Lower Danube Discovery with Transylvania 2027 - 20 Days

Itinerary

1. Day 1

   Budapest

   Budapest Show on map

   

2. Day 2

   Bratislava

   Bratislava Show on map

   Optional Activities

   • Communist tour of Bratislava - learn about life under the communist regime and its impact on Slovak identity
   • Walking tour of Bratislava - explore Hlavné Námestie (main square) and Old Town Hall with a local guide
   • Coffee and cake with a Slovakian family - immersive experience in a local home

   Landmarks
   Bratislava Castle
   Hlavné Námestie

   

3. Day 3

   Bratislava to Budapest

   Bratislava to Budapest Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Classical Music Concert at Gödöllő Royal Palace - exclusive concert inside the 18th-century Baroque palace, one of Queen Elisabeth's favorite residences

   Optional Activities

   • Massage services - available at additional cost

   Landmarks
   Gödöllő Royal Palace

4. Day 4

   Budapest

   Budapest Show on map

   Optional Activities

   • Guided hike of Buda - walk through the Buda district seeing Várkert Bazár and landscaped gardens with Danube River views
   • Budapest's past and present - walking and coach tour covering communist history, the 1956 Hungarian revolution, and Jewish heritage
   • Beethoven's favourite getaway - visit Brunszvik Castle with its Neo Gothic architecture and gardens, tour the Beethoven Memorial Museum
   • Etyek region wineries and vineyards - learn about white and sparkling wine traditions in the 'vineyard of Budapest'
   • Jewish Heritage Tour - visit the Jewish Museum and Synagogue while learning about significant Jewish events in the city's history

   Landmarks
   Várkert Bazár
   Brunszvik Castle

5. Day 5

   Ordas to Mohacs

   Ordas to Mohacs Show on map

   Optional Activities

   • Hungarian Traditions - learn about traditional handicrafts, needlework, and embroidery with their historic origins
   • Hungarian Horse Show - travel to Kalocsa to watch traditional horse demonstrations and taste local delicacies

   Landmarks
   Kalocsa

6. Day 6

   Mohacs to Osijek

   Mohacs to Osijek Show on map

   Optional Activities

   • Guided tour of Pécs - see Roman ruins, Turkish baths, Baroque buildings, and decorative arts including porcelain
   • Villány wine stories - visit the Villány wine region known for bold red wines, tour historic wine cellars, sample local wines, visit an old mill
   • Mohács traditions and flavours - explore the Busóudvar Museum, visit historic sites, taste halászlé (traditional Danube fish stew made with Hungarian paprika)

   Landmarks
   Pécs
   Villány wine region

7. Day 7

   Vukovar

   Vukovar Show on map

   Meals

   Lunch (Authentic meal at a local Croatian family home featuring fresh vegetables from the host's garden)

   Included Activities

   • Lunch at a local Croatian family home - authentic meal featuring fresh vegetables from the host's garden

   Optional Activities

   • Walking tour of Osijek - explore the well-preserved Baroque Old Town and fortress via coach transfer
   • Baranja wine region - tour family-owned wineries and taste exceptional white wines in rustic cellars or outdoor terraces
   • Vukovar chronicles: A river town's tale of resilience - discover the 'Hero Town' of Vukovar through museums and monuments documenting the Croatian War of Independence and the city's rebuilding

   Landmarks
   Osijek

8. Day 8

   Novi Sad

   Novi Sad Show on map

   Optional Activities

   • Guided tour of Novi Sad - explore Petrovaradin Fortress and Dunavska Street with a local guide
   • Hike to Petrovaradin Fortress - trek to the 'Gibraltar on the Danube' for magnificent views over the Danube River and city
   • Vojvodina farmhouse flavours - cooking demonstration at a traditional farmstead (Sala\u0161) with coffee and homemade buns
   • Fruška Gora National Park - explore Serbia's oldest national park with oak and beech forests, visit the 16th-century monastery, and taste wine at a local vineyard

   Landmarks
   Petrovaradin Fortress
   Fruška Gora National Park

9. Day 9

   Belgrade

   Belgrade Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Choir Performance in St. Sava - visit the largest Orthodox temple in the Balkans and experience a choir performance in the frescoed crypt

   Optional Activities

   • Guided city tour - explore the Bohemian Quarter and Kalemegdan Fortress (site of more than 100 battles) with panoramic river views, plus free time
   • Panoramic city tour including Tito's Memorial - tour Ottoman Old Town, Kalemegdan Fortress, Republic Square, and the memorial to Tito
   • Cycling tour along the Danube - trace the Danube banks on two wheels with a local guide
   • Central Belgrade stroll with coffee and cake - leisurely stroll from Kalemegdan Fortress down Knez Mihailova Street with coffee and signature cake from a local bakery

