Itinerary
- Day 1
Bucharest
BucharestOptional Activities
- Explore Bucharest after dark
- Day 2
Bucharest to Giurgiu
Bucharest to Giurgiu- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Orientation tour of Bucharest by coach including Union, University, Roman, Victory and Charles de Gaulle squares and Primaverii Palace
Optional Activities
- Visit Ceausescu's Spring Palace - 1960s residence with 80 rooms featuring silk wallpaper, wood panels, paintings, mosaics, marble, chandeliers and Murano glass mirrors
- Explore Village Open Air Museum - ethnography exhibits with authentic houses, barns, churches rebuilt using traditional techniques
Landmarks Primaverii Palace Union Square University Square Roman Square Victory Square Charles de Gaulle Square Ceausescu's Spring Palace Village Open Air Museum - Day 3
Silistra
Silistra- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Active guided walking tour of 19th century Silistra Fort and learn about its role in the Turkish fortification system
- Visit Alfatar village - exclusive excursion including ethnographic museum with typical country house, customary attire, Alfatar school visit with local children and choir performance
- Sveshtari Thracian secrets and local delights - guided tour exploring ancient Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari (3rd century BC, UNESCO World Heritage site) followed by local brandy tasting
Landmarks Silistra Fort Alfatar village Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari - Day 4
Rousse to Svishtov
Rousse to Svishtov- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Rousse - sightseeing tour with local guide learning about traditional Bulgarian handicrafts, local wine sampling and short piano recital
- Full-day excursion to Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi - visit one of Bulgaria's oldest towns with panoramic views of the old town and Asenevtsi Brothers Monument, then venture to nearby village of Arbanassi
Landmarks Rousse Veliko Tarnovo Asenevtsi Brothers Monument Arbanassi - Day 5
Cruising - Djerdap Gorge
Cruising - Djerdap Gorge- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Djerdap Gorge (Iron Gates) with views of four narrow gorges, soaring cliffs and rock carving of Decebalus
Optional Activities
- Relax in your suite with Scenic Sun Lounge
- Spend time on the Sun Deck
- Mingle with other guests in the Panorama Lounge & Bar
Landmarks Djerdap Gorge Iron Gates Rock carving of Decebalus - Day 6
Belgrade
Belgrade- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Tour of Belgrade - explore iconic sites with local guide including cobblestoned Bohemian Quarter and Kalemegdan Fortress, then free time to explore
- Panoramic tour of Belgrade with Tito's Memorial - see major city sites including Ottoman heritage of Old Town and memorial to former Yugoslav ruler Tito
- Cycling tour along the Danube - 16km guided bike ride tracing Danube banks while learning about Yugoslav and Belgrade history, seeing 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 coffee and signature cake at beloved bakery
- Explore bohemian Skardalija Street - wander cobblestoned district with traditional restaurants, local stores and galleries frequented by writers and artists
- Concert in the Crypt of St. Sava Church - experience St. Sava Temple (largest orthodox temple in Balkans) with choir performance of beautiful hymns in marble-adorned crypt with exceptional acoustics
Landmarks Kalemegdan Fortress Bohemian Quarter Skardalija Street Knez Mihailova Street St. Sava Church Belgrade Waterfront Staro Sajmiste Ada Island - Day 7
Vukovar
Vukovar- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a local Croatian family home with fresh vegetables from their garden), Dinner
Included Activities
- Lunch at a local Croatian family home - authentic meal prepared with fresh vegetables from the host's garden
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Osijek - guided tour of nearby city with turbulent history, visiting Baroque buildings in Old Town bearing scars of war and experiencing traditional and classical music
- Baranja wine region - explore picturesque wine-making region straddling Croatia and Hungary with vineyards, tasting experience blending bold notes, local culture and landscapes
- Vukovar chronicles - A river town's tale of resilience - discover Vukovar's spirit of resilience with tours of museums and monuments preserving legacy of medieval trade centre, WWII damage, rebuilding and bravery
Landmarks Osijek Baranja wine region - Day 8
Mohács
Mohács- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Pécs - visit the city's first telephone exchange (opened 1885), Turkish Bath of Pasha Memi (demolished late 19th century, unearthed 1970s) and more
- Villány wine stories - learn about everyday life in Hungary then sample local bold red wines at historic wine cellar
- Mohács traditions and flavours - experience Mohács' multicultural heritage (Hungarians, Croats, Serbs), visit Busóudvar Museum learning about World Heritage-listed Busójárás festival and taste authentic halászlé (Danube River fish stew with Hungarian paprika)
