Exhausted and happy, we arrived in Melk, Austria after a 17-mile bike ride along the Danube River. Passing by charming cottages and family farms, whisking through vineyards and cobblestone villages, we admired the picture-perfect countryside of the stunning Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and region known for its natural beauty.
This dreamy ride was one of the active daytrips available on board our “floating boutique hotel” that took us from Budapest to Vilshofen for 7 nights of adventure along the Danube—the second largest river in Europe. It was a journey through five countries and enchanting cities like Bratislava, Slovakia; Austria’s Linz, Mondsee, and Salzburg (where the hills come alive with the “Sound of Music”); and the German villages of Passau and Vilshofen.
European river cruises combine the intimacy of fewer guests with the ability to choose your own adventure. Awake each day in a new location to experience an exciting new activity—like biking, hiking and walking tours led by informative local guides at varied paces. AmaWaterways was the first luxury river cruise line to include a fleet of bikes and introduce a wellness program on its European cruises and remains at the forefront of active luxury tourism.
Bike to Heighten the Senses
The freedom of exploring new regions by bike is exhilarating and affords opportunities to see more sights in less time. We chose to cycle in three ports for around 15 miles at each destination.
In Austria’s Wachau Valley, our local guide made sure we didn’t get lost while sharing intriguing stops to point out stunning views, historical information and landmarks we might otherwise miss. Five-hundred-year-old villages still thrive along the Danube and feature unique points of interest—like a quaint Gothic church from the 1500s, fortified with a tower that once offered protection. We scaled the tower to admire the interior 3-D mural “scrafitti” where the layers are scratched away, similar to fresco paintings 500 years ago. In each town, high-water markings are reminders of the Danube’s two recent 100-year floods. Protective barriers now provide up to 25 feet of relief in areas impacted by high water.
An afternoon rest on our stateroom balcony—while appreciating the picturesque passing setting over local beer—took us through the green Strudengau Valley. In Grein, 500-year-old residential Greinburg Castle—once owned by England’s Queen Victoria (by way of her husband Albert)—towered above the town beckoning for us to admire its lowkey grandeur and splendid courtyard. A privately guided tour pointed out the details, like the castle’s diamond-cut ceiling in the music room and Sala Terrena (Stone Theater) crafted entirely out of pebbles plucked from the Danube.
In Vienna, we cycled through the buzzing city in the morning to get a nice overview for afternoon and evening exploration on foot. We zipped along a riverside embankment adorned with graffiti art, passing monumental buildings and soaring cathedrals of the famous Ringstrasse, then on to admire architecture in Graben Square and peruse Kohlmarkt with its luxury shops. The ride took us by hidden corners of Vienna and through one of the oldest amusement parks in the world and into a city park to the golden statue of John Strauss II (“King of the Waltz”) playing his violin. In the city center, we stopped for a regal military procession with music in front of The Hofburg, the former 13th-century imperial palace of the Habsburg Dynasty, and then continued on to witness Vienna’s town hall with its contentious balcony closed off, where Adolf Hitler conducted one of his most infamous speeches.
In Passau, Germany, we felt motivated to bike once again along the scenic shores of the Inn River through wooded hills and beaches of poplars, where we admired the pastel-hued Baroque buildings throughout the cobblestone town. A pedestrian bridge brought us across the river (and border) to Wernstein, Austria, where we cycled through more hamlets, woods and corn fields, by churches and pubs, and observed village life before returning to the old town of Passau, known as the “City of Three Rivers” because the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers all converge here.
Additional biking excursions include Cologne’s Old Town, the medieval city of Rouen, St. Émilion’s wine estates, and the quaint village of Kinderdijk in the Netherlands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its historic windmills. For an especially active experience, adventure travel leader Backroads partners with AmaWaterways to host experienced cyclists on specialty trips.
Hike to the Best Bird’s Eye View
Hiking opportunities are abundant for those who prefer an active pace or want to vary their exercise on a trip, as the beauty of Europe lies not only in its landmarks and architecture but abundant nature. Most of the ports we docked in include hiking to a hilltop destination and opportunities to venture off from the crowds with hikes (and extended city walks) ranging from 2 to 10 miles.
In Budapest, we scaled the back streets to the Castle District, starting with a walk along the Pest embankment to remember the Jewish lives lost at the Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial before exploring the Matthias Church and fairytale-like Fisherman’s Bastion perched high on a hill above the Danube. In Slovakia, a scenic hike to the Bratislava Castle was a warmup for a power walk to the iconic UFO Building to take in the view at the observation deck and restaurant while watching the sunset from soaring heights above the Danube. In Salzburg, we climbed high atop Moönchsberg Hills above the roofs of the old town, as the Salzburg Modern Art Museum has a dazzling restaurant perch to admire the Austrian city of medieval buildings and majestic Alps.
Walk to Secret Local Spots
Need an alternative to exercise while on vacation? It’s easy to slow down and choose a walking experience at a more leisurely pace. We loved getting to know the culture of Bratislava with a walking tour to sample tasty suds and regional treats (like cheeses, meats and fruits) at a local brew pub. With a guide or on your own, walking the streets of a quaint medieval European town can uncover the secrets of a rich and storied past.
Onboard Activities and Wellness
An intimate active river cruise makes it easy to maintain fitness goals while on vacation, in contrast to the typical crowded bonanza where exercise is a walk to the buffet. Our ship had a professional Wellness Host who cultivated active excursions and daily fitness classes like core strengthening, resistance band workouts and sunrise stretching.
Some cruises, such as those along the Mekong River, offer custom wellness classes featuring yoga, Tai Chi, guided meditation and an introduction to the traditional way to make organic teas for detoxifying, healing and re-energizing. Cruises on board AmaMagna boast a pickleball court, juice bar and nailcare services. AmaMagna even offers a special concierge Golf Program to visit prestigious courses in Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic.
Dine Healthy and Indulge in Local Flavors
After a day of activity, it’s satisfying to indulge in delicious meals at the waterside restaurant where expert chefs craft daily elaborate multicourse menus that feature traditional and regional cuisine made with locally sourced fresh ingredients, including bread baked fresh onboard overnight. Complementary wines chosen from the local areas are selected and presented by European sommeliers free of charge at each meal.
Food can certainly influence the success of a trip. AmaWaterways was the first river cruise to be inducted into the La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs and Tables et Auberges—two of the world’s most prestigious culinary organizations. Dishes are presented so beautifully, it was almost shocking how artful the chefs could be in a tight galley. Every meal began with four mini appetizers and ended with dessert options—using impressive varieties of ingredients from the regions we were visiting. Vegetarians will be equally satisfied as special multicourse meat-free options are available at every meal along with menu items that can accommodate dietary restrictions and preferences like gluten-free or low-sodium.
Some of our favorite dining experiences involved local specialties, like a Bavarian carving station with pork knuckle and pork belly, and gnocchi with wild mushrooms, but we also appreciated veering off now and again from the region’s hearty dishes for fish and chips or a build-your-own Pho bowl. Guests are invited to a night at The Chef’s Table for a multicourse grand affair, and it is one we will never forget as we slipped by Budapest’s Parliament Building in all its golden glowing magic.
Prior to early morning biking excursions, we appreciated the grab-and-go breakfast options as an alternative to the full-service restaurant while my husband loved the post-activity Sip & Sail daily cocktail hour with complimentary wine, beer and spirits.
This active river cruise on AmaWaterways far exceeded our travel exploration expectations. It was easy to enjoy a healthy and vigorous lifestyle while on vacation and has now made river cruising our new favorite way to explore Europe.
Learn more about river cruising at AmaWaterways.com.
