Itinerary
- Day 1
Bucharest
Optional Activities
- Explore Bucharest after dark
- Day 2
Bucharest to Giurgiu
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Orientation tour of Bucharest by coach including Union Square, University Square, Roman Square, Victory Square, and Charles de Gaulle Square with views of Primaverii Palace
Optional Activities
- Ceausescu's Spring Palace: Visit this 1960s residence in Bucharest's wealthiest district featuring 80 rooms decorated with silk wallpaper, wood panels, paintings by Romanian masters, mosaics, marble, and Murano glass chandeliers
- Village Open Air Museum: Explore ethnographic exhibits displaying authentic Romanian houses, barns, and churches rebuilt using traditional crafts techniques
Landmarks Primaverii Palace Union Square Village Open Air Museum - Day 3
Silistra
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Active walk to Silistra Fort: Guided walking tour of the 19th-century fort learning about its history as the best-preserved of six Turkish fortification system points
- Visit Alfatar village: Exclusive excursion to small village outside Silistra featuring ethnographic museum with typical country house, customary attire exhibits, and visit to Alfatar school to meet local children with choir performance
- Sveshtari Thracian secrets and local delights: Guided tour exploring the ancient Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari (UNESCO World Heritage site, 3rd century BC) followed by brandy tasting at local producers
Landmarks Silistra Fort Alfatar Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari - Day 4
Rousse to Svishtov
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Rousse: Sightseeing tour with local guide covering traditional Bulgarian handicrafts, local wine sampling, and short piano recital
- Excursion to Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi: Full-day excursion to one of Bulgaria's oldest towns with panoramic views of old town and Asenevtsi Brothers Monument, then visit leafy village of Arbanassi
Landmarks Rousse Veliko Tarnovo Asenevtsi Brothers Monument Arbanassi - Day 5
Cruising Day - Iron Gates
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Djerdap Gorge (Iron Gates) featuring four narrow gorges, soaring cliffs, and rock carving of Decebalus
Landmarks Djerdap Gorge (Iron Gates) Rock Carving of Decebalus - Day 6
Belgrade
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Concert in the Crypt of St. Sava Church: Visit to St. Sava Temple (largest orthodox temple in the Balkans) featuring fresco-lined crypt walls with church choir performance in acoustically remarkable space with white marble ceilings
Optional Activities
- Tour of Belgrade: Guided exploration of iconic sites including cobblestoned Bohemian Quarter and Kalemegdan Fortress with free exploration time
- Panoramic tour of Belgrade with Tito's Memorial: Panoramic tour with local guide covering major city sites including Ottoman Old Town heritage and memorial to Tito
- Cycling tour along the Danube: Guided 16km cycling tour tracing Danube banks with history of Yugoslavia and Belgrade, viewing Belgrade Waterfront, former concentration camp Staro Sajmiste, and Ada Island
- Central Belgrade stroll with coffee and cake: Walk from Kalemegdan Fortress down Knez Mihailova Street (pedestrian boulevard) with charming shops and cafes, pause for coffee and signature cake from beloved local bakery
- Free exploration: Wander the bohemian Skardalija Street district with traditional restaurants, local stores, and galleries once frequented by writers, artists, and creative souls
Landmarks Kalemegdan Fortress Bohemian Quarter St. Sava Church Belgrade Waterfront Skardalija Street Ada Island Staro Sajmiste - Day 7
Vukovar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Authentic lunch at local Croatian family home prepared with fresh vegetables from host's garden), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit local Croatian family home for lunch: Authentic meal prepared with fresh vegetables from host's garden with cultural and culinary immersion experience
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Osijek: Guided walking tour of nearby Osijek with exploration of grand Baroque buildings in Old Town bearing scars of war and traditional and classical music performance
- Baranja wine region: Exploration of wine-making tradition in picturesque region straddling Croatia and Hungary with wine tasting experience blending bold notes, local culture, and landscapes
- Vukovar chronicles - A river town's tale of resilience: Tour of Vukovar exploring city's medieval roots, war damage recovery, museums, and monuments preserving legacy of sacrifice and hope
Landmarks Vukovar Osijek Baranja wine region - Day 8
Mohács
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Pécs: Guided tour to city's telephone exchange (opened 1885), Turkish Bath of Pasha Memi (demolished late 19th century, unearthed 1970s), and more
- Wine tasting in Villány: Visit to charming village in Villány wine region (known for bold red wines), learn about everyday Hungarian life, and explore historic wine cellars with local wine sampling
- Mohács traditions and flavours: Experience of Mohács featuring visit to Busódudvar Museum learning about World Heritage-listed Busójárás festival and tasting authentic halászlé (traditional fish stew made with fresh Danube River fish and Hungarian paprika)
