4-Week Danube Cruises

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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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22 Days in Eastern Europe, incl. Vienna and Bucharest
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- Days 1-2
  Vienna
  Start your journey in Austria's elegant capital. Take a morning coach tour of the Ringstrasse boulevard, then walk through the historic center. Visit St. Stephen's Cathedral before 9am to avoid the crowds. In the afternoon, explore the Belvedere Palace gardens. The late afternoon light makes for great photos here.
- Days 3-4
  Budapest & Bratislava
  A 3-hour trip takes you to Budapest where you'll start your river cruise. When you reach Bratislava, you can pick between a Communist-era history tour or visiting a local family for traditional coffee and cake. The home visit gives you a real look at Slovak life that most visitors never experience.
- Days 5-7
  Hungarian Heartland
  Your cruise takes you to Vac for an evening concert at Gödöllő Palace. Visit Buda Castle in Budapest early morning since the walking paths can get slippery. Next is Kalocsa, where you can watch traditional horsemanship on the Great Hungarian Plain.
- Days 8-9
  Croatia & Serbia
  From Mohacs, visit the historic city of Pecs with its Roman ruins and Turkish baths. In Osijek, Croatia, you can bike through Kopacki Rit Nature Park. Bring binoculars to spot some of the 300 bird species. Going early in the morning gives you the best chance to see wildlife.
- Days 10-11
  Serbia's Cities
  Check out Novi Sad's Petrovaradin Fortress. Wear good shoes for the climb, but you'll get amazing views of the Danube. For Belgrade, a local guide says: "The best time to visit Kalemegdan Fortress is at sunset, when the light makes the limestone walls glow golden."
- Days 12-14
  Iron Gates & Bulgaria
  Sail through the Iron Gates gorge where the Danube narrows between Serbia and Romania. Stop at Golubac Fortress. Morning visits offer the best photo opportunities. In Vidin, Bulgaria, hike to Belogradchik Castle but take plenty of water. Summer gets really hot here.
- Days 15-17
  Black Sea Coast
  Cruise to Constanta on Romania's Black Sea coast to explore its ancient sites before heading to Bucharest. The city has beautiful boulevards with architecture from Belle Époque to Brutalist styles. Start your Palace of Parliament tour early. It's huge and takes longer than you might expect.
- Days 18-22
  Transylvania
  Your final stretch explores Romania's famous region. A traveler shares: "The cobblestone streets in Brasov's medieval center get very crowded by midday. Go early morning to really appreciate the Gothic architecture." Visit Bran Castle, known for its Dracula connections, then head to the medieval town of Sighisoara. Finish in Sibiu before returning to Bucharest.
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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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