Itinerary
- Day 1
Bucharest
Bucharest
- Day 2
Bucharest to Sibiu
Bucharest to Sibiu- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant)
- Day 3
Sibiu - Sighisoara - Brasov
Sibiu - Sighisoara - BrasovOptional Activities
- Explore the World Heritage-listed walled city of Sighisoara with a local guide
- Hike the covered stairway to the 14th century Church on the Hill with superb views over Sighisoara
Landmarks Sighisoara Walled City Church on the Hill, Sighisoara 
- Day 4
Brasov
Brasov- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at one of Brasov's finest restaurants)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Brasov Old Town
- Visit to Bran Castle
Landmarks Bran Castle - Day 5
Brasov to Bucharest
Brasov to Bucharest- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at the hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided visit to Peles Castle
- Visit to Sinaia Monastery
Landmarks Peles Castle Sinaia Monastery - Day 6
Bucharest to Giurgiu
Bucharest to GiurgiuIncluded Activities
- Orientation coach tour of Bucharest
Optional Activities
- Visit Ceausescu's Spring Palace, a 1960s residence with 80 rooms decorated with silk wallpaper, wood panels, famous Romanian paintings, mosaics, marble and Murano glass chandeliers
- Explore the Village Open Air Museum featuring ethnographic exhibits depicting Romanian heritage with authentic houses, barns and churches rebuilt using traditional techniques
Landmarks Primaverii Palace Union Square, Bucharest - Day 7
Silistra
SilistraOptional Activities
- Active guided walking tour of the 19th century Silistra Fort, the best preserved of six points in the Turkish fortification system
- Visit Alfatar village outside Silistra to see the ethnographic museum, customary attire, and the Alfatar school with a charming choir performance from local children
- Guided tour of the ancient Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari, a World Heritage site from the 3rd century BC, followed by local brandy tasting from exquisite producers
Landmarks Silistra Fort Sveshtari Thracian Tomb - Day 8
Rousse to Svishtov
Rousse to SvishtovOptional Activities
- Walking tour of Rousse with a local guide featuring traditional Bulgarian handicrafts, local wine sampling, and a short piano recital
- Full day excursion to Veliko Tarnovo to enjoy panoramic views of the old town and see the Asenevtsi Brothers Monument, then venture to the nearby leafy village of Arbanassi
Landmarks Veliko Tarnovo Old Town - Day 9
Cruising the Danube
Cruising the DanubeIncluded Activities
- Cruise through Djerdap Gorge (Iron Gates)
Landmarks Djerdap Gorge (Iron Gates) Decebalus Rock Carving - Day 10
Belgrade
BelgradeOptional Activities
- Guided tour of Belgrade exploring iconic sites including the cobbled streets of the Bohemian Quarter and Kalemegdan Fortress, with free time to explore on your own
- Panoramic tour of Belgrade with a local guide, seeing major sites including Ottoman heritage of the Old Town and Tito's Memorial
- Guided cycling tour along the Danube for 16km, learning about Yugoslavia's history and seeing Belgrade Waterfront, the former concentration camp Staro Sajmiste, and Ada Island
- Central Belgrade stroll with coffee and cake starting from Kalemegdan Fortress, wandering Knez Mihailova Street with expert-brewed coffee and signature cake from beloved bakeries
- Wander Skardalija Street, a bohemian district once frequented by writers and artists, now home to traditional restaurants, local stores and galleries
Landmarks Kalemegdan Fortress St. Sava Church - Day 11
Vukovar
Vukovar- Meals
- Lunch (Authentic lunch at a local Croatian family home with fresh vegetables from the host's garden)
Included Activities
- Visit to a local Croatian family home for lunch with authentic meal prepared with fresh vegetables from the host's garden
Optional Activities
- Guided walking tour of nearby Osijek, a small city with turbulent history where many grand Baroque buildings in the Old Town bear the scars of war, with traditional and classical music performances
- Guided tour of the Baranja wine region straddling Croatia and Hungary, exploring wine-making traditions and picturesque vineyards with tasting experience
- Guided tour 'Vukovar chronicles - A river town's tale of resilience' discovering the city's medieval roots, rebuilding after war, and museums and monuments preserving its legacy of sacrifice and hope
Landmarks Vukovar - Day 12
Mohács
Mohács- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Pécs including the first telephone exchange (opened 1885) and the Turkish Bath of Pasha Memi
- Villány wine stories: learn about everyday Hungarian life and sample local red wines at a historic wine cellar
