Great Cities of the Danube: Vienna to Bucharest

Travel to Vienna and embark Spirit of the Danube.

Depart 0000.

Vienna is the capital of Austria: home to the waltz, coffee houses, the Prater wheel and one of the world's finest opera houses.

It is the city where Marie Antoinette grew up and where Mozart died, and for 600 years was the centre of the Hapsburg Empire. Explore Vienna independently using our complimentary shuttle service this morning.

This afternoon, an included excursion will reveal the highlights of the city, including the Ringstrasse and Opera House.

Arrive 0700. Depart 1900.

The old town of Slovakia’s capital is easily explored on foot. The ancient cobbled streets lead to Bratislava Castle, which offers a bird’s-eye view of the city. The Gothic-style Cathedral is where eleven Kings of Hungary were crowned while Turks occupied their own capital.

Arrive 1000. Depart 2000.

Budapest is a city made up of two parts: Buda and Pest, built on opposite banks of the Danube. The cities have been officially united since 1873, but they are still very different in character.

Buda is the older and more graceful, with its cobbled streets, medieval architecture and UNESCO-listed Buda Castle, while Pest is the administrative and commercial centre, with wide avenues and 19th-century public buildings. Enjoy an included tour of the city this morning.

Spend a leisurely day cruising, passing several little riverside towns and cruising through the picturesque natural scenery of Duna-Dráva National Park.

Arrive 0800. Depart 2200.

Set at the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers, Belgrade is considered to be the meeting point of Eastern and Western Europe. It's a city with a chequered past, having been destroyed and rebuilt 20 times during its 2,000-year history!

This morning, on an included excursion you'll be able to see its key attractions, including the cathedral and St Sava Temple, and visit the Kalemegdan fortress, which dates mostly from the late 18th century.

Relax on board Spirit of the Danube as she passes the Decebalus Face, a colossal carving in the rocks depicting the last king of Dacia, and on through the dramatic Iron Gates gorge. This strikingly scenic stretch of river is framed on both sides by sheer cliffs that are dotted with frills of greenery.

In ancient times the water level in the Iron Gates gorge was much lower and it was considered one of the most dangerous stretches of river in Europe to navigate. The riverbed rocks and low water levels combined to make this part of the river particularly treacherous for passing ships, but now a complex system of dams and locks ensures this is no longer the case.

Arrive Rousse, 0930.
Transfer to Bucharest.

Disembark Spirit of the Danube after breakfast and transfer to Bucharest for an overnight stay at a centrally located, 4-star hotel.

Bucharest is known for its wide tree-lined avenues and Belle Epoque architecture and you can enjoy an included tour of the city. Highlights include the Palace of the Parliament, Cotroceni Palace where the President of Romania resides and historic Cretulescu Palace.

Check out of your hotel after breakfast and begin your return journey.