Grand Danube Cruise (Giurgiu to Vilshofen)

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Grand Danube Cruise (Giurgiu to Vilshofen)



Tour Description:

Ply the historic Danube River on a grand voyage through eight countries, sailing to the splendid world capitals of Budapest and Vienna as well as lesser-known historic gems from Croatia to Bulgaria during our Grand Danube Cruise: A River Cruise from Germany to Romania. Embark on a grand 15-day river cruise through eight countries, discovering renowned and little-known sites as you make your way from Bavaria to the Romanian capital of Bucharest. Admire the stunning architecture of Salzburg or the walled city of Český Krumlov, and indulge in the wines of Austria’s scenic Wachau Valley. Plus, enjoy specially curated tours at the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the National Museum of Serbia, exclusively available on this itinerary. You will also have the unique opportunity to engage with and learn from two Smithsonian Journeys Experts throughout your journey whose specialized expertise will further immerse you in the history, art or culture of the region.

Map for Grand Danube Cruise (Giurgiu to Vilshofen)
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Dates & Pricing

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Monday 18 May 26 — Monday 01 Jun 26Starting at $7,799 Get a Quote
Monday 01 Jun 26 — Monday 15 Jun 26Starting at $7,799 Get a Quote
Monday 15 Jun 26 — Monday 29 Jun 26Starting at $7,799 Get a Quote
Monday 29 Jun 26 — Monday 13 Jul 26Starting at $7,799 Get a Quote
Monday 13 Jul 26 — Monday 27 Jul 26Starting at $7,799 Get a Quote
Monday 27 Jul 26 — Monday 10 Aug 26Starting at $7,799 Get a Quote
Monday 10 Aug 26 — Monday 24 Aug 26Starting at $7,799 Get a Quote
Monday 24 Aug 26 — Monday 07 Sep 26Starting at $7,999 Get a Quote
Monday 05 Oct 26 — Monday 19 Oct 26Starting at $8,199 Get a Quote
Monday 19 Oct 26 — Monday 02 Nov 26Starting at $7,999 Get a Quote
Monday 02 Nov 26 — Monday 16 Nov 26Starting at $7,699 Get a Quote
Monday 22 Mar 27 — Monday 05 Apr 27Starting at $7,359 Get a Quote
Sunday 28 Mar 27 — Sunday 11 Apr 27Starting at $7,159 Get a Quote
Monday 05 Apr 27 — Monday 19 Apr 27Starting at $7,559 Get a Quote
Sunday 11 Apr 27 — Sunday 25 Apr 27Starting at $7,859 Get a Quote
Monday 19 Apr 27 — Monday 03 May 27Starting at $8,059 Get a Quote
Sunday 09 May 27 — Sunday 23 May 27Starting at $8,559 Get a Quote
Monday 17 May 27 — Monday 31 May 27Starting at $8,759 Get a Quote
Monday 31 May 27 — Monday 14 Jun 27Starting at $9,059 Get a Quote
Monday 14 Jun 27 — Monday 28 Jun 27Starting at $8,659 Get a Quote
Sunday 20 Jun 27 — Sunday 04 Jul 27Starting at $8,459 Get a Quote
Monday 28 Jun 27 — Monday 12 Jul 27Starting at $8,309 Get a Quote
Monday 12 Jul 27 — Monday 26 Jul 27Starting at $7,959 Get a Quote
Monday 26 Jul 27 — Monday 09 Aug 27Starting at $8,059 Get a Quote
Monday 09 Aug 27 — Monday 23 Aug 27Starting at $8,259 Get a Quote
Monday 23 Aug 27 — Monday 06 Sep 27Starting at $8,459 Get a Quote
Monday 06 Sep 27 — Monday 20 Sep 27Starting at $8,959 Get a Quote
Monday 20 Sep 27 — Monday 04 Oct 27Starting at $9,159 Get a Quote
Sunday 03 Oct 27 — Sunday 17 Oct 27Starting at $8,859 Get a Quote
Monday 04 Oct 27 — Monday 18 Oct 27Starting at $8,859 Get a Quote
Monday 18 Oct 27 — Monday 01 Nov 27Starting at $8,359 Get a Quote
Monday 01 Nov 27 — Monday 15 Nov 27Starting at $7,959 Get a Quote


Destination & Sightseeing

ITINERARY

Day 1
Vilshofen, Germany. Arrive in Vilshofen, set at the confluence of the Danube and the Vils Rivers in the heart of Bavaria. After boarding the ship, gather for an exclusive Oktoberfest celebration featuring traditional beer and Bavarian folk music and dancing. (Meals: D)

Day 2
Passau. A morning cruise brings you to Passau, poised where the Danube meets the Inn and Ilz. Take a walking tour of the Old Town and visit a bakery to sample pretzels and chocolate, or hike into the hills above town for a visit to the Veste Oberhaus, a massive 13th-century fortress. Alternatively, go on a bike ride along the River Inn. (Meals: B,L,D)

