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The Danube from Romania to Germany with 2 Nights in Transylvania 2024
20 Day River Cruise Bucharest to Vilshofen
Tour Description:
Follow the graceful waterways from Romania through the Balkans, Hungary, and Austria with stunning views along your Danube River cruise. Sail from Romania to Hungary’s capital of Budapest to experience river views like no other. Begin your European vacation before your cruise in Transylvania. Drive into the Carpathian Mountains to visit Peles Castle, visit Dracula’s Bran Castle by night, spend two nights in Brasov and enjoy a guided tour by day. Enjoy sightseeing in Bucharest, including the Royal Palace Square and Romanian soldier remembrances. Travel to Cernavodă to embark on your Danube River cruise. Sail through the striking landscapes of the Balkans—Rousse, Bulgaria, Veliko Târnovo, and Arbanassi, one of the oldest towns in Bulgaria. Guided sightseeing in Vidin is followed by a guided tour of Belogradchik, with its ancient rock formations on the Balkan Mountains. After cruising through the narrow Iron Gates Gorge, visit Lepenski Vir for a guided tour with ancient archaeological finds. In Serbia, take a guided tour of Belgrade, including one of the world’s largest Orthodox churches, and see the most preserved Croatian fortress in Osijek. You’ll also attend a stirring performance by young students of the Franjo Kuhač music school. Tour the historic town of Pécs before sightseeing in the Hungarian capital of Budapest—the “Pearl of the Danube.” Enjoy guided sightseeing of Vienna’s historic Habsburg Empire—including the Imperial Palace, Vienna Opera House, and stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Take a guided tour of delightful Dürnstein and explore Melk’s Benedictine Abbey above the vineyard-rich Wachau Valley. Visit Austria’s lovely city of Linz, then pass through the beautiful Schlögen Oxbow river bend on your way to Passau—Germany’s “City of Three Rivers.” Your Danube River cruise concludes in Vilshofen, Germany.
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Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & Sightseeing| Day 1 Bucharest: | Welcome to Bucharest |
| Day 2 Bucharest–Sinaia–Brasov: | Visit Peles Castle |
| Day 3 Brasov: | Guided tour of Brasov; guided visit of Dracula's Bran Castle |
| Day 4 Brasov–Bucharest–Oltenita (Embarkation): | Guided sightseeing in Bucharest; transfer to ship; onboard welcome reception |
| Day 5 Cernavoda. Excursion to Constanta: | Guided sightseeing, visit the National History and Archaeological Museum in Constanta; wine tasting |
| Day 6 Rousse. Excursion to Veliko Târnovo & Arbanassi: | Choice of full-day excursion, visit to Tsarevet's Fortress in Veliko Târnovo and to the Ethnographic Museum and the Church of the Nativity in Arbanassi, or a guided sightseeing in Rousse, or a walk in the park with your Adventure Host |
| Day 7 Vidin–Belogradchik: | Choice of guided sightseeing to Vidin’s fortress and see the rock formations in Belogradchik or walk with your Adventure Host |
| Day 8 Iron Gates–Donji Milanovac–Golubac: | Cruise through the Iron Gates Gorge; choice of visit Lepenski Vir archaeological site or walk with your Adventure Host; visit to Golubač fortress |
| Day 9 Belgrade: | Choice of guided sightseeing or walk with your Adventure Host; onboard lecture |
| Day 10 Novi Sad: | choice of Novi Sad guided tour or walk with your Adventure Host; choice of honey and wine tasting or hike to the Petrovaradin Fortress |
| Day 11 Ilok-Vukovar: | Ilok guided tour with wine tasting; Vukovar guided tour |
| Day 12 Mohács. Excursion to Pécs: | guided tour and organ concert in Pécs or sightseeing in Mohács, visit St. Nicolas watermill |
| Day 13 Budapest: | Choice of guided tour, see Heroes’ Square or hike with your Adventure Host |
| Day 14 Budapest: | Day at leisure |
| Day 15 Bratislava: | Choice of guided sightseeing in Bratislava, visit St. Martin’s Cathedral or hike up to Bratislava Castle with your Adventure Host |
| Day 16 Vienna: | Choice of guided sightseeing, or Künsthistorisches Museum visit, or bike with your Adventure Host |
| Day 17 Dürnstein–Wachau Valley–Ybbs. Excursion to Melk: | Choice of guided walk or hike up to the castle ruins in Dürnstein; cruise through the Wachau Valley or bike along the river with your Adventure Host; choice of guided visit of the Benedictine Abbey in Melk, Ybbs city sightseeing with Artstetten Castle visit |
| Day 18 Linz: | Guided sightseeing, see Hauptplatz and the Trinity Column |
| Day 19 Passau: | Schlögen Oxbow scenic cruising; choice of guided tour or hike with your Adventure Host |
| Day 20 Vilshofen (Disembarkation): | 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
BUCHAREST, ROMANIA Welcome to Bucharest—The “Paris of the East”
The day is yours to relax and enjoy Bucharest. 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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Day 2
BUCHAREST–SINAIA–BRASOV Drive into the Carpathians to Sinaia to visit Peles Castle. On the way, enjoy a local lunch. This afternoon continue to Brasov for the night.
