Itinerary
- Day 1
Budapest
You'll check into your luxury hotel in Budapest for a two-night stay. The Danube separates Buda on one side from Pest on the other, and you've got the afternoon free to explore however you'd like. If you're interested in coffee culture, head to one of the historic coffee houses like New York Café or Ruszwurm Cukrászda to get a feel for Budapest's 19th-century traditions.
Optional Activities
- Visit New York Café
- Visit Ruszwurm Cukrászda
- Explore Budapest's historic coffee houses
Landmarks/POIs New York Café Ruszwurm Cukrászda - Day 2
Budapest
After breakfast, you'll have Scenic Freechoice options to pick from. You can visit Brunszvik Castle in Martonvásár, an 18th-century neo-Gothic castle with a Beethoven Memorial Museum inside, or head to the Etyek region to check out wineries known for crisp white and sparkling wines. In the afternoon, there's time to hike up Buda Hill for panoramic views of the Danube before dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Brunszvik Castle with Beethoven Memorial Museum
- Scenic Freechoice: Etyek Region Wineries with wine tasting
- Dinner at local restaurant
Optional Activities
- Hike Buda Hill for panoramic views of the Danube River and city
Landmarks/POIs Brunszvik Castle Beethoven Memorial Museum Etyek Region Buda Hill - Day 3
Budapest to Danube Cruise
The morning is free for you to explore Budapest on your own schedule. Széchenyi Baths, the largest thermal bath in the city, has 15 indoor baths and three outdoor pools if you want to spend time there. Later in the afternoon, you'll transfer to your Scenic Space-Ship and board the river cruise vessel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Széchenyi Baths
Landmarks/POIs Széchenyi Baths - Day 4
Mohács
Your ship arrives in Mohács, a small Hungarian town on the Danube that was the site of a 16th-century battle. You'll have Freechoice options: take a guided tour of Pécs to see the 1885 telephone exchange and the Turkish Bath of Pasha Memi, explore Villány wine village famous for bold red wines, or visit the Zsolnay Ceramics Museum in the company's former factory to see hand-painted porcelain from 1853 onwards.
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Guided tour of Pécs
- Scenic Freechoice: Villány wine village visit with wine sampling
- Scenic Freechoice: Zsolnay Ceramics Museum
Landmarks/POIs Pécs Turkish Bath of Pasha Memi Villány Zsolnay Ceramics Museum - Day 5
Osijek, Croatia
The ship reaches Osijek, a Croatian town known for its paprika-based food and river fish. Your Freechoice lets you take a walking tour of the well-preserved Baroque Old Town and fortress with traditional music, explore the Baranja wine region between Croatia and Hungary with tastings, or have lunch at a local Croatian family's home enjoying food from their garden for a real cultural experience.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch with local Croatian family at their home, authentic meal prepared with fresh vegetables from the host's garden)
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Walking tour of Osijek
- Scenic Freechoice: Baranja wine region tour with wine tasting
- Scenic Freechoice: Lunch with local Croatian family at their home
Landmarks/POIs Osijek Old Town Osijek Fortress Baranja wine region - Day 6
Belgrade, Serbia
Belgrade appears this morning where the Sava and Danube rivers meet. The capital has a real mix of history, architecture styles, and a bohemian energy. Pick a Freechoice: walk through the Bohemian Quarter and Kalemegdan Fortress, take a panoramic tour of the Ottoman Old Town and Tito's Memorial, or do a guided cycling tour along the Danube. The afternoon's free for wandering Skardalija Street with its restaurants and galleries. That evening you'll attend an exclusive event at St. Sava Temple, the largest Orthodox temple in the Balkans, where you'll hear church choir performances in the crypt.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Walking tour of Belgrade
- Scenic Freechoice: Panoramic tour of Belgrade with Tito's Memorial
- Scenic Freechoice: Cycling tour along the Danube
- Scenic Enrich: Visit St. Sava Temple with church choir performance in the crypt
Optional Activities
- Explore Skardalija Street
Landmarks/POIs Kalemegdan Fortress Bohemian Quarter Ottoman Old Town Tito's Memorial Skardalija Street St. Sava Temple - Day 7
Djerdap Gorge (Iron Gates)
You'll cruise through the Djerdap Gorge system, also called the Iron Gates, a natural border between Serbia and Romania. The landscape features four narrow gorges, tall cliffs, and a rock carving of Decebalus, the old Romanian king. Spend the day relaxing in your suite with views, or go up to the Sun Deck and Panorama Lounge to watch the Danube scenery roll past.
Included Activities
- Cruise through Djerdap Gorge (Iron Gates)
- View rock carving of Decebalus
Landmarks/POIs Djerdap Gorge (Iron Gates) Rock carving of Decebalus - Day 8
Svishtov or Rousse, Bulgaria
Your ship pulls into Svishtov, a Bulgarian town where you'll choose a Freechoice. Take a full-day trip to Veliko Tarnovo, known as the 'City of the Kings', to see the Asenevtsi Brothers Monument and the village of Arbanassi, or stay on board and cruise to Rousse, nicknamed 'Little Vienna', for a sightseeing tour with a local guide and an exclusive piano recital.
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Excursion to Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi
- Scenic Freechoice: Walking tour of Rousse with exclusive piano recital
Landmarks/POIs Veliko Tarnovo Asenevtsi Brothers Monument Arbanassi Rousse - Day 9
Silistra, Bulgaria
You'll arrive early in Silistra, a Bulgarian town with history dating back to Roman times and a major Turkish fortress period in the 15th century. Your Freechoice options include a guided walking tour of Silistra Fort, the best-preserved of six Turkish fortifications, an excursion to the village of Alfatar with its ethnographic museum and traditional choir performance, or a visit to the ancient Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari to learn about Bulgaria's heritage.
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Active walk to Silistra Fort with guided tour
- Scenic Freechoice: Visit Alfatar Village with ethnographic museum and school choir performance
- Scenic Freechoice: Sveshtari Thracian Tomb guided tour
Landmarks/POIs Silistra Fort Alfatar Village Sveshtari Thracian Tomb - Day 10
Bucharest, Romania
You'll leave the ship and transfer to Bucharest, once called the 'Paris of the East'. The city blends Art Nouveau buildings with Brutalist architecture and has wide tree-lined boulevards. Start with a coach tour from south Bucharest to Primaverii Palace, passing key squares like Union, University, Roman, Victory, and Charles de Gaulle. Choose a Freechoice: visit Ceausescu's Spring Palace, a 1960s residence with 80 rooms featuring silk wallpaper and Murano glass, or explore the Village Open Air Museum with authentic Romanian buildings. Then head to your hotel and have dinner with other guests.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with fellow guests at hotel)
Included Activities
- Coach orientation tour of Bucharest
- Scenic Freechoice: Ceausescu's Spring Palace visit
- Scenic Freechoice: Village Open Air Museum visit
- Dinner with fellow guests at hotel
Landmarks/POIs Primaverii Palace Union Square University Square Roman Square Victory Square Charles de Gaulle Square Ceausescu's Spring Palace Village Open Air Museum - Day 11
Bucharest Departure
After breakfast, you'll transfer to Bucharest airport for your onward flight, taking with you memories of your Danube cruise experience.
- Meals
- Breakfast
