Itinerary
- Day 1
Vilshofen
You'll arrive in Vilshofen where the Danube and Vils Rivers meet in Bavaria. After boarding your cruise ship, the evening kicks off with an exclusive Oktoberfest celebration featuring traditional beer, Bavarian folk music, and dancing to set the tone for your river journey.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Oktoberfest celebration with traditional beer
- Bavarian folk music and dancing
- Day 2
Passau
The ship cruises to Passau, located at the confluence of three rivers: the Danube, Inn, and Ilz. You can choose between a walking tour of the Old Town that includes a bakery stop for pretzels and chocolate, a hike up to Veste Oberhaus fortress, or a bike ride along the River Inn.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Morning cruise to Passau
- Walking tour of Old Town (choice of activity)
- Bakery visit to sample pretzels and chocolate (choice of activity)
- Hike to Veste Oberhaus fortress (choice of activity)
- Bike ride along the River Inn (choice of activity)
Landmarks Veste Oberhaus - Day 3
Linz
Docking in Linz opens up several options for your day. Take a day trip to Salzburg to see Mozart's birthplace and the UNESCO-listed Old Town, head to Český Krumlov in the Czech mountains to check out the castle and architecture, or stay in Linz for a guided walk or bike tour through the city itself.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Day trip to Salzburg with walking tour of UNESCO Old Town (choice of activity)
- Day trip to Český Krumlov to visit Krumlov Castle (choice of activity)
- Guided walk of Linz (choice of activity)
- Bike ride in Linz (choice of activity)
Landmarks Salzburg Old Town Krumlov Castle 
- Day 4
Durnstein
You'll sail through the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its wines. From Durnstein, choose between a guided walk through town and a tour of Melk Abbey to see restored medieval books, hike to the Durnstein fortress, or bike through vineyards along the Danube. Later in the day, join the group for a wine tasting of local varieties.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Wachau Valley
- Guided walk through Durnstein (choice of activity)
- Tour of Melk Abbey with librarian viewing medieval books (choice of activity)
- Hike to Durnstein fortress (choice of activity)
- Bike ride through vineyards along the Danube (choice of activity)
- Local wine tasting
Landmarks Melk Abbey Durnstein Fortress - Day 5
Vienna
Vienna awaits with imperial treasures ranging from the Opera House to City Hall. Your options include a city tour with either the Kunsthistoriches Museum Wien for fine art or the Belvedere Palace to see Gustav Klimt's The Kiss, or a guided bike tour through the city. The afternoon is free time on your own, and if you're interested, an evening concert at a historic music venue is available for an additional fee.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- City tour of Vienna with Opera House and City Hall (choice of museum or bike ride activity)
- Guided visit to Kunsthistoriches Museum Wien (choice of activity)
- Guided visit to Belvedere Palace with art collection (choice of activity)
- Guided bike ride of Vienna (choice of activity)
Optional Activities
- Evening concert at iconic music venue (additional cost)
Landmarks Vienna Opera House Vienna City Hall Kunsthistoriches Museum Wien Belvedere Palace - Day 6
Bratislava
In Bratislava, the former Habsburg capital, you'll explore the charming Old Town and take in a folklore performance with a string quartet at Primate's Palace. You can also sample local specialties on a Tastes of Slovakia tour or climb up to Bratislava Castle for panoramic views across the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Old Town (choice of activity)
- Folklore performance with string quartet at Primate's Palace (choice of activity)
- Tastes of Slovakia tour (choice of activity)
- Visit to Bratislava Castle for panoramic views (choice of activity)
Landmarks Bratislava Old Town Primate's Palace Bratislava Castle 
- Day 7
Budapest
Your time in Budapest starts with Buda's Castle District, where you'll see Fisherman's Bastion and the architecture of Matthias Church. In the afternoon, check out Pest's monuments or take a Jewish history tour that includes Europe's largest synagogue and the Shoes on the Danube memorial.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Morning tour of Buda's Castle District
- Views from Fisherman's Bastion
- Visit to Matthias Church
- Afternoon exploration of Pest monuments (choice of activity)
- Jewish history tour with Europe's largest synagogue and Shoes on the Danube memorial (choice of activity)
Landmarks Fisherman's Bastion Matthias Church Great Synagogue Shoes on the Danube Bank 
- Day 8
Puszta
You'll visit the 19th-century Gödöllő Palace, exploring its royal stables and Baroque theater, then have lunch at Gödöllő Restaurant. After that, head to the Puszta, the Great Hungarian Plain, to tour a working Hungarian csárda (farm) run by carriage-drive champions. You'll see a performance of Hungarian horsemanship demonstrating traditions dating back to the 9th-century Magyar tribes.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Gödöllő Restaurant), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Gödöllő Palace with royal stables and Baroque theater
