Enchantment of Eastern Europe & Istanbul 2026

12 days

•

From Budapest to Istanbul

4.1 (39 reviews)

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Gold Operator: Emerald Cruises
River Cruise: Cruise scenic waterways for effortless exploration
Group Tour: Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Fully Guided: An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity: Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 30 - 182
Ages 12+

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Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Intro
Introduction
Day 1
Budapest
Budapest
Meals
Dinner (Traditional dinner)
Included Activities
- Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board
Landmarks
Danube River
Day 2
Ordas
Ordas
Meals
Dinner (Welcome dinner & reception)
Included Activities
- Puszta Equestrian Heritage - traditional horse parade and exercise drills performance
Landmarks
Puszta
Day 3
Vukovar
Vukovar
Meals
Lunch (Home-hosted lunch with a Croatian family)
Included Activities
- Home-hosted lunch with a Croatian family
Optional Activities
- Baranja wine region with tasting
Landmarks
Baranja wine region
Day 4
Belgrade
Belgrade
Included Activities
- Highlights of Belgrade city tour
- Serbian folklore evening show on board
Optional Activities
- Museum of Yugoslavia tour
- Guided bike tour in Belgrade
- Routes of Nikola Tesla (extra expense)
Landmarks
Church of Saint Sava
Museum of Yugoslavia
Day 5
Donji Milanovac
Donji Milanovac
Included Activities
- Visit to Lepenski Vir archaeological site and museum
Optional Activities
- Golubac Castle visit (extra expense)
Landmarks
Lepenski Vir
Iron Gates
Golubac Castle
Day 6
Vidin
Vidin
Included Activities
- Visit to a local vineyard with wine tasting
- Visit to Baba Vida Fortress
Optional Activities
- Guided hike to Belogradchik Fortress
- Traditional Bulgarian pastry making (extra expense)
Landmarks
Baba Vida Fortress
Belogradchik Fortress
Day 7
Rousse
Rousse
Meals
Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Rousse
- Choir concert
Optional Activities
- Guided hike to Ivanovo Church
- Full day tour of Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi (extra expense)
Landmarks
Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo
Day 8
Bucharest
Bucharest
Included Activities
- Guided drive through Bucharest with a visit to the Spring Palace
Landmarks
Spring Palace
Palace of Parliament
Day 9
Bucharest to Istanbul
Bucharest to Istanbul
Meals
Breakfast
Day 10
Istanbul
Istanbul
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- City tour of Istanbul
Optional Activities
- Topkapi & Harem section (extra expense)
- Whirling Dervishes Ceremony (extra expense)
Landmarks
Hippodrome Square
Blue Mosque
Basilica of Saint Sophia
Topkapi Palace
Day 11
Istanbul
Istanbul
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Underground Cistern (Sunken Cistern) tour
- Spice Market exploration
- Bosphorus cruise on private boat with guide
Optional Activities
- Street Food tour (extra expense)
Landmarks
Underground Cistern (Sunken Cistern)
Spice Market
Bosphorus
Day 12
Istanbul Departure
Istanbul Departure
Meals
Breakfast

Landmarks
Danube River

Landmarks
Puszta

Landmarks
Baranja wine region

Landmarks
Church of Saint Sava
Museum of Yugoslavia

Landmarks
Lepenski Vir
Iron Gates
Golubac Castle

Landmarks
Baba Vida Fortress
Belogradchik Fortress

Landmarks
Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo

Landmarks
Spring Palace
Palace of Parliament

Landmarks
Hippodrome Square
Blue Mosque
Basilica of Saint Sophia
Topkapi Palace

Landmarks
Underground Cistern (Sunken Cistern)
Spice Market
Bosphorus

What's Included

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Accommodation
Guide
Meals
Additional Services
Transport

Operated by

Emerald Cruises

Gold Operator

Rating: 4.1 (39 reviews)
Response time: 11 hours
Response rate: 72%
Cancellation policy: Learn more

Emerald Cruises Ship

Emerald Dawn
Built in 2015 and with an accommodation capacity of 182 passengers, Emerald Dawn navigates the waters of the Rhine, Danube, Main and Mose… Read more
Built
2015
Guests
182
Crew
47
Length
135m
Suites
92
Staterooms / Suites Deck Plans Dining

Reviews from other tours by Emerald Cruises

Tour Operator
4.1

Prabha5.0•July 2026
We had a great time on the cruise
Dorrance5.0•May 2026
First river cruise we have taken as we are normally ocean cruisers. Pros: Food and service was better. Everything...
First river cruise we have taken as we are normally ocean cruisers. Pros: Food and service was better. Everything was within 50 feet away which made accessibility more convenient. The small setting made it more intimate. A completely different vibe which we loved. Cons: Room and bathroom were smaller even though we had a suite. When ever you flushed, it sounded like the toilet would explode. Bathroom was inconvenient to get to. No elevator between 3rd and 4th floors. You can clearly hear people walking and running upstairs. Other boats can block your view. Ramps are much, much steeper at times. There were technical issues which were ironed out. This was expected given this was the inaugural cruise of the Emerald Astra. Overall: Enjoyed the journey, food, service, people, and guided excursions from guides who lived in the various countries we visited.Show more
Lorna5.0•May 2024
Great food, entertainment.

Dates & Prices

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1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Upcoming departures

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To Sunday
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US$6,023 per person
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Price based on Private Double Room
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8 Apr, 2028
To Wednesday
19 Apr, 2028
English
Emerald Star
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US$4,639 per person
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Price based on Private Double Room
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From Friday
8 Sep, 2028
To Tuesday
19 Sep, 2028
English
Emerald Star
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US$5,019 per person
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Price based on Private Double Room
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Trip essentials

Good to know

Tour ID: 304334

The practical details for your trip across Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey: money, plugs and flexible ways to pay, all in one place.

Have a question? Chat with a travel expert

4 local currencies
You’ll encounter Bulgarian Lev in Bulgaria, Euro in Croatia, Forint in Hungary, US Dollar in .
Plug types C, F, E
You’ll need an adapter for these sockets in Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.

Currencies
лв.
Bulgarian Lev
Bulgaria
€
Euro
Croatia
Ft
Forint
Hungary
$
US Dollar
Plugs & adapters
As a traveler from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, F, E.
- Type C
  Used in all 6 countries
- Type F
  Used in all 6 countries
- Type E
  Only used in Hungary and Serbia
Visa
Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality and how long you stay. We can’t process visas for you, but here’s a quick indication for this trip.
This is only an indication. Visa rules depend on your passport, trip length and purpose. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate before you travel.
Payment information
Currency
USD
Booking fee
None
Everything is charged in USD, and TourRadar never adds a booking fee.
Accepted for Emerald Cruises tours
Visa
Maestro
Mastercard
American Express
PayPal
TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation terms may vary per tour. Please check for the full cancellation policy here.
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Insurance
Our travel protection from our award-winning partner, XCover, means you and your travel companions can book with peace of mind knowing there’s protection available in case your trip doesn’t go to plan. At checkout you will be able to select between different options in case you or the tour are eligible for insurance. In case no option is available, you are always able to purchase travel insurance outside of TourRadar.
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Accessibility
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Plan your adventure:

Enchantment of Eastern Europe & Istanbul 2026

No departure dates available

Explore our featured adventures

Itinerary

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Want to read it later?

What's Included

Emerald Cruises Ship

Reviews from other tours by Emerald Cruises

Dates & Prices

Want to read it later?

Why book with TourRadar?

4 local currencies

Plug types C, F, E

Currencies

Plugs & adapters

Visa

Payment information

Accepted for Emerald Cruises tours

Cancellation Policy

Insurance

Best price guarantee

How it works

Your quote needs

What doesn’t count

Accessibility

People also viewed

No departure dates available

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