Landmarks Pécs Turkish Bath of Pasha Memi Villány Busódudvar Museum - Day 9
Budapest
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Landmarks Budapest 
- Day 10
Budapest
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Budapest in depth: Coach tour starting in Buda viewing Várkert Bazár, crossing Margaret Bridge to Pest to see Széchenyi Square and Elizabeth Square, concluding with piano recital at Institute for the Blind
- Guided hike of Buda: Walking tour through Buda district viewing Várkert Bazár and landscaped gardens with views over Danube River and city architecture
- National Opera House: Guided tour of neo-Renaissance masterpiece revealing splendid interior, stories of royal guests, world-famous performers, and building's exceptional acoustics
- Excursion to Szentendre: Journey to riverside town known for museums, galleries, and artists with guided city tour experiencing Mediterranean atmosphere
- Free time activities: Thermal bath visit (pack swimsuit for therapeutic waters) or explore Central Market Hall
Landmarks Várkert Bazár Margaret Bridge Széchenyi Square Elizabeth Square Institute for the Blind National Opera House Szentendre Central Market Hall Budapest Thermal Baths - Day 11
Bratislava
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Bratislava: Guided tour with local guide covering Hlavné Námestie main square and Old Town Hall learning about city history and everyday life behind Iron Curtain
- Carpathian wine route: Slovakian wine tasting just beyond Bratislava in Small Carpathians with picturesque villages, family winemakers, and insider perspective on local culture and heritage
- Communist walk: Exploration of Bratislava's complex and compelling history during communist regime discovering how this era shaped daily Slovak lives with positive, negative, and fascinating impacts
Landmarks Bratislava Hlavné Námestie Old Town Hall Bratislava Castle Small Carpathians - Day 12
Vienna
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Classical Concert at Palais Liechtenstein: Exclusive private classical concert with fine Austrian Sekt featuring Strauss and Mozart performed by renowned orchestra, accompanied by ballet dancers and vocalists, in Vienna's largest secular Baroque Hall
Optional Activities
- Schönbrunn Palace: Guided exploration of former Habsburg summer residence with ornately designed rooms, royal family stories, and impressive gardens
- Cycle to Danube Island: Guided e-bike tour exploring Danube Island recreational playground with bathing, boating, cycling, and beach areas
- Art tour of Vienna including Kunsthistorisches Museum: Guided tour providing overview of magnificent exhibits including world-class art collection and impressive ancient artefacts with leisure time to explore museum
- Central Vienna: Expert local guide tour with stories about city's history, elegance, and diverse architecture with free exploration time
Landmarks Schönbrunn Palace Danube Island Kunsthistorisches Museum Palais Liechtenstein - Day 13
Dürnstein to Melk
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch during cruise through Wachau Valley), Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through UNESCO Wachau Valley with views of sloping vineyards and charming villages
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Melk Abbey: Grand 18th-century abbey featuring decorated marble hall, library with 80,000+ books, and Abbey Church adorned with frescoes and intricate statues
- UNESCO Wachau Valley e-bike experience: Guided e-bike ride from Dürnstein to Melk passing small villages and rolling vineyards with stops for river views
- Artstetten Castle: Visit to 13th-century castle meeting current owners, view family crypt, visit onsite museum learning about Archduke Franz Ferdinand (whose assassination sparked WWI in 1914) and European history from descendants of royal family
- Informative talk with regional delicacies tasting: Onboard talk on production of regional delicacies with local variety tastings
Landmarks Dürnstein Dürnstein Castle Melk Abbey Wachau Valley Artstetten Castle 
- Day 14
Brandstatt to Passau
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Full day excursion to Salzburg: Border crossing to Salzburg, Austria with guided tour covering art and music scene, Mozart's birthplace visit, Hohensalzburg Fortress viewing, lunch at local restaurant, and free time
- Full day excursion to Český Krumlov: Journey to Czech World Heritage town with Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture, guided exploration with local guide, lunch at local restaurant
- Highlights of Passau: Walking tour with local guide viewing brightly coloured waterfront buildings and St. Stephens Cathedral (originally built 450 AD, destroyed by fire 1662, rebuilt in Baroque style)
Landmarks Salzburg Mozart's Birthplace Hohensalzburg Fortress Český Krumlov Passau St. Stephens Cathedral - Day 15
Regensburg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Regensburg: Guided walking tour on confluence of three Bavarian rivers seeing old stone bridge, Church of St James, and Porta Praetoria
- Bavarian beer tasting: Education on beer-making intricacies and region's 1,000+ year brewing heritage with tasting at traditional brewery
Landmarks Regensburg Old Stone Bridge Church of St James Porta Praetoria - Day 16
Regensburg to Munich
- Meals
- Breakfast (Final breakfast onboard)