- Lunch at Gödöllő Restaurant
- Tour of Hungarian csárda (farm) on the Puszta
- Hungarian horsemanship performance
Landmarks Gödöllő Palace 
- Day 9
Pécs
Enjoy a scenic morning cruise to Mohács before continuing to Pécs. You can explore the fourth-century necropolis underground, a World Heritage site, and visit St. Peter's Basilica. Check out a porcelain factory in the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter and walk to the mosque on the main square. Alternatively, head to the Szekszárd wine region for reds, or take a guided bike tour around Mohács.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Morning cruise to Mohács
- Visit to fourth-century necropolis (choice of activity)
- Visit to St. Peter's Basilica (choice of activity)
- Visit to porcelain factory in Zsolnay Cultural Quarter (choice of activity)
- Stroll to mosque on main square (choice of activity)
- Szekszárd wine region tasting tour (choice of activity)
- Guided bike tour of Mohács (choice of activity)
Landmarks Pécs Necropolis St. Peter's Basilica, Pécs Zsolnay Cultural Quarter - Day 10
Vukovar
Arriving in Croatia, you'll visit Vukovar on either a city tour or bike ride to explore the baroque center and see the historical marks from the 1990s war. The day ends with a private concert by local musicians at Eltz Manor House. You can also explore Tvrda Fortress and the ethnographic museum in Osijek, then taste Croatian wines at Old Cellars or visit the Vucedol Museum to learn about the region's history.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- City tour of Vukovar (choice of activity)
- Bike ride in Vukovar (choice of activity)
- Private concert by local musicians at Eltz Manor House
- Tour of Tvrda Fortress (choice of activity)
- Visit to ethnographic museum in Osijek (choice of activity)
- Croatian wine tasting at Vukovar's Old Cellars (choice of activity)
- Visit to Vucedol Museum (choice of activity)
Landmarks Eltz Manor House Tvrda Fortress Vucedol Museum - Day 11
Belgrade
Belgrade offers several ways to spend your day: visit the Nikola Tesla Museum, Kalemegdan Fortress, and the Church of Saint Sava, or take a bike ride or hike to the fortress. You can tour the National Museum of Serbia and try slivovitz with local appetizers, or travel to Novi Sad for a walking tour of its Old Town instead.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Nikola Tesla Museum (choice of activity)
- Visit to Kalemegdan Fortress (choice of activity)
- Bike ride or hike to fortress (choice of activity)
- Visit to Church of Saint Sava (choice of activity)
- Tour of National Museum of Serbia (choice of activity)
- Slivovitz and local appetizers tasting (choice of activity)
- Walking tour of Novi Sad Old Town (choice of activity)
Landmarks Nikola Tesla Museum Kalemegdan Fortress Church of Saint Sava National Museum of Serbia 
- Day 12
Iron Gates
As the Danube winds into the mountains forming the natural border between Serbia and Romania, you'll stop to see Serbia's Golubac Fortress and sail through the Iron Gates gorges. Watch the mountains on the Romanian side where the face of King Decebalus is carved into the stone.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Golubac Fortress
- Cruise through Iron Gates gorges
Landmarks Golubac Fortress King Decebalus Face - Day 13
Vidin
In Vidin, a town with Celtic roots, you can take a guided tour of the medieval Baba Vida Fortress or bike there. Alternatively, visit a local home for a lesson in making traditional Bulgarian yogurt and banitsa, a popular layered pastry.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Baba Vida Fortress (choice of activity)
- Bike ride to castle (choice of activity)
- Lesson in making traditional Bulgarian yogurt and banitsa at local home (choice of activity)
Landmarks Baba Vida Fortress 
- Day 14
Veliko Tarnovo
You'll tour Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria's ancient capital, and participate in a Bulgarian wine tasting. Other options include exploring Rousse's architecture plus the art gallery and the rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo with their colorful 14th-century frescoes, or traveling through the Romanian countryside to Bucharest for a tour of its historic center.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Veliko Tarnovo
- Bulgarian wine tasting
- Exploration of Rousse architecture (choice of activity)
- Visit to Rousse Art Gallery (choice of activity)
- Visit to rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo (choice of activity)
- Tour of Bucharest historic center (choice of activity)
Landmarks Veliko Tarnovo Rousse Art Gallery Churches of Ivanovo - Day 15
Giurgiu to Airport
You'll disembark in Giurgiu and transfer to the airport for your flight home, concluding your Danube River journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast
