4-Week Danube Cruises

Insider tips: Recommended 4-week Danube itineraries

Compiled by

MelissaDanube travel expert at TourRadar

• 27 Days in Eastern Europe, incl. Bucharest and Amsterdam

  A grand 27-day adventure combines 3 nights exploring Romania by land with 24 nights of river cruising. Guests visit 33 cities across 9 countries with daily guided excursions. The route from the Black Sea to Amsterdam requires just one unpacking.

  

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  • Days 1-3

    Romania:

    Spend your first day in Bucharest exploring Victory Avenue's cafes and museums. Head to Sinaia's Peles Castle on day 2. Pack good walking shoes - you'll need them for the castle's many stairs. Visit Brasov's medieval old town in the morning, then relax at the cafes around the main square. Try Bran Castle in the evening when crowds are thinner.

    
  • Days 4-7

    Bulgaria & Serbia:

    Your cruise begins in Oltenita with a stop at Rousse, Bulgaria's biggest inland port. Visit Veliko Târnovo early to avoid the midday heat. The ancient stone houses require some uphill walking. One traveler noted about Vidin: "The Belogradchik Rocks are stunning but bring water and sun protection - there's little shade on the trails." Get to the sun deck early for the Iron Gates Gorge - it offers the best photos of the trip.

    
  • Days 8-11

    Serbia, Croatia & Hungary:

    Belgrade features Saint Sava Church and Knez Mihailova Street. Take in panoramic views from Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad. Vukovar's walking tour shows recent history up close. In Mohács, pick between seeing the watermill or visiting Pécs's underground tombs.

    
  • Days 12-15

    Hungary, Slovakia & Austria:

    Give Budapest your full attention. Book thermal baths ahead if interested. Walk Bratislava's cobblestone streets to St. Martin's Cathedral. For Vienna, a regular visitor suggests: "Skip Schönbrunn Palace if time is tight - the city center walking tour gives better value."

    
  • Days 16-20

    Austria & Germany:

    See vineyards and castles in the Wachau Valley. Visit Melk Abbey but prepare for stairs. Photograph Passau's three rivers meeting point. Walk Regensburg's medieval streets. Nuremberg blends medieval architecture with World War II sites.

    
  • Days 21-24

    Germany:

    Stop at Würzburg, Miltenberg, and Rüdesheim along the Main River. A traveler shares: "The Mechanical Music Museum in Rüdesheim seems kitschy but was fascinating - don't skip it." Watch for the scenic Rhine Gorge - find a good viewing spot early.

    
  • Days 25-27

    Germany & Netherlands:

    See Cologne's cathedral and explore the Belgian Quarter's cafes. End in Amsterdam with canal cruises and walking tours. A visitor suggests: "Book the optional culinary walk - it's the best way to experience local flavors beyond the tourist spots."

    

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• 24 Day Eastern Europe Itinerary, incl. Istanbul and Vienna

  This sweeping 24-day tour encompasses 8 countries in rich detail. Six nights in Turkey reveal the nation's cultural treasures before a 16-day Danube cruise to Vienna. The journey concludes with 2 nights in Austria's capital, delving into its musical legacy and famed café society.

  

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  • Days 1-6

    Istanbul & Turkish Coast

    Spend 3 days in Istanbul exploring the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. Visit the Grand Bazaar around 9 AM before the crowds fill the space. A recent visitor noted: "The morning light streaming through the bazaar's domed ceilings creates an almost mystical atmosphere." Take a day trip to Gallipoli for a moving visit to the ANZAC sites. See Troy in the morning to beat the heat. Back in Istanbul, join a cooking class and finish with a Bosphorus dinner cruise.

    
  • Days 7-9

    Romania & Black Sea Coast

    Take a flight to Bucharest, then transfer to Constanta on the Black Sea to board your river ship. The city blends Roman ruins with Ottoman architecture. Summer gets quite hot here, so pack light clothes that breathe well.

    
  • Days 10-13

    Bulgaria's Danube Towns

    Stop at Bulgarian riverside towns like Silistra, Rousse, and Vidin. The hike to Belogradchik Fortress is a must but bring good shoes for the steep climb. Wake up early to see the Iron Gates gorge from the sun deck.

    
  • Days 14-16

    Serbia & Croatia

    Experience Serbia's culture in Belgrade and Novi Sad. Take the morning bike tour through Kopacki Rit nature park in Osijek, Croatia to spot local wildlife. Stop for lunch with locals to try traditional Croatian cooking.

    
  • Days 17-21

    Hungary's Highlights

    Visit Mohacs, Kalocsa, and Budapest. Plan 3-4 hours for Budapest's thermal baths. A visitor suggests: "Arriving at Szechenyi Baths by 8 AM let us enjoy the outdoor pools almost to ourselves before tour groups arrived."

    
  • Days 22-24

    Slovakia & Austria

    The trip ends in Vienna after stopping in Bratislava. Get to Schönbrunn Palace early to avoid crowds. Use the metro to get around Vienna quickly and easily.

    

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• Ultimate France (2026) (Bordeaux to Arles, 2026)

  

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  • Bordeaux France

    18 mi

  • Cadillac France

    7 mi

  • Sauternes France

    44 mi

  • Blaye France

    7 mi

  • Bourg France

    14 mi

  • Bordeaux France

    17 mi

  • Libourne France

    17 mi
  • Show 14 more

  • Bordeaux France

    310 mi

  • Paris France

    36 mi

  • La Roche-Guyon France

    6 mi

  • Vernon France

    2 mi

  • Giverny France

    31 mi

  • Rouen France

    17 mi

  • Caudebec-en-Caux France

    23 mi

  • Honfleur France

    38 mi

  • Normandy Beach France

    107 mi

  • Mantes-la-Jolie France

    22 mi

  • Versailles France

    10 mi

  • Paris France

    171 mi

  • Beaune France

    87 mi

  • Lyon France

    47 mi

  • Tain-l’Hermitage France

    41 mi

  • Viviers France

    37 mi

  • Avignon France

    53 mi

  • Marseille France

    45 mi

  • Arles France

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