   Landmarks
   Kalemegdan Fortress
   St. Sava
   Knez Mihailova Street

   

10. Day 10

    Golubac to Donji Milanovac

    Golubac to Donji Milanovac Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Golubac Fortress - guided tour of the 14th-century fortress with nine towers on a steep Danube embankment
    • Lepenski Vir archaeological site - explore excavation site of 136 building ruins, central square, fireplaces and stone idols from 12,000 years ago
    • Hike through Djerdap National Park - guided hike with park ranger featuring views of Golubac Fortress and the Danube River

    Landmarks
    Golubac Fortress
    Lepenski Vir
    Djerdap National Park
    Iron Gates

11. Day 11

    Vidin

    Vidin Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Hiking to Belogradchik castle ruins - active hike to the ancient fortress with unique rock formations and views
    • Visit to a local winery - tour and tasting at Dos Alamos Winery featuring Bulgarian Rubin, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon grapes
    • Ancestry of the Kitchen – Banitsa cooking demonstration - learn about regional life and family recipe secrets for traditional banitsa cheese-filled pie
    • Triangle of Tolerance walking tour - tour Vidin's history and tolerance legacy visiting the Metropolis Orthodox church of St. Nicholas, Orthodox Cathedral of St. Dimitar, Osman Mosque, and Synagogue

    Landmarks
    Belogradchik Fortress
    Vidin Fortress

12. Day 12

    Rousse

    Rousse Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Sightseeing tour of Rousse - guided tour of Belle Epoque architecture, traditional Bulgarian handicrafts, local wine tasting, and piano recital

    Landmarks
    Rousse

13. Day 13

    Silistra to Constanta

    Silistra to Constanta Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Active walk to Silistra Fort - guided walking tour of the 19th-century fort, best preserved of six Turkish fortification points from the Russo-Turkish wars
    • Visit Alfatar village - exclusive experience in this small village, ethnographic museum, restored Holy Trinity temple, and school visit to meet local children

    Landmarks
    Silistra Fort
    Alfatar village

14. Day 14

    Constanta

    Constanta Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Guided tour of Constanta - visit Ovid Square, Orthodox Cathedral, promenade, and Genovese Lighthouse with historical commentary

    Landmarks
    Ovid Square
    Genovese Lighthouse

15. Day 15

    Constanta to Bucharest

    Constanta to Bucharest Show on map

    Meals

    Lunch, Dinner (Farewell dinner)

    Included Activities

    • Guided coach tour of Bucharest - drive from south of city to Primaverii Palace, viewing Union Square, University Square, Roman Square, Victory Square, and Charles de Gaulle Square
    • Lunch - provided during transfer from Constanta to Bucharest

    Landmarks
    Primaverii Palace
    Palace of Parliament

    

16. Day 16

    Bucharest to Brasov

    Bucharest to Brasov Show on map

    Meals

    Dinner (Dinner in one of Brasov's finest restaurants)

    Included Activities

    • Visit to Peles Castle - tour the Neo-Classical masterpiece with exquisitely decorated rooms featuring paintings, carved wood, and stained glass
    • Visit to Sinaia Monastery - see the oldest monastery in the region with churches from the 17th century and built by the royal family in the 19th century
    • Dinner - at one of Brasov's finest restaurants

    Landmarks
    Peles Castle
    Sinaia Monastery

    

17. Day 17

    Brasov

    Brasov Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Guided tour of Brasov sights - explore the city's Gothic spires, medieval watchtowers, and architectural contrasts
    • Visit to Bran Castle - tour the 14th-century fortress with its narrow passageways, hidden rooms, and courtyards, inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula

    Landmarks
    Bran Castle

18. Day 18

    Brasov - Sighisoara - Sibiu

    Brasov - Sighisoara - Sibiu Show on map

    Meals

    Dinner (Dinner at one of Sibiu's best restaurants)

    Included Activities

    • Dinner - at one of Sibiu's best restaurants

    Optional Activities

    • Explore the walled city - guided tour of the World Heritage-listed Saxon walled city (12th-17th centuries)
    • Hike the hill - climb covered stairway to the 14th-century Church on the Hill for Gothic Transylvanian architecture and panoramic city views

    Landmarks
    Sighisoara
    Church on the Hill

19. Day 19

    Sibiu to Bucharest

    Sibiu to Bucharest Show on map

    Meals

    Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Dinner (Farewell dinner with fellow guests)

    Included Activities

    • Breakfast - at your hotel
    • Dinner - farewell dinner with fellow guests
20. Day 20

    Bucharest

    Bucharest Show on map

    Meals

    Breakfast

    Included Activities

    • Breakfast - final breakfast in Bucharest