Balkan Discovery with 1 Night in Budapest & 2 Nights in Transylvania

12 days
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River Cruise
See the highlights of Eastern Europe on this Balkan river cruise adventure along the Danube River! This vacation has something for everybody—relaxing time on your ship and stops in the most fascinating cities, with free time and guided sightseeing—so you don’t miss a thing! You’ll begin with an overnight stay in the lively Hungarian capital of Budapest. See t...
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Overview

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

Highlights

    • Welcome to Hungary
    • Guided tour, see Heroes' Square; onboard welcome reception
    • Choice of guided tour in Pécs, visit the underground tombs, or sightseeing in Mohács, visit St. Nicolas watermill or walk with your Adventure Host
    • Ilok guided tour; choice of Novi Sad guided tour or walk with your Adventure Host
    • Choice of guided tour or walk with your Adventure Host; onboard lecture
    • Choice of visit to Golubač fortress or visit to Lepenski Vir archaeological site scenic cruise through the Iron Gates Gorge
    • Choice of guided tour to Baba Vida Fortress and Belogradchik, see the rock formations or visit a local winery with wine tasting or biking in Vidin with your Adventure Host
    • Choice of full-day excursion, visit to Tsarevet's Fortress in Veliko Târnovo and to the Ethnographical Museum and the Church of the Nativity in Arbanassi, or a guided sightseeing in Rousse, or biking in Rousse with your Adventure Host
    • Transfer to Bucharest, guided sightseeing
    • Brasov guided tour; visit Bran Castle

What's this trip about?

    See the highlights of Eastern Europe on this Balkan river cruise adventure along the Danube River! This vacation has something for everybody—relaxing time on your ship and stops in the most fascinating cities, with free time and guided sightseeing—so you don’t miss a thing! You’ll begin with an overnight stay in the lively Hungarian capital of Budapest. See the iconic statues of Heroes’ Square, and with free time, explore the lovely lookout towers of Fishermen’s Bastion. On an excursion to Pécs, Hungary, you’ll visit underground burial chambers with fascinating murals, now part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, is one of the oldest cities in Europe, where the Sava River meets the Danube. The lively pedestrian boulevard of Knez Mihailova is dotted with historical buildings and charming cafés and you’ll see St. Sava, the world’s largest Orthodox Church. Continue your river cruise through the dramatic views of Iron Gates Gorge, visit Belogradchik’s fascinating rock formations, and Bulgaria’s ancient capital of Veliko Tarnovo. In Arbanassi, visit the Church of the Nativity, housing an impressive collection of frescoes. From Oltenita, transfer to Bucharest for guided sightseeing. Known as the “Paris of the East,” a local expert will show you many of its historical treasures, such as the Arc de Triomphe. Take a trip to Transylvania to visit the Bran Castle—of Dracula Fame—the city of Brasov, and beautiful Peles Castle.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age range6 years and up
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityBUDAPEST, HUNGARY
End CityBUCHAREST

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

Activities

  • Culture
  • River cruise

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

Welcome to Budapest—Hungary’s Captivating Capital

The day is yours to relax and enjoy Eastern Europe’s shining city on the Danube.

BUDAPEST-FISHERMANS-BASTIAN.jpg

Day 2: BUDAPEST (EMBARKATION)

The Pearl of the Danube in the Heart of Europe CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Sightseeing, including the iconic Heroes’ Square.

This afternoon, board your Suite Ship®. This evening enjoy a dinner onboard.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MOHÁCS

(Breakfast,Dinner)

BUDAPEST-HEROS-SQUARE.jpg

Day 3: MOHÁCS

Hungarian History in a Harbor Town

Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.

ACTIVE Explore Mohacs by foot as you follow the lead of your Adventure Host, OR: CLASSIC Join a morning Guided Sightseeing Tour of Mohács—the qu...

Day 4: ILOK, CROATIA

History and Culture in Croatia

CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Ilok, with its 1,000-year-old winemaking tradition still thriving and its medieval fortress protected for its Croatian cultural heritage.

Enjoy a brief cruise to Novi Sad while having lunch onbo...

Day 5: BELGRADE

Fortresses and Folklore

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—and see the city’s many fascinating sights, including Saint Sava—one o...

Day 6: GOLUBAČ–DONJI MILANOVAC. EXCURSION TO LEPENSKI VIR–IRON GATES GORGE

Ancient Artifacts and the Iron Gates

CLASSIC Visit the Fortress of Golubač, one of the best preserved medieval fortresses in Europe. You’ll hear about its tumultuous history as a border control for defense in the Middle Ages, and a source of conflict between ...

Day 7: VIDIN, BULGARIA

Rocks, ruins and Balkan Beauty

Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.

ACTIVE Wander and discover this town, join your Adventure Host for a bike ride around town, OR: CLASSIC Join Guided Sightseeing to Baba Vida Fortress, followed by a G...

Day 8: ROUSSE. VELIKO TÂRNOVO & ARBANASSI EXCURSION

Fortresses, and Folklore ACTIVE Explore Rousse's old town by bike with your Adventure Host, OR: CLASSIC Join a full-day Guided Tour to the former Bulgarian capital of Veliko Târnovo—with its ancient stone houses clinging to the cliffs above the Yantra River. Disco...

Day 9: OLTENITA, ROMANIA (DISEMBARKATION)–BUCHAREST–BRASOV

Disembark your Ship and transfer to Bucharest.

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 riot...

Day 10: BRASOV

CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Tour of Brasov and admire its gothic, baroque and renaissance architecture.

In the evening depart for Bran Castle of Dracula lore.

CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of Bran Castle—the 1377 legendary home of the famed Romanian vampire, followed by a dinner in this amazing location.

