{"id":2865,"date":"2016-01-14T23:19:34","date_gmt":"2016-01-14T23:19:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.diningtraveler.com\/?p=2865"},"modified":"2016-01-15T16:51:54","modified_gmt":"2016-01-15T16:51:54","slug":"european-river-cruise-stops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diningtraveler.com\/2016\/01\/european-river-cruise-stops.html","title":{"rendered":"My Picks: European River Cruise Stops"},"content":{"rendered":"
When AmaWaterways <\/a>asked me to share my favorite European river cruise stops, I started to think of all\u00a0the great memories I\u2019ve had throughout my time living in Europe and my multiple trips thereafter.\u00a0Whether it is the romance of the Danube or the eclectic streets of Amsterdam, there\u2019s always\u00a0something new to experience and delicious to savor. I took a look at their fabulous itineraries and here\u00a0are my picks…<\/p>\n Romance:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Vienna:<\/strong> <\/em>Vienna is one of my favorite cities in the world. There is an air of old world glamour as you walk\u00a0past the Opera or roam the perfect manicured gardens of the Belvedere. If you love art and culture, it is\u00a0the perfect stop. Classical concerts and opera are offered almost every day and you can get tickets quite\u00a0easily. Must eat: the decadent cakes at Demel and local Viennese wine<\/a> from cellars such a Christ or\u00a0Bernreiter.<\/p>\n Budapest:<\/strong><\/em> When you take in the majestic view of the Hungarian Parliament along the Danube, you\u00a0know exactly why this city is a beloved among European river cruise stops. The two cities: Buda and Pest\u00a0are connected by stunning bridges. I visited this city in the heart of winter. Although it was freezing, we\u00a0decided to walk across the famous Chain Bridge. The majestic walk across the bridge is culminated by a\u00a0view of the Gresham Palace, the home of The Four Seasons Hotel, which is a must for tea hour (and\u00a0warming up). Dining Traveler Tip: make sure to make a reservation for tea time.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Prague:<\/em><\/strong> This is the third city of what I call the \u201cromance trifecta\u201d (Budapest, Prague, and Vienna).\u00a0Although different, each share a distinct glamorous air. As for attractions, Prague Castle is at the top of\u00a0my list. Arrive early to avoid crowds and experience the beauty of the castle. On a spring day, walk by\u00a0the lilac-adorned walls and take in all the history of the city. Dining Traveler Tip: Climb to the tower to\u00a0take in one of the best views of the city. If you are in Prague for a limited time, take a guided boat tour\u00a0on the Vltava River.<\/p>\n Style:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Amsterdam:<\/strong><\/em> Amsterdam may feel too touristy if you are confined to Leidesplein. The great thing about\u00a0the city is that is very accessible, whether it is by foot, bike, or tram. Keep your eyes open for colorful\u00a0murals and modern design which pop along the canals. Take the time to explore its unique culinary\u00a0scene. Head to Westerpark for unique shops, bars, and restaurants that locals love. Savor: Mossel and\u00a0Gin is my favorite restaurant in Amsterdam these days (my husband is from NL so we go there often).\u00a0Their unique gin cocktail list paired with mussels and oysters of Zeeland is an unforgettable culinary\u00a0experience.<\/p>\n Antwerp:<\/strong><\/em> I was thrilled to see that Antwerp was a stop on AmaWaterways \u201cTulip Time<\/a>\u201d river cruise. It is\u00a0truly an underrated destination outside of the mainstream travel circles. It is known in the region as the\u00a0design capital of Belgium. The contrast of the old Flemish and modern design is beautifully executed\u00a0throughout the city. If you are a lover of design, you will find unique clothing stores and art galleries. Dining Traveler Tip: Check out our\u00a0foodie guide to Antwerp<\/a>.<\/p>\n Brussels:<\/strong> <\/em>This city is known for beer, chocolate, and the Grand Place but it is so much more. As you\u00a0wander the city, keep your eye open for the Art Nouveau structures which you find everywhere from\u00a0the exquisite Museum of Musical Instruments to the quiet residential side streets of the south of the\u00a0city. Savor: the designer chocolates at Pierre Marcolini at Parc du Sablon and skip the touristy waffles\u00a0that are loaded with whip cream for the warm ones fresh off the waffle trucks throughout the busy\u00a0streets. Classics:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Paris:<\/strong><\/em> What is not to love about Paris! Perfect place to start a river cruise adventure. Even if you have\u00a0been there dozens of times, there always seems to be something new to experience. Although going to\u00a0the Eiffel Tower is a must, the best of Paris comes from discovering residential neighborhoods (my\u00a0favorite is Bastille), going to local cafes, and savoring the diverse selection of restaurants in the City of\u00a0Lights. Savor: if a visit to P\u00e8re Lachaise, dine at L\u2019Ange Gardien, a quaint neighborhood spot near the\u00a0famed cemetery.<\/p>\n Barcelona: This is one of the few cities in the world which offers an amazing urban experience, culture,\u00a0beach, and nature. If you are a foodie, it is the place to be with amazing restaurants, markets, and bars\u00a0throughout. Spend the morning at the beach and the afternoon taking in Gaudi\u2019s architecture. Savor: If\u00a0you love markets, head to Mercat Santa Caterina with a selection of tapas and other international fare.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll be honest\u2026 I actually thought river cruising was something for an older crowd. However, I\u2019ve heard\u00a0 plenty of great feedback of close friends who have gone river cruising recently and fallen in love with the\u00a0experience. Now, embarking on this type of adventure is very high on my list. After looking at the\u00a0AmaWaterways itineraries, I recommend this experience for travelers who want to see multiple cities in\u00a0a short period of time, don’t want to deal with the logistics of a multi-destination itinerary, all while doing it with an epic view. What are your favorite European river cruise stops?<\/p>\n This post was sponsored by AmaWaterways. \u00a0As always opinions are my own…<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When AmaWaterways asked me to share my favorite European river cruise stops, I started to think of all\u00a0the great memories I\u2019ve had throughout my time living in Europe and my multiple trips thereafter.\u00a0Whether it is the romance of the Danube or the eclectic streets of Amsterdam, there\u2019s always\u00a0something new to experience and delicious to savor. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":2870,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[452],"tags":[283,453,227],"class_list":{"0":"post-2865","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-european-river-cruise-stops","8":"tag-europe","9":"tag-european-river-cruise-stops","10":"tag-travel"},"yoast_head":"\nMy Picks: European River Cruise Stops<\/em><\/h3>\n
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Photo Credit: Visit Antwerp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/a>
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