SAMPLE ITINERARY

Hungary is situated at the crossroads of central Europe, where Western and Ottoman influences meet and with a rich culture and history. Fly to the capital of Budapest, where you will be met and transferred by coach to your river boat, moored in this beautiful city.

The next morning we set off on our cruise down the Lower Danube, sailing east from Budapest through Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania towards the Black Sea. This is a much less explored and quieter stretch of the river and the Danube Delta is renowned for its rich wildlife. These cruises typically take two weeks.

Our first stop is Kalocsa, a city whose 1,000 year old folklore is full of tales of warlike bishops, kings, Ottomans and Magyar heroes. Among its fine buildings you’ll discover an impressive Baroque cathedral and the grand Archbishop’s Palace, with its Ceremonial Hall displaying a replica of the Hungarian holy crown. Enjoy a walking tour of the town, including the fascinating Paprika Museum, as this region is one of the largest producers of this spice used in dishes such as Hungarian goulash. Alternatively take an excursion to a paprika house outside the town, followed by a scenic drive into the Puszta, Hungary’s ‘Great Plain’, with villages seemingly frozen in time and farms where you can watch a performance by some of the region’s most skilled horsemen.

Our next stop is Belgrade in Serbia, one of the oldest capital cities in Europe, built at the confluence of the Danube and Sava Rivers. Overlooking both rivers is Kalemegdan Park, home to the city’s iconic fortress built by the Celts, expanded by the Romans and besieged over a hundred times during its history. The city has been fought over numerous times, most recently during the Second World War and the Kosovo War, when it faced months of NATO airstrikes. Belgrade is now a revitalised city and a delightful place to explore, with delicate Art Nouveau facades tucked away among the stark concrete towers of the Communist era. View the cathedral, Republic Square and Prince Michael Street with its wealth of 19th century buildings, some bearing the scars of recent conflicts among their intricate Habsburg ornamentation. Wander through the  winding streets of the Old Town, with its grand coffee houses and bohemian quarter. You can also visit the memorial to Josip Tito, the Communist leader of the former Yugoslavia, and view the Temple of Saint Sava, the largest Orthodox church in the world.

Crossing the border into Bulgaria we continue to Nikopol, a town dating back to Roman times. From here we drive across the Danubian Plain to Pleven, where the Turks were besieged for five months during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877. This was a decisive battle, as it led to the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the restoration of Bulgaria and Romania as independent states. You can wander through the Old Town and visit St George Chapel Mausoleum, a memorial to the soldiers killed during the siege of Pleven.

Bucharest, the capital of Romania, is our next stop - with tree-lined boulevards and elegant villas dating back to the 1900s (when it was nicknamed ‘Little Paris’) mixed with utilitarian Communist buildings. Dominating the city is the Palace of the Parliament, a colossal concrete structure commissioned by the Communist dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu. Still unfinished, it is the second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon – so big that only 400 of its 1,100 rooms are used. It is furnished with marble staircases, mosaics and chandeliers. You can also wander through the Old Town, visit the former Royal Palace (now a national art museum) and admire the Romanian Athenaeum concert hall, with its impressive Baroque cupola. There are also some wonderful Orthodox churches and squares, including Revolution Square.

We cruise onwards towards the city of Tulcea, clinging to seven hills overlooking the river and the gateway to the vast Danube Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated on the edge of the Black Sea. This is the best preserved and second largest river delta in Europe, consisting of 2,200 square miles of rivers, marshes, lakes and reed islands that are home to nearly 3,500 animal and fish species, and 1,700 types of plant. It is also a bird watcher’s paradise, as the tree-lined canals offer the perfect breeding ground for countless species. Millions of Egyptian white pelicans arrive here every spring to raise their young, while equal numbers of Arctic geese come here to escape the harsh Northern European winters. We disembark to take a guided wildlife excursion on smaller boats into the heart of the delta, where you can see colourful kingfisher, catfish, cormorants, white-tailed eagles and so much more.

We then begin our return passage, watching the rocky shoreline dotted with the occasional ruined fortress pass by. We visit the ancient city of Constanta, described by the Roman poet Ovid as ‘the end of the world’ and with a history dating back over 2,500 years. Originally known as Tomis, it is said that Jason landed here with the Argonauts after finding the Golden Fleece. Situated on several trade routes, it became a thriving commercial centre during Roman times and still is today. Numerous Greek and Roman remains are on display in the city’s museums, with the Mosaic Museum housing the largest and best preserved Roman mosaic in the world. The city’s landmark is the now unused Art Nouveau casino, built by the Romanian King Carol I, overlooking the Black Sea.

Crossing back into Bulgaria, we arrive in Rousse, a city known as ‘Little Vienna’ for its wealth of fine 19th century buildings. A scenic drive takes us to Veliko Tarnovo, the ‘City of the Tsars’ and former capital, located in a rugged landscape entangled by the meandering Yantra River. Possibly Bulgaria’s most beautiful city, the Old Town is clustered on three hills with its houses stacked on steeply sided valleys, while the remains of a once impregnable fortress stand on Tsarevets Hill. Within its walls are the ruins of the Tsar’s Palace and, at the summit, the Patriarch’s Palace, which includes the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Ascension of God. Much of Veliko Tarnovo was destroyed by the Ottomans, but in the 19th century it became an important trading centre again. Tucked away in its picturesque cobbled streets are tiny workshops, where you can watch copper pots being beaten or wooden utensils skilfully carved. It is delightful to wander here, keeping an eye out for interesting traditional snacks to try, admiring the architecture while soaking up the atmosphere.

We then head to the village of Arbanassi, set high on a plateau. During Ottoman times it was a commercial centre for traders and their caravans, crammed with wares bound for places as distant as Italy, Russia and even India. You can visit one of the richly ornamented mansion houses of the period, with their fortress-like stone walls, or the unassuming Church of the Nativity – once inside you’ll be dazzled by the intensely coloured frescoes. End the day with a visit to the Churches of Ivanovo, a fascinating complex of churches, chapels and monasteries hewn into solid rock during the 12th century, with exquisite UNESCO World Heritage