The Danube from Romania to Germany

16 days
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Additional images not provided by operator
Video not provided by operator
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
97%
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
River Cruise
Sail from Romania to Hungary’s capital of Budapest through the Balkans, Hungary, and Austria on your European river cruise. Begin your adventure in 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 Vid...
From$8,398
See departure dates

Overview

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

Highlights

    • 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 a 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
    • Choice of Novi Sad guided tour or walk with your Adventure Host; 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
    • Day at leisure

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 your adventure in 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.

Compare to similar trips

Details

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

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Austria
  • Germany
  • Bulgaria
  • Czechia
  • Hungary
  • Romania
  • Slovakia
  • Croatia
  • Serbia

Attractions

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

Activities

  • Culture
  • River cruise

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: OLTENITA, ROMANIA (EMBARKATION)

Your Balkan Adventure Begins

Flights into Bucharest must arrive by 2 pm.

Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.

Explore your Avalon Suite Ship® this evening and enjoy a dinner onboard.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROUSSE

(Dinner)

BUCHAREST-PARLIAMENT.jpg

Day 2: 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. Sail to Svistov, OR:

<...
Day 3: 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 for...

Day 4: 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 5: 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—and se...

Day 6: NOVI SAD

A Capital of Culture

ACTIVE Get your daily dose of exercise, join your Adventure Host on this walk in and around town, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Novi Sad, the second largest town in Serbia. Admire its Austro-Hungarian old town, with its baroque building...

Day 7: 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 8: 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 fe...

Day 9: 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 tak...

Day 10: 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 11: 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 fantastic S...

Day 12: 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 13: DÜRNSTEIN–WACHAU VALLEY

A King’s Ransom and Castle Ruins

ACTIVE Join a Guided Hike up to the castle ruins to take in the spectacular view of the village, Danube, and the Wachau Valley below, OR:

CLASSIC Join a Guided Walk, and hear the legendary tale of King Richard the Lionheart...

Day 14: 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 th...

Day 15: 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 16: VILSHOFEN (DISEMBARKATION)

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Flights should not leave Munich airport before 8 am.

(Breakfast)

VILSHOFEN-SUNRISE.jpg

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Design custom trip

Dates & Availability

Price From $8,398
Price per day$525
Last Updated: 4/17/2024
Start Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
29 May 2025
13 Jun 2025
$8,698
Available
26 Oct 2025
10 Nov 2025
$8,398
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.

Avalon Waterways Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
Excellent
1,450
Great
134
Average
45
Disappointing
15
Terrible
41
Write a Review

Other Avalon Waterways Reviews

D

DEBBIE

Dec 2023

Written on

From favorite cruise line to Never Again!!!

My first Avalon cruise/land tour to Vietnam/Cambodia was the best experience of my 80 plus cruises. We recently took the Avalon Egypt/Jordan cruise/land tour and it ...

c

customer

Dec 2023

Written on

Avalon waterways went out of their way to accommodate our early morning arrival.

We booked an Egyptian cruise with Avalon months ago that included airport transfers, but we did not book our flights through them. Ten days before departure we had ...

R

Robert

Nov 2023

Written on

It was the Paris to Normandy then to…

It was the Paris to Normandy then to Marseille 14 day cruise. The whole cruise was terrible, ports were bypassed, crew was very inexperienced, the restaurant was uno...

Write a Review

Travelers also viewed

Tour Operator

Avalon Waterways

none
View Profile

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.

Associations

About Travelstride

Find your perfect trip

An epic selection of pre-planned trips on every continent, for every style. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies.

Save time

Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. Don't sweat the logistics — travel providers plan for you.

Save money

Book directly with the operator. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals.

Travel confidently

Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly.

Logistics

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-WOD

Become a member

(it's free)
  • Save up to $700 per person
  • Access members-only specials
  • Personalize trip recommendations
Sign up and save
Top Tour Companies on Travelstride:
All 1,600+ companies >