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Balkan Discovery with 1 Night in Budapest & 2 Nights in Transylvania 2024
12 Day River Cruise Budapest to Bucharest
Tour Description:
See the highlights of Eastern Europe on this Balkan river cruise adventure along the Danube River! This vacation has something for everybody—relaxing time on your ship and stops in the most fascinating cities, with free time and guided sightseeing—so you don’t miss a thing! You’ll begin with an overnight stay in the lively Hungarian capital of Budapest. See the iconic statues of Heroes’ Square, and with free time, explore the lovely lookout towers of Fishermen’s Bastion. On an excursion to Pécs, Hungary, you’ll visit underground burial chambers with fascinating murals, now part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. 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 historical buildings and charming cafés and you’ll see St. Sava, the world’s largest Orthodox Church. Continue your river cruise through the dramatic views of Iron Gates Gorge, visit Belogradchik’s fascinating rock formations, and Bulgaria’s ancient capital of Veliko Tarnovo. In Arbanassi, visit the Church of the Nativity, housing an impressive collection of frescoes. From Oltenita, transfer to Bucharest for guided sightseeing. Known as the “Paris of the East,” a local expert will show you many of its historical treasures, such as the Arc de Triomphe. Take a trip to Transylvania to visit the Bran Castle—of Dracula Fame—the city of Brasov, and beautiful Peles Castle.
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Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & Sightseeing| Day 1 Budapest: | Welcome to Hungary |
| Day 2 Budapest (Embarkation): | Guided tour, see Heroes' Square; onboard welcome reception |
| Day 3 Mohács. Excursion to Pécs: | Choice of guided tour in Pécs, visit the underground tombs, or sightseeing in Mohács, visit St. Nicolas watermill or walk with your Adventure Host |
| Day 4 Ilok-Novi Sad: | Ilok guided tour; choice of Novi Sad guided tour or walk with your Adventure Host |
| Day 5 Belgrade: | Choice of guided tour or walk with your Adventure Host; onboard lecture |
| Day 6 Golubac Donji Milanovac-Iron Gates: | Choice of visit to Golubač fortress or visit to Lepenski Vir archaeological site scenic cruise through the Iron Gates Gorge |
| Day 7 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 8 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 biking in Rousse with your Adventure Host |
| Day 9 Oltenita (Disembarkation)-Brasov: | Transfer to Bucharest, guided sightseeing |
| Day 10 Brasov: | Brasov guided tour; visit Bran Castle |
| Day 11 Brasov-Sinaia-Bucharest: | Visit Peles Castle |
| Day 12 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
ITINERARYDay 1
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY Welcome to Budapest—Hungary’s Captivating Capital
The day is yours to relax and enjoy Eastern Europe’s shining city on the Danube.
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Day 2
BUDAPEST (EMBARKATION) The Pearl of the Danube in the Heart of Europe
CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Sightseeing, including the iconic Heroes’ Square.
This afternoon, board your Suite Ship®. This evening enjoy a dinner onboard.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MOHÁCS
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Day 3
MOHÁCS Hungarian History in a Harbor Town
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.
ACTIVE Explore Mohacs by foot as you follow the lead of your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC Join a morning Guided Sightseeing Tour of Mohács—the quiet Danube harbor town with its historical memorial parks, statues, and distinctive churches. Tour the remarkable medieval St. Nicholas Watermill—one of only a few remaining watermills performing stone-ground grain processing, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of nearby Pécs to see its 4th-century Christian underground tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with fascinating murals. You’ll also enjoy an organ concert on your tour.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ILOK
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 4
ILOK, CROATIA History and Culture in Croatia
CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Ilok, with its 1,000-year-old winemaking tradition still thriving and its medieval fortress protected for its Croatian cultural heritage.
Enjoy a brief cruise to Novi Sad while having lunch onboard.
NOVI SAD, SERBIA
The Athens of Serbia
ACTIVE Get your daily dose of exercise, join your Adventure Host on this walk in and around town, OR:
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.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BELGRADE
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 5
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. Alternatively, enjoy one of the Optional Excursions on offer.
This evening, you might like to join an Optional Excursion for an authentic Bohemian Dinner in the Quarter of Skadarlija.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO GOLUBAČ
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 6
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; OR:
CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour 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
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 7
VIDIN, BULGARIA Rocks, ruins and Balkan Beauty
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
ACTIVE Wander and discover this town, join your Adventure Host for a bike ride around town, 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
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 8
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
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 9
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.
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Day 10
BRASOV
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.
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Breakfast Dinner
Breakfast DinnerDay 11
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.
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BreakfastLunch
BreakfastLunchDay 12
BUCHAREST Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
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Breakfast
Breakfast Accommodations
Accommodations| Budapest | Budapest | Budapest | Brasov | Bucharest |
InterContinental Budapest
Deluxe
Hotel as shown or similar
Apaczai Csere Janos utca 12-14 Budapest Hungary
Few would argue the InterContinental Budapest is in the city's best location: right on the Danube across from Castle Hill and the Royal Palace. With the Chain Bridge and the Parliament just steps away, there's no shortage of superb sightseeing opportunities. The Váci Utca shopping street, Central Market Hall and the Gellért Baths are also nearby.
Deluxe
Hotel as shown or similar
Apaczai Csere Janos utca 12-14 Budapest Hungary
Few would argue the InterContinental Budapest is in the city's best location: right on the Danube across from Castle Hill and the Royal Palace. With the Chain Bridge and the Parliament just steps away, there's no shortage of superb sightseeing opportunities. The Váci Utca shopping street, Central Market Hall and the Gellért Baths are also nearby.
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.
