
Germany/Austria/Czech Republic/Slovakia/Hungary
Sailing the Danube River Through Central Europe
Program No. 23683RJ
Sail through time along the Danube River from Hungary to Slovakia, Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic to study their compelling political and cultural histories with local experts.
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11 days
10 nights
25 meals
9B 8L 8D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
4
Free time, History of Central Europe
Danube River
6
Vienna, Hofburg, St. Stephen, Free time
Danube River
7
Melk Abbey, Life Under Communism
Danube River
At a Glance
Transport yourself back in time in Central Europe, where even the larger cities seem to be frozen in the medieval era, with cobbled streets and historic architecture. As you sail along the Danube River, journey through authentic Europe with local experts eager to show you the secrets of their cities. On explorations of Vienna’s music history, Budapest’s architectural history and Prague’s political history, delve deep into the past while experiencing these cities like a local. Then, learn about the cities’ modern developments to understand fully the progression of Central Europe and immerse yourself in these beautiful countries that seamlessly blend old traditions with contemporary culture.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Participants must be able to stand for two hours at a time and walk 2-4 miles per day.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Learn about classical music in Vienna during a lecture with the talented musicians from the Vienna Philharmonic.
- Delve deep into history as you explore Cesky Krumlov, a small medieval town and UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Czech Republic.
- Study the beautiful architecture of Prague at the Charles Bridge.
General Notes
Please note that on this program, Road Scholar has the entire ship welcoming a maximum of 90 Road Scholars which will be divided into smaller groups, each with their own Group Leader. The small groups may occasionally come together for lectures.
Featured Expert
All trip experts

Julia Auer
Julia Auer is an unusually versatile performer. After studying musicology at the University of Vienna she also completed her studies of the flute and musical pedagogy at the University of Music. She has devoted much of her time and interest to intensive research in historical sources and instruments, and she is a member of several Early Music groups. Julia now performs on a variety of flute instruments and is working on a thesis concerning orchestral instrumentation in the 18th century.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Julia Auer
View biography
Julia Auer is an unusually versatile performer. After studying musicology at the University of Vienna she also completed her studies of the flute and musical pedagogy at the University of Music. She has devoted much of her time and interest to intensive research in historical sources and instruments, and she is a member of several Early Music groups. Julia now performs on a variety of flute instruments and is working on a thesis concerning orchestral instrumentation in the 18th century.

Walter Auer
View biography
Walter Auer is the principal flute of the Wiener Philharmoniker, a position he has held since 2003. Before coming to Vienna, he served as the principal flute with the NDR Radio-Philharmonic Orchestra Hannover with Dresden Philharmonic for one year. Walter began flute lessons at the age of 10, and was awarded first prize in youth competitions several times. He also was a member of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra under Claudio Abbado. Later, he studied at the University “Mozarteum” in Salzburg and finished his studies at the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra-Academy in Berlin. Walter has played numerous concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, and frequently appears as a soloist in recitals and concerts around the world. He is in demand as coach and teacher, and teaches master classes in Europe, Australia, Asia and the U.S. As a passionate chamber musician, Walter Auer is also a member of Orsolino Quintett Berlin and Wiener Virtuosen.

Hana Kundratova
View biography
Hana Kundratova was born in Ostrava, Czech Republic. She graduated with a degree in education from Charles University and then moved permanently to Prague. Having formerly worked as a teacher, Hana has been an educational group leader and program coordinator throughout the Czech Republic and its neighboring countries since 1992.

Sándor Striker
View biography
Dr. Sándor Striker is the president of The Foundation for Cultural Diversity, Budapest. He holds a PhD in literature and MAs in philosophy and community culture studies. As a former research fellow at the Institute of Philosophy of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Dr. Striker worked for the Hungarian Ministry of Culture and Education on democratic cultural legislation after the introduction of multi-party parliamentary system in Hungary in 1990. He has been lecturing for Road Scholar groups for over 30 years.

