Embark on our Cruising Portugal’s Enticing Douro River Valley itinerary. Set sail from the UNESCO-designated city of Porto to discover the spectacular landscapes of Portugal’s Douro River Valley, where wines have been produced for some 2,000 years. Visit picturesque villages and palaces; spend a day in beautiful Salamanca, Spain; and enjoy tastings at historic wine estates. As you make your way back toward Porto, stop to explore the picturesque village of Pinhão and the pilgrimage site of Lamego. Then linger in Porto to experience its exciting blend of history and modernity, admiring iconic landmarks, contemporary architecture and enriching museums. Plus, enjoy specially curated tours to the De Souza Cardo Museum and the Palacio de Monterey, exclusively available on this itinerary. You will also have the unique opportunity to engage with and learn from two Smithsonian Journeys Experts throughout your journey whose specialized expertise will further immerse you in the history, art or culture of the region.
From Vienna to Bucharest, and countless treasures in between, touch history in Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, as you enjoy our Gems of Southeast Europe Cruise: A River Cruise from Budapest to Giurgiu. Celtic fortifications, medieval towns and grand cities, along with the natural beauty of pastoral landscapes and the Danube’s famed Iron Gates, showcase the best of eastern Europe. Nature lovers will relish the opportunity to bike through Belgrade’s sprawling Kalemegdan Park. Wine connoisseurs will have a chance to taste history from the centuries-old wine-growing hills dating back to the Romans in Croatia. Be treated to the flavors, sights, sounds and cultures of this diverse swath of the continent. Plus, enjoy specially curated tours that include a visit to the Zsolany Cultural Quarter and the National Museum of Serbia as well as a private concert in Vukovar. You will also have the unique opportunity to engage with and learn from two Smithsonian Journeys Experts throughout your journey whose specialized expertise will further immerse you in the history, art or culture of the region.
From Vienna to Istanbul, and countless treasures in between, touch history in Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, as you enjoy our Gems of Southeast Europe Cruise: A River Cruise from Budapest to Giurgiu. Celtic fortifications, medieval towns and grand cities, along with the natural beauty of pastoral landscapes and the Danube’s famed Iron Gates, showcase the best of eastern Europe. Nature lovers will relish the opportunity to bike through Belgrade’s sprawling Kalemegdan Park. Wine connoisseurs will have a chance to taste history from the centuries-old wine-growing hills dating back to the Romans in Croatia. Be treated to the flavors, sights, sounds and cultures of this diverse swath of the continent. Plus, enjoy specially curated tours that include a visit to the Zsolany Cultural Quarter and the National Museum of Serbia as well as a private concert in Vukovar. You will also have the unique opportunity to engage with and learn from two Smithsonian Journeys Experts throughout your journey whose specialized expertise will further immerse you in the history, art or culture of the region.
Gems of Southeast Europe (Smithsonian Journeys)
At A Glance
On our river cruises, you will enjoy an extensive lineup of included tours. In many cases, you will have a choice of excursions, such as standard tours, bike tours, hikes and special interest tours. We always include a large variety of activities so that you can choose how you want to explore. No matter your preference, your days will be full of discovery and wonder.
