The Black Sea to Budapest - Westbound 2026

13 days
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4.4/5 Great
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River Cruise
On this lower Danube cruise Budapest is your destination as explore westward from Bucharest through Central Europe's ancient heart. Discover dramatic castles, royal residences, centuries-old monasteries, and myriad cultural treasures as you sail aboard one of Tauck's premium riverboats, and enjoy two-night stays at city-center hotels in Budapest and Bucharest.
From$7,190
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Overview

Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy

Highlights

    • Explore the romantic lower Danube through the heart of Central Europe
    • where East and West meet and intertwine in fascinating cultures and turbulent history... Glide past medieval monasteries
    • citadels and villages...Discover resort towns along Romania's Black Sea Coast
    • explore an ancient Christian necropolis in Pecs
    • and visit 'Dracula's' castle in Transylvania... dine in a palace in Bucharest... Share homemade refreshments in the home of a Croatian family rebuilding their lives in postwar Vukovar
    • and listen to Béla Bartók's piano music at a recital in his Budapest home. Experience authentic local cuisine
    • music and dance
    • and a wealth of architectural wonders as your river cruise winds its way through Hungary
    • Croatia
    • Serbia

What's this trip about?

    On this lower Danube cruise Budapest is your destination as explore westward from Bucharest through Central Europe's ancient heart. Discover dramatic castles, royal residences, centuries-old monasteries, and myriad cultural treasures as you sail aboard one of Tauck's premium riverboats, and enjoy two-night stays at city-center hotels in Budapest and Bucharest.

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transport
Start City Bucharest, Romania
End CityBudapest

Travel Themes

  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

Attractions

  • Belgrade
  • Bucharest
  • Budapest

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Reception and dinner at Bragadiru Palace in Bucharest All gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $4,355 Choices of bicycle excursions in Budapest & Belgrade Dinner at the massive Parliament building (the "People's Palace") in Bucharest

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Arrive Bucharest

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest.
A transfer is included from Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport to InterContinental Athéné Palace Bucharest in the heart of the city, located adjacent to Bucharest's monumental Palace of Parliament. Join us this evening for a Tauck Exclusive at the Bragadiru Pal...
Day 2 Transylvania and Bran Castle – or Sinaia – or Targoviste

A choice of sightseeing today echoes the legacy of 15th-century Romanian prince Vlad Tepes (a.k.a. "Vlad the Impaler"), thought to be the historical model for Bram Stoker's Dracula. You may choose to take a full-day excursion to Tra...

Day 3 Discovering more of Bucharest

Discover more of Romania's capital on a morning sightseeing tour with our local guides, seeing such sights as Revolution Square and the Triumphal Arch, and ending in Bucharest's Old Town, plus a choice of visiting the National Museu...

Day 4 The Black Sea coast before boarding

Before embarking your riverboat today, drive to Romania's popular Black Sea coast – first to the popular resort town of Mamaia for lunch and some "beach time," then on to the port city of Constanta. Here, in what was originally the ...

Day 5 Bulgarian art & architecture in Ruse or Ivanovo

Your cruise continues in Bulgaria; largely off limits during four centuries of Ottoman rule and decades behind the Iron Curtain, the country's rich natural beauty and history is yours to discover today. Disembark in Ruse – often ref...

Day 6 Danube cruising and a visit to Vidin, Bulgaria

There's something special about just "kicking back" during a leisurely morning cruising the Danube, enjoying picture-perfect views of the passing landscapes. Onboard activities throughout your cruise, such as special lectures and pr...

Day 7 King Decebalus and the Iron Gate of the Danube

Spend today aboard your riverboat as you sail along the Serbian / Romanian border, enjoying great views of the Transylvanian Alps. As you cruise, keep an eye out for a kingly face carved into the Danube's rocky bank on the Romanian ...

Day 8 A choice in Belgrade

Wake up today in Belgrade, Serbia's eclectic, cosmopolitan capital at the juncture of the Danube and Sava rivers. You can choose to spend the morning touring the "New Belgrade" section of the city by bicycle with a local guide (you'...

Day 9 Understanding Croatia's history in Vukovar

Your riverboat crosses the border from Serbia to Croatia and arrives in historic Vukovar today. Preceded by an onboard lecture on Croatia's turbulent history by a local expert, your tour of this venerable 10th-century city – once sh...

Day 10 Antiquities and more in Hungary

Arrive in Mohacs, Hungary, this morning for an excursion to Pécs and a tour of its 11th-century cathedral. Here you'll also explore the fascinating Christian Necropolis, a complex dating back to the 4th century that includes undergr...

Day 11 Disembark the Riverboat & spend the next two nights in Budapest

Bid your Danube cruise – along with your captain and crew – farewell as you disembark the riverboat in Budapest. Your exploration of the Hungarian capital, once the independent cities of Buda and Pest, begins in Pest with a visit to...

Day 12 Budapest sights & a special farewell

Today, you can choose to spend the morning touring Budapest by bicycle with a local guide (you'll need to be comfortable riding a bicycle in a city environment). Or you can do some Buda sightseeing in Castle Hill, a UNESCO World Her...

Day 13 Journey home

Tour ends: Budapest, Hungary.
Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from The Ritz-Carlton Budapest to Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport and Budapest-Keleti Station. Allow 3 hours for departure flight check-in.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Budapest, Hungary

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Dates & Availability

Price From $7,190
Price per day$553
Last Updated: 3/6/2025
Departure Date
Finish Date
Double Standard
Single Standard
Double Luxury
Availability
26 Apr 2026
09 May 2026
$7,790
$7,790
$10,490
28 May 2026
10 Jun 2026
$7,990
$7,990
$10,690
11 Jun 2026
24 Jun 2026
$7,990
$7,990
$10,690
23 Jul 2026
05 Aug 2026
$7,490
$7,490
$10,190
17 Sep 2026
30 Sep 2026
$7,990
$7,990
$10,690
15 Oct 2026
28 Oct 2026
$7,790
$7,790
$10,490

All prices are per person in U.S. dollars.

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.

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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Logistics

Accommodation

Ship & cabin information
MS ESPRIT
MS ESPRIT One of five 361-foot (110-meter) riverboats in Tauck's Destination Fleet, ms Esprit accommodates no more than 118 guests, while similar-sized riverboats average about 160. Guest amenities inside her 14 lush 300-square-foot Tauck Suites include brocade upholstery, roomy walk-in closets with built-in drawers, spacious marble baths with full-size tubs, and two French balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows that open to idyllic riverscapes. She also sports seven 183-square-foot cabins, similarly furnished. Standard cabins (150 square feet) are cozy and comfortable and are similar in décor and style to our larger suites. 85% have floor-to-ceiling windows with real French balconies that open on to a balcony in the fresh air; all have in-room movies, minibar, adjustable heating and cooling, private bathroom and shower with pampering toiletries.
MS ESPRIT
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
No age restrictions
ALL_AGES
Additional Information
[object Object]
Trip ID
tauck-RLW2026

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