Great Cities of the Danube: Vienna to Bucharest
The Danube
- Return UK travel service
Cruise the Danube through Austria, Slovakia and Hungary
Spend time exploring Vienna, home to the waltz, the Prater wheel and one of the world’s finest opera houses on this all-inclusive river cruise, with an overnight hotel stay in Bucharest.
An included excursion will reveal the sights of Vienna before you take in two more of the Danube’s elegant capitals – Bratislava and Budapest, where an included excursion reveals both Buda and Pest. Cruise on to spend an afternoon in Vukovar before arriving in Belgrade, where you can discover Kalemegdan fortress on an included excursion.
A day of scenic cruising will take you past the Decebalus Face, a colossal carving in the rocks depicting the last king of Dacia, and on through the Iron Gates gorge. After arriving in Turnu Magurele, you will transfer to a hotel in Bucharest for an overnight stay.
This cruise is also available with a reverse itinerary, with slightly different ports: Great Cities of the Danube: Bucharest to Vienna.
Itinerary
Spirit of the Danube
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.
Arrive 1200. Depart 1700.
Spend a leisurely morning cruising, en route to Vukovar. The city is set in Slavonia, a region of Croatia ruled by Rome until the 5th century, and later settled by the Slavs – hence the name.
A thriving city before the Yugoslav War, Vukovar was also the site of one of the biggest battles during the break up of Yugoslavia and many shell scarred buildings have been preserved in memoriam – the baroque and classical pre-war architecture can be seen in the historic city centre.
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.
Hotel
Arrive Turnu Magurele, 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 and Cretulescu Palace.
Check out of your hotel after breakfast and begin your return journey.
Including...
7 nights All Inclusive† aboard the ship
1 night Half Board in a hotel
Cruise Director
Plus…
- Drinks reception and Farewell dinner
- Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
- All gratuities on board
- Return flights and transfers
Included excursions
- Vienna city tour
- Budapest city tour
- Tour of Belgrade and the Kalemegdan Fortress
- Bucharest city tour
Our cruises include excursions at selected ports so you can make the most of the destinations you visit. Find out more about when excursions are available to book.
Interactive maps and audio headsets are available for independent exploration.
†The included drinks are available on board from 9am to midnight and include non-branded alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.