European Sojourn

Take in one of Europe’s great cultural capitals and see its iconic sights. Over the last few decades, Budapest has reemerged as one of the continent’s iconic cities, divided by the Danube River and connected by the graceful Chain Bridge. Meet your guide for a panoramic tour, beginning in modern Pest. Along the elegant Andrássy Avenue, admire the National Opera House. Pass Heroes’ Square, a spacious plaza of monuments and statues commemorating the Magyar state. Across the river, explore the more traditional Buda side of the city. Here, visit the Castle District with its massive hilltop castle complex, the turreted Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church. From the heights of Buda Hill, take in views of the famous Chain Bridge. Afterward, enjoy free time to explore the enchanting Buda Hill Castle area at your leisure, before returning to your ship.

Explore historic Buda during a city hike to Castle Hill and admire magnificent vistas over the Danube. Depart your ship and set out on foot, crossing the bridge over the Danube where you will begin your ascent to Castle Hill, home to some of the city’s most prized medieval treasures. Explore the maze of cobblestone streets and pathways, and keep watch for the entrances to the underground labyrinth of caves that run beneath Castle Hill. Stroll around the grounds of the Royal Palace and time your visit to witness the Changing of the Guard. See the beautiful Matthias Church and the Fisherman’s Bastion, and stroll along quaint streets lined with coffeehouses. From the top, you can also admire stunning views over the Danube and the majestic Chain Bridge, an engineering marvel of its time. Walk down the hill to the riverside and return to your ship.

Travel to horse country to tour a farm and witness some exciting horsemanship by highly skilled riders. Hungarians take great pride in the role horses have played in their nation’s history; they have helped win battles and aided in migration, settlement and farming. Many Hungarians, concerned that their country’s equestrian connection is being lost, hold fast to their rural ways and to their four-legged comrades, elevating horsemanship to an art form. Drive to your venue in Lajosmizse, located in Hungary’s horse country, where you will be greeted with pálinka, a Hungarian fruit brandy. Here, a rollicking show brings centuries-old traditions of horseback riding to life. During your visit, you will also be able to ride a horse-drawn carriage to see more of the park and meet Hungarian farm animals—perhaps the long-wooled Racka sheep, gray cattle or the Lipizzaner horses.

Soak up the restorative powers of Budapest’s thermal baths and join locals in a centuries-old tradition. Ancient Romans discovered the benefits of bathing in the thermal waters that flow through Budapest. As the city grew, the spouting springs were treasured and preserved so highly that not even the Communist government forbade their pleasures. Still today, they offer a regimen most residents of Budapest cannot do without. Accompany your guide to one of the city’s historic baths, immersing yourself in the therapeutic waters that have flowed here for centuries. During your visit, you might mingle with the locals taking a soak or observe some bathers as they pass the time with a game of chess in the pool. So revered have these waters been that many have been sheltered within facilities that exude a temple-like aura.

Explore Budapest’s Jewish history and heritage, including the Jewish Quarter and massive synagogue. A century ago, Budapest had a thriving Jewish community. In the years leading up to and including World War II, half of the city’s 250,000 Jews were killed. The 19th-century Moorish-Revival Dohány Street Synagogue (Great Synagogue), the largest in Europe, was converted to a stable. Today, a rich Jewish history is preserved, as you will see with your guide. During a walking tour of the Jewish Quarter, once the Budapest Ghetto, admire the Great Synagogue with its glittering interior. In the synagogue complex, browse religious relics at the Jewish Museum and view the “Tree of Life” memorial to the 400,000 Hungarian Jews killed by Nazis. Note that the synagogue is not open to tours on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.

Admire city landmarks and savor a taste of Hungary during visits to a renowned chocolatier and a famed distillery. Your wide-ranging excursion will take you around to the must-see sights of both Buda and Pest, including Buda Castle, Matthias Church, the Royal Palace and more. In the heart of Pest, visit the Szamos Chocolate Museum. Take a guided tour of the extensive museum, then enjoy a taste of several varieties of chocolates, as well as cocoa beans and marzipan. During your workshop, observe the chocolate master as he presents a step-by-step demonstration of chocolate molding, then decorate your own chocolate bar, which you can take with you. After a delicious lunch of Hungarian cuisine, head to the Zwack factory and museum, where the premium bitter Unicum has been produced since 1840. Learn more about this popular digestive, visit the cellars and sample some fresh from the oak casks.

Browse the countless stalls of Budapest’s Grand Market Hall and taste Hungarian delicacies. The historic hall was built during the late 19th century, a sprawling three-story marketplace with a neo-Gothic facade. Today, the bustling scene is a feast for the senses, an endless array of textures, fragrances, tastes and sounds. Stroll with your guide and get acquainted with the massive market’s layout, browsing the stalls of vendors displaying aperitifs, breads, meats, wine, honey, strudels and more. On the ground floor, farm produce, pastries, candies, spices and spirits tempt the palate. Eateries and souvenirs are on the second floor. Locals head to the basement to see the butchers and fish vendors. After your market tour, enjoy free time to peruse the emporium on your own, then walk to a nearby traditional restaurant for a taste of Hungarian delicacies.