Day 3
Linz, Austria. Dock in Linz and set out on your choice of excursion: Take a day trip to Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart and the setting of The Sound of Music, where you may join a walking tour of its UNESCO-designated Old Town. Or head to the Czech mountain town of Český Krumlov to discover its stunning architecture and the storybook Krumlov Castle. Alternatively, explore Linz on a guided walk or bike ride. (Meals: B,L,D)

Day 4
Wachau Valley and Durnstein. Sail through the beautiful Wachau Valley, a World Heritage site known for its wines. From Durnstein, choose a guided walk through the town followed by tour of nearby Melk Abbey, where you’ll meet a librarian to view meticulously restored medieval books. Instead, hike to Durnstein fortress, or ride a bike through the vineyards along the Danube. Later, gather for a tasting of local wines. (Meals: B,L,D)

Day 5
Vienna. Glide into Austria’s capital and see its imperial treasures, from the majestic Opera House to the grand City Hall. Combine your city tour with a guided visit to one of Vienna’s renowned art museums: opt for Kunsthistoriches Museum Wien, where one of the world’s largest fine art collections is housed within a grand neoclassical building, or venture to the baroque Belvedere Palace, built as the summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy in 1723, and admire its extensive art collection, which includes Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss. Alternatively, explore the city on a guided bike ride. Enjoy free time in Vienna this afternoon. Those that wish may attend an optional concert this evening in one of Vienna’s iconic music venues (additional cost). (Meals: B,L,D)

Day 6
Bratislava, Slovakia. Take a walking tour through the charming Old Town of Bratislava, once the capital of the Habsburg Empire, and attend a folklore performance with a string quartet at Primate’s Palace. Alternatively, sample local specialties on a “Tastes of Slovakia” tour or climb up to Bratislava Castle for panoramic views. (Meals: B,L,D)

Day 7
Budapest, Hungary. On a morning tour of Buda’s Castle District, take in views from the fairytale turrets of Fisherman’s Bastion and admire the striking architecture of Matthias Church. In the afternoon, explore the magnificent monuments of Pest or visit the largest synagogue in Europe and see the poignant Shoes on the Danube memorial on a Jewish history tour. (Meals: B,L,D)

Day 8
Budapest, Hungary. Visit the 19th-century Gödöllő Palace with its royal stables and Baroque theater, followed by lunch at Gödöllő Restaurant. Afterward, head for Puszta, the vast flat Great Hungarian Plain where you will tour a genuine Hungarian csárda (farm) run by the carriage-drive world champion brothers Lazar. Following the tour, witness a unique, unforgettable performance of Hungarian horsemanship, a tradition that goes back to the hordes of Magyar tribes conquering Hungary in the 9th century.

Day 9
Mohács. Enjoy a scenic morning cruise to Mohács and continue to historic Pécs. Venture underground to its fourth-century necropolis, a World Heritage site, and admire the exquisite interior of St. Peter’s Basilica. Visit a porcelain factory in the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter, then stroll to the mosque on the main square. Alternatively, head to the 2,000-year-old Szekszárd wine region to sample its renowned reds or explore Mohács on a guided bike tour. (Meals: B,L,D)

Day 10
Vukovar or Osijek, Croatia. Arrive in Croatia and visit Vukovar on a city tour or a bike ride, discovering its baroque center that still bears scars from the war for independence in the 1990s. Cap off your tour with a private concert performed by local musicians at the Eltz Manor House. Alternatively explore Tvrda Fortress and the ethnographic museum in nearby Osijek. This afternoon, taste Croatian wines at Vukovar’s Old Cellars, or delve into the region’s human history at the Vucedol Museum. (Meals: B,L,D)

Day 11
Belgrade, Serbia. Immerse yourself in vibrant Belgrade during a visit to the Nikola Tesla Museum, Kalemegdan Fortress, and the sparkling Church of Saint Sava. Alternatively, go for a bike ride or hike to the fortress. Tour the National Museum of Serbia and enjoy a tasting of traditional plum brandy, or slivovitz, and local appetizers. Or journey to Novi Sad for a walking tour of its picturesque Old Town. (Meals: B,L,D)

Day 12
Iron Gates. Follow the Danube as it winds into the mountains, forming a natural border between Serbia and Romania. Stop to visit Serbia’s Golubac Fortress, and sail through magnificent gorges known as the Iron Gates. Keep an eye out for the face of King Decebalus, carved into the mountains on the Romanian side. (Meals: B,L,D)

Day 13
Vidin, Bulgaria. In Vidin, a town with Celtic roots, explore the medieval Baba Vida Fortress on a guided tour or go for a bike ride to the castle. Alternatively, visit a local home for lesson in making traditional Bulgarian yogurt and a popular pastry called banitsa. (Meals: B,L,D)

Day 14
Veliko Tarnovo or Rousse/Bucharest, Romania. Discover Bulgaria’s ancient capital, Veliko Tarnovo, and enjoy a Bulgarian wine tasting. Or stroll through the charming central pedestrian area before visiting the Rousse State Opera House for an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience and short performance. Alternatively, journey through the Romanian countryside to the capital of Bucharest for a tour of the elegant historic center. (Meals: B,L,D)

Day 15
Giurgiu, Romania. Disembark in Giurgiu and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (Meals: B)

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