AUSTRIA, SLOVAKIA, HUNGARY, CROATIA, SERBIA, ROMANIA, AND BULGARIA
Sail down the Danube River stopping at some of Eastern Europe’s most fascinating cities—from Vienna and Budapest to Belgrade and Bucharest. Before setting sail, go sightseeing in Vienna, which features beautiful palaces and modern architecture. Then, depart on the ship to Bratislava, Slovakia where you’ll explore the sights around Old Town. The next stop down the river takes you into Hungary for a visit to Budapest. You’ll tour the city and then have a full day to discover sights at your leisure. Sail along the picturesque Drava River to Croatia for a day around Vukovar and then set your sights on Serbia, with stops at the charming cities of Novi Sad and Belgrade. Admire the stunning vistas as we cruise to Bulgaria, bringing you to Vidin. From Bucharest, we’ll travel to Brasov and nearby Bran where the highlight is the mystical Vlad Tepes Dracula’s Castle.
Shorten Your Trip! Enjoy our Danube River Cruise tour visiting highlights along the Danube River.
Itinerary at a Glance
Tour Itinerary:
- 10-night Danube Cruise to Vienna (Austria), Bratislava (Slovakia), Budapest (Hungary), Vukovar (Croatia), Novi Sad (Serbia), Belgrade (Serbia), Vidin (Bulgaria)
- 2 nights in Brasov (Romania)
- 1 night in Bucharest (Romania)
Tour Highlights
- Hofburg Palace (Vienna)
- St. Martin’s Cathedral (Bratislava)
- Matthias Coronation Church (Budapest)
- Gypsy Concert (On Board – Budapest)
- Walking Tour with Concert (Vukovar)
- Kalemegdan Fortress (Belgrade)
- Authentic Serbian Lunch with plum brandy
- Iron Gates Gorge
- Baba Vida Fortress (Vidin)
- Palace of Parliament (Bucharest)
- Peles Castle
- Brasov City Tour
- Dracula’s Castle
Your Tour Includes
- 10-night cruise on the Danube River
- Two nights in a Brasov hotel
- One night in a Bucharest hotel
- 35 meals: 14 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 12 dinners plus 2 glasses of wine or beer with lunch and dinner on cruise
- All on board activities, themed dinners, and special services including early riser breakfast, afternoon cakes & tea, 24/7 coffee station, late night snacks and entertainment each evening
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours, shore excursions, onboard lectures, folklore performances, and concerts
- Professional English-speaking Cruise Manager and local English-speaking guides throughout
Note: Flights may not be available on all departures.
You may have to book your own flights to the tour destination. If so, you are responsible for making your own way to the tour starting point, where you will meet your Tour Director. This is normally the first hotel in your itinerary.
You can find more details on the Before You Depart page.
Welcome to Vienna, the splendid capital of Austria and the center of the Hapsburg Empire. Travelers should make their own way to our cruise ship for embarkation. This evening, we'll enjoy a welcome cocktail followed by an orientation briefing and reception and then dinner.
Accommodations: MS River Sapphire
Meals: Dinner
Today, we'll explore Vienna's glorious past as we embark on an included panoramic tour that takes us along the Ring Boulevard, past Emperor Franz Josef's Hofburg Palace and the State Opera to the Cathedral of St. Stephen's. This afternoon is free for us to explore Vienna independently. Our Cruise Manager can assist us in arranging tickets for an optional concert or cultural performance. We'll set sail from Vienna late this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Welcome to Slovakia! This morning, our walking tour takes us to Bratislava's lovely city center, past St. Martin's Cathedral and the Primate's Palace. Our sightseeing ends with a walk through Old Town where we'll see Michael's Gate, Michael's Tower, the Main Square, Old Town Hall, and the Slovak National Theatre. We'll return to our ship for lunch and then enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to explore Bratislava at our own pace. Our dinner is back on board with the evening free to waltz the night away!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We'll spend our morning cruising the Danube River to Budapest. This afternoon, our motorcoach tour of this lovely city includes some of the most popular sights: The Parliament Building, St. Stefan Cathedral, the Opera, the Square of Heroes, (the Millennium monument) and the town park with the Vajdahunyad Castle, etc. During our tour, we'll enjoy stops at the Square of Heroes, the Fisherman's Bastion and Gellert Hill. The rest of our evening is at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, we have a full day at leisure to explore Budapest independently. Consider joining our Cruise Manager for an optional walking tour of downtown Budapest. Prior to dinner we can enjoy a short live concert of Hungarian Gypsy music performed in the lounge. This evening, we'll set sail and begin cruising to our next destination.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast this morning, we can head up to the sun deck to take in the beautiful vistas as we sail into Vukovar, Croatia. This afternoon, after entry formalities, we'll depart on our walking tour. Afterward, we can enjoy free time to explore the city at leisure before returning to the ship for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Welcome to Serbia! When we wake up this morning, we'll say "hello" to Novi Sad, Serbia's lively university town. We'll be delighted by our walking tour through the town center and its gorgeous pedesrian-friendly nooks and corners dotted with restaurants and people-watching cafés. After our tour, we'll have free time to explore the charming streets or we can join an optional tour to the local winery for a wine, cheese, and honey tasting. This evening, we'll continue sailing towards Serbia's vibrant capital, Belgrade, also known as "White City."
