The Danube from Germany to Romania

15 days
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4.7/5 Excellent
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River Cruise
Embark on a 15-day Danube River cruise from Germany to Romania. This amazing odyssey through the history and beauty of Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania is the trip of a lifetime! Begin in Vilshofen, Germany and sail to Passau—the “City of Three Rivers.” On your way to Linz cruise through the Danube’s dramatic horsesh...
From$7,598
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Overview

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

Highlights

    • Onboard welcome reception
    • Choice of guided walk or hike with your Adventure Host; Schlögen Oxbow scenic cruising
    • Guided sightseeing, see Hauptplatz and the Trinity Column
    • Choice of guided visit of the Benedictine Abbey in Melk or guided tour in Ybbs with Artstetten Castle visit; cruise through the Wachau Valley or biking with your Adventure Host; choice of guided walk or hike up to the castle ruins in Dürnstein
    • Choice of guided sightseeing, or Künsthistorisches Museum visit, or bike with your Adventure Host
    • Choice of guided sightseeing in Bratislava, visit St. Martin’s Cathedral or hike to Bratislava Castle with your Adventure Host
    • Scenic cruising into Budapest; choice of guided tour, see Heroes’ Square or hike with your Adventure Host
    • Free time
    • Choice of beer experience or guided tour in Vukovar; choice of guided tour with wine tasting or guided bike tour in Ilok
    • Choice of highlights of Novi Sad with hike to Petrovaradin Fortress or honey and wine tasting or walk in Novi Sad with your Adventure Host

What's this trip about?

    Embark on a 15-day Danube River cruise from Germany to Romania. This amazing odyssey through the history and beauty of Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania is the trip of a lifetime! Begin in Vilshofen, Germany and sail to Passau—the “City of Three Rivers.” On your way to Linz cruise through the Danube’s dramatic horseshoe bend called Schlögen Oxbow. In Austria, visit its lovely towns along the Danube, including Linz, Melk, Dürnstein, and Vienna. See the gilded sights and indulge in Austrian specialties and sweets. Explore picturesque vineyards and ancient castles of the “Blue Danube” with a Viennese Waltz lilting in the air. Explore the incredible Habsburg Empire and see the royal family’s Imperial Palace, the historic Opera House and St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna. Visit Budapest—the “Pearl of the Danube,” and experience the beauty and history of the Balkan States of Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania—from ancient archaeological sites to amazing architecture and art. Your cruise ends in Oltenita. We look forward to sharing this fantastic journey with you on the Danube River from Germany to Romania.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age range6 years and up
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityVILSHOFEN, GERMANY (EMBARKATION)
End CityOLTENITA, ROMANIA (DISEMBARKATION)

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

Attractions

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

Activities

  • Culture
  • River cruise

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: VILSHOFEN, GERMANY (EMBARKATION)

Welcome to Germany. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.

Flights into Munich must arrive by 2 pm.

Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.

Explore your ship and enjoy dinner on your first evening onboard.

EVENING CRUISE TO PASSAU

(Dinner)

VILSHOFEN.jpg

Day 2: PASSAU–SCHLÖGEN OXBOW

Where the Danube, Inn, and Ilz Rivers Meet

ACTIVE Follow your Avalon Adventure Host for Hiking from Oberhaus along a trail down to the valley and along Ilz River, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided City Walk to learn more about this beautiful “City of Three Rivers". B...

Day 3: LINZ, AUSTRIA

Legendary and Lovely Linz

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

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 squ...

Day 4: YBBS. EXCURSION TO MELK–WACHAU VALLEY

Frescoes Above and Vineyards Below

CLASSIC Visit the Lower Austrian little town of Ybbs. Walk through the doors of Austrian history with a guided sightseeing tour of Artstetten Castle, OR:

CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey ...

Day 5: VIENNA

Viennese Waltzes on the Blue Danube

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-the winter residen...

Day 6: 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 sight of royal coronations at St. ...

Day 7: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

War Heroes and Hot Water

ACTIVE Hike up to a magnificent viewpoint in Budapest with your Adventure Host, OR: CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Sightseeing, including the iconic Heroes’ Square. This afternoon, select from a variety of Guided Optional or spend free ti...

Day 8: BUDAPEST

The Pearl of the Danube in the Heart of Europe

Take free time to enjoy Budapest’s famed thermal baths. You can also take a scenic hike in the hills above the Danube. Take time to explore the city’s cafés and restaurants.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VUKOVAR (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

BUDAPEST-COFFEE-PASTRY.jpg

Day 9: VUKOVAR

History and Beer

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

DISCOVERY Join a Guided Walking Tour to discover the heritage, culture, and tradition of Vukovar and enjoy a beer tasting, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided City Tour to...

Day 10: NOVI SAD, SERBIA

The Athens of Serbia ACTIVE Power walk in Novi Sad with your Adventure Host OR: DISCOVERY Get to learn more about the beekeeper profession on this Guided Tour of Novi Sad by stopping to the Honey Museum and by tasting local honey specialties. OR: CLASSIC Join ...

Day 11: 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 12: 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 defense in the Middle Ages, and a source of conflict between Serbia,...

Day 13: VIDIN, BULGARIA

Rocks, ruins and Balkan Beauty

ACTIVE Join your Adventure Host for a bike tour around the city, OR: CLASSIC Join Guided Sightseeing to Baba Vida Fortress, followed by a Guided Tour of Belogradchik. Marvel at the remarkable rock formations on the western slopes...

Day 14: 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. Dis...

Day 15: OLTENITA, ROMANIA (DISEMBARKATION)

Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.

Flights should not leave Bucharest airport before noon.

(Breakfast)

BUCHAREST-ARC-DE-TRIOMPHE.jpg

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Dates & Availability

Price From $7,598
Price per day$507
Last Updated: 7/3/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
21 Apr 2025
05 May 2025
$7,598
18 Jun 2025
02 Jul 2025
$8,098
26 Jul 2025
09 Aug 2025
$8,098
15 Aug 2025
29 Aug 2025
$8,198
12 Oct 2025
26 Oct 2025
$8,598

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.

Avalon Waterways Reviews & Ratings

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Other Avalon Waterways Reviews

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Bob

Nov 2024

Written on

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

Written on

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

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
Additional Information
Trip ID
AVALON-WDO

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