(Breakfast,Dinner)

BRASOV-BRAN-CASTLE.jpg

Day 11: BRASOV–SINAIA–BUCHAREST

The “Paris of the East.” CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Tour of Visit Peles Castle the summer residence of the royal family until 1947.

Drive out the Carpathians to Bucharest; On the way, enjoy a local lunch.

Spend some free time exploring this fascinatin...

Day 12: BUCHAREST

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

(Breakfast)

BUCHAREST-SUNRISE.jpg

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Dates & Availability

Price From $5,227
Price per day$436
Last Updated: 7/3/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
27 Apr 2025
08 May 2025
$5,227
21 May 2025
01 Jun 2025
$5,427
24 Jun 2025
05 Jul 2025
$5,427
01 Aug 2025
12 Aug 2025
$5,427
21 Aug 2025
01 Sep 2025
$5,527
14 Sep 2025
25 Sep 2025
$5,727
29 Sep 2025
10 Oct 2025
$5,727
18 Oct 2025
29 Oct 2025
$5,527

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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Bob

Nov 2024

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Magnificent Europe…

We just finished the Magnificent Europe trip on Avalon and it was amazing. Truly a trip to remember. Everything was great, the staff was incredibly attentive, the ex...

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Colleen Krok

Sep 2024

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Trip of a lifetime

This was my first trip to Europe and my first cruise. I could not have asked for, or wanted anything better....all around. The crew (from housekeeping to food serv...

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Dylann Lacroix

Sep 2024

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Beds with a view? NOT!

We took Avalon’s Danube Balkan cruise from Serbia to Bulgaria and Romania on the Avalon Passion starting September 6, 2024. Avalon needs to pay for a docking slip a...

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Avalon Waterways

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CRUISING ELEVATED.
Innovative, transformative, original. Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current and
away from the ordinary. Delivering unparalleled experiences and boundless exploration, Avalon puts you in the captain’s seat to navigate your journey, fuel your passions and steer clear of the unexpected as you cruise down the world’s most memorable and mesmerizing waterways. One step aboard our modern, luxurious Suite Ships with the grandest views in cruising and you’ll see how the tides they are a-changin’. 

Welcome to a new wave in cruising. Welcome aboard Avalon Waterways.

IT DOESN’T GET ANY SUITER.
Enjoy the perfect blend of elegance and ease – where little touches are bold, gestures are grand and the views even grander. There’s a reason our ships are the critics’ darlings and favorites among our most discerning guests. Our boutique-hotel-inspired Panorama Suites feature the industry’s only Open-Air Balconies with the widest-opening windows in cruising and decadent Comfort Collection beds that face the ever-changing scenery.

PACK YOUR PASSIONS.
As you set sail down the world’s most legendary waters, we’ve curated a collection of the most intriguing experiences to immerse yourself in – both on board and off.

SEE MORE THAN THE SEA/
On a typical cruise, you see waves, water and more water. On an Avalon cruise, legendary landmarks and postcard-perfect landscapes are always in view. Dock to discovery takes mere minutes. 

LET’S DISH.
While we naturally present the signature delicacies of the regions you visit, we enrich the gastronomic journey by offering multiple dining venues, bringing unexpected culinary experiences to the table.

What they’re known for
River cruises to classic and exotic destinations with a luxury flair and personalization options.

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Logistics

Accommodation

InterContinental Budapest

Few would argue the InterContinental Budapest is in the city's best location: right on the Danube across from Castle Hill and the Royal Palace. With the Chain Bridge and the Parliament just steps away, there's no shortage of superb sightseeing opportunities. The Váci Utca shopping street, Central Market Hall and the Gellért Baths are also nearby.

Budapest

Hungary

Apaczai Csere Janos utca 12-14

Budapest Marriott

This modern 364 room property enjoys a prime downtown location and offers convenience blended with style. Free Wi-Fi access is available in the lobby and the hotel has a fitness center with sauna and Jacuzzi. The trendy Mediterranean Grill restaurant serves tasty Hungarian dishes and the stylish lounge bar offers tapas style food and cocktails.

Budapest

Hungary

Apaczai Csere Janos U.4

Hilton

Unwind at Hilton Budapest hotel, which boasts the beautiful Baroque façade of a 16th century Jesuit College and a 13th century Dominican Churchyard. Take in captivating views across historic Budapest - the Hungarian Parliament and River Danube - re-energize in the 24-hour fitness center, or keep fit on the jogging track. Luxuriate with a massage or unwind in the sauna. Marvel at ancient relics, situated in the hotel's restored Dominican cloister. Lounge in the lobby bar and admire breathtaking views, or savor authentic Hungarian and Mediterranean flavors in ICON Restaurant.

Budapest

Hungary

Hess Andras Ter 1-3

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

Radisson Blu

Overlooking the former Royal Palace and near the Romanian Athenaeum Concert Hall and Cismigiu Park, the Radisson Blu provides modern accommodation in the heart of Romania's capital. Guests can choose from the exclusive selection of five on site restaurants and three bars. The hotel also hosts the World Class Health Academy including indoor 22-meter swimming, outdoor Jacuzzi and pool, gym and fitness facilities. When you feel like relaxing, visit our Bali Spa, offering a nice menu of massages and body treatments (against a fee). Within the same complex as the Radisson Blu Hotel you can enjoy Romania's biggest casino.

Bucharest

Romania

Calea Victoriei 63 - 81 Sector 1

Travel Insurance
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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
WBOB|Balkan Discovery WBOE|With 2 Nights in Transylvania WBOQ|With 1 Night in Budapest WBOY|With 1 Night in Budapest & 2 Nights in Transylvania
Additional Information
Trip ID
AVALON-WBOY

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