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Balkan Discovery with 1 Night in Bucharest & 2 Nights in Transylvania 2026
11 Day River Cruise Budapest to Bucharest
Tour Description:
See the highlights of Eastern Europe on this Danube River cruise adventure through the Balkans! This vacation has something for everybody—relaxing time on your ship and stops in the most fascinating cities, with free time and guided sightseeing. Sail into beautiful Croatia, enjoy a guided sightseeing in Vukovar and discover Ilok with its 1,000-year-old winemaking tradition. Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, is one of the oldest cities in Europe, where the Sava River meets the Danube. The lively pedestrian boulevard of Knez Mihailova is dotted with charming cafés and historical buildings. You’ll also see St. Sava, the world’s largest Orthodox Church. Cruise through the dramatic views of Iron Gates Gorge, marvel at Belogradchik’s fascinating rock formations, and visit the fortress in Bulgaria’s ancient capital of Veliko Târnovo. In Arbanassi, visit the Church of the Nativity, housing an impressive collection of frescoes. This timeless European vacation continues with a stay in Romania’s vibrant capital of Bucharest, the “Paris of the East.” A local expert will show you many of its historical treasures, such as the Arc de Triomphe. Travel to Transylvania to visit Bran Castle—of Dracula lore—the city of Brasov, and beautiful Peles Castle.
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Dates & Pricing
| Thursday 30 Apr 26 — Monday 11 May 26 | Starting at $4,368 | Get a Quote | |
| Saturday 23 May 26 — Wednesday 03 Jun 26 | Starting at $4,868 | Get a Quote | |
| Sunday 07 Jun 26 — Thursday 18 Jun 26 | Starting at $4,568 | Get a Quote | |
| Monday 22 Jun 26 — Friday 03 Jul 26 | Starting at $5,318 | Get a Quote | |
| Tuesday 07 Jul 26 — Saturday 18 Jul 26 | Starting at $5,318 | Get a Quote | |
| Wednesday 22 Jul 26 — Sunday 02 Aug 26 | Starting at $5,318 | Get a Quote | |
| Thursday 06 Aug 26 — Monday 17 Aug 26 | Starting at $5,318 | Get a Quote | |
| Friday 21 Aug 26 — Tuesday 01 Sep 26 | Starting at $5,518 | Get a Quote | |
| Saturday 05 Sep 26 — Wednesday 16 Sep 26 | Starting at $4,868 | Get a Quote | |
| Sunday 20 Sep 26 — Thursday 01 Oct 26 | Starting at $4,868 | Get a Quote | |
| Monday 05 Oct 26 — Friday 16 Oct 26 | Starting at $4,768 | Get a Quote | |
| Tuesday 20 Oct 26 — Saturday 31 Oct 26 | Starting at $5,418 | Get a Quote |
Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & SightseeingNotes:
- In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
- Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
- Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
ITINERARY
ITINERARYDay 1
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (EMBARKATION) Welcome to Hungary. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.
Flights into Budapest must arrive by 2 pm.
Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VUKOVAR
Day 2
VUKOVAR History and Beer
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.
DISCOVERY Join a Guided Walking Tour to discover the heritage, culture, and tradition of Vukovar and enjoy a beer tasting, OR:
CLASSIC Join a Guided City Tour to discover the captivating culture and tradition of Vukovar and learn about its rich history and heritage.
Enjoy a brief cruise to Ilok while having lunch onboard.
ILOK, CROATIA
History and Culture in Croatia
CLASSIC Join a Guided tour of Ilok, with its 1,000-year-old wine making traditions still thriving and its medieval fortress protected for its Croatian cultural heritage. Refresh your spirit with a wine tasting in a local cellar and hear the stories of culture and tradition in the natural beauty of Eastern Croatia, OR:
ACTIVE Explore more of Croatia on a Guided Bike Tour along Ilok’s city walls, into the central church, and the towns’ museum on your way to Principovac Castle and Estate.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN NOVI SAD
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 3
NOVI SAD, SERBIA The Athens of Serbia
CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Novi Sad, the second largest town in Serbia. Admire its Austro-Hungarian old town, with its baroque buildings, and ancient fortifications.
ACTIVE Enjoy a Guided Hike Tour to the Petrovaradin part of the town. Located on the right bank of the Danube, across from the main part of Novi Sad, this area will amaze you for its scenic views, OR:
DISCOVERY Get to learn more about the beekeeper profession on this Guided Tour of Novi Sad by stopping at the Honey Museum and by tasting local honey specialties.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BELGRADE
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 4
BELGRADE Fortresses and Folklore
ACTIVE Discover Belgrade's central walkway with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Belgrade—where the Danube and Sava Rivers converge—and see the city’s many fascinating sights, including Saint Sava—one of the world’s largest Orthodox churches.
