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The Blue Danube
Budapest to Prague
July 5-18, 2026
Day 14, Saturday, July 18, 2026
Traveling Home
Flight #1:
Prague, to Frankfurt, Germany
Condor Flight: 4406
Prague Departure: 8:40 AM
Distance: 253 miles (407 km)
Frankfurt Arrival: 9:40 AM
Flight #2:
Frankfurt, Germany to Boston, USA
Condor Flight: 2038
Frankfurt Departure: 12:30 PM
Distance : 3,660 miles (5,890 km)
Boston Arrival: 2:35 PM
Day 13, Friday, July 17, 2026
Terezín, Czech Republic
Today we visited the World War II concentration camp Terezín, about 30 miles north of Prague.
We learned about the difference between concentration camps and extermination camps. Concentration camps were where people were sent to work. Although many, many people died in concentration camps from disease, starvation, etc., the main purpose of the camp was work, not extermination. Well known examples of concentration camps are Dachau and Buchenwald. Extermination camps were where people who couldn't work (i.e., to old, to young, to sick, etc.) were sent for the 'final solution'. Examples of extermination campes are Auschwitz and Treblinka. Terezín was a concentration camp. About 1 in 10 died people died in Terezín before they were unable to work anymore and were sent to an extermination camp. Most people who went through Terezín were sent to Auschwitz.
As an aside, our bus the last few days, has been the bus of the Czech Republic national soccer team. When they don't need the bus, they let tour groups use it. We were lucky, I suppose, to get to use the bus. Fairly often, we were noticed by pedestrians and other drivers.
Entrance to Terezín's Small Fortress.
Work sets you free.
Terezín.
Courtyard. Solitary cells to the left. Mass cells to the right.
A mass cell. As many as 80 people shared the room.
Cold water showers.
A larger mass cell. As many as 400 people shared this cell.
A mass cell.
Before Terezín was a concentration camp, it was a prison. It's most famous occupant was Gavrilo Princip who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914 which led to the outbreak of World I.
Gavrilo Princip's cell.
Most of the people who died in Terezín were buried in mass graves. After WWII, they dug them up and reburied them outside the walls.
Day 12, Thursday, July 16, 2026
Prague, Czech Republic
In the morning, we visited Prague Castle, the Old Market Square, Tyn Cathedral and saw the third oldest Astronomical Clock in the world
In the afternoon, we had a Czech beer tasting.
Approach to Prague Castle.
Offices of the Archbishop of Prague.
Entrance to Prague Castle.
Prague Castle gate and guard.
Prague Castle inner courtyard.
St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague.
St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague.
Plečnik's Viewpoint, Prague Castle.
Downtown Prague from Prague Castle.
Lesser Town Bridge Tower, Prague.
Old Town Bridge Tower, Prague.
The Prague astronomical clock.
Video of Prague astronomical clock. You can see moving Apostle figures and other sculptures, including a figure of a skeleton that represents death.
Old Town Square, Prague.
Day 11, Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Prague, Czech Republic
This morning we disembarked our ship and transferred to Prague, Czech Republic. Along the way, we stopped at Pilzen, Czech Republic, a city perhaps best known for producing Pilsner beer.
The beer museum in Pilzen, Czech Republic.
A house in Pilzen, Czech Republic.
The Cathedral of St. Bartholomew, Pilzen.
Town Hall, Pilzen, Czech Republic.
House around town square, Pilzen, Czech Republic.
This is part of the Stumbling Stones project. The 4"x4" brass plaques commemorates victims of the Holocaust and are placed in the pavement in front of the victims' last freely chosen homes.
Translated from Czech, these two plaques read:
Here lived
Maxmilian Polak (b. 1884) Marie Polakova (b. 1891)
Arrested 1942
Sent to Terezin concentration camp
Sent to Auschwitz concentration camp in 1943
Murdered
Jewish Synagogue, Pilzen, Czech Republic.
Jewish Synagogue, Pilzen, Czech Republic.
Jewish Synagogue, Pilzen, Czech Republic.
Day 10, Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Nuremberg, Germany
Today we toured Nuremberg, Bavaria.
The tour description had promised a tour of Courtroom 600 in the Nuremberg courthouse. However, the courtroom is still active and was in use. We were unable to see the room.
Former SS Barracks. Built between 1936 and 1939. The U.S. Army captured the buildings on April 18, 1945. The U.S. Army renamed the site 'Merrell Barracks' in honor of an American soldier. It housed the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment until the U.S. military left in 1992.
The Nazi Party rallying grounds in Nuremberg, Germany. Adjacent to Zeppelin Field, this is were the Nazi party held rallies each September with as many as 400,000 attendees.
A picture of what the rallying grounds used to look like.
Ruins of toilet blocks that surrounded the rallying grounds. A total of 34 structures in all.
Ruins of toilet blocks.
Old Town Nuremberg, as seen from Nuremberg Fortress. The fortress dates back to around the year 1050.
