danube Canal and cruise through the Altmühl Valley. In Nuremberg choose from a medieval tour, visiting the 900-year-old ramparts that surround the city, the Imperial Castle and Kaiserburg Fortress. Or perhaps visit some famous World War II sites. Nuremberg played a central role to Hitler’s Nazi Party and was thus bombed by the British and US air forces. It went on to become the symbolic host to the Nuremberg Trials. Visit the site of these trials, the building in which the War Crimes Tri-bunal sat in 1946 and much more.
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Day 16. Nuremberg – Prague.

Disembark the ship after breakfast and travel by coach to Prague. On the way, we visit the spa town of Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad). Arrive in Prague and enjoy the balance of the day at your leisure.
Three Night Stay: Prague.
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Day 17. Prague Sightseeing.

The capital of the Czech Republic is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Your sightseeing here reveals its best-known treasures, including the Hradcany Castle courtyard, St Vitus and Golden Lane. Walk through the Jewish Quarter to the Old Market Square before some free time.
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Day 18. Prague.

Today is yours to further explore as you choose, or perhaps take an optional tour to Terezin, the infamous Nazi World War II labour camp, now a war memorial to those who perished.
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Day 19. Depart Prague.

Your tour ends today after breakfast with a transfer to the airport.
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02 Aug 08 - Available