Itinerary
- Day 1
Bucharest
You'll arrive in Bucharest and get settled into your hotel. Spend the afternoon wandering through the city to see what it has to offer. The Belle Epoque architecture is scattered throughout, and there are several good cafés and museums worth checking out if you want to do some exploring before dinner and your overnight stay.
- Day 2
Bucharest to Sibiu
Travel from Bucharest to Sibiu this morning, heading into Transylvania. After you check in at your hotel, there's dinner with your group at a local restaurant this evening.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Travel to Sibiu
- Day 3
Sighisoara to Brasov
Sighisoara gives you options. Walk through the World Heritage walled city with a local guide to see one of Europe's best-preserved medieval towns, or if you're up for it, hike the covered stairway leading to the 14th century Church on the Hill where you'll get great views of the city. Later you'll head to Brasov for a two-night stay.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Sighisoara walled city (Freechoice option)
Optional Activities
- Hike to Church on the Hill in Sighisoara (Freechoice option)
Landmarks/POIs Sighisoara Church on the Hill - Day 4
Brasov
Your guide shows you around Brasov this morning, pointing out the Gothic spires, medieval watchtowers and squares that sit alongside Soviet-era buildings. In the afternoon, visit Bran Castle sitting on a clifftop, which has connections to the Dracula legend. Dinner with your group at one of Brasov's better restaurants happens this evening.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at one of Brasov's finest restaurants)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Brasov
- Visit to Bran Castle
Landmarks/POIs Bran Castle - Day 5
Brasov to Bucharest
After breakfast, see Peles Castle with its Neo-Classical rooms decorated with paintings, carved wood and stained glass. Then visit Sinaia Monastery, the region's oldest with two churches built between the 17th and 19th centuries. You'll travel back to Bucharest in the afternoon and settle in at your hotel. Dinner is at the hotel tonight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at the hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit to Peles Castle with local guide
- Visit to Sinaia Monastery
Landmarks/POIs Peles Castle Sinaia Monastery - Day 6
Bucharest to Giurgiu
Choose from Freechoice activities in Bucharest to spend your morning. By afternoon, join the panoramic coach tour of the city's major squares: Union, University, Roman, Victory and Charles de Gaulle, heading south toward Primaverii Palace. Later you'll transfer to Giurgiu to board the Scenic Space-Ship for your river cruise.
Included Activities
- Panoramic coach tour of Bucharest
Optional Activities
- Ceausescu's Spring Palace tour (Freechoice option)
- Village Open Air Museum (Freechoice option)
Landmarks/POIs Union Square University Square Ceausescu's Spring Palace Village Open Air Museum - Day 7
Silistra
You'll arrive early in Silistra, Bulgaria, a town with roots going back to late Roman times that's changed hands throughout Turkish, Russian and Balkan history. Pick from guided options: explore the well-preserved fort, visit a local village with a school choir performance, or see an ancient Thracian tomb.
Optional Activities
- Active walk to Silistra Fort with guided tour (Freechoice option)
- Excursion to Alfatar Village with ethnographic museum visit and local school choir performance (Freechoice option)
- Sveshtari Thracian Secrets guided tour (Freechoice option)
Landmarks/POIs Silistra Fort Alfatar Village Sveshtari Thracian Tomb - Day 8
Rousse
Arriving in Rousse this morning, you'll find a town nicknamed 'Little Vienna' for its Belle Epoque buildings and leafy squares. Take a guided walking tour and attend an exclusive piano recital, or go on a full day trip to see Veliko Tarnovo's views and the charming village of Arbanassi instead.
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Rousse with exclusive piano recital (Freechoice option)
- Full day excursion to Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi (Freechoice option)
Landmarks/POIs Veliko Tarnovo Arbanassi Asenevtsi Brothers Monument - Day 9
Djerdap Gorge
You'll cruise through the Djerdap Gorge system, also called the Iron Gates, which forms a natural border between Serbia and Romania. Four narrow gorges, tall cliffs and a rock carving of Decebalus make up the scenery. Spend your day relaxing in your suite with Sun Lounge views, on the Sun Deck or mingling in the Panorama Lounge and Bar.
Included Activities
- Cruise through Djerdap Gorge system
Landmarks/POIs Djerdap Gorge Rock carving of Decebalus - Day 10
Belgrade
Belgrade appears this morning, Serbia's capital known as the 'Door to Central Europe' with a history of being rebuilt nearly 40 times. Choose a guided tour of iconic spots like Kalemegdan Fortress and the Bohemian Quarter, a panoramic tour that includes Tito's Memorial, or a cycling tour along the Danube. Spend your afternoon at leisure, perhaps walking through the bohemian Skardalija Street. Visit St. Sava Temple, the Balkans' largest Orthodox cathedral, where the church choir performs hymns in the acoustically special crypt.
Included Activities
- St. Sava Temple visit with church choir performance (Scenic Enrich)
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Belgrade (Freechoice option)
- Panoramic tour of Belgrade with Tito's Memorial (Freechoice option)
- Cycling tour along the Danube (Freechoice option)
Landmarks/POIs Kalemegdan Fortress Bohemian Quarter Tito's Memorial Skardalija Street St. Sava Temple - Day 11
Osijek
Osijek, a Croatian town with a complicated past where grand Baroque buildings still show marks of war, is your arrival point. The food here is known for paprika, locally made sausages and river fish. Join a guided walking tour of the Baroque Old Town and fortress with traditional and classical music, or explore the Baranja wine region between Croatia and Hungary. After your morning activity, visit a local Croatian family's home for authentic lunch made with fresh vegetables from their garden.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch with local Croatian family prepared with fresh vegetables from their garden)
Included Activities
- Lunch with local Croatian family
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Osijek (Freechoice option)
- Baranja wine region tour with wine tasting (Freechoice option)
Landmarks/POIs Osijek Baroque Old Town Osijek Fortress Baranja wine region - Day 12
Mohacs
You'll arrive in Mohacs, a small Hungarian town on the Danube known for the 16th century Battle of Mohacs. Choose to visit Pecs to see its historic telephone exchange and Turkish bath, tour the Villany wine village famous for bold red wines and old wine cellars, or check out the Zsolnay Ceramics Museum with its hand-painted porcelain made since 1853.
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Pecs (Freechoice option)
- Villany wine village tour with wine tasting (Freechoice option)
- Zsolnay Ceramics Museum visit (Freechoice option)
Landmarks/POIs Pecs Turkish Bath of Pasha Memi Villany wine village Zsolnay Ceramics Museum - Day 13
Budapest
Arriving in Budapest, you'll see the city split by the Danube with Buda and Pest on opposite sides, connected by a bridge built in 1873 when they united. Check into your luxury hotel for two nights. Your afternoon is free to explore, so consider visiting one of the city's old coffee houses like the New York Café or Ruszwurm Cukrászda to experience 19th century coffee culture and try regional treats.
Landmarks/POIs New York Café Ruszwurm Cukrászda - Day 14
Budapest
Pick from Freechoice activities after breakfast. Visit Brunszvik Castle in Martonvassar, an 18th-century neo-Gothic castle linked to composer Beethoven, or spend time in the Etyek wine region exploring crisp white and sparkling wines at boutique wineries with charming cellar rows. In the afternoon, hike Buda Hill for views of the Danube and city. Dinner at a local restaurant is this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Brunszvik Castle visit (Freechoice option)
- Etyek Region Wineries tour with wine tasting (Freechoice option)
Landmarks/POIs Brunszvik Castle Beethoven Memorial Museum Etyek Region Buda Hill - Day 15
Budapest
After breakfast, you'll transfer to Budapest airport for your onward journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast