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BreakfastLunch
BreakfastLunchDay 3
BRASOV Join a morning Guided Sightseeing Tour of Brasov followed by free time. In the evening enjoy a tour of Bran Castle of Dracula lore followed by dinner.
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Breakfast Dinner
Breakfast
DinnerDay 4
BRASOV–BUCHAREST–OLTENITA (EMBARKATION)
CLASSIC Join a Guided Excursion in Bucharest, see the Royal Palace Square—the scene of the city's 1989 riots to overthrow the communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.
Join your Avalon Suite Ship® this afternoon, for embarkation in Oltenita.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO CERNAVODA
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Day 5
CERNAVODA. EXCURSION TO CONSTANTA Romania’s Cultural Legacies
CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour to Constanta, the most important commercial center in Romania, situated on the Black Sea. Visit the Natural History and Archeological Museum to discover the history of early Romanian cultures.
DISCOVERY Enjoy a visit to a local winery to learn about traditional Romanian wines with a tasting.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROUSSE
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 6
ROUSSE, BULGARIA. VELIKO TÂRNOVO & ARBANASSI EXCURSION Fortresses and Fountains in “Little Vienna”
ACTIVE Join a walk through the park in Rousse with your Avalon Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bulgaria’s largest inland port and visit its impressive Holy Trinity Church.
Sail to Svistov, 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, as well as Bulgarian revival architecture in the 15th-century town of Arbanassi.
Later, join your ship in Svistov.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIDIN
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 7
VIDIN Rocks, ruins and Balkan Beauty
Ask about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities.
ACTIVE Wander and discover this town, join your Adventure Host for a walk, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour in Vidin before joining a Guided Tour to Belogradchik. See the remarkable rock formations on the slopes of the Balkan Mountains, sculpted by 200 million years of nature’s elements.
This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board with a Bulgarian folklore show.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO DONJI MILANOVAC
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 8
DONJI MILANOVAC, SERBIA–IRON GATES GORGE. EXCURSION TO LEPENSKI VIR Ancient Artifacts and the Iron Gates
Before lunch on board, you’ll sail through the spectacular and narrow Iron Gates Gorge—a natural border between Serbia and Romania.
ACTIVE Stretch your legs, ease your mind and enjoy a walk lead by your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour to Lepenski Vir—an important Mesolithic archaeological site chronicling prehistoric cultures, settlements, and art. Marvel at the ancient discoveries and artifacts, as well as the unique views the site affords of the Danube Gorge.
Enjoy a brief sailing to Golubač.
GOLUBAČ
A Formidable Fortress
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 defense in the Middle Ages, and a source of conflict between Serbia, the Habsburg Monarchy and the Ottoman Empire.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BELGRADE
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 9
BELGRADE Fortresses and Folklore
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
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 sites, including Saint Sava—one of the world’s largest Orthodox churches.
You may choose to spend free time in Belgrade exploring Knez Mihailova Street—Belgrade’s central pedestrian thoroughfare with many lively cafés, shops, and cultural spots.
DISCOVERY Attend an onboard Lecture to learn about the rich history, destinations, and culture of the Balkan states.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO NOVI SAD
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 10
NOVI SAD A Capital of Culture
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.
ACTIVE Enjoy a walking tour in Novi Sad along the narrow streets that climb slowly to the top of the hill above the city to Petrovaradin Fortress, OR:
DISCOVERY Experience the sweet life in Serbia with a visit and tasting at the Museum of Beekeeping and Živanović Wine Cellar in Sremski Karlovci.
This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ILOK
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 11
ILOK, CROATIA Croatian Heritage and Hilltop Vintages
DISCOVERY Take a walking tour of Ilok with a wine tasting in a local cellar with stories of Croatian tradition.
VUKOVAR, CROATIA
The Heroic Town on the Danube
CLASSIC Enjoy a walking tour of Vukovar, the city the largest river port in Croatia.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MOHÁCS
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 12
MOHÁCS, HUNGARY. EXCURSION TO PÉCS Underground Tombs and Heavenly Music
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 to 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.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BUDAPEST
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 13
BUDAPEST Hungary’s Captivating Capital
ACTIVE Hike up to a magnificent viewpoint in Budapest with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Sightseeing, including the iconic Heroes’ Square.
Take in the beauty of Budapest while enjoying a free afternoon exploring such famous sights as the Chain Bridge. Get to know the city’s cafés and pubs, or take a hike through the hills above the Danube.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BUDAPEST
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 14
BUDAPEST The Pearl of the Danube
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.
This afternoon choose among a wide selection of Optional Guided Excursions or take a free day to explore, with time to take photographs on the Royal Palace grounds in this treasure trove of historical architecture. Try Budapest’s famous thermal bath spas, then dine in a garden or rooftop eatery.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BRATISLAVA
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 15
BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA Cathedral Coronations and a Crowning Castle
ACTIVE Follow your Avalon Adventure Host on a hike to lofty Bratislava Castle, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk, including the quaint streets of Old Town, Town Hall, and the site of royal coronations at fantastic St. Martin’s Cathedral.