DISCOVERY Attend an onboard Lecture to learn about the rich history, destinations, and culture of the Balkan states.
Spend your free time exploring the city on your own this afternoon on Knez Mihailova Street—Belgrade’s central pedestrian thoroughfare with many lively cafés, shops, and cultural spots.
This evening, you might like to join an Optional Excursion for an authentic Bohemian Dinner in the Quarter of Skadarlija.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO GOLUBAČ
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 5
GOLUBAČ–DONJI MILANOVAC. EXCURSION TO LEPENSKI VIR–IRON GATES GORGE Ancient Artifacts and and the Iron Gates
CLASSIC Visit the Fortress of Golubač, one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in Europe. You’ll hear about its tumultuous history as a border control for defense in the Middle Ages, and a source of conflict between Serbia, the Habsburg Monarchy, and the Ottoman Empire. Continue to the Mesolithic archaeological site of Lepenski Vir with unique views of the Danube Gorge.
Sail through the spectacular and narrow Iron Gates Gorge—a natural border between Serbia and Romania.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIDIN
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 6
VIDIN, BULGARIA Rocks, Ruins and Balkan Beauty
ACTIVE Join your Adventure Host for a bike tour around the city, OR:
CLASSIC Join Guided Sightseeing to Baba Vida Fortress, followed by a Guided Tour of Belogradchik. Marvel at the remarkable rock formations on the western slopes of the Balkan Mountains, sculpted by 200 million years of natural elements, OR:
DISCOVERY Discover more than two centuries of a proud family history of Bulgarian winemaking with a tour and tasting at a local winery. Here, you’ll enjoy a wine tasting in the cellars.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROUSSE
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 7
ROUSSE. VELIKO TÂRNOVO & ARBANASSI EXCURSION Fortresses and Folklore
ACTIVE Explore Rousse's old town by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC Join a full-day Guided Tour to the former Bulgarian capital of Veliko Târnovo—with its ancient stone houses clinging to the cliffs above the Yantra River. Discover one of the oldest towns in Bulgaria (circa 4300 BC), as well as the Bulgarian Revival architecture in the 15th-century town of Arbanassi, OR:
CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bulgaria’s largest inland port and visit its impressive Holy Trinity Church. Later, enjoy a short scenic drive to explore the rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo, a UNESCO World Heritage.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board with a Bulgarian folklore show.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO OLTENITA
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 8
OLTENITA, ROMANIA (DISEMBARKATION)–BUCHAREST–BRASOV Disembark your ship and transfer to Bucharest.
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of the Romanian capital city of Bucharest with its tree-lined boulevards and Arc de Triomphe—honoring WWI Romanian soldiers. See the Royal Palace Square—the scene of the city’s 1989 riots to overthrow the communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.
After the visit drive to Brasov for the night
Day 9
BRASOV Transylvania Tales
CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Tour of Brasov and admire its gothic, baroque and renaissance architecture.
In the evening, depart for Bran Castle of Dracula lore.
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of Bran Castle—the 1377 legendary home of the famed Romanian vampire, followed by a dinner in this amazing location
Breakfast Dinner
Breakfast DinnerDay 10
BRASOV–SINAIA–BUCHAREST The “Paris of the East.”
CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Tour of Visit Peles Castle, the summer residence of the royal family until 1947.
Drive out the Carpathians to Bucharest; On the way, enjoy a local lunch.
Spend some free time exploring this fascinating city on your own to discover its trendy shops, cafés, museums, beautiful homes, and churches along Victory Avenue
BreakfastLunch
BreakfastLunchDay 11
BUCHAREST Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning
Breakfast
Breakfast Accommodations
Accommodations| Brasov | Brasov | Bucharest |
Kronwell Brasov Hotel
Superior First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
Bulevardul Garii Nr 7A Brasov Romania
The Kronwell hotel in Brasov boasts stylishly luxurious guestrooms equipped with state-of-the art facilities, as well as free of charge wireless internet access that will satisfy the hotel's most exclusive guests. This centrally located hotel offers a stylish à la carte restaurant, a casual bar, a sleek European/Asian bistro and formal dining with a terrace. The spa has an indoor pool, a fitness studio and sauna.
Superior First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
Bulevardul Garii Nr 7A Brasov Romania
The Kronwell hotel in Brasov boasts stylishly luxurious guestrooms equipped with state-of-the art facilities, as well as free of charge wireless internet access that will satisfy the hotel's most exclusive guests. This centrally located hotel offers a stylish à la carte restaurant, a casual bar, a sleek European/Asian bistro and formal dining with a terrace. The spa has an indoor pool, a fitness studio and sauna.
