Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
You're arriving in Istanbul, a city of contrasts where European and Asian cultures collide. With over 15 million residents packed into this sprawling metropolis, you'll find layers of tradition and modernity woven throughout the streets, neighborhoods, and dining scene. The architecture alone spans centuries, and you'll notice the cultural diversity immediately as you settle in.
- Day 2
Istanbul
Today focuses on Istanbul's most recognizable sites in the Sultanahmet area. You'll see the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque sitting across from each other near the park, then make your way to Topkapi Palace to walk through the rooms and courtyards where Ottoman sultans once ruled. Between these three locations, you'll cover significant ground and get a real sense of the city's layered history.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Hagia Sophia
- Visit Blue Mosque
- Visit Topkapi Palace
Landmarks/POIs Hagia Sophia Blue Mosque Topkapi Palace Sultanahmet Park - Day 3
Istanbul to Çanakkale
You're leaving Istanbul behind and heading to Çanakkale, positioned right on the Dardanelles Strait. This historic town serves as your gateway to both Gallipoli's WWI sites and Troy's ancient ruins. In the evening, you'll walk along the waterfront with locals and get a feel for how modern Turkish culture plays out in smaller cities.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Evening leisure time at waterfront promenade
Landmarks/POIs Dardanelles Strait - Day 4
Gallipoli
A guided tour takes you through Gallipoli's WWI battlefield, visiting ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine, the Nek, and cemeteries scattered across the peninsula. Your guide provides context for each site and the historical significance they hold for Australian and New Zealand heritage. It's a sobering but important day reflecting on the soldiers who fought here.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Gallipoli peninsula WWI sites
- Visit ANZAC Cove
- Visit Lone Pine
- Visit the Nek
- Visit Gallipoli cemeteries
Landmarks/POIs ANZAC Cove Lone Pine The Nek Gallipoli Peninsula - Day 5
Troy to Istanbul
You're heading to Troy to see the 4,000-year-old ruins that have captured imaginations for centuries. The famous Trojan Horse replica stands on site, and you'll learn the archaeological story behind the legends. After your time there, you'll return to Istanbul for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Troy ancient ruins
- View Trojan Horse replica
Landmarks/POIs Troy - Day 6
Istanbul
Your morning offers a choice: take a cooking class to learn how traditional Turkish dishes come together, or spend time navigating the Grand Bazaar with its thousands of vendor stalls and try Turkish coffee. That evening, you'll board a Bosphorus cruise, watching ferries and historic monuments pass by, then dine at Hamdi Restaurant where views stretch across the Golden Horn.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Farewell dinner at Hamdi Restaurant overlooking Golden Horn with exceptional Turkish cuisine)
Included Activities
- Scenic Enrich: Bosphorus Strait cruise
- Scenic Enrich: Farewell dinner at Hamdi Restaurant
Optional Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Turkish cooking class
- Scenic Freechoice: Grand Bazaar visit with traditional Turkish coffee
Landmarks/POIs Grand Bazaar Bosphorus Strait Golden Horn - Day 7
Istanbul to Bucharest
Before sunrise, you'll hear the traditional Muslim call to prayer echoing across the city, a sound that happens five times each day. After breakfast, you'll head to the airport for your included flight to Bucharest, leaving Istanbul behind as you move toward the next phase of your trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Listen to call to prayer at sunrise
- Day 8
Bucharest to Constanta
This morning brings a guided tour of Bucharest, then you'll transfer to Constanta and board your luxury Scenic Space-Ship. You'll settle into your balcony suite with convertible windows that open into a Scenic Sun Lounge, and later attend a welcome reception to toast the journey ahead.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bucharest
- Day 9
Constanta
Constanta, one of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited cities since 600BC, is your focus today. The guided tour includes Ovid Square, the Orthodox Cathedral, the scenic promenade, and the Genovese Lighthouse. After lunch, your ship departs for Silistra in Bulgaria, and you'll settle in for your first night cruising the Danube.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Constanta
