Itinerary
- Day 1
Bucharest
You'll arrive in Bucharest and settle into your hotel for the night. The city mixes modern energy with its complicated history, so you'll find cafés, museums, and some nice Belle Epoque buildings scattered throughout. Take time to rest after your travels and get oriented to Romania's capital.
- Day 2
Bucharest to Sibiu
This morning you're heading from Bucharest into Transylvania, traveling to the medieval town of Sibiu. After checking into your hotel, you'll join other travelers for dinner at a local restaurant and start meeting the group.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Dinner at a local restaurant
- Day 3
Sibiu - Sighisoara - Brasov
Sighisoara gives you choices for the day. Either walk through the walled city built by Saxons between the 12th and 17th centuries with a local guide, or hike the covered stairway up to the 14th century Church on the Hill for Gothic architecture and city views. Later you'll travel to Brasov and check in for two nights.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of walled city of Sighisoara (Freechoice option)
Optional Activities
- Hike the covered stairway to Church on the Hill in Sighisoara (Freechoice option)
Landmarks Sighisoara Walled City Church on the Hill, Sighisoara 
- Day 4
Brasov
Your guide walks you through Brasov's mix of Gothic spires, medieval watchtowers, and sprawling squares, then you'll see the Soviet-era concrete that adds to the city's character. This afternoon you're visiting Bran Castle, the dramatic clifftop fortress tied to the Dracula legend. Evening brings dinner at one of Brasov's better restaurants.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at a fine restaurant in Brasov)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Brasov sights
- Visit to Bran Castle
- Dinner at a fine restaurant in Brasov
Landmarks Bran Castle - Day 5
Brasov to Bucharest
After breakfast, a local guide takes you to Peles Castle, a Neo-Classical summer residence from the 1870s with beautifully decorated rooms. From there you'll visit nearby Sinaia Monastery, the oldest in the region with two historic churches. This afternoon you're heading back to Bucharest, checking into your hotel, and having dinner there.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided tour to Peles Castle
- Visit to Sinaia Monastery
- Dinner at hotel
Landmarks Peles Castle Sinaia Monastery - Day 6
Bucharest to Giurgiu
Bucharest offers choices for today. You can tour Ceausescu's Spring Palace with its 80 elegant rooms and ornate design, or visit the Village Open Air Museum to see traditional Romanian houses and crafts. A panoramic coach tour of the city's major squares follows. Later you'll transfer to Giurgiu to board your river ship.
Included Activities
- Panoramic coach tour of Bucharest city squares
- Visit to Primaverii Palace area
Optional Activities
- Visit Ceausescu's Spring Palace (Freechoice option)
- Explore Village Open Air Museum (Freechoice option)
Landmarks Union Square, Bucharest Primaverii Palace - Day 7
Silistra
You're arriving early in Silistra, Bulgaria, where centuries of different cultures have left their mark. Pick your activity: a guided walking tour of Silistra Fort and its Russo-Turkish wars history, visit to the small village of Alfatar to meet locals and schoolchildren, or explore the ancient Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari.
Optional Activities
- Guided walking tour of Silistra Fort (Freechoice option)
- Excursion to Alfatar Village (Freechoice option)
- Sveshtari Thracian Secrets tour (Freechoice option)
Landmarks Silistra Fort Sveshtari Thracian Tomb - Day 8
Rousse
Rousse comes into view, nicknamed 'Little Vienna' for its Belle Epoque architecture. Your choice today is either a full day trip to Veliko Tarnovo, one of Bulgaria's oldest towns with panoramic views and the Asenevtsi Brothers Monument, plus nearby leafy Arbanassi, or a local guided tour of Rousse's opulent architecture and squares with an exclusive piano recital.
