Lower Danube and Transylvania Extension

Get to know the capital of the young Slovakian Republic. The driving tour passes St. Martin’s Cathedral and the Grassalkovich Palace and continues to the castle hill above the old town, where you will have a stunning, panoramic view of the city and surrounding areas. 

Afterwards a guided walking tour leads you through the old town.  Take a leisurely stroll from Michael’s Gate through the historic city center, admire sights such as the Primatial Palace and St. Martin’s Cathedral, a former coronation cathedral for Hungarian kings, as well as the Academia Istropolitana, the oldest university of the city, dating back to the 15th century. See the main square with the old City Hall, the Opera House and Maximilian Fountain. From the Main Square we continue to a cosy cozy out of the way place to enjoy the famous Pressburger rolls with nut and poppy seed filling.  We will end our walk at the historical Opera House in front of glorious Ganymede’s Fountain. Afterwards, you are free to explore or walk the short distance back to the ship.

Experience wine and village life in Slovakia on this special excursion. Travel to the outskirts of bustling Bratislava over rolling hills draped in boutique wineries and dotted with traditional buildings.  Have a truly unique experience when visiting the Raca wine district.  First, a short stroll through a family-owned vineyard introduces you to the famous Frankova vintage.  Discuss wine and life in Slovakia with the wine makers while soaking in the breathtaking panorama of Bratislava and the Danube in the distance.  Next, your guide escorts you to a rarely-visited local wine cellar, where a resident sommelier invites you for a glass of wine and a taste of local delicacies!   Raca was first mentioned as a wine growing region in 1296, Maria Therese granted leave for the delivery to Vienna of the famous Raca wine Frankova.  Since that day in 1767 wine enthusiasts have been enjoying this variant in these peaceful surroundings. Embark your coach for the return drive to the vessel.

The tour departs from Budapest and takes you to the artists’ village of Szentendre, home to many generations of Hungarian artists since the early 20th century. Many museums and contemporary galleries represent the rich traditions of the visual arts in this town. Works of the ceramist Margit Kovács (1902–77) are displayed in a famous, eponymous Museum. The focal point of Szentendre is Foetér, the main square, lined with eateries, cafes, and souvenir stores.

Continue to the imposing ruined fortress of Visegrád, where you have a glorious view of the “famous Danube Bend. The next highlight of this excursion is Esztergom, the former residence of the Hungarian kings and seat of the Archbishop. Visit the imposing domed basilica — the largest cathedral in Hungary. Built in the early 19th century, it incorporates an ornate red marble chapel from an earlier church.

Budapest, the “Queen of the Danube”, is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and has managed to retain a charm of its own with the help of renovations in recent years. The Danube flows through the heart of the city, dividing it into two parts: Buda and Pest. The tour first takes you through Pest, past the Great Market Hall with its outstanding gourmet shops and stalls.

You will see splendid Baroque buildings such as the Hungarian State Opera in Neo-Renaissance style and the incomparable parliament building, which was finished in 1904 and has been an emblem of the city ever since then. There’s an opportunity for a photo stop at the Heroes’ Square, famous for its monuments to many Hungarian kings. Continue aross one of the seven bridges into Buda and go up to Castle Hill, where you will visit St. Matthew’s Church and the famous Fisherman’s Bastion (provided that it is open to the public). Enjoy the unforgettable view over the city before returning to the vessel.

Your exciting excursion begins with a visit to the Market Hall. Built in 1896, this impressive building is the oldest and largest indoor market in Budapest and offers a variety of Hungarian specialties such as tokaj wine, langos and Hungarian paprika. Next, you will continue by bus to the City Park, where you’ll see the romantic Vajdahunyad Castle and the beautiful Széchenyi Baths - one of the largest and most popular thermal baths in Europe.

Afterwards, ride the second oldest metro in Europe to the city center and visit one of Budapest’s numerous pastry shops, where you can enjoy a slice of fluffy cake and a cup of coffee, and finally view the astonishing St. Stephen's Basilica.

Please note: The Market Hall is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Alternatively, we will visit the famous Budapest Opera House and drive up Gellert Hill to enjoy the spectacular view on Saturdays and Sundays.

In the evening, you will enjoy an atmospheric cruise through Budapest, also known as the “Paris of the East”, which is festively lit up at night, revealing Budapest’s most beautiful side. A folklore show on board will complete the experience.

Start in Vukovar, named after the small river Vuka and home to the largest cargo port in former Yugoslavia. Drive through its streets, once rimmed with elegant baroque mansions and view damaged factory facilities in use before the war in 1991. Learn about the everyday life of Croatians on your way to Kopački Rit, the largest nature park in Eastern Croatia.

Join a boat tour through this beautiful wetland and marshy landscape. (crisscross of ridges, ponds and marshes). Continue to the village of Kopačevo and visit the Rural House for presentation of traditional fishing tools spiced up with humorous fishermen stories. Taste several typical Croatian products: fruit brandy, local wine, smoked pork sausage, ajvar and homemade cakes. Continue to Osijek to stroll through the old town with its baroque military fortress build in the 18th century, now the heart of Osijek’s cultural life. Inside the fortress, the Church of the Raising of the Holy Cross impresses with a richly decorated interior. Take a walking tour to the remaining part of the walls with the so called “Watergate”, the main square containing the largest baroque statue in Croatia, museums, galleries, schools and pubs. Once returned to your coach, continue with a scenic drive back to Vukovar, passing by Croatia's first brewery.

