Amsterdam to Budapest - a step back into history

September

Pros: Beautiful ship, great staff, delicious food, awesome scenery

Cons: Low water level on Danube meant switching ships and longer bus rides

Recommended: Yes

Around every bend in the rivers were beautiful towns and hilltop castles. Each town we stopped at had unique features - medieval town centers, baroque castles, amazing cathedrals, and fascinating histories. At many of the stops you could walk off the ship and be in the old town center within five minutes. One warning - most of the tours were primarily guided walking tours. The guides were excellent, but the walking was mostly on uneven cobblestone streets and often included stairs. These towns were founded hundreds of years before cars so buses can't take you into the town centers - hence all the walking.