Landmarks Pécs Turkish Bath of Pasha Memi Villány wine region Busóudvar Museum - Day 9
Budapest
Budapest- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Explore Budapest at your own pace
- Day 10
Budapest
Budapest- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Budapest in depth - coach tour starting in Buda viewing Várkert Bazár, crossing Margaret Bridge to Pest side seeing Széhenyi Square and Elizabeth Square, ending with piano recital at Institute for the Blind
- Guided hike of Buda - walking tour through Buda district seeing 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 and stories of royal guests, world-famous performers and exceptional acoustics
- Excursion to Szentendre - journey to riverside town known for museums, galleries, artists with Mediterranean atmosphere on guided city tour
- Visit one of Budapest's thermal baths - relax in therapeutic waters
- Explore Central Market Hall
Landmarks Várkert Bazár Margaret Bridge Széhenyi Square Elizabeth Square Institute for the Blind National Opera House Szentendre Central Market Hall - Day 11
Bratislava
Bratislava- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Bratislava - knowledgeable local guide showing highlights including Hlavné Námestie (main square) and Old Town Hall while learning about city history and life behind the Iron Curtain after WWII
- Carpathian wine route - delightful Slovakian wine-tasting beyond Bratislava in Small Carpathians villages with insider's perspective on local culture meeting passionate family winemakers preserving their craft
- Communist walk - explore Bratislava's complex history during communist regime discovering how this era shaped daily lives of Slovaks with sometimes positive, often negative and always fascinating impacts
Landmarks Bratislava Old Town Hlavné Námestie Old Town Hall Bratislava Castle Small Carpathians - Day 12
Vienna
Vienna- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Schönbrunn Palace - explore former summer residence of Habsburg family with ornately designed rooms, tales about royal family and impressive gardens
- Cycle to Danube Island - guided e-bike tour exploring Danube Island recreational playground where locals swim, boat, cycle and relax on beaches
- Art tour of Vienna including Kunsthistorisches Museum - local guide overview of world-class art collection and impressive ancient artefacts with free time to wander museum
- Central Vienna - expert local guide sharing stories of the city's history, elegance and diverse architecture with free time to explore
Landmarks Schönbrunn Palace Danube Island Kunsthistorisches Museum Palais Liechtenstein - Day 13
Dürnstein to Melk
Dürnstein to Melk- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch while cruising through Wachau Valley), Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Wachau Valley during lunch with views of sloping vineyards and charming villages
Optional Activities
- Free time to wander Dürnstein at your leisure
- Guided tour of Melk Abbey - 18th century abbey including decorated marble hall, library with over 80,000 books and Abbey Church with frescoes and 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 - meet current owners of 13th century castle, former home of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (whose assassination sparked WWI 1914), see family crypt and visit onsite museum with tales from royal family descendants
- Informative talk on regional delicacies production and taste local varieties while on board
Landmarks Dürnstein Dürnstein Castle Wachau Valley Melk Abbey Artstetten Castle 
- Day 14
Brandstatt to Passau
Brandstatt to Passau- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Full day excursion to Salzburg - cross into Austria to storybook city surrounded by alpine peaks, guided tour learning about art and music scene, visit Mozart's birthplace and vast Hohensalzburg Fortress, lunch at local restaurant with free time
- Full day excursion to Český Krumlov - journey to UNESCO World Heritage Czech town brimming with charm, guided exploration of well-preserved Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture with lunch in local restaurant
- Highlights of Passau - walking tour admiring brightly coloured buildings lining waterways, visit St. Stephens Cathedral originally built 450 AD, destroyed by fire 1662, rebuilt in Baroque style
Landmarks Salzburg Mozart's birthplace Hohensalzburg Fortress Český Krumlov St. Stephens Cathedral - Day 15
Regensburg
Regensburg- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Regensburg - guided tour at confluence of three rivers exploring best preserved medieval city in Germany, seeing old stone bridge, Church of St James and Porta Praetoria
- Bavarian beer tasting - learn about beer making intricacies and region's rich brewing heritage spanning over 1,000 years as valued part of regional culture, visit traditional brewery to taste distinctive Bavarian brews
Landmarks Regensburg Old Town Stone Bridge Church of St James Porta Praetoria - Day 16
Regensburg to Munich
Regensburg to Munich- Meals
- Breakfast