Belgrade, one of the oldest European cities and the capital of Serbia, lies at the junction of the Danube and the Sava. The city boasts a large number of monuments from different areas and different cultures.

First, the tour takes you to the Kalemegdan fortress, where you’ll have an impressive panoramic view over the Danube and the Sava Rivers. Afterwards, you can see the National Museum, the parliament, the Terazije square and the palace of princess Ljubica. Another highlight is the St. Sava Cathedral, the largest Orthodox church in the world. After a refreshment break at a local restaurant, our tour ends with a visit to the pedestrian zone where you will find many shops and art galleries.

The tour leaves Belgrade by coach and heads south through the pictureque landscape of Sumandja to Topola, the site of the initial national uprising against the Turkish Domination in 1804. Karadjordje, the leader of the revolt, built a small fortress with a church at this location.

From Topola you will drive to the nearby town of Oplenac, which stands in a rich agricultural area covered by poplar, maple and oak trees. Here you will visit the Royal Mausoleum of the Serbian dynasty and the inside of the magnificent St. George’s Church, which is made of white marble and decorated with beautiful mosaics. The mausoleum contains about 20 tombs of members of the Serbian and former Yugoslavian royal families.

A coach takes you through Belgrade by night to a hotel in the city center, where you will enjoy a splendid folklore show. The ensemble will invite you for a glass of wine and will perform dances from all parts of the country. The costumes are very colorful and various pieces of Serbian folk music will be performed. Then you will drive to Skadarlija, the famous artists’ quarter, also known as the Montmartre of Belgrade. Stroll through the narrow cobbled streets and end the day in one of the many restaurants or pubs.

Meet your local guide at the pier and make the short walk up to this medieval town and fortress complex. Imposing stone walls and towers are impressive reminders of the tumultuous history of this strategic fortress. Originally a Roman settlement, it has been fought over for thousands of years, and is famous for successfully withstanding over 120 direct attacks. From atop the towering ramparts, soak in the history and the stunning views of the natural landscapes of the mighty Danube, before strolling back to your waiting ship.

A trip to ancient history brings you to the “first city in Europe”, Lepenski Vir. Founded more than 8000 years ago, today you will immerse yourself in this important archeological site during a guided tour.  Enjoy free time to explore and learn from the exhibits about the oldest planned city in Europe.  Afterwards, you will visit the eco-village Kapetan Mišin Breg where you can see local art and handicrafts while enjoying a tasting of sampling local culinary treats such as honey brandy and fried nettles.  After some free time, return to your waiting ship.

From the ship begin a unique, once in a lifetime adventure, in the Iron Gates region of the mighty Danube. Meet your local guide and ranger to start your hike in the remote and stunning Djerdap National Park, one of the most stunning areas of Serbia. A forest road leads to the famous breathtaking Kovilovo viewpoint. From Kovilovo you can enjoy a view of the entire Donji Milanovac township and soak in amazing views of the Danube as it winds through the towering gorge. Celebrate this amazing experience with a tour of the Kapetan Misa`s Hill estate where you will try traditional specialties like honey brandy and fried nettles.

The excursion heads towards Veliko Tarnovo in a comfortable coach. Picturesquely located on the steep banks of the river Yantra at the foot of the Balkan Mountains, the houses of this medieval town were built on narrow terraces along the steep, rocky slopes.

Pass by the fortress Zarewez, where 22 tsars made history in the 2nd Bulgarian empire. There will be a photo stop, offering a good view of the fortress. You will also visit the 13th-century church St. Peter and Paul, which is one of the few medieval churches which had been kept intact and used for worship since the beginning of XIII century until the earthquake in 1913. At the end of the tour you will also have time to see local arts and crafts in a nearby shopping street.

From the port of Rousse, head towards the rock monastery of Basarbovo, an active cave monastery which was built in the 16th century, about 35 meters above the river. Discover the church of St. Dimitar and its fascinating history, spectacular panoramic view and imposing frescoes. After the visit, return back to Rousse, a 2000 year old city on the Danube, full of culture and traditions. The buildings in the city center testify to the economic prosperity of the city at the beginning of the 20th century. Entire streets illustrate the influence of the architectural style in Vienna, Budapest and Bucharest, with characteristic elements of Baroque, Renaissance, Secession and Empire. The highlight of this architectural ensemble is the State Opera House and the imposing Freedom Monument in the City Garden. Explore the city center on foot and enjoy a refreshment break in a typical restaurant, with a glass of Bulgarian wine and "banitza" (cheese pastry), before you rejoin the ship in Svishtov.

Experience the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve on a full-day excursion including lunch: The Danube Delta is considered one of the largest wetland biotopes in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its rich flora and fauna.

The bus takes you from Hârşova to Tulcea, where your voyage of discovery through the beautiful nature reserve begins. Experienced, local guides will take you in small boats along small canals and waterways to the upper part of the Danube Delta with its unique flora and fauna. On your three-hour boat trip, you will discover the unique habitat of water birds, fish and a plant world that is still largely untouched in its beauty. A typical local lunch awaits you in the idyllic village of Mila 23 in the Danube Delta before you set off on your journey back to the Danube port of Hârşova.

Please note: this excursion can only be booked on board.

Transfer to Bucharest and city tour with lunch, overnight stay in a 4-5 stars hotel 

Enjoy breakfast in your hotel before checkout and your transfer to the Otopeni airport, where your homeward journey begins.