- Visit Ovid Square
- Visit Orthodox Cathedral
- Visit scenic promenade
- Visit Genovese Lighthouse
Landmarks/POIs Ovid Square Orthodox Cathedral Genovese Lighthouse - Day 10
Silistra
In Silistra, you'll choose between a guided walk to the 19th-century Silistra Fort to learn about Russo-Turkish wars, or visit Alfatar Village to see local traditions, the Holy Trinity temple, and meet village residents. After your choice activity, you return to the ship for the afternoon and evening to relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Active walk to Silistra Fort guided tour
- Scenic Freechoice: Visit Alfatar Village with ethnographic museum, Holy Trinity temple, and local school
Landmarks/POIs Silistra Fort Alfatar Village Holy Trinity Temple - Day 11
Rousse
Rousse, often called 'Little Vienna', greets you with its Belle Epoque architecture and manicured squares. Your local guide shows you around, and you'll learn about traditional Bulgarian handicrafts while sampling local wine and enjoying a short piano performance. The rest of your day is yours to spend in the gym, wellness center, or simply relaxing onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Rousse
- Learn about traditional Bulgarian handicrafts
- Local wine tasting
- Piano recital
Optional Activities
- Gym workout
- Wellness center massage
Landmarks/POIs Rousse - Day 12
Vidin
You dock early in Vidin and get to choose your morning activity: hike to the ancient Belogradchik Fortress, tour a local winery for tastings, learn to cook traditional Banitsa from a local family, or take a historic walking tour through the Triangle of Tolerance. This wine-growing region has been producing for nearly a century, and the medieval fortress sits on the border between Bulgaria and Romania.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Active hiking tour to Belogradchik Fortress ruins
- Scenic Freechoice: Negovanovtsi village and Dos Alamos Winery tour and tasting
- Scenic Freechoice: Banitsa cooking demonstration with local resident
- Scenic Freechoice: Triangle of Tolerance walking tour
Landmarks/POIs Belogradchik Fortress Metropolis Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral of St. Dimitar Osman Mosque Synagogue Dos Alamos Winery - Day 13
Iron Gates to Golubac
The Iron Gates scenery is what dominates your day as you cruise through four narrow gorges with soaring cliffs and the massive rock carving of Decebalus between Serbia and Romania. You'll dock in Golubac, where one of Europe's best preserved medieval fortresses overlooks the river. Your afternoon activity is yours to choose from several options.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Iron Gates
Optional Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Guided tour of Golubac Fortress
- Scenic Freechoice: Lepenski Vir Archaeological Site tour
- Scenic Freechoice: Hike through Djerdap National Park
Landmarks/POIs Iron Gates Rock carving of Decebalus Golubac Fortress Lepenski Vir Archaeological Site Djerdap National Park - Day 14
Belgrade
Belgrade, known as the 'Door to Central Europe', blends Neolithic ruins, Roman fortresses, Brutalist buildings, and Art Nouveau architecture into one bohemian city. Your morning choice includes a guided city tour, panoramic tour with Tito's Memorial, cycling along the Danube, or visiting a Roma community project. Tonight, you'll visit St. Sava, the largest Orthodox temple in the Balkans, where the church choir performs hymns in the cathedral.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Enrich: Visit St. Sava and church choir performance
Optional Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Guided city tour
- Scenic Freechoice: Panoramic city tour including Tito's Memorial
- Scenic Freechoice: Cycling tour along the Danube
- Scenic Freechoice: Education with the Roma community
Landmarks/POIs Kalemegdan Fortress Bohemian Quarter Republic Square Tito's Memorial St. Sava Bread of Life project - Day 15
Novi Sad
Novi Sad, Serbia's second largest city, is known for its music scene, contemporary art, and liberal atmosphere. Large-scale public murals and vibrant festivals sit alongside 500 years of history. Your morning gives you a choice activity to explore the city's highlights and get to know this ethnically diverse community.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Guided tour of Novi Sad
- Scenic Freechoice: Hike to Petrovaradin Fortress
- Scenic Freechoice: Excursion to Sremski Karlovci
- Scenic Freechoice: Fruska Gora National Park exploration