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We'll witness "new" Belgrade today as it rebuilds and once again warmly welcomes Western visitors. Located on a hill at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers, this ancient city dates back to the Roman Empire and was destroyed and rebuilt several times during its tumultuous history. This morning's tour of the city highlights includes the Kalemegdan Fortress, the imposing St. Sava Cathedral and the cobblestone bohemian quarter of Skadarlija. For lunch we will venture to an authentic Serbian restaurant, where you will meet a Serbian multi-generation family and enjoy a wonderful taste of Serbian home-made food, unlimited drinks, live music, and hospitality. We will return to the ship and after dinner, you'll be entertained by a local folklore ensemble featuring dancers and musicians dressed in colorful costumes.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, we'll savor the beautiful vistas while leanring about the fascinating history of the Balkans. After lunch, we'll enjoy one of the highlights of our voyage: passage through the impressive Iron Gates Gorge and the gigantic Djerdap Lock where the Danube surges down from the Carpathian Mountains. The views along the two-mile-long gorge are spectacular! This evening, we'll arrive in Vidin, Bulgaria, and enjoy a festive Captain's Farewell dinner on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, we'll embark on a walking tour of this delightful Bulgarian river port highlighted by a visit to the 13th-century fortress named "Baba Vida" ("Grandma Vida"), the best-preserved medieval fortress in the country. Afterward, we'll have some free time for strolling and shopping or we can consider joining the optional Belogradchik Rock excursion.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, we'll disembark and depart by road for Sinaia, stopping to visit the magnificent Peles Castle, a former summer residence of the Romanian Royal Family. Afterward, we'll continue to Brasov, a medieval resort town set high in the scenic Carpathian Mountains.
Accommodations: Aro Palace Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, we'll enjoy a tour of Brasov including Town Square and the renowned Black Cathedral. Later, we'll continue to the nearby town of Bran where the highlight of our visit is a tour of the mystical Vlad Tepes Dracula's Castle. This afternoon is at leisure so we can explore lovely Brasov independently.
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, it's time to check out of our hotel and board our bus for our leisurely 2-hour ride back to Bucharest for a half-day city tour prior to checking into our hotel. This evening, we'll enjoy a wonderful farewell dinner with live entertainment at one of the city's renowned restaurants.
Accommodations: Novotel Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Our tour comes to an end after breakfast this morning.
Meals: Breakfast
Book early and save up to $600 per person.
Travelers may choose to purchase the tour only,
and arrange their own arrival in destination.
Please note this may change your tour start date.
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Single supplement applies when not sharing a room. Select a
date above to see the rates for that specific departure.
For more information on this tour, please
contact us here
or call us during business hours (Monday-Friday from 9:00 am - 5:30 pm Eastern)
at 1.800.337.7773.
Reservations and Payments
Reservations can be made online or by phone
(1.800.337.7773)
and will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable,
non-transferable deposit, which must be received at the
time of reservation.
Deposits are $300 per person.
Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Space and prices subject to availability.
Please see the
smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete
booking information.
Featured Accommodations
Refurbished in 2020, this 164-passenger premium vessel offers a casual and friendly ambiance. Cabins are spread over three decks with the lower deck featuring windows that do not open, and the middle and upper decks featuring floor to ceiling French balconies. While onboard, enjoy the restaurant, panorama lounge, sun deck, and fitness room. The onboard currency is the Euro and Visa and Mastercard are also accepted.
