The Danube from Romania to Germany with 2 Nights in Transylvania

20 days
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River Cruise
Follow the graceful waterways from Romania through the Balkans, Hungary, and Austria with stunning views along your Danube River cruise. Sail from Romania to Hungary’s capital of Budapest to experience river views like no other. Begin your European vacation before your cruise in Transylvania. Drive into the Carpathian Mountains to visit Peles Castle, visit Dr...
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Overview

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

Highlights

    • Welcome to Bucharest
    • Visit Peles Castle
    • Guided tour of Brasov; guided visit of Dracula's Bran Castle
    • Guided sightseeing in Bucharest; transfer to ship; onboard welcome reception
    • Guided sightseeing, visit the National History and Archaeological Museum in Constanta; wine tasting
    • 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 walk in the park with your Adventure Host
    • Choice of guided sightseeing to Vidin’s 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 walk 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

What's this trip about?

    Follow the graceful waterways from Romania through the Balkans, Hungary, and Austria with stunning views along your Danube River cruise. Sail from Romania to Hungary’s capital of Budapest to experience river views like no other. Begin your European vacation before your cruise in Transylvania. Drive into the Carpathian Mountains to visit Peles Castle, visit Dracula’s Bran Castle by night, spend two nights in Brasov and enjoy a guided tour by day. Enjoy sightseeing in Bucharest, including the Royal Palace Square and Romanian soldier remembrances. Travel to Cernavodă 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 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.” Enjoy guided sightseeing of Vienna’s historic Habsburg Empire—including the Imperial Palace, Vienna Opera House, and stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Take a guided tour of delightful Dürnstein and explore Melk’s Benedictine Abbey above the vineyard-rich Wachau Valley. Visit Austria’s lovely city of Linz, then pass through the beautiful Schlögen Oxbow river bend on your way to Passau—Germany’s “City of Three Rivers.” Your Danube River cruise concludes in Vilshofen, Germany.

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Details

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

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

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

Attractions

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

Activities

  • Culture
  • River cruise

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: BUCHAREST, ROMANIA

Welcome to Bucharest—The “Paris of the East”

The day is yours to relax and enjoy Bucharest. Spend some free time exploring this fascinating city on your own to discover its trendy shops, cafés, museums, beautiful homes, and churches along Victory Avenue.

BUCHAREST-PARLIAMENT.jpg

Day 2: BUCHAREST–SINAIA–BRASOV

Drive into the Carpathians to Sinaia to visit Peles Castle. On the way, enjoy a local lunch. This afternoon continue to Brasov for the night.

(Breakfast,Lunch)

SINAIA.jpg

Day 3: BRASOV

Join a morning Guided Sightseeing Tour of Brasov followed by free time. In the evening enjoy a tour of Bran Castle of Dracula lore followed by dinner.

(Breakfast,Dinner)

BRASOV-BRAN-CASTLE.jpg

Day 4: BRASOV–BUCHAREST–OLTENITA (EMBARKATION)

CLASSIC Join a Guided Excursion in Bucharest, see the Royal Palace Square—the scene of the city's 1989 riots to overthrow the communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.

Join your Avalon Suite Ship® this afternoon, for embarkation in Oltenita. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO CERNAVODA

(Breakfast,Dinner)

BUCHAREST-PARLIAMENT.jpg

Day 5: CERNAVODA. EXCURSION TO CONSTANTA

Romania’s Cultural Legacies

CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour to Constanta, the most important commercial center in Romania, situated on the Black Sea. Visit the Natural History and Archeological Museum to discover the history of early Romanian cultures.

DISCOVE...

Day 6: ROUSSE, BULGARIA. VELIKO TÂRNOVO & ARBANASSI EXCURSION

Fortresses and Fountains in “Little Vienna”

ACTIVE Join a walk through the park 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 ...

Day 7: 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 walk, OR: CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour in Vidin before joining a Guided Tour...

Day 8: 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—a natural border between Serbia and Romania.

ACTIVE Stretch your legs, ease your mind and enjoy a walk lead by your Adventure Host,...

Day 9: 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 see the...

Day 10: 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 buildings, an...

Day 11: 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. VUKOVAR, CROATIA

The Heroic Town on the Danube

CLASSIC Enjoy a walking tour of Vukovar, the city the largest river port in Croatia. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MOHÁCS

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

ILOK.jpg

Day 12: 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 f...

Day 13: BUDAPEST

Hungary’s Captivating Capital

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.

Take in the beauty of Budapest while enjoying a free after...

Day 14: BUDAPEST

The Pearl of the Danube

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

This afternoon choose among a wide selection of Optional Guided Excursions or take a free day to explore, with time to take photographs on the Royal Palace...

Day 15: 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 16: 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—Wint...

Day 17: 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 Lionhear...

Day 18: 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 the...

Day 19: 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 a...

Day 20: VILSHOFEN (DISEMBARKATION)

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Flights should not leave Munich airport before 8 am.

(Breakfast)

VILSHOFEN-SUNRISE.jpg

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Dates & Availability

Price From $9,347
Price per day$467
Last Updated: 7/3/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
26 May 2025
13 Jun 2025
$9,647
23 Oct 2025
10 Nov 2025
$9,347

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
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Great
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Average
46
Disappointing
15
Terrible
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Other Avalon Waterways Reviews

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Stephanie Mantell

Jul 2024

Written on

A lot to recommend BUT .........

A beautiful boat, excellent food, although it would have been nice to experienced some international flavours eg: Japanese, Indian etc, however I could not fault the...

P

Patti Evans

Jul 2024

Written on

Fantastic service and experience

Well, speak as you find. I see many poor reviews of Avalon Waterways, but I have to say we have just returned from an Avalon river cruise on the Romantic Rhine from...

I

Ian S.

Jun 2024

Written on

Fantastic River Cruise With Avalon Waterways

My wife and I have just returned from our first River Cruise (Danube Dreams Westbound) operated by Avalon Waterways. This took us from Budapest in Hungary to Vilshof...

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Tour Operator

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

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. BucharestRomaniaCalea Victoriei 63 - 81 Sector 1Kronwell 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.BrasovRomaniaBulevardul Garii Nr 7A,
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
Optional Activities
WODO|The Danube from the Black Sea to Germany WODY|With 2 Nights in Prague WODQ|With 2 Nights in Transylvania WODE|With 2 Nights in Transylvania & 2 Nights in Prague
Additional Information
Trip ID
AVALON-WODQ

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