Landmarks/POIs Petrovaradin Fortress Dunavska Street Sremski Karlovci Fruska Gora National Park - Day 16
Osijek
You cross into Croatia and dock in Osijek, a small city with a complicated past under Ottoman, Habsburg, and Austro-Hungarian rule, and was central to the 1990s Croatian War of Independence. After your choice activity in the morning, you'll have an authentic lunch at a local Croatian family home where fresh vegetables come from their own garden.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Authentic meal at local Croatian family home with fresh vegetables from the host's garden), Dinner
Included Activities
- Lunch at local Croatian family home
Optional Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Walking tour of Osijek
- Scenic Freechoice: Cycling tour of Kopacki Rit Nature Park
- Scenic Freechoice: Baranja wine region winery tour
Landmarks/POIs Osijek Baroque Old Town Osijek Fortress Kopacki Rit Nature Park Baranja wine region - Day 17
Mohacs
Mohacs, a small Hungarian town and the site of a 16th century battle, offers several morning choices. You can take a guided tour of nearby Pécs to see Roman ruins and Turkish baths, taste wines in the Villány wine region, visit the Zsolnay Ceramics Museum, or experience local culture and crafts.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Guided tour of Pécs
- Scenic Freechoice: Villány wine village visit
- Scenic Freechoice: Zsolnay Ceramics Museum
Landmarks/POIs Pécs Villány wine region Zsolnay Ceramics Museum - Day 18
Kalocsa
Kalocsa, one of Hungary's oldest towns, is known for its intricate folk art and detailed embroidery. The region still carries its rural 19th century agricultural character. Your morning choice lets you learn about traditional handicrafts or watch a traditional horse show, depending on your interests.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Hungarian Traditions - traditional handicrafts and embroidery workshop
- Scenic Freechoice: Hungarian Horse Show
Landmarks/POIs Great Hungarian Plain - Day 19
Budapest
Budapest greets you this morning, divided by the Danube with Buda on one side and Pest on the other, connected by bridge since 1873. The architectural styles span Gothic to Art Nouveau, and the city is famous for its thermal baths and hot springs. After your choice activity, you transfer to Vác for an exclusive classical concert inside Gödöllő Royal Palace, a favorite residence of Queen Elisabeth.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Enrich: Classical concert at Gödöllő Royal Palace
Optional Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Guided hike of Buda
- Scenic Freechoice: Budapest's past and present walking and coach tour
- Scenic Freechoice: Beethoven's favourite getaway at Brunszvik Castle
- Scenic Freechoice: Etyek region wineries and vineyards
- Scenic Freechoice: Jewish Heritage Tour
Landmarks/POIs Várkert Bazár Danube River Brunszvik Castle Etyek wine region Jewish Museum Synagogue Gödöllő Royal Palace - Day 20
Budapest to Bratislava
This is a relaxing day cruising from Hungary into Slovakia. You can request coffee from your butler and enjoy it in your Scenic Sun Lounge while the Danube scenery flows past. Later, you dock in Bratislava, Slovakia's modern multicultural capital since 1993, featuring a medieval Old Town with Gothic architecture, an 18th-century castle, and contrasting Brutalist buildings. Your afternoon offers activity choices.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Communist tour of Bratislava
- Scenic Freechoice: Walking tour of Bratislava
- Scenic Freechoice: Coffee and cake with a Slovakian family
Landmarks/POIs Hlavné Námestie Bratislava Old Town Bratislava Castle - Day 21
Bratislava to Budapest
You return to Budapest after lunch and have free time to explore on your own. You might visit Széchenyi thermal baths with their 15 indoor and 3 massive outdoor pools, or check out the Jewish Quarter's famous ruin bars housed in buildings that date back to post-WWII decay and have been transformed into cultural spaces.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit thermal baths
- Explore Jewish Quarter ruin bars
Landmarks/POIs Széchenyi Baths Jewish Quarter - Day 22
Budapest to Departure
Your trip ends this morning after a final breakfast. You'll transfer to Budapest Airport, carrying memories from Istanbul's bustle through the Danube's medieval towns and ending in Hungary's vibrant capital. It's time to head home with a lifetime of experiences from this journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast
