Day 1 - Bucharest Welcome to Bucharest. Transfer to the superior first class Athenee Palace Hilton (or similar) in the heart of the city with the former Royal Palace and great shopping at your doorstep. * The rest of the day you are free to relax or begin exploring the city's wide boulevards and gracious architecture on your own.
Day 2 - Bucharest & Brasov After breakfast, check out of your hotel and take a motorcoach drive through the Transylvania countryside. Stop for a tour of Peles Castle, a 19th century fortification in Sinaia that melds numerous European architectural styles and materials into a harmonious and romantic structure. Continue to Brasov, where you have a panoramic city tour featuring the city's Gothic style Black Church. Check in to the Ramada Brasov (or similar); you have a free evening to enjoy the town square, with its Council House (complete with ancient Trumpets Tower) and lovely fountain. (B)
Day 3 - Brasov & Bucharest This morning, check out of your Brasov hotel. Take a short ride to Bran Castle, commonly known as Dracula's Castle. This landmark citadel, built in the 14th century and used by Saxon and Wallachian kings, is the best known of several locations linked to the Dracula legend; it was used by Vlad Tepes, or Vlad the Impaler, as his headquarters for his incursions into Transylvania. The castle has Gothic and baroque furnishings and decorative arts on display. After your tour, return to the Athenee Palace Hilton (or similar) for a two night stay. (B)
Day 4 - Bucharest You have the day at leisure in Romania's gracious capital city, which offers many churches and monasteries, palaces and the Parliament, museums, parks, gardens and interesting neighbourhoods. Or, take an optional excursion to Constanta on the Black Sea coast. The oldest living city in Romania, Constanta was founded around 600 B.C. by Greek settlers, and is now a fashionable resort town. Arrive midmorning for a city tour featuring the iconic seaside casino and Art Nouveau architecture, and a stroll along Mamaia Beach, the "Palm Beach" of the Black Sea. Return to your hotel this evening. (B)
Day 5 - Bucharest & Oltenita After breakfast, check out of your hotel and take a morning tour of the city. See the Arch of Triumph, the Antim Monastery and the iconic Palace of Justice, completing your tour at the Palace of Parliament. You will then be taken to Oltenita to board your ship and enjoy a special dinner to welcome you aboard. (B, D)
Day 6 - Veliko Tarnovo & Arbanasi Today you disembark at Russe for a full day excursion to Bulgaria's former capital, Veliko Tarnovo. There you will see Tsaravets Hill and the ruins of the royal castle. During free time, shop for local crafts along Samovodska Charshia. Proceed to Arbanasi for lunch in a local restaurant and a guided tour of the Nativity Church with its intriciate floor to ceiling murals and icons. Rejoin your ship at Nikol/Svishtov and dine aboard. (B, L, D)
Day 7 - Vidin & Belogradchik Arrive in the picturesque Bulgarian port of Vidin during breakfast, then take an excursion to see Belogradchik Fortress, built right into the striking Belogradchik Rocks. See the fortress's amazing construction, begun in Roman times and greatly extended by Bulgarian czars and the Ottomans, and enjoy breathtaking views. Lunch aboard is followed by free time to explore Vidin's city centre, Orthodox churches and the ruins of the city's once grand synagogue. Depart during dinner. (B, L, D)
Day 8 - Scenic Cruising & Iron Gate Today, enjoy scenic cruising as you travel through one of the most picturesque areas of the Lower Danube. The Iron Gate is one of Europe's most dramatic natural wonders, a spectacular narrow gorge with enormous white limestone cliffs. Your cruise director will provide commentary about the region and scenic points of interest as you sail toward Belgrade. (B, L, D)
Day 9 - Belgrade Wake up in Belgrade, capital of Serbia. Take a guided walk through the grounds of Kalemegdan Fortress, now a beautiful park; also see the Orthodox cathedral and stop at the Square of the Republic. Lunch aboard, then free time to explore Belgrade's gracious architecture or visit one of its many museums, like the Nikola Tesla Museum. Dine aboard or experience some of Belgrade's nightlife, we depart very late this evening.
(B, L, D)
Day 10 - Osijek Cruise along the Danube, arriving at Vukovar around noon. Disembark for an afternoon excursion to the charming Croatian city of Osijek. Inhabited by humans since Neolithic times, this area has had several heydays under the Romans, the Ottomans and the Habsburgs; now it is a pleasant town popular for its baroque buildings, parks and monuments. Return aboard for dinner. (B, L, D)
Day 11 - Kalocsa Sail into Hungary this morning, arriving in Kalocsa after lunch. Take a guided city tour including a visit to the Archbishop's Palace. Then, you are treated to a performance of traditional Puszta horsemanship. Return to the ship and enjoy a festive final dinner aboard as we depart for Budapest. (B, L, D)
Day 12 - Budapest Disembark after breakfast and take a tour of Hungary's capital, exploring both the "Buda" and "Pest" sides. Begin in Pest, where you see the National Opera House and visit historic Heroes' Square. Cross the Chain Bridge to Buda, where you stroll Fishermen's Hill to Fishermen's Bastion and Matthias Church. Check in to the moderate deluxe Budapest Hilton (or similar) for a two night stay, then take the rest of the day to sightsee on your own - explore a museum, do some shopping or peek inside one of the Art Deco spas. (B)
Day 13 - Budapest Take a full day to explore Budapest at your leisure, ride around the city on its wonderful subway system, walk through the City Park or along the Pest embankment for views of the Buda Castle District, explore the Buda Castle Labyrinth, visit the Jewish Quarter and tour the beautifully restored Dohany Street Synagogue. Or, take an optional morning excursion to Visegrad. Though its population is under 2,000, Visegrad was used as a royal retreat, and it has no fewer than three castles. Catch views of the Danube Bend before returning to the city in the early afternoon. (B)
Day 14 - Budapest & Vienna After breakfast, check out of your Budapest hotel and take a scenic ride through the European countryside to the gracious Austrian capital of Vienna. Check in to the deluxe Hilton Vienna Plaza (or similar), in the centre of Vienna's commercial district overlooking the Ringstrasse. The rest of your day is free to explore this classical musical mecca. (B)
Day 15 - Vienna Take a guided walking tour through imperial Vienna, visiting Hofburg's Imperial Apartments and stopping to sample some Viennese coffee and pastries. The rest of your day is at leisure. (B)
Day 16 - Vienna You have a full day to further explore the city, or join an optional tour to the quaint wine village of Grinzing. Shop along the Kartnerstrasse, visit the Wiener Prater (a large public park) and sample local fare like schnitzel. (B)
Day 17 - Vienna After breakfast, check out of your hotel and proceed to the airport for your return flight. * (B)
The following meals are included:
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
* Transfers are not included. Let us know if you would like help arranging your airport transfers.
* Ports of call may vary based on itinerary and departure dates selected
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All pricing is in AUD; details appear below.
Bucharest is Romania's capital and largest city, as well as the most important industrial and commercial center of the country. With its 2 million inhabitants in the city proper and more than 2.4 million in the urban area, it is also one of the largest cities in Eastern Europe. Country - Romania Distance from port to City - 0kms Distance from Port to Airport - 7.5kms Currency - Ieu (RON)
Places of Interest Piata Unirii (Union Plaza), Little Paris, Palace of Parliament
Oltenita
Country - Romania Distance from port to City - 2kms Distance from port to Airport - 70kms Currency - Ieu (RON)
Places of Interest
Vidin
The town of Vidin is situated on the bank of the Danube, in the most northwest corner of Bulgaria, 199km northwest of Sofia. One of the most marvellous cities in the country, Vidin was inhabited by Celts, Romans, and Byzantines, but it was under the Bulgarian Tsars and their Ottoman conquerors that the most frenzied fortress building took place.
Country - Bulgaria Distance from port to City - 0kms Distance from Port to Airport - 150kms Currency - Lev (BGN)
Places of Interest Baba Vida, Church of St Petka, Ethnographic Museum
Belgrade
Belgrade is a very old city, dating back to several thousand years before Christ. The city can be divided into three parts: Zemun, Novi Beograd and Stari Grad, or the Old City.
