The Danube from Romania to Germany with 1 Night in Bucharest

17 days
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4.7/5 Excellent
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River Cruise
Sail from Romania to Hungary’s capital of Budapest through the Balkans, Hungary, and Austria on your European river cruise. Begin with an overnight stay in Bucharest for a guided sightseeing tour, including the Royal Palace Square. Travel to Oltenita to embark on your Danube River cruise, sail through the striking landscapes of the Balkans—Rousse, Bulgaria, V...
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Overview

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

Highlights

    • Welcome to Bucharest
    • Guided sightseeing in Bucharest; 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 a guided sightseeing in Rousse, or bike with your Adventure Host
    • Guided sightseeing to Baba Vida fortress and see the rock formations in Belogradchik or walk with your Adventure Host
    • Cruise through the Iron Gates Gorge; choice of visit Lepenski Vir archaeological site or bike with your Adventure Host; visit to Golubač fortress
    • Choice of guided sightseeing or walk with your Adventure Host; onboard lecture
    • Novi Sad guided tour; choice of honey and wine tasting or hike to the Petrovaradin Fortress
    • Ilok guided tour with wine tasting; Vukovar guided tour
    • Choice of guided tour and organ concert in Pécs or sightseeing in Mohács, visit St. Nicolas watermill
    • Choice of guided tour, see Heroes’ Square or hike with your Adventure Host

What's this trip about?

    Sail from Romania to Hungary’s capital of Budapest through the Balkans, Hungary, and Austria on your European river cruise. Begin with an overnight stay in Bucharest for a guided sightseeing tour, including the Royal Palace Square. Travel to Oltenita to embark on your Danube River cruise, sail through the striking landscapes of the Balkans—Rousse, Bulgaria, Veliko Târnovo, and Arbanassi, one of the oldest towns in Bulgaria. Guided sightseeing in Vidin is followed by a guided tour of Belogradchik, with its ancient fortress and tremendous rock formations on the Balkan Mountains. After cruising through the narrow Iron Gates Gorge, visit Lepenski Vir for a guided tour with ancient archaeological finds. 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 town of Pécs before sightseeing in the Hungarian capital of Budapest—the “Pearl of the Danube.” You’ll take a guided walk through Bratislava, Slovakia before cruising to Vienna—the “City of Music.” Enjoy guided sightseeing in Vienna’s historic Habsburg Empire—including the Imperial Palace, Vienna Opera House, and stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Visit delightful Dürnstein and Melk—charming towns in the vineyard-rich Wachau Valley. Take a guided tour and hear the legendary tale of King Richard the Lionheart in Dürnstein, and tour the magnificent Benedictine Abbey high above Melk. Visit Austria’s lovely city of Linz with a tour of the city’s historic sites, then pass through the horseshoe bend of the Danube—the beautiful Schlögen Oxbow—on your way to Passau. Enjoy a guided walking tour of Germany’s “City of Three Rivers before cruising to Vilshofen, Germany, for the conclusion of your Danube River cruise.

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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 CityVILSHOFEN (DISEMBARKATION)

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • 50 Plus
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

Attractions

  • Belgrade
  • Belogradchik
  • Bratislava
  • Bucharest
  • Budapest
  • Croatia
  • Linz
  • Passau
  • Romania
  • Salzburg
  • Vienna

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

Beautiful Boulevards and Bold History

CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of the Romanian capital city of Bucharest with its tree-lined boulevards and Arc de Triomphe—honoring WWI Romanian soldiers. See the Royal Palace Square—the scene of the city’s 1989 riots to over...

Day 3: 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 4: 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 Take a Guided Tour to Belogradchik. See the remarkable rock fo...

Day 5: DONJI MILANOVAC, SERBIA–IRON GATES GORGE. EXCURSION TO LEPENSKI VIR

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.

ACTIVE Stretch your legs, ease your mind, and enjoy a walk lead by your Advent...

Day 6: 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—a...

Day 7: 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 that c...

Day 8: 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 9: 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 10: BUDAPEST

Hungary’s Captivating Capital

CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Sightseeing, including the iconic Heroes’ Square.

Take in the beauty of Budapest while enjoying a free afternoon exploring such famous sights as the Chain Bridge. Get to know the city’s cafés and pubs or take a hike through the hills above the Danube.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BUDAPEST

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 11: BUDAPEST

The Pearl of the Danube

ACTIVE Hike up to a magnificent viewpoint in Budapest with your Adventure Host. Alternatively, take a free day to explore, with time to take photographs on the Royal Palace grounds in this treasure trove of historical architecture. Try ...

Day 12: BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA

Cathedral Coronations and a Crowning Castle

ACTIVE Follow your Avalon Adventure Host on a hike to lofty Bratislava Castle, OR: CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk, including the quaint streets of Old Town, Town Hall, and the site of royal coronations at fant...

Day 13: VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Strauss, Schnitzel, Strudel, and Sachertorte

ACTIVE Explore Vienna's Danube Island by bike with your Adventure Host, OR: CLASSIC Explore the Habsburg empire with a morning Guided City Tour of Vienna’s gilded landmarks. See the Imperial Palace complex—Winter res...

Day 14: DÜRNSTEIN. EXCURSION TO MELK–WACHAU VALLEY

A King’s Ransom and Castle Ruins

CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey to marvel at its frescoed ceilings, statues, incredible library, and ornate pipe organ, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Walk, and hear the legendary tale of King Richa...

Day 15: LINZ

Legendary, Lovely Linz

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

CLASSIC Take a Guided Walk through the city’s historic and beautiful sites along the shore of the Danube and see Hauptplatz—Austria’s largest medieval square—and the...

Day 16: SCHLÖGEN OXBOW–PASSAU, GERMANY

Where the Danube, Inn, and Ilz Rivers Meet

This morning, cruise through the Schlögen Oxbow, a particularly beautiful horseshoe-shaped bend of the river.

ACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for Hiking from Oberhaus along a trail down to the valley and al...

Day 17: VILSHOFEN (DISEMBARKATION)

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Flights should not leave Munich airport before 8 am.

(Breakfast)

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Dates & Availability

Price From $8,597
Price per day$506
Last Updated: 3/12/2025
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
28 May 2025
13 Jun 2025
$8,897
25 Oct 2025
10 Nov 2025
$8,597
14 Jul 2026
30 Jul 2026
$8,997

Gateway city for departures is Munich. Port charges: $495 are included. 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
1,559
Great
145
Average
48
Disappointing
16
Terrible
47
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Other Avalon Waterways Reviews

c

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

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-WODO

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