Arrive in Budapest and board the ship, docked on the Danube in the heart of the city. (Meals: D)
Day 2 | Mohacs | Pécs excursion with Zsolnay Cultural Quarter visit - Smithsonian Journeys
Exclusive |
|
| | OR Szekszárd wine tasting |
|
| | OR Guided bike ride along the Danube |
|
Enjoy a scenic morning cruise to Mohács and continue to historic Pécs. Venture underground to its fourth-century necropolis, a World Heritage site, and admire the exquisite interior of St. Peter’s Basilica. Visit a porcelain factory in the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter, then stroll to the mosque on the main square. Alternatively, head to the 2,000-year-old Szekszárd wine region to sample its renowned reds or explore Mohács on a guided bike tour. (Meals: B,L,D)
Day 3 | Vukovar | Vukovar City tour with Private Concert – Smithsonian Journeys
Exclusive |
|
| | OR Osijek Tour with Ethnographic Museum visit – Smithsonian Journeys Exclusive |
|
Arrive in Croatia and visit Vukovar on a city tour or a bike ride, discovering its baroque center that still bears scars from the war for independence in the 1990s. Cap off your tour with a private concert performed by local musicians at the Eltz Manor House. Alternatively explore Tvrda Fortress and the ethnographic museum in nearby Osijek. This afternoon, taste Croatian wines at Vukovar’s Old Cellars, or delve into the region’s human history at the Vucedol Museum. (Meals: B,L,D)
Day 4 | Belgrade | “The City by Two Rivers” tour |
|
| | OR Belgrade Fortress hike |
|
| | “Brandies of Belgrade” tasting with National Museum of Serbia guided visit – Smithsonian Journeys Exclusive |
|
Immerse yourself in vibrant Belgrade during a visit to the Nikola Tesla Museum, Kalemegdan Fortress, and the sparkling Church of Saint Sava. Alternatively, go for a bike ride or hike to the fortress. Tour the National Museum of Serbia and enjoy a tasting of traditional plum brandy, or slivovitz, and local appetizers. Or journey to Novi Sad for a walking tour of its picturesque Old Town. (Meals: B,L,D)
Day 5 | Iron Gates | Golubac Fortress with tasting of local fare |
|
| | Scenic Cruising – The Iron Gates |
|
Follow the Danube as it winds into the mountains, forming a natural border between Serbia and Romania. Stop to visit Serbia’s Golubac Fortress, and sail through magnificent gorges known as the Iron Gates. Keep an eye out for the face of King Decebalus, carved into the mountains on the Romanian side. (Meals: B,L,D)
Day 6 | Vidin | Baba Vida Fortress and Vidin Walking Tour |
|
| | OR Banitsa pastry and yogurt tasting |
|
In Vidin, a town with Celtic roots, explore the medieval Baba Vida Fortress on a guided tour or go for a bike ride to the castle. Alternatively, visit a local home for lesson in making traditional Bulgarian yogurt and a popular pastry called banitsa. (Meals: B,L,D)
Day 7 | Rousse | Veliko Tarnovo excursion with Bulgarian wine tasting – Smithsonian Journeys Exclusive |
|
| | OR Ivanovo Rock-Hewn Churches & Rousse Highlights Tour with Rousse Art Gallery visit – Smithsonian Journeys Exclusive |
|
Discover Bulgaria’s ancient capital, Veliko Tarnovo, and enjoy a Bulgarian wine tasting. Or explore the architecture of Rousse before visiting the Rousse Art Gallery and the rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo, 14th-century churches carved into the cliffs and adorned with colorful frescoes. Alternatively, journey through the Romanian countryside to the capital of Bucharest for a tour of the elegant historic center. (Meals: B,L,D)
Day 8 | Giurgiu | DISEMBARKATION |
|
Disembark in Giurgiu and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (Meals: B)
Day 1 | Vienna | Hotel check-in |
|
Arrive in Vienna and transfer to your hotel.
