Passage to Eastern Europe
Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia & Hungary
An 11-day Viking voyage through the eastern Danube, from one night in Bucharest to two nights in Budapest. Discover the Palace of Parliament, medieval Vidin, Belgrade's Kalemegdan Fortress, the dramatic Iron Gate, paprika-scented Kalocsa and the grandeur of Budapest.
- Dates
- 26 April – 7 May 2027
- Length
- 10 nights
- Walking
- Gentle-paced walking tours of 1–2 km on mostly level ground in historic city centres; some cobblestones and optional castle viewpoints; coach and ship transfers between ports
Highlights
- One night in Bucharest and the 1,100-room Palace of Parliament
- Home-cooked banitsa pastry experience in Vidin, Bulgaria
- Belgrade's 6th-century Kalemegdan Fortress
- Scenic sailing through the dramatic Iron Gate gorge
- Paprika heritage and folk arts in Kalocsa, Hungary
- Two nights in Budapest with a panoramic city tour
- Five countries along the eastern Danube
Day by day
Day 1
Bucharest, Romania
Arrive and check in to your hotel. Romania's cultural capital is a city of elegant boulevards, green expanses and the sprawling Palace of Parliament, said to contain 1,100 rooms.
Day 2
Bucharest and transfer to ship
Explore more of Bucharest on foot, from rescued ancient churches to world-class museums, before transferring to your ship and settling into your stateroom.
Day 3
Ruse, Bulgaria
A rolling countryside of sunflower and wheat fields greets you in Ruse, a Danube city once known as Sixty Ships for the Roman fleet that docked here. Fine 19th- and 20th-century architecture lines the streets.
Day 4
Vidin, Bulgaria
Visit one of Bulgaria's oldest riverside towns, home to the preserved medieval castle of Babini Vidini Kuli. Join a local home cook to prepare banitsa, a feta filo pastry, and sample regional wines.
Day 5
Scenic sailing: the Iron Gate
A day of dramatic scenery as the ship sails through the Iron Gate, the narrow gorge between the Carpathian and Balkan Mountains. Pass the 14th-century Golubac Fortress guarding the Danube.
Day 6
Belgrade, Serbia
Discover the Serbian capital, one of Europe's oldest cities. The vast Kalemegdan Fortress overlooks the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers, and the Church of St Sava is one of the largest Orthodox buildings in the world.
Day 7
Osijek, Croatia
Explore Osijek, the cultural capital of eastern Croatia. Roman, Ottoman and Hapsburg layers blend in a city of baroque architecture, farmland and a cathedral that can host 3,000 people.
Day 8
Kalocsa, Hungary
Visit the 1,000-year-old cultural centre of Kalocsa, surrounded by paprika fields. Browse craft-filled shops, see bright floral murals and learn about Hungary's artistic heritage at the House of Folk Arts.
Day 9
Budapest, Hungary
Disembark and transfer to Budapest. Traditional Buda and modern Pest straddle the Danube, with art nouveau buildings, castles and thermal spas by day, and the illuminated Parliament dancing on the water by night.
Day 10
Budapest at leisure
Wander the medieval streets of the Castle District, see the Gothic Matthias Church and take in the views from Fisherman's Bastion and Buda Castle. A farewell dinner caps the journey.
Day 11
Journey home
Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home, or stay on for an extension to explore more of Budapest and Hungary.