This afternoon, enjoy free time to discover on your own Bratislava, the beautiful capital of Slovakia, rich in history and culture, but also a green city with its forests and parks just a hop away from the city center.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIENNA
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 16
VIENNA, AUSTRIA Strauss, Schnitzel, Strudel, and Sachertorte
ACTIVE Explore Vienna's Danube Island by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC Explore the Habsburg empire with a morning Guided City Tour of Vienna’s gilded landmarks. See the Imperial Palace complex—Winter residence of the Imperial Family, the iconic Vienna Opera House and stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral, OR:
CLASSIC Join A Guided Tour to explore Freiburg’s medieval city center, sheltered by the Black Forest amid vineyards and gardens of the Upper Rhine Valley.
You may decide to take a Guided Optional Excursion to Schönbrunn Palace—summer home of the Habsburg Empire.
Spend free time strolling in the Kärntnerstrasse—the most famous shopping avenue in central Vienna, or take a bike ride to a local café for Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel.
This evening, enjoy an unforgettable musical performance with an Optional Excursion to attend a Royal Waltz Concert in an elegant hall.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO DÜRNSTEIN
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 17
DÜRNSTEIN–WACHAU VALLEY A King’s Ransom and Castle Ruins
ACTIVE Join a Guided Hike up to the castle ruins to take in the spectacular view of the village, Danube, and the Wachau Valley below, OR:
CLASSIC Join a Guided Walk, and hear the legendary tale of King Richard the Lionheart—who was imprisoned in the castle during the Crusades.
Later, stretch out on the Sky Deck as you sail through the Wachau Valley past vineyards, castles, and charming villages on your way to Ybbs.
ACTIVE Alternatively join your Adventure Host for a bike along the river.
YBBS. EXCURSION TO MELK
Frescoes Above and Vineyards Below
CLASSIC Visit the Lower Austrian little town of Ybbs. Walk through the doors of Austrian history with a guided sightseeing tour of Artstetten Castle, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey to marvel at its frescoed ceilings, statues, incredible library, and ornate pipe organ.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO LINZ
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 18
LINZ Legendary, Lovely Linz
Ask about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities.
CLASSIC Take a Guided Walk through the city’s historic and beautiful sites along the shore of the Danube and see Hauptplatz—Austria’s largest medieval square—and the towering white-marble Trinity Column.
Consider a full-day Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg-the city of Mozart-or to the picturesque Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov.
You may otherwise spend the afternoon on a biking picnic along the banks of the Danube, or hike through Linz’s beautiful nature trails to Pöstlingberg for a bird’s-eye view of the city and river below.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LINZ
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 19
SCHLÖGEN OXBOW–PASSAU, GERMANY Where the Danube, Inn, and Ilz Rivers Meet
This morning, cruise through the Schlögen Oxbow, a particularly beautiful horseshoe-shaped bend of the river.
ACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for Hiking from Oberhaus along a trail down to the valley and along Ilz River, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk into Passau, the beautiful “City of Three Rivers".
Before sailing to Vilshofen, take a little free time to explore Passau’s cobblestone streets and galleries of Artists’ Alley. Maybe stop at St. Stephen’s Cathedral to catch a concert rehearsal.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VILSHOFEN
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 20
VILSHOFEN (DISEMBARKATION) Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Flights should not leave Munich airport before 8 am.
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Accommodations
Accommodations| Bucharest | Brasov |
Radisson Blu
Deluxe
Hotel as shown or similar
Calea Victoriei 63 - 81 Sector 1 Bucharest Romania
Overlooking the former Royal Palace and near the Romanian Athenaeum Concert Hall and Cismigiu Park, the Radisson Blu provides modern accommodation in the heart of Romania's capital. Guests can choose from the exclusive selection of five on site restaurants and three bars. The hotel also hosts the World Class Health Academy including indoor 22-meter swimming, outdoor Jacuzzi and pool, gym and fitness facilities. When you feel like relaxing, visit our Bali Spa, offering a nice menu of massages and body treatments (against a fee). Within the same complex as the Radisson Blu Hotel you can enjoy Romania's biggest casino.
Deluxe
Hotel as shown or similar
Calea Victoriei 63 - 81 Sector 1 Bucharest Romania
Overlooking the former Royal Palace and near the Romanian Athenaeum Concert Hall and Cismigiu Park, the Radisson Blu provides modern accommodation in the heart of Romania's capital. Guests can choose from the exclusive selection of five on site restaurants and three bars. The hotel also hosts the World Class Health Academy including indoor 22-meter swimming, outdoor Jacuzzi and pool, gym and fitness facilities. When you feel like relaxing, visit our Bali Spa, offering a nice menu of massages and body treatments (against a fee). Within the same complex as the Radisson Blu Hotel you can enjoy Romania's biggest casino.
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.
