Prague is overcrowded with European tourists, most arriving by bus loads from all corners of Europe, but it is enchanting and a city not to miss on your tour of Central Europe. For the American traveler the heart of Central Europe offers the possibility to experience it by river cruise and cycling.

River cruising offers much better way of sightseeing the picturesque landscapes and romantic towns and villages. View the life go by from the deck of a small river ship. This kind of cruise has nothing to compare it to the impersonal ocean-going liners.

A wonderful way to experience Central Europe is to fly into Prague, spend three days to sightsee this gem of cities, the hundred-spire city, the mother of cities, as Prague is called, then take a train to Nuremberg in Germany to board your small river ship.

It takes six days at leisurely pace to reach Budapest. En route you’ll pass the wonderful German and Austrian towns, starting with the medieval Regensburg, Passau, then tour Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey, wonder the streets of romantic Vienna and finally arrive in Budapest.

In Passau you can take a side trip to Linz, a historic town and picture postcard perfect one. After Melk Vienna is a major stop and a grand old European metropolis it is to explore for its impressive historical treasures.

Of course if you love to cycle what’s better than power your own two wheels and cycle this part of Europe’s best bicycle trails. You can cycle the medieval Greenway between Prague and Vienna and it’s just as enjoyable to do it in either direction.

A great trail to cycle that crosses the Danube and feeds into the Vienna-Prague Greenway is the Salzburg-Prague trail. And once in Budapest, you can embark on the ancient Amber trail from Budapest across Slovakia to Krakow in Poland.

Ideal time to come to Central Europe is May to October, start planning your next  year’s vacation!