Itinerary
- Day 1
Budapest
You'll arrive in Budapest and settle into your luxury hotel for two nights. The afternoon is free to wander around at your own pace. Consider stopping by one of the city's elegant coffee houses like the New York Café or Ruszwurm Cukrászda to experience the 19th-century coffee culture. You can try local pastries there and catch some live music while you soak in the atmosphere.
Optional Activities
- Visit New York Café
- Visit Ruszwurm Cukrászda
- Explore Budapest coffee houses
Landmarks New York Café - Day 2
Budapest
After breakfast, you'll choose between two Scenic Freechoice options. Either visit the 18th-century Brunszvik Castle and its Beethoven Memorial Museum in Martonvásár, or head out to the Etyek wine region for tastings at small wineries. Later that afternoon, you'll hike up Buda Hill to see panoramic views of the Danube and the city spread out below. Dinner follows at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Brunszvik Castle and Beethoven Memorial Museum
- Etyek Region Wineries tour with wine tasting
- Hike Buda Hill for panoramic views
Landmarks Brunszvik Castle Beethoven Memorial Museum Buda Hill Danube River - Day 3
Budapest to Scenic Space-Ship (Danube River)
This morning is yours to explore Budapest however you'd like. One option is checking out Széchenyi Baths, which has 15 indoor pools and three large outdoor ones. In the afternoon, you'll transfer to your river cruise ship and board for the start of your Danube journey.
Optional Activities
- Visit Széchenyi Baths
Landmarks Széchenyi Baths - Day 4
Mohács, Hungary
You'll arrive in Mohács, a small Hungarian town on the Danube with roots going back to the 16th century. Pick one of three Scenic Freechoice activities: explore Pécs and see its historic telephone exchange and Turkish Bath, visit the wine village of Villány with old cellars and tastings, or tour the Zsolnay Ceramics Museum full of hand-painted pieces from the company's former factory.
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Pécs including first telephone exchange (opened 1885) and Turkish Bath of Pasha Memi
- Visit Villány wine village with wine tasting in historic cellars
- Visit Zsolnay Ceramics Museum (founded 1853)
Landmarks Mohács Pécs Turkish Bath of Pasha Memi Villány Zsolnay Ceramics Museum - Day 5
Osijek, Croatia
You'll arrive in Osijek, a Croatian town known for its food scene with paprika, local sausages, and river fish. Choose your morning activity: either a guided walking tour through the Baroque Old Town and fortress, or explore the Baranja wine region with its vineyards. After that, you'll visit a local Croatian family's home for lunch featuring fresh vegetables straight from their garden.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch with local Croatian family in their home, featuring fresh vegetables from the host's garden)
Included Activities
- Lunch with local Croatian family in their home
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Osijek with Baroque Old Town and fortress, featuring traditional and classical music
- Baranja wine region tour with wine tasting
Landmarks Osijek Baranja - Day 6
Belgrade, Serbia
You'll reach Belgrade, Serbia's capital, located where the Sava and Danube rivers meet. Pick from three Scenic Freechoice options: a walking tour of the Bohemian Quarter and Kalemegdan Fortress, a panoramic tour that includes Tito's Memorial, or a guided cycling tour along the Danube. Later, you're free to wander the cobblestoned Skardalija Street with its traditional restaurants and galleries. That evening, you'll attend a choir performance in the frescoed crypt at St. Sava Temple as part of your included Scenic Enrich experience.
Included Activities
- Scenic Enrich: St. Sava Temple visit with church choir performance
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Belgrade with guide
- Panoramic tour of Belgrade with Tito's Memorial
- Cycling tour along the Danube
- Explore Skardalija Street
Landmarks Kalemegdan Fortress Bohemian Quarter Skardalija Street St. Sava Temple Tito's Memorial - Day 7
Djerdap Gorge (Iron Gates), Serbia-Romania Border
Today you'll cruise through the Djerdap Gorge system, also called the Iron Gates, which forms the natural border between Serbia and Romania. You'll see four narrow gorges, tall cliffs, and the massive rock carving of Decebalus. Spend time relaxing in your suite with views or on the Sun Deck, and mingle with other guests in the Panorama Lounge and Bar.