Optional Activities
- Full day excursion to Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi (Freechoice option)
- Walking tour of Rousse with piano recital (Freechoice option)
Landmarks Veliko Tarnovo - Day 9
Danube - Djerdap Gorge
The ship takes you through the Djerdap Gorge system, known as the Iron Gates, where four narrow gorges and soaring cliffs form the natural border between Serbia and Romania. You'll see the rock carving of Decebalus as you cruise. Spend your time relaxing in your suite with views, on the Sun Deck, or mingling in the Panorama Lounge.
Included Activities
- Cruise through Djerdap Gorge (Iron Gates)
Landmarks Djerdap Gorge (Iron Gates) Rock carving of Decebalus - Day 10
Belgrade
Belgrade appears at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. Your options include an orientation tour exploring the Bohemian Quarter and Kalemegdan Fortress with free time after, a panoramic tour with the Ottoman Old Town and Tito's Memorial, or a guided cycling tour along the Danube banks. The afternoon is free, so you can wander the cobblestoned Skardalija Street with its traditional restaurants and galleries. There's also a special experience visiting St. Sava Temple, the largest Orthodox temple in the Balkans, for a choir performance in the remarkable crypt.
Included Activities
- St. Sava Temple visit with choir performance (Scenic Enrich experience)
Optional Activities
- Orientation tour of Belgrade with guide (Freechoice option)
- Panoramic tour of Belgrade with Tito's Memorial (Freechoice option)
- Cycling tour along the Danube (Freechoice option)
Landmarks Kalemegdan Fortress St. Sava Temple Skardalija Street 
- Day 11
Vukovar
Vukovar, a Croatian town with 500 years of complex history, comes into view. Grand Baroque buildings show scars from the 1990s War of Independence. You'll choose between a guided walking tour of nearby Osijek with its preserved Baroque Old Town and fortress, or exploring the Baranja wine region on the Croatia Hungary border with wine tasting. After, you're visiting a local Croatian family's home for authentic lunch with vegetables from their garden.
- Meals
- Lunch (Authentic lunch at local Croatian family home with fresh vegetables from their garden)
Included Activities
- Lunch at local Croatian family home
Optional Activities
- Guided walking tour of Osijek (Freechoice option)
- Baranja wine region exploration and tasting (Freechoice option)
Landmarks Osijek Old Town - Day 12
Mohacs to Budapest
You're arriving in Mohacs, a small Hungarian town where a 16th century battle changed Hungary's history. Pick your activity: a guided tour of Pecs with its 1885 telephone exchange and Turkish Bath of Pasha Memi, or visit the charming Villany wine village with historic cellars for tastings, or explore the Zsolnay Ceramics Museum with hand painted porcelain from 1853. After, you're traveling to Budapest.
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Pecs (Freechoice option)
- Villany wine village visit (Freechoice option)
- Zsolnay Ceramics Museum (Freechoice option)
Landmarks Pecs 
- Day 13
Budapest
Your ship docks in Budapest, divided by the Danube with Buda and Pest connected by a bridge built in 1873. You'll check into your luxury hotel for two nights. The morning is yours to explore freely, or choose a Freechoice activity like visiting Brunszvik Castle, an 18th century neo Gothic masterpiece with Beethoven connections, or touring the Etyek vineyards known for crisp white wines.
Optional Activities
- Brunszvik Castle and Beethoven Museum visit (Freechoice option)
- Etyek region wineries and vineyards tour with wine sampling (Freechoice option)
Landmarks Brunszvik Castle - Day 14
Budapest
A local guide takes you on the Hungarian Culinary Market Walk and Tasting Tour at the Grand Central Market, exploring local specialties and their stories. The afternoon is free, so you might visit one of Budapest's elegant 19th century coffee houses like the New York Café or Ruszwurm Cukrászda to sit with locals, admire the opulent painted interiors, and enjoy regional treats and live music.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hungarian Culinary Market Walk & Tasting Tour at Grand Central Market
Landmarks Grand Central Market, Budapest New York Café, Budapest - Day 15
Budapest
After breakfast, you're transferring to Budapest airport for your onward journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast
