Balkan Discovery with 1 Night in Bucharest 2026 - 9 Day River Cruise Budapest to Bucharest

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Balkan Discovery with 1 Night in Bucharest 2026

9 Day River Cruise Budapest to Bucharest



Tour Description:

Experience the extraordinary destinations of Eastern Europe on this Danube River cruise adventure through the Balkans. You’ll cruise through the rich landscapes and cultural locales of Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania. Embark on your Avalon Suite Ship® in Budapest, the lively Hungarian capital, and sail into beautiful Croatia. Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour in Vukovar and discover Ilok with its 1,000-year-old winemaking tradition. Take a fascinating guided tour of the Serbian capital of Belgrade, one of the oldest cities in Europe, where the Sava River meets the Danube. Cruise through the dramatic views of Iron Gates Gorge—a natural border between Serbia and Romania. Visit Bulgaria’s Belogradchik, and see the fascinating rock formations sculpted by natural elements for over 200 million years. On an excursion to the ancient Bulgarian capital of Veliko Târnovo, you’ll visit Arbanassi’s Church of the Nativity, housing an impressive collection of frescoes.

To round out this timeless Eastern European river cruise, you’ll stay in Romania’s vibrant capital of Bucharest, known as the “Paris of the East.” A local expert will show you many of its historical treasures, such as the Arc de Triomphe, built in honor of WWI soldiers.

Map for Balkan Discovery with 1 Night in Bucharest 2026 - 9 Day River Cruise Budapest to Bucharest
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Dates & Pricing

Thursday 30 Apr 26 — Saturday 09 May 26Starting at $3,798Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Saturday 23 May 26 — Monday 01 Jun 26Starting at $3,998Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 07 Jun 26 — Tuesday 16 Jun 26Starting at $3,748Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 22 Jun 26 — Wednesday 01 Jul 26Starting at $3,498Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Tuesday 07 Jul 26 — Thursday 16 Jul 26Starting at $3,498Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 22 Jul 26 — Friday 31 Jul 26Starting at $3,498Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Thursday 06 Aug 26 — Saturday 15 Aug 26Starting at $3,248Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 21 Aug 26 — Sunday 30 Aug 26Starting at $3,348Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Saturday 05 Sep 26 — Monday 14 Sep 26Starting at $4,198Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 20 Sep 26 — Tuesday 29 Sep 26Starting at $4,048Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 05 Oct 26 — Wednesday 14 Oct 26Starting at $3,948Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Tuesday 20 Oct 26 — Thursday 29 Oct 26Starting at $3,598Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Check Mark Icon Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.


Destination & Sightseeing

Day 1 Budapest (Embarkation): Onboard welcome reception
Day 2 Vukovar-Ilok-Novi Sad: Choice of beer experience or guided tour in Vukovar; choice of guided tour with wine tasting or guided bike tour in Ilok
Day 3 Novi Sad: Highlights of Novi Sad guided tour;choice of hike to Petrovaradin Fortress or honey and wine tasting; walk in Novi Sad with your Adventure Host
Day 4 Belgrade: Choice of guided tour or walk with your Adventure Host; on board lecture
Day 5 Golubac-Donji Milanovac-Iron Gates: Visit to Golubač fortress and Lepenski Vir archaeological site; scenic cruise through the Iron Gates Gorge
Day 6 Vidin. Excursion to Belogradchik: Choice of guided tour to Baba Vida Fortress and Belogradchik, see the rock formations or visit a local winery with wine tasting or biking in Vidin with your Adventure Host
Day 7 Rousse-Excursion to Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi: Choice of full-day excursion, visit to Tsarevet's Fortress in Veliko Târnovo and to the Ethnographical Museum and the Church of the Nativity in Arbanassi or a guided sightseeing in Rousse or; bike with your Adventure Host
Day 8 Oltenita (Disembarkation)-Bucharest: Guided sightseeing in Bucharest
Day 9 Bucharest: Your vacation ends this morning
Notes:
  • 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

Day 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 BUDAPEST-PARLIAMENT.jpg

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 ILOK.jpg
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Day 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 NOVI-SAD.jpg
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Day 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 BELGRADE-SAINT-SAVA.jpg
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Day 5
GOLUBAČ–DONJI MILANOVAC. EXCURSION TO LEPENSKI VIR–IRON GATES GORGE Ancient Artifacts 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 IRON-GATES-GORGE.jpg
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Day 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 VIDIN-BELOGRADSHICK.jpg
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Day 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 live entertainment on board with a Bulgarian folklore show. OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO OLTENITA VELIKO-TARNOVO.jpg
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Day 8
OLTENITA, ROMANIA (DISEMBARKATION)–BUCHAREST The Paris of the East 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. Spend some free time exploring on your own to visit shops and museums. See the beautiful home and churches along Victory Avenue. BUCHAREST-ARC-DE-TRIOMPHE.jpg

Day 9
BUCHAREST Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. BUCHAREST-ARC-DE-TRIOMPHE.jpg
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Accommodations

Bucharest
Intercontinental Athenee Palace
Superior First-Class

Hotel as shown or similar

1-3 Episcopiei Bucharest Romania

Explore Bucharest from the glorious Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest hotel, one of the city's most sophisticated and prestigious landmarks. The hotel is conveniently located in the heart of the city and enjoys views of Revolution Square and is close to Bucharest's many local attractions.
Check Mark Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.

FAQ Avalon Cruises Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

Pavlus Travel tells you there's a wide World out there just waiting to be explored on river cruises by you, and Avalon Waterways like Pavlus Travel knows there is more than a river cruise for you and your family to see it all. Why not experience local cities, villages, and countrysides your way with a wide selection of active excursions and activities brought to you by Avalon River Cruises that put you right in the middle of it all. Borrow a bike to ride through the streets of Amsterdam, grab a Nordic walking stick to capture the castle with a hike up the vineyard off the Rhine River, or paddle a canoe along Austria’s river shores. Pavlus makes it easy to turn sightseeing into doing your adventure in real time. You’ll find all the guidance and gear you from Avalon Waterways staff to embark on an expedition of your own. From a complimentary yoga class aboard your Avalon River Cruise to a jogging tour of Vienna or an optional kayaking excursion. Know that Pavlus Travel discounts Avalon River Cruises be they in Europe or the Far East. You'll enjoy every Avalon River Cruises Ship.