Day 2 | Vienna | “Imperial Vienna” tour |
|
The “City of Waltzes” offers a treasure trove of gems just waiting to be discovered on your city tour. See the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs before concluding in Vienna’s historic city center. (Meals: B)
Day 3 | Budapest | Transfer to Budapest |
|
Transfer from Vienna via motorcoach to Budapest where you’ll be taken on a city tour. Visit the UNESCO-listed Castle Hill district, Fisherman’s Bastion, St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Chain Bridge. Then, board your ship, docked on the Danube in the heart of the city. (Meals: D)
Day 4 | Mohacs | Pécs excursion with Zsolnay Cultural Quarter visit - Smithsonian Journeys
Exclusive |
|
| | OR Szekszárd wine tasting |
|
| | OR Guided bike ride along the Danube |
|
Enjoy a scenic morning cruise to Mohács and continue to historic Pécs. Venture underground to its fourth-century necropolis, a World Heritage site, and admire the exquisite interior of St. Peter’s Basilica. Visit a porcelain factory in the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter, then stroll to the mosque on the main square. Alternatively, head to the 2,000-year-old Szekszárd wine region to sample its renowned reds or explore Mohács on a guided bike tour. (Meals: B,L,D)
Day 5 | Vukovar | Vukovar City tour with Private Concert – Smithsonian Journeys
Exclusive |
|
| | OR Osijek Tour with Ethnographic Museum visit – Smithsonian Journeys Exclusive |
|
Arrive in Croatia and visit Vukovar on a city tour or a bike ride, discovering its baroque center that still bears scars from the war for independence in the 1990s. Cap off your tour with a private concert performed by local musicians at the Eltz Manor House. Alternatively explore Tvrda Fortress and the ethnographic museum in nearby Osijek. This afternoon, taste Croatian wines at Vukovar’s Old Cellars, or delve into the region’s human history at the Vucedol Museum. (Meals: B,L,D)
Day 6 | Belgrade | “The City by Two Rivers” tour |
|
| | OR Belgrade Fortress hike |
|
| | “Brandies of Belgrade” tasting with National Museum of Serbia guided visit – Smithsonian Journeys Exclusive |
|
Immerse yourself in vibrant Belgrade during a visit to the Nikola Tesla Museum, Kalemegdan Fortress, and the sparkling Church of Saint Sava. Alternatively, go for a bike ride or hike to the fortress. Tour the National Museum of Serbia and enjoy a tasting of traditional plum brandy, or slivovitz, and local appetizers. Or journey to Novi Sad for a walking tour of its picturesque Old Town. (Meals: B,L,D)
Day 7 | Iron Gates | Golubac Fortress with tasting of local fare |
|
| | Scenic Cruising – The Iron Gates |
|
Follow the Danube as it winds into the mountains, forming a natural border between Serbia and Romania. Stop to visit Serbia’s Golubac Fortress, and sail through magnificent gorges known as the Iron Gates. Keep an eye out for the face of King Decebalus, carved into the mountains on the Romanian side. (Meals: B,L,D)
Day 8 | Vidin | Baba Vida Fortress and Vidin Walking Tour |
|
| | OR Banitsa pastry and yogurt tasting |
|
In Vidin, a town with Celtic roots, explore the medieval Baba Vida Fortress on a guided tour or go for a bike ride to the castle. Alternatively, visit a local home for lesson in making traditional Bulgarian yogurt and a popular pastry called banitsa. (Meals: B,L,D)
Day 9 | Rousse | Veliko Tarnovo excursion with Bulgarian wine tasting – Smithsonian Journeys Exclusive |
|
| | OR Ivanovo Rock-Hewn Churches & Rousse Highlights Tour with Rousse Art Gallery visit – Smithsonian Journeys Exclusive |
|
Discover Bulgaria’s ancient capital, Veliko Tarnovo, and enjoy a Bulgarian wine tasting. Or explore the architecture of Rousse before visiting the Rousse Art Gallery and the rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo, 14th-century churches carved into the cliffs and adorned with colorful frescoes. Alternatively, journey through the Romanian countryside to the capital of Bucharest for a tour of the elegant historic center. (Meals: B,L,D)
Day 10 | Giurgiu | RIVER CRUISE DISEMBARKATION |
|
| Bran | Dracula’s Castle visit |
|
Disembark the ship in Giurgiu and continue to the legendary region of Transylvania, a place deeply rooted in myth and history. Arrive in the quaint mountain town of Bran where you will have lunch and visit the famous Bran castle, otherwise known as Dracula’s Castle. After your tour of Bran Castle, you will continue to Braşov. Considered the heart of Romania and surrounded by the beautiful Southern Carpathians, Braşov is one of the most visited cities in Romania. (Meals: B)
Day 11 | Brasov | Sighișoara excursion |
|
Enjoy a walking tour around Braşov. Afterward, Dracula lovers will be in for another treat with an excursion to Sighişoara, birthplace to Transylvania’s most notorious ruler, Vlad Ţepeş, also known as Vlad the Impaler or Dracula. It’s hard to believe that this perfectly preserved UNESCO-designated town filled with resplendent pastel-colored buildings, stone lanes, medieval towers and pedestrian-friendly Old Town was Vlad’s place of birth. His home is still here, marked with a placard; however, today it houses a kitschy restaurant called “Casa Dracula.” Considered the heart of Romania and surrounded by the beautiful Southern Carpathians, Brasov is one of the most visited cities in Romania. After returning from your excursion to Sighisoara you will enjoy a walk through history as you take a tour of Braşov’s Old town before ending at your hotel. (Meals: B)
Day 12 | Brasov | Peleş Royal Castle tour and transfer to Bucharest |
|
En route to Bucharest, you’ll visit the quaint mountain town of Sinaia. While in Sinaia you will visit Peles Castle. Peles Castle is considered by many to be one of the most stunning castles in Europe and a masterpiece of German new-Renaissance with 160 rooms filled with priceless European art. After your tour of Peles Castle you will depart for Romania’s capital city of Bucharest. (Meals: B)
Day 13 | Bucharest | Old Town walking tour |
|
Bucharest, Romania’s capital, has earned its nickname, the “Little Paris of the East,” with its wide boulevards and Arc de Triomphe. This morning, enjoy a walking tour through the historic old town of Bucharest. You will observe the many changes this capital city has experienced through a mixture of architectural styles and cultural influences. Bucharest’s eclectic architecture is a mix of historical, neo-classical, communist-era and modern buildings. Your guided tour will take you through the old town and show you the most popular places in Bucharest while hearing stories of its history and getting local insights for shopping and dining opportunities. The afternoon is free for you to explore the city on your own. (Meals: B)
Day 14 | Bucharest | Return flight home |
|
Bid farewell to Bucharest as you prepare for your flight home. (Meals: B)
Day 1 | Vienna | Hotel check-in |
|
Arrive in Vienna and transfer to your hotel.
Day 2 | Vienna | “Imperial Vienna” tour |
|
The “City of Waltzes” offers a treasure trove of gems just waiting to be discovered on your city tour. See the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs before concluding in Vienna’s historic city center. (Meals: B)
Day 3 | Budapest | Transfer to Budapest |
|
Transfer from Vienna via motorcoach to Budapest where you’ll be taken on a city tour. Visit the UNESCO-listed Castle Hill district, Fisherman’s Bastion, St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Chain Bridge. Then, board your ship, docked on the Danube in the heart of the city. (Meals: D)
Day 4 | Mohacs | Pécs excursion with Zsolnay Cultural Quarter visit - Smithsonian Journeys
Exclusive |
|
| | OR Szekszárd wine tasting |
|
| | OR Guided bike ride along the Danube |
|
Enjoy a scenic morning cruise to Mohács and continue to historic Pécs. Venture underground to its fourth-century necropolis, a World Heritage site, and admire the exquisite interior of St. Peter’s Basilica. Visit a porcelain factory in the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter, then stroll to the mosque on the main square. Alternatively, head to the 2,000-year-old Szekszárd wine region to sample its renowned reds or explore Mohács on a guided bike tour. (Meals: B,L,D)