Country - Serbia Distance from port to City - 0kms Distance from Port to Airport - 18kms Currency - Serbian Dinar (CSD)
Places of Interest Sava and Danube Rivers, Fortress of Kalemegdan
Kalocsa
Kalocsa is the Episcopal see of one of the four Roman Catholic archbishops in Hungary. Amongst its buildings are a fine cathedral, the archiepiscopal palace, an astronomical observatory, a seminary for priests, and colleges for training of male and female teachers. The inhabitants of Kalocsa and its wide-spreading communal lands are chiefly employed in the cultivation of the vine, fruit, flax, hemp and cereals, in the capture of water-fowl and in fishing
Country - Hungary
Distance from port to City - 0kms
Distance from Port to Airport - 90kms
Currency - Forint (HUF)
Places of Interest Holy Trintiy Square, King Stephen monument, Paprika Festival
Budapest
Budapest possesses a rich and fascinating history as well as a vibrant cultural heritage. Recognizing the unique value of its traditions it has managed to maintain its magic and charm, and is rightly known as the Queen of the Danube. It has also been called the City of Spas, as there are a dozen thermal baths complexes served by over a hundred natural thermal springs.
Country - Hungary Distance from port to City - 0kms Distance from Port to Airport - 14kms Currency - Forint (HUF)
Places of Interest Ecseri Flea Market, Royal Palace, National Gallery, Great Synagogue and Jewish Museum, Fisherman's Bastion, Statue Park
Vienna
Vienna is known worldwide as a city of music. Quality orchestras and ensembles are its seal of excellence. Along with well-established ensembles for contemporary music classical music continues to play a vital role, as made evident by the City of Vienna Concert Orchestra and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, amongst others. The Vienna Academy, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and the Women's Chamber Orchestra are dedicated to tradition and modern music alike. International artists are a great gain to cultural life in Vienna.Vienna's cultural life is multi-faceted. You have the choice of 50 theatres, four opera houses, two stages for musicals, 100 museums and numerous theatre, music and dance festivals. The museum quarter with its baroque facade is home to one of the biggest cultural districts in Europe.
CountryAustria Distance from port to City - 0kms Distance from Port to Airport - 15kms Currency -Euro (EUR)
Places of Interest Hofburg Palace, Vienna Opera House, Spanish Riding School, Prater Park, Danube Tower, Vienna Zoo
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Viking River Cruises
Viking River Cruises itineraries journey along the rivers of Europe and Russia, allowing you to explore fascinating destinations up close and in comfort.
Better than an ocean cruise or bus tour, our river cruises show you the best of Europe from the large cosmopolitan cities to small quaint villages.
So come aboard, unpack just once, and see it all. Spend your time exploring Europe, not getting to it, and enjoy the best of Europe with Viking River Cruises.
A river cruise with Viking River Cruises is the best way to see the real Europe up close and in depth. Explore the best of Europe from an intimate perspective, spending your time being there, not getting there.
Unlike a bus tour where you spend more time on the bus than actually seeing the country, or a hotel-hopping trip where you constantly pack and unpack, Viking River Cruises offers you fine food, great service and scenic cruising along Europe's great rivers.
Viking River Cruises visits at least one port a day on virtually every itinerary and you can explore small villages off the beaten path that are inaccessible via an ocean cruise. Docking in the heart of town, you'll have more to time to see the cities, not just travel to the cities. You'll experience ever-changing riverside scenery as well as local nightlife when your ship overnights in port.
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Viking - Europe River Cruises
To visitors, Europe is a colorful world of picturesque landscapes, legendary rivers, lush vineyards and hilltop castles. As you travel through Europe with Viking River Cruises, its rich history is arrayed before your eyes—Roman ruins, magnificent monasteries, hallowed universities, rural villages and sophisticated cities, and a vibrant collage of food, music, dance, costumes and languages recalling thousands of years of human history. Traveling with Viking River Cruises gives you the opportunity to experience and learn about all these aspects of your cruise destinations. Throughout history, each great European river has played a crucial role, carrying goods and passengers from city to city and country to country. Today’s river cruises continue this proud tradition. The Rhine River, the Seine River, the Danube River, the Elbe River—their very names evoke a timeless beauty and grace. Viking River Cruises excels at giving travelers an authentic European experience on land and by river. Take one of our unforgettable river cruises along a legendary European river; these waterways cover the entire Continent, from the North Sea through the heart of Europe to the Black Sea. Enjoy natural wonders on our river cruises, like Austria’s Wachau Valley and Germany’s Rhine Valley—both UNESCO World Heritage Sites—and engineering marvels like the Main-Danube Canal. Hilltop castles, lush vineyards and gorgeous countryside are right outside your ship on our European river cruises. Experience Europe’s legendary history, contemporary life and bright future for yourself.
Viking River Cruises ships cruising the waterways of Europe are listed below. Click on the ship name for details about each specific ship.