Markéta Hegarová
View biography
After graduating from high school, Marketa worked for a British travel agency, specializing in guest relations, transport and group travel. Following that, she worked for the American company Thermo King in Prague and also began working as a group leader herself. She has passed exams in the special areas of architecture, art and the history of the Czech Republic. When not leading travelers around her home country, Marketa enjoys reading, traveling and listening to music.

Michaela Janecková
View biography
Michaela studied architecture at the Czech Technical University in Prague and theory and history of architecture, arts and design at the University of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague. She now teaches Czech architecture and design at Charles University to U.S. students as well as a contemporary architecture course at the Architectural Institute in Prague, a school for international students. Michaela plans to finish her PhD theses at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague in 2020, focusing on Czech postwar architecture.

Lucie Vítková
View biography
Lucie Vitkova’s interest in foreign cultures and languages began at an early age. After high school, she moved to Germany as an au pair and studied German at the nearby University of Salzburg, Austria. Later, she earned a degree in travel and tourism management at the University of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. After graduating, she worked at an international company as an assistant to executives. In 2016, she returned to her original career and started to lead groups and individuals.
Suggested Reading List
(13 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Sailing the Danube River Through Central Europe
Program Number: 23683
The Radetzky March
Magnificently set against the backdrop of the twilight of the Habsburg Empire, Roth's family saga takes in the sweep of history and empire in Central Europe. The richly textured novel opens at the battle of Solferino, when young Lieutenant Trotta saves the life of the Emperor.
Lonely Planet Central Europe
With dozens of maps, color photographs and sections on history and culture, this practical guide introduces Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland and their neighbors.
The Danube, A Cultural History
Beattie gives a comprehensive overview of the Danube’s role as a vital shipping artery and a uniting thread through the region’s turbulent history.
Vienna, A Traveler's Literary Companion
Organized by neighborhood, these 15 alluring tales introduce both the city and its writers, including Arthur Schnitzler, Robert Musil, Stefan Zweig and even Franz Kafka, who had a long and complicated association with the city.
A Nervous Splendor, Vienna 1888-1889
A portrait of Vienna at the end of the 19th century, this book focuses on Crown Prince Rudolph, his devastating suicide and the rich texture of gossip and daily life at the Habsburg Court.
Danube
Mixing history, personalities and literature, Magris traces the course of the Danube from its source in the heart of the Austro-Hungarian Empire through the Balkans to the Black Sea in this anything but conventional travelogue, first published in 1986.
A History of Slovakia, The Struggle for Survival
A historian from Bratislava traces his nation's roots from the first arrival on the Danubian Plain to Slovakia's declaration of independence in 1993. A particularly solid discussion of the Communist period and the nation's relationship with the Czechs and Hungary.
Budapest 1900
Written by a distinguished historian and native son, this richly detailed portrait of the city at its zenith includes hundreds of illustrations.
Prague, Capital of the Twentieth Century, A Surrealist History
A survey of Czech culture from 1918 to the end of WWII, a golden age of modernism. Sayer deploys his encyclopedic knowledge by focusing on small details in Czech art, design, architecture, literature and music, ultimately weaving these threads into a vivid tapestry.
Central Europe Map
This colorful regional European map, like the sister map Europe Grand Tour (EUR185), covers from Paris and Amsterdam to Vienna, Prague, Warsaw, Budapest, Rome and Dubrovnik.
A Time of Gifts
Fermor effortlessly interweaves anecdote, history and culture in this exuberant account of a walk from Holland, up the Rhine and down the Danube, through Germany, Prague and Austria in 1933. Written not in the moment, but 40 years later, the accumulation of time and experience gives the book particular poignancy.
Mozart, A Life
Challenging myths surrounding Mozart’s health, religion and relationships, biographer Paul Johnson shows the great composer’s lasting impact on the musical world with insight.
Prague, A Traveler's Literary Companion
This anthology of 24 vivid stories by Czech writers, both contemporary and well-known, brings the city, history, spirit and people to life.