The Danube from Romania to Budapest with 1 Night in Bucharest and 2 Nights in Transylvania

12 days
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River Cruise
Sail from Romania to Hungary’s capital of Budapest to experience river views like no other. Begin your Danube River vacation your way before your cruise with an overnight stay and sightseeing in Bucharest. Drive into the Carpathian Mountains to Sinaia to visit the grand Peles Castle. You’ll continue to Transylvania for two nights in Brasov. Take a guided tour...
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Overview

Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy

Highlights

    • Welcome to Bucharest
    • Visit Peles Castle
    • Guided tour of Brasov; guided visit of Dracula's Bran Castle
    • Guided sightseeing in Bucharest; transfer to ship; onboard welcome reception
    • Choice of full-day excursion, visit to Tsarevet's Fortress in Veliko Târnovo and to the Ethnographic Museum and the Church of the Nativity in Arbanassi, or guided sightseeing in Rousse, or bike with your Adventure Host
    • Guided sightseeing to Baba Vida fortress, see the rock formations in Belogradchik or bike with your Adventure Host
    • Scenic cruise through the Iron Gates Gorge; Guided visit of Lepenski Vir archaeological site and Golubač fortress
    • Choice of guided sightseeing or walk with your Adventure Host; onboard lecture
    • Guided tour; choice of honey and wine tasting or hike to the Petrovaradin Fortress
    • Ilok guided tour with wine tasting; Vukovar guided tour

What's this trip about?

    Sail from Romania to Hungary’s capital of Budapest to experience river views like no other. Begin your Danube River vacation your way before your cruise with an overnight stay and sightseeing in Bucharest. Drive into the Carpathian Mountains to Sinaia to visit the grand Peles Castle. You’ll continue to Transylvania for two nights in Brasov. Take a guided tour of the city by day, followed by a tour of Dracula’s Bran Castle by night, and enjoy guided sightseeing in Bucharest. Enjoy superior hotel accommodations with complimentary breakfast, an expert Local Guide, and courtesy hotel-to-ship transfer. From Bucharest, travel to Oltenita to embark on your Danube River cruise. Take in the incredible views along the way, your cruise on the Danube River carries you through the striking landscapes of the Balkans. In Bulgaria’s largest inland port, take a guided sightseeing tour of Rousse, including the Holy Trinity Church, or spend a full day with a guided tour of the Bulgarian capital of Veliko Târnovo, where ancient stone houses cling to the Yantra River cliffs. One of the oldest towns in Bulgaria, Arbanassi holds Bulgarian Revival architecture within its 15th-century locale. Guided sightseeing In Vidin is followed by a guided tour of Belogradchik, with its ancient fortress and tremendous rock formations on the Balkan Mountains. Next visit Lepenski Vir for a guided tour with ancient archaeological finds before cruising through the narrow Iron Gates Gorge. In Serbia, take a guided tour of Belgrade, including one of the world’s largest Orthodox churches, and see the most preserved Croatian fortress in Osijek. You’ll also attend a stirring performance by young students of the Franjo Kuhač music school. Tour the historic towns of Mohács and Pécs before cruising to Budapest to conclude your amazing cruise on the Danube.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age range6 years and up
Flights and transport
Start CityBUCHAREST, ROMANIA
End CityBUDAPEST (DISEMBARKATION)

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • 50 Plus
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

Attractions

  • Belgrade
  • Belogradchik
  • Brasov
  • Bucharest
  • Budapest
  • Croatia
  • Romania
  • Transylvania

Activities

  • Culture
  • River Cruise

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: BUCHAREST, ROMANIA

Welcome to Bucharest—The “Paris of the East”

The day is yours to relax and enjoy Bucharest. Spend some free time exploring this fascinating city on your own to discover its trendy shops, cafés, museums, beautiful homes, and churches along Victory Avenue.

Day 2: BUCHAREST–SINAIA–BRASOV

Drive into the Carpathians to Sinaia to visit Peles Castle. On the way, enjoy a local lunch. This afternoon continue to Brasov for the night.

(Breakfast,Lunch)

Day 3: BRASOV

Join a morning Guided Sightseeing Tour of Brasov followed by free time. In the evening enjoy a tour of Bran Castle of Dracula lore followed by dinner.

(Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 4: BRASOV–BUCHAREST–OLTENITA (EMBARKATION)

CLASSIC Join a Guided Excursion in Bucharest, see the Royal Palace Square—the scene of the city 's 1989 riots to overthrow the communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.

Join your Avalon Suite Ship® this afternoon, for embarkation in Oltenita.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROUSSE

(Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 5: ROUSSE, BULGARIA. VELIKO TÂRNOVO & ARBANASSI EXCURSION

Fortresses and Fountains in “Little Vienna” ACTIVE Join a bike tour in Rousse with your Avalon Adventure Host, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bulgaria’s largest inland port and visit its impressive Holy Trinity Church, OR:

CLASSIC Join a full-d...

Day 6: VIDIN

Rocks, Ruins, and Balkan Beauty

Ask about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities.