Included Activities
- Cruise through Djerdap Gorge (Iron Gates)
Landmarks Djerdap Gorge Iron Gates Rock carving of Decebalus - Day 8
Svishtov or Rousse, Bulgaria
You'll arrive in Svishtov this morning and choose your Scenic Freechoice: either take a full day trip to Veliko Tarnovo to see the Asenevtsi Brothers Monument and the village of Arbanassi, or stay on the ship and cruise to Rousse for a walking tour and an exclusive piano recital in this town known as 'Little Vienna'.
Optional Activities
- Full day excursion to Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi village
- Walking tour of Rousse with exclusive piano recital
Landmarks Svishtov Veliko Tarnovo Asenevtsi Brothers Monument Arbanassi Rousse - Day 9
Silistra, Bulgaria
You'll arrive early in Silistra, a Bulgarian town with a complex history from late Roman times through the 15th-century Ottoman fortress period. Choose your Scenic Freechoice: a guided walking tour of Silistra Fort, the best preserved Turkish fortification, visit Alfatar Village with its ethnographic museum and school choir, or explore the ancient Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari to learn about Bulgarian heritage and flavors.
Optional Activities
- Active walking tour of Silistra Fort
- Excursion to Alfatar Village with ethnographic museum and school choir performance
- Sveshtari Thracian Secrets tour—visit ancient Thracian Tomb
Landmarks Silistra Silistra Fort Alfatar Sveshtari Thracian Tomb - Day 10
Bucharest, Romania
You'll leave your river cruise ship and transfer to Bucharest, Romania's capital once nicknamed the 'Paris of the East'. An orientation coach tour takes you through major squares including Union, University, Roman, Victory, and Charles de Gaulle. Pick your Scenic Freechoice: tour Ceaușescu's Spring Palace from the 1960s with its 80 elegant rooms and ornate furnishings, or visit the Village Open Air Museum with authentic buildings and traditional craftsmanship. Then you'll check into your hotel and have dinner with fellow travelers.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner with fellow guests)
Included Activities
- Orientation tour of Bucharest by coach
Optional Activities
- Visit Ceaușescu's Spring Palace
- Visit Village Open Air Museum
Landmarks Union Square University Square Roman Square Victory Square Charles de Gaulle Square Ceaușescu's Spring Palace Village Open Air Museum Primaverii Palace - Day 11
Bucharest to Sibiu, Romania (Transylvania)
You'll travel from Bucharest to Sibiu, a medieval town in Transylvania. Check into your hotel for the night and have dinner at a local restaurant with your fellow travelers.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant)
Landmarks Sibiu - Day 12
Sighișoara to Brașov, Romania
In Sighișoara, pick your Scenic Freechoice: explore the World Heritage-listed walled city built by Saxons between the 12th and 17th centuries, one of Europe's best-preserved medieval cities, or hike the covered stairway to the 14th-century Church on the Hill for Gothic architecture and panoramic views. From there, you'll travel to Brașov, a colorful town with Gothic spires, medieval watchtowers, and Soviet-era architecture, where you'll check in for two nights.
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of the walled city of Sighișoara
- Hike to 14th-century Church on the Hill in Sighișoara
Landmarks Sighișoara Church on the Hill Brașov 
- Day 13
Brașov and Bran Castle, Romania
Your guide shows you the sights of Brașov this morning. In the afternoon, you'll visit Bran Castle, the 14th-century white stone fortress on a dramatic clifftop that inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula. You can explore the maze of narrow passageways, hidden rooms, and sunny courtyards. That evening, you'll enjoy dinner at one of Brașov's best restaurants with fellow travelers.
- Meals
- Dinner (Delicious dinner in one of Brașov's finest restaurants)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Brașov
- Visit Bran Castle
Landmarks Brașov Bran Castle - Day 14
Peleș Castle, Sinaia Monastery to Bucharest, Romania
After breakfast, your local guide takes you to Peleș Castle, a Neo-Classical masterpiece built in the 1870s by Romania's first king as a summer residence. The rooms feature paintings, carved wood, and stained glass. You'll also visit nearby Sinaia Monastery, the region's oldest monastery with two churches from the 17th and 19th centuries. That afternoon, you'll start your journey back to Bucharest for an overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Guided visit to Peleș Castle
- Visit Sinaia Monastery
Landmarks Peleș Castle Sinaia Monastery - Day 15
Bucharest Departure
You'll have a final breakfast in Bucharest and then depart this region of Eastern Europe. The landscapes, medieval villages, and castle experiences will stay with you long after you leave.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast
Landmarks Bucharest