Day 5 | Vukovar | Vukovar City tour with Private Concert – Smithsonian Journeys
Exclusive |
|
| | OR Osijek Tour with Ethnographic Museum visit – Smithsonian Journeys Exclusive |
|
Arrive in Croatia and visit Vukovar on a city tour or a bike ride, discovering its baroque center that still bears scars from the war for independence in the 1990s. Cap off your tour with a private concert performed by local musicians at the Eltz Manor House. Alternatively explore Tvrda Fortress and the ethnographic museum in nearby Osijek. This afternoon, taste Croatian wines at Vukovar’s Old Cellars, or delve into the region’s human history at the Vucedol Museum. (Meals: B,L,D)
Day 6 | Belgrade | “The City by Two Rivers” tour |
|
| | OR Belgrade Fortress hike |
|
| | “Brandies of Belgrade” tasting with National Museum of Serbia guided visit – Smithsonian Journeys Exclusive |
|
Immerse yourself in vibrant Belgrade during a visit to the Nikola Tesla Museum, Kalemegdan Fortress, and the sparkling Church of Saint Sava. Alternatively, go for a bike ride or hike to the fortress. Tour the National Museum of Serbia and enjoy a tasting of traditional plum brandy, or slivovitz, and local appetizers. Or journey to Novi Sad for a walking tour of its picturesque Old Town. (Meals: B,L,D)
Day 7 | Iron Gates | Golubac Fortress with tasting of local fare |
|
| | Scenic Cruising – The Iron Gates |
|
Follow the Danube as it winds into the mountains, forming a natural border between Serbia and Romania. Stop to visit Serbia’s Golubac Fortress, and sail through magnificent gorges known as the Iron Gates. Keep an eye out for the face of King Decebalus, carved into the mountains on the Romanian side. (Meals: B,L,D)
Day 8 | Vidin | Baba Vida Fortress and Vidin Walking Tour |
|
| | OR Banitsa pastry and yogurt tasting |
|
In Vidin, a town with Celtic roots, explore the medieval Baba Vida Fortress on a guided tour or go for a bike ride to the castle. Alternatively, visit a local home for lesson in making traditional Bulgarian yogurt and a popular pastry called banitsa. (Meals: B,L,D)
Day 9 | Rousse | Veliko Tarnovo excursion with Bulgarian wine tasting – Smithsonian Journeys Exclusive |
|
| | OR Ivanovo Rock-Hewn Churches & Rousse Highlights Tour with Rousse Art Gallery visit – Smithsonian Journeys Exclusive |
|
Discover Bulgaria’s ancient capital, Veliko Tarnovo, and enjoy a Bulgarian wine tasting. Or explore the architecture of Rousse before visiting the Rousse Art Gallery and the rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo, 14th-century churches carved into the cliffs and adorned with colorful frescoes. Alternatively, journey through the Romanian countryside to the capital of Bucharest for a tour of the elegant historic center. (Meals: B,L,D)
Day 10 | Giurgiu | RIVER CRUISE DISEMBARKATION |
|
| Bucharest | Flight to Istanbul |
|
Disembark the ship in Giurgiu and board a motorcoach to journey through the Romanian countryside to Bucharest. Later, board your flight to Istanbul, where you’ll check into your hotel. (Meals: B)
Day 11 | Istanbul | Istanbul Walking Tour |
|
Depart your hotel for an enriching guided walking tour, during which you will explore the Hagia Sophia, formerly a church before becoming a mosque and finally a museum. A beautiful example of Old-World architecture, this museum showcases lovely Christian murals and Islamic symbols throughout. After the Hagia Sophia, visit Istanbul’s similarly beautiful Blue Mosque, named for the Blue İznik tiles that cover its interior. For those who are interested, be guided to the lively Grand Bazaar and venture through the market before returning to your hotel. (Meals: B)
Day 12 | Istanbul | Topkapi Palace & Harem |
|
Admire the grandeur of the spectacular Ottoman Sultans’ Grand Palace of Topkapi, home to every Sultan from the 15th-19th centuries. During your tour, marvel at the private chambers of the Sultans, the Harem (women’s quarters) and the Imperial Treasury’s vast collection, including the jewel-encrusted Topkapi Dagger and the stunning 86-carat Spoonmaker’s Diamond. (Meals: B)
Day 13 | Istanbul | Return flight home |
|
Bid farewell to Istanbul as you prepare for your flight home. (Meals: B)