ACTIVE Wander and discover this town, join your Adventure Host for a bike ride, OR:

CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Belogradchik. See the remarkable r...

Day 7: IRON GATES GORGE. EXCURSION TO LEPENSKI VIR, SERBIA

Ancient Artifacts and the Iron Gates

Before lunch on board, you’ll sail through the spectacular and narrow Iron Gates Gorge—forming a natural border between Serbia and Romania. CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour to Lepenski Vir—an important Mesolithic archaeological ...

Day 8: BELGRADE

Fortresses and Folklore

Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.

ACTIVE Discover Belgrade's central walkway with your Adventure Host, OR:

CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Belgrade—where the Danube and Sava Rivers converge—an...

Day 9: NOVI SAD

A Capital of Culture

CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Novi Sad, the second largest town in Serbia. Admire its Austro-Hungarian old town, with its baroque buildings, and ancient fortifications.

ACTIVE Enjoy a walking tour in Novi Sad along the narrow streets t...

Day 10: ILOK, CROATIA

Croatian Heritage and Hilltop Vintages

DISCOVERY Take a walking tour of Ilok with a wine tasting in a local cellar with stories of Croatian tradition.

Enjoy a short sailing to Vukovar during lunchtime VUKOVAR, CROATIA

The Heroic Town on the Danube

Day 11: MOHÁCS, HUNGARY. EXCURSION TO PÉCS

Underground Tombs and Heavenly Music

CLASSIC Join a morning Guided Sightseeing Tour of Mohács—the quiet Danube harbor town with its historical memorial parks, statues, and distinctive churches. Tour the remarkable medieval St. Nicholas Watermill—one of only a f...

Day 12: BUDAPEST (DISEMBARKATION)

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Flights should not leave Budapest airport before 8 am.

(Breakfast)

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Dates & Availability

Price From $5,448
Price per day$454
Last Updated: 3/12/2025
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
02 May 2025
13 May 2025
$5,448
26 May 2025
06 Jun 2025
$5,648
29 Jun 2025
10 Jul 2025
$5,548
06 Aug 2025
17 Aug 2025
$5,548
26 Aug 2025
06 Sep 2025
$5,748
19 Sep 2025
30 Sep 2025
$5,948
04 Oct 2025
15 Oct 2025
$5,648
23 Oct 2025
03 Nov 2025
$5,448
05 May 2026
16 May 2026
$5,688
28 May 2026
08 Jun 2026
$5,888

Port charges: $240 Avalon offers the opportunity for solo travelers to sail with no single supplement (subject to availability). Please call for single accommodation price. Triples not available.

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Avalon Waterways.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Avalon Waterways Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
Excellent
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145
Average
48
Disappointing
16
Terrible
47
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Other Avalon Waterways Reviews

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crezet kickartz

Feb 2025

Written on

My husband and I went on our first trip from Amsterdam to Basel. It was so great and as it was my first big OE the sights were very breath-taking.

The Avalon was so wonderful and all staff were very helpful in many ways, we couldn't fault the ship or staff. Would recommend Avalon river cruises. The rooms are lo...

J

James Allen

Jan 2025

Written on

Great Staff

The staff was interactive, polite, and memorable. We were lucky enough to have met and interacted with the staff on 2 different boats. Avalon handled the necessary c...

J

Janis Lloyd

Jan 2025

Written on

Avalon consistency—good!

Cabins always great. Food very good. I wish there were semi-dry white wine offered at dinner. (Rieslings, not dry). Christmas market in Colmar was not enjoyable, way...

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Logistics

Accommodation

Intercontinental Athenee Palace

Explore Bucharest from the glorious Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest hotel, one of the city's most sophisticated and prestigious landmarks. The hotel is conveniently located in the heart of the city and enjoys views of Revolution Square and is close to Bucharest's many local attractions.

Bucharest

Romania

1-3 Episcopiei

Kronwell Brasov Hotel

The Kronwell hotel in Brasov boasts stylishly luxurious guestrooms equipped with state-of-the art facilities, as well as free of charge wireless internet access that will satisfy the hotel's most exclusive guests. This centrally located hotel offers a stylish à la carte restaurant, a casual bar, a sleek European/Asian bistro and formal dining with a terrace. The spa has an indoor pool, a fitness studio and sauna.

Brasov

Romania

Bulevardul Garii Nr 7A

Qosmo Brasov Hotel

Perfect for travelers seeking a modern and comfortable stay in Brasov, Qosmo Brasov Hotel offers an informal atmosphere with understated elegance in its rooms. Each space features a minimalist aesthetic, allowing the contemporary hospitality services to take center stage. An ideal location for exploring Transylvania, Qosmo Brasov caters to your needs with amenities such as Free Wi-Fi and in-room TVs. For a relaxing evening, unwind at the hotel's restaurant, or socialize with a handcrafted cocktail at the on-site bar.

Brasov

Romania

5 Turnului Street

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
6 years and up
Optional Activities
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Additional Information
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Trip ID
AVALON-WOBQ

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