- Mohács traditions and flavours: visit Busóudvar Museum to learn about the World Heritage-listed Busójárás festival and taste authentic halászlé (Danube River fish stew with Hungarian paprika)
Landmarks Mohács Pécs Turkish Bath of Pasha Memi Villány Busóudvar Museum - Day 13
Budapest
Budapest - Day 14
Budapest
BudapestOptional Activities
- Guided coach tour 'Budapest in depth' starting in Buda to see Várkert Bazár, crossing Margaret Bridge to Pest to see Széchenyi Square and Elizabeth Square, ending with a piano recital at the Institute for the Blind
- Walking and coach tour 'Budapest's past and present' exploring Communist-era history, modern EU life, the 1956 Hungarian revolution and significant Jewish events shaping modern culture
- Underground guided tour of Hospital in the Rock, exploring labyrinths beneath the Castle District built as a secret WWII hospital and later converted to a nuclear bunker
- Guided hike of Buda district seeing Várkert Bazár and landscaped gardens with views over the Danube River and city architecture
- Hungarian culinary market tour visiting the bustling Grand Central Market and other locations, tasting local delicacies and hearing stories about the city's traditions
Landmarks Várkert Bazár Margaret Bridge Grand Central Market - Day 15
Budapest to Vienna
Budapest to ViennaIncluded Activities
- Cruise from Budapest to Vienna
Landmarks Palais Liechtenstein - Day 16
Vienna
ViennaOptional Activities
- Guided e-bike tour to Danube Island, Vienna's recreational playground where locals come for bathing, boating, cycling and relaxing on beaches and open spaces
- Excursion to Bratislava, Slovakia's capital since 1993, a modern multicultural metropolis with intriguing history, including Bratislava Castle, Hlavné Námestie main square and the Old Town Hall
- Guided tour of Vienna uncovering the city's rich history, architectural splendour and vibrant cultural spirit, beginning along the famous Ringstrasse past the Austrian Parliament, grand City Hall (Rathaus) with gothic spires, St. Stephen's Cathedral and Vienna State Opera
- Guided tour and wine tasting at Klosterneuburg Abbey, Austria's oldest wine estate producing wine for 900 years, exploring serene halls and magnificent Imperial Apartments before guided tasting in the historic winery
Landmarks The Ringstrasse St. Stephen's Cathedral Vienna State Opera Klosterneuburg Abbey - Day 17
Krems to Dürnstein
Krems to DürnsteinOptional Activities
- Guided tour of Göttweig Abbey, founded in the sixth century, rebuilt after 18th century fire to be one of the most magnificent in the Wachau Valley, seeing magnificent frescoes and Austria's largest Baroque staircase
- Wachau Valley wine tasting visiting a local winemaker to learn about age-old winemaking traditions and sample delicious wines produced on site
- UNESCO Wachau Valley e-bike experience joining a guide on an electronic bicycle tour along the Danube to Dürnstein, passing charming villages and vineyard landscapes with stops to enjoy breathtaking Danube views
Landmarks Göttweig Abbey Wachau Valley - Day 18
Passau
PassauOptional Activities
- Full day excursion to Salzburg, Austria, crossing the border to explore Mozart's birthplace and The Sound of Music home surrounded by alpine peaks, including guided tour of art and music scene, Mozart's birthplace, Hohensalzburg Fortress, lunch at a local restaurant and free time
- Full day excursion to Český Krumlov, World Heritage-listed town brimming with charm, exploring with a local guide to admire well-preserved Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture, with lunch in a local restaurant
- Walking tour 'Highlights of Passau' with a local guide admiring brightly coloured buildings lining the waterways and visiting St Stephens Cathedral, originally built in 450, destroyed by fire in 1662 and rebuilt in Baroque style
Landmarks St. Stephen's Cathedral, Passau Hohensalzburg Fortress - Day 19
Regensburg
RegensburgOptional Activities
- Walking tour of Regensburg with a local guide on the confluence of three rivers in Bavaria, seeing the old stone bridge, Church of St James and Porta Praetoria
- Ferry excursion through the Danube Gorge to Weltenburg Abbey, Bavaria's oldest monastery founded by monks around 600AD, exploring the Abbey and Cloister Church before sampling award-winning beer produced on site since 1050
- Active walking tour to Thurn und Taxis Castle with guided tour followed by free time exploring the castle, seat of a German noble family tracing history back to the 12th century
- Cycling excursion through Danube Valley scenery along the river and countryside to Walhalla Memorial, commissioned by King Ludwig I of Bavaria to honour notable Germans from past centuries