View Cabin Options and Deck Plans
Eroilor Nr. 27
Brasov, Romania
Website
Calea Victoriei 37B Sector 1
010061, Bucharest, Romania
Website
Optional Tours
Enhance your trip with these optional tours.
Indicated optional tours are available to pre-book
when you reserve your trip and can be added to your
reservation up to final payment. This is the best option
to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour!
Optional tours require a minimum number of participants.
Optional tours are non-refundable unless they do not operate.
Some optional tours can be purchased in-destination and
may cost extra. The payment methods and currency
information to purchase tours in-destination will be
provided on final documentation.
Day 2 Evening Tour. €79 per person
Quite rightfully, Vienna is often called the "Musical Capital of the World". Enjoy a concert in the heart of Vienna at Kursalon Wien, an exclusive and splendid building of the 19th century built in the Italian Renaissance style. In the very place where Johann Strauss used to direct his orchestra from the position of first violin, enjoy the essence of Vienna's classical music! The Salonorchester Alt Wien, one of the best-known interpreters of classical Viennese music, presents an evening full of Viennese charm with waltzes, polkas, arias and duets, as well as operetta and piano concerto melodies. Accompanied by excellent opera vocalists and our enchanting ballet soloists, Vienna's classical music reveals itself as a living firework display for all the senses.
Payable by cash only on the ship (Euros)
MUST BE BOOKED IN DESTINATION!
Day 5 Morning Tour. €20 per person
Join your Cruise Director for a delightful stroll down Vaci Utca, the city's main pedestrian promenade full of shops, cafes, and beautiful people! Your stops will include the Great Market Hall and Gerbeaud, the oldest sweet shop in Budapest which opened in 1858! Your tour ends with a delightful ride aboard an old-fashioned tram back to the docking location.
Payable by cash only on the ship (Euros)
MUST BE BOOKED IN DESTINATION!
Day 7 Afternoon Tour. €42 per person
Travel by motor coach through the Serbian countryside for a visit to Krusedol Monastery, located on the nearby mountain of Fruska Gora where more than 15 Serbian orthodox monasteries were built in medieval times. Well renowned for its fresco paintings dating from the early 16th century, the monastery is also a burial place for legendary personalities throughout Serbian history, such as King Milan Obrenovic and Duchess Ljubica. On the way back, stop in Sremski Karlovci, center of wine production in the region. Here we'll visit the Zivanovic family whose members have been producing their private label "Bermet" wine for over a century and whose products have been enjoyed by members of the Habsburg Monarchy as well as the Russian Tsars! Our hosts will welcome us to their large garden, including a wine cellar, and the "Museum of Honey". In this lovely ambiance we'll enjoy several varieties of wine including "Bermet", accompanied by their own organic honey!
Payable by cash only on the ship (Euros)
MUST BE BOOKED IN DESTINATION!
Day 10 Afternoon Tour. €45 per person
Take the tour to the most famous natural phenomena in the region, Belogradchik Rocks. This rocky fairy-tale is spread from west to east and it is 30km long and 3km wide. The most attractive rocks are around the town and named as The Madonna, The Monks, The Rider, The Dervish, The Bear, Adam and Eve, The Castle, The Little Shepherd, The Mushrooms, The Lion and many others. The Belogradchik fortress is situated at an altitude of 610 m above sea level. Experience the memorable view from the top of the fortress.
Important Note: This tour is only recommended for active walkers, as it requires going up steps and slopes for a full experience.
Payable by cash only on the ship (Euros)
MUST BE BOOKED IN DESTINATION!
What to Expect
Max Group Size: 24 travelers
Activity Level: Level 1
Expect most included touring to require walking and standing periods up to 3 hours at a time (up to 2 times per day) on easy terrain with some light stairs. Learn More
Pacing Level: Leisurely
Expect half-day tours most days with a free day in most cities to explore independently. There are few to no early mornings and/or long travel days by bus (don’t worry—there are always comfort stops!), and you may expect to stay in most accommodations for 4+ nights. Learn More
New in 2025: ETIAS Visa Waiver Required for U.S. Passport Holders
A valid passport is required for international tours. Effective for travel in 2025, U.S. passport holders are required to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver. Please visit our Passports & Visas page to learn more about any required actions, next steps, and additional costs.
The ship may dock in uneven terrain. Travelers may encounter some uneven surfaces, stairs, steps, and significant slopes on the shore excursions.
For more detailed information about this tour and destination, visit
our Before You Depart section.
