The Danube from Romania to Budapest

• Day 1 Oltenita

  OLTENITA, ROMANIA (EMBARKATION) Your Balkan Adventure Begins

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

  EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROUSSE

  Flights into Bucharest must arrive by 2 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.

• Day 2 Ruse

  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, 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. Discover one of the oldest towns in Bulgaria (circa 4300 BC), as well as Bulgarian Revival architecture in the 15th-century town of Arbanassi.

  Sail to Svistov or join your ship there if you opted for the full-day tour.

  EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIDIN

• Day 3 Vidin

  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 Join a Guided Tour of Belogradchik. See the remarkable rock formations on the slopes of the Balkan Mountains, sculpted by 200 million years of nature’s elements. Then, visit the mighty Baba Vida Fortress in nearby Vidin.

  This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board with a Bulgarian folklore show.

  EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO DONJI MILANOVAC

• Day 4 Donji Milanovac

  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 Adventure Host, OR:

  CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour to Lepenski Vir-an important Mesolithic archaeological site chronicling prehistoric cultures, settlements, and art. Marvel at the ancient discoveries and artifacts, as well as the unique views the site affords of the Danube Gorge.

  Enjoy a brief sailing to Golubač.

  GOLUBAČ

  A Formidable Fortress

  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, the Habsburg Monarchy, and the Ottoman Empire.

  OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BELGRADE

• Day 5 Belgrade

  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 city’s many fascinating sights, including Saint Sava, one of the world’s largest Orthodox churches.

  You may choose to join an Optional Guided Biking tour or spend free time in Belgrade exploring Knez Mihailova Street-Belgrade’s central pedestrian thoroughfare with many lively cafés, shops, and cultural spots.

  DISCOVERY Attend an onboard Lecture to learn about the rich history, destinations, and culture of the Balkan states.

  OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO NOVI SAD

• Day 6 Novi Sad

  NOVI SAD A Capital of Culture

  CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Novi Sad, the second largest town in Serbia. Admire its Austro-Hungarian old town, with its baroque buildings, and ancient fortifications.

  ACTIVE Enjoy a walking tour in Novi Sad along the narrow streets that climb slowly to the top of the hill above the city to Petrovaradin Fortress, OR:

  DISCOVERY Experience the sweet life in Serbia with a visit and tasting at the Museum of Beekeeping and Živanović Wine Cellar in Sremski Karlovci.

  OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ILOK

• Day 7 Ilok

  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

  CLASSIC Enjoy a walking tour of Vukovar, the city the largest river port in Croatia.

  This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board.

  EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MOHÁCS

• Day 8 Mohács

  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 few remaining watermills performing stone-ground grain processing, OR:

  CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour to nearby Pécs to see its 4th-century Christian underground tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with fascinating murals. You’ll also enjoy an organ concert on your tour.

  AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BUDAPEST

• Day 9 Budapest

  BUDAPEST (DISEMBARKATION) Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.

  Flights should not leave Budapest airport before 8 am.

The Danube from Romania to Budapest Itinerary