Landmarks Weltenburg Abbey Thurn und Taxis Castle Walhalla Memorial - Day 20
Nuremberg
NurembergOptional Activities
- Guided tour of Nuremberg Old Town driving past ancient city walls then walking to see the Imperial Castle, St. Egidien's Church and the market square
- World War II tour with a local guide highlighting main events during the Nazi regime and visiting important historical sites from this dark period
- Active walking tour following cobblestone streets surrounding the Imperial Castle and admiring impressive medieval city walls
Landmarks Imperial Castle, Nuremberg St. Egidien's Church - Day 21
Bamberg
BambergOptional Activities
- Guided tour of Bamberg Old Town exploring Europe's largest intact old town centre learning about its fascinating history while wandering through medieval and Baroque buildings
- Coach excursion to Coburg, seat of Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert with close ties to the British royal family, visiting the impressive castle overlooking the city considered one of Germany's largest and best-preserved forts with museum housing carriages, weapons, armoury and paintings by renowned artists
Landmarks Bamberg Cathedral Bamberg Town Hall - Day 22
Würzburg
WürzburgOptional Activities
- Guided tour of Würzburg Residence, a Baroque palace surrounded by manicured gardens, to see many valuable paintings, tapestries and period furniture, followed by a short stroll into the city for free time
- Coach excursion on the famed Romantic Road to Rothenburg, an important medieval trading route, with guided tour of the well-preserved medieval old town and free time to explore independently
Landmarks Würzburg Residence Rothenburg Old Town - Day 23
Wertheim to Miltenberg
Wertheim to MiltenbergIncluded Activities
- Visit with Baron and Baroness von Mallinckrodt at Gamburg Castle for a private reception discussing their modern aristocratic life over sparkling wine
Optional Activities
- Orientation tour of Wertheim through historic town filled with half-timbered houses followed by free time and visit to a local winery to meet the winemaker and learn about production, transferring to Miltenberg
- Guided tour of Gamburg Castle and private reception with Baron and Baroness von Mallinckrodt
- Guided hike through elegant Franconian landscape in hills and forests around Miltenberg revealing panoramic Main River views, ancient vineyard terraces and timeless villages with stories of medieval past
- Guided tour 'Tastes & treasures of Miltenberg' seeking out finest local producers from artisanal butchers and bakers to independently run Schnapps producers offering authentic Franconian craftsmanship
- Visit to a local schnapps distiller to understand production of this flavoured liqueur, enjoy tasting multiple flavours, then take an orientation tour of Miltenberg with free time
Landmarks Spitze Turm, Wertheim Gamburg Castle - Day 24
Rüdesheim - Rhine Gorge - Bonn
Rüdesheim - Rhine Gorge - Bonn- Meals
- Dinner (Lavish dinner with classical music at La Redoute recital hall, built in 1792 by the last Elector of Cologne)
Included Activities
- Cruise through Rhine Gorge
Optional Activities
- Visit to Siegfried's Musikkabinett Museum with a local guide introducing weird and wonderful mechanical musical instruments, then explore independently or take the cable car up to Niederwald Monument
- Guided hike through rolling Rüdesheim vineyards with spectacular countryside and Rhine River views, starting with a cable car ride up to Niederwald Monument and returning to town on foot
Landmarks Niederwald Monument Lorelei Statue - Day 25
Cologne
Cologne- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Cologne Old Town with World Heritage-listed Cologne Cathedral
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral - Day 26
Amsterdam
AmsterdamOptional Activities
- One-hour canal cruise on Amsterdam's 100+ kilometres of canals seeing picturesque sights, Golden Age mansions, grand warehouses and narrow bridges
- Walking tour of Amsterdam exploring the maze of canals and bridges in the city centre, covering history, modern lifestyle and Dutch culture, with tasting of herring, a local delicacy
- Dutch countryside e-bike tour taking a small ferry to town outskirts for biking with a local guide offering information about everyday Dutch life
- Excursion to Schermerhorn and Alkmaar visiting the village of Schermerhorn with authentic 16th-century windmills then the charming town of Alkmaar known for historic buildings and picturesque canals, experience available only with Scenic
Landmarks Schermerhorn Alkmaar - Day 27
Amsterdam
Amsterdam- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Final breakfast on board
Landmarks Amsterdam