Old Town Nuremberg, as seen from Nuremberg Fortress. Nuremberg was heavily bombed in WWII. Much of what you see was rebuilt after the war. However, the main Cathedral towers were not badly damaged in WWII. The reason being that the bombers used the towers to identify the town and establish an aiming point. If they destroyed the church they wouldn't have an identification and aiming point the next time they came around. They tried not to bomb the main churches.
Inside Nuremberg Fortress.
Nuremberg city hall.
Lunch.
Old town Nuremberg.
Old town Nuremberg.
Frauenkirche, Nuremberg, Bavaria. Built on orders by Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor between 1352 and 1362.
Frauenkirche, Nuremberg, Germany.
Day 9, Monday, July 13, 2026
Regensberg, Germany
Today we had a walking tour of Regensburg, Germany.
Although Regensberg is in Germany, they are quick to tell you that this is Bavaria. They locals seem to have a bit of an independent streak. They call themselves Bavarian first, German second.
Regensburg, Bavaria.
Regensburg, Bavaria.
Regensburg, Cathedral.
Regensburg, Cathedral.
Afternoon snack.
Day 8, Sunday, July 12, 2026
Linz to Passau, Germany - Salzburg, Austria
Today, we got off the boat in Linz, Germany for a full day excursion to Salzburg, Austria. While we touring, the boat sailed on to Passau, Germany where we reboarded late in the afternoon.
Major highlights of the Salzburg excursion were the Getreidegasse (Grain Lane) shopping street, the birthplace of Mozart, the Residenz Square, the Old Market, and Salzburg Cathedral.
Day 5, Thursday, July 9, 2026
Bratislava, Slovakia
The morning was spent cruising the Danube river.
In the afternoon, we toured Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. The dominant feature of Bratislava is Bratislava Castle. The castle is located directly above the Danube at a site that once was an important ford across the river.
Moon Lake, Austria.
Mirabell Palace, Salzburg, Austria.
Rose Gardens, Mirabell Palace, Salzburg.
Pegasus Fountain, Mirabell Gardens, Salzburg.
Every Sunday, the local fireman, have a concert in the garden.
Mirabell Gardens. Salzburg Fortress in the background.
Residenz Square, Vienna.
Lunch was a Bratwurst and Sauerkraut.
House where Mozart was born.
Placer where Mozart learned to play the piano.
Salzburg Fortress.
Salzburg Fortress.
Funicular ride up to Salzburg Fortress.
Courtyard of Salzburg Fortress.
View of Salzburg from atop Salzburg Fortress.
View of Austrian Alps from atop Salzburg Fortress.
Day 7, Saturday, July 11, 2026
Dürnstein, Austria
In the morning we hiked to the ruins of Kuenringer or Dürnstein Castle (dry stone) castle. Of course, it was uphill both ways.
In the afternoon, we took a guided bike tour from Dürnstein, Austria to Melk, Austria through the Wachau Valley. There were several vineyards, castles, and small villages along the way.
Dürnstein, Austria.
Dürnstein, Austria. We hiked to the castle on the hill.
Dürnstein Castle. A medieval rock castle rin the Wachau Valley of Lower Austria, famous as the prison of English King Richard the Lionheart. Built between 1140 and 1145.
Dürnstein, Austria.
Dürnstein Castle.
Danube river as seen from Dürnstein Castle.
Danube river as seen from Dürnstein Castle.
Main Street Dürnstein, Austria.
Dürnstein Abbey Church.
Bike riding in the Wachau valley along the Danube River.
The Danube River.
Terraced vineyards.
Weißenkirchen or "white church" in the Wachau Valley.
Our ship the AmaWaterways Sonata.
Melk Abbey. A Benedictine abbey founded in 1089. Still active today.
Melk Abbey.
Entrance to Melk Abbey.
Courtyard of Melk Abbey.
Melk Abbey Church. Picures inside were forbidden, but it was absolutely stunning.
View of the town of Melk from Melk Abbey.
View of the Wachau valley from Melk Abbey.
Day 6, Friday, July 10, 2026
Vienna, Austria
In the morning we toured Vienna, Austria. Highlights of the tour included the Vienna Opera House, the Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs, St. Stephens Cathedral, and the city's historic center.
In the afternoon, we had free time to explore the city.
In the evening, we attended a classic concert.
Habsburg Palace, Vienna, Austria.
Habsburg Palace. The so called 'Hitler Terrace'. The place where Hitler addressed over 200,000 people when Austria was annexed in 1938
Courtyard of Habsburg Palace.
Monument to the Black Plague.
Vienna, Austria.
Apple Strudel for lunch.
St. Stephens Plaza, Vienna.
St. Stephens Cathedral, Vienna. The church narrowly survived deliberate Nazi demolition in 1945 but then suffered catastrophic fire damage when post war looters set nearby shops ablaze.
St. Stephens Cathedral, Vienna.
View from atop St. Stephens Cathedral, Vienna.
View from atop St. Stephens Cathedral, Vienna.
St. Peter's Church, Vienna.
St. Peter's Church, Vienna.
Evening concert at the 'House of Strauss'.
Short video of concert at the 'House of Strauss'.
Day 5, Thursday, July 9, 2026
Bratislava, Slovakia
The morning was spent cruising the Danube river.
In the afternoon, we toured Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. The dominant feature of Bratislava is Bratislava Castle. The castle is located directly above the Danube at a site that once was an important ford across the river.
Danube River, Gabčíkovo Lock and Dam. About half way between Budapest and Bratislava. Lift of about 60 feet.
Gabčíkovo Lock.
Bratislava Castle.
Sigismund Gate. It was built in the 15th century and is the oldest original part of the Bratislava Castle complex.
Bratislava Castle.
Statue of Svätopluk, the third ruler of Great Moravia.
View of Bratislava from atop Bratislava Castle hill.
Bratislava Castle gardens.
Old town Bratislava.
Pharmacy Salvator. Founded in the 17th century, but moved to a 'new' location in 1904.
Bratislava opera house.
Bratislava, Slovakia.
Bratislava Castle.
Day 4, Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Budapest, Hungary
In the morning, we traveled to the outskirts of Budapest and toured the Royal Palace of Gödöllő or Grassalkovich Castle in the municipality of Gödöllő. The castle is famous for being the favorite palace of the second to last Queen of Hungary, Queen Elisabeth (1837–1898). She was the wife of Franz Josef, Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.
In the afternoon, we visited the Lazar Equestrian Park. We saw riders dressed in the style of the Hungarian horsemen of old, demonstrating traditional Hungarian horse riding abilities like dressage, horseback archery, javelin throwing, etc.
We finished the day by embarking on our ship, the AmaWaterways, AmaSonata, for our 7 night river cruise from Budapest to Nuremberg.
Royal Palace of Gödöllő.
Royal Palace of Gödöllő. Dining room used by Emperor Franz Joseph and Queen Elisabeth for intimate family meals.
Royal Palace of Gödöllő. Part of Emperor Franz Joseph's Suite.
An original dress belonging to Queen Elisabeth.
Lazar Equestrian Park. A modern racing carriage.
Lazar Equestrian Park.
Lazar Equestrian Park.
Lazar Equestrian Park. Hungarian Grey cattle.
Lazar Equestrian Park.
Lazar Equestrian Park.
Cruise map.
Day 3, Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is Hungary’s capital and is bisected by the River Danube. Budapest was formed in 1873 by the unification of three separate cities—Buda, Pest, and Óbuda (hence Budapest). The 19th-century Chain Bridge connects the hilly 'Buda' or west side of the city with the flatter 'Pest' or eastern side of the city.
The origins of Budapest can be traced to the Celts who occupied the plains of Hungary in the 4th century BC. Around 100 AD, the area was conquered by the Roman Empire, which established the fortress and town of Aquincum on the site of today's Budapest.
In the morning, we toured the 'Buda' side of Budapest. Highlights included the Rock Chapel (a church carved into a cave on the side of a cliff), views from Gellert Hill, Budapest’s Liberty Statue, the Garden of Philosophy, the Chain Bridge, and the Shoes on the Danube memorial.
In the afternoon, we went to Buda Castle hill and toured Matthias Church.
The Rock Chapel. A church carved into the side of a cliff.
Liberty bridge. One of the many bridges that connect the 'Pest' side to the 'Buda' side of Budapest.
Inside the 'Rock Chapel'.
View of Budapest from atop Gellért Hill.
Chain Bridge, Budapest.
Chain Bridge, Budapest.
The Shoes on the Danube Bank. A Holocast memorial featuring 60 pairs of period-appropriate iron shoes. Over 600,000 Hungarians were killed during the Holocast. One pair of shoes represents 10,000 people killed. At the end of WWII, they would shoot mainly Jews and let the fall into the Danube river. Towards the end, when they were running out of bullets, they would tie two people together, shoot one, and let the dead person drag the other under.
Hungarian Parliment building.
Matthias Church.
Matthias Church.
Hungarian Parliment, as seen from Buda castle hill.
Chain Bridge and Bud castle.
Chain Bridge and Buda castle.
Matthias Church.
Day 2, Monday, July 6, 2026
Continuation of Flight #1:
Frankfurt Arrival: 5:45 AM (European Time)
Flight #2:
Frankfurt, Germany to Budapest, Hungary
Condor Flight: 4465
Frankfurt Departure: 9:00 AM
Distance : 520 miles (837 km)
Budapest Arrival: 10:35 AM
253 miles
Budapest's Great Market Hall. The largest and oldest indoor market in Hungary. Along with a lot of touristy items, you can buy fresh produce, fish, meat, spices, cured meats, and dairy products.
Pam and I were not very hungry for lunch, so we split a hungarian chimney cake. The cake is made from sweet, yeast dough the is baked in a spiral shape. Ours was filled with choclate Nutela and coated with pistachio.
Interior of our hotel: The Parisi Udvar Hotel Budapest.
Our hotel: The Parisi Udvar Hotel Budapest.
Day 1, Sunday, July 5, 2026
Travel from home to Prague, Hungary.
Flight #1:
Boston, USA to Frankfurt, Germany
Condor Flight: 2039
Boston Departure: 4:45 PM
Distance: 3,660 miles (5,890 km)
Unusual paint job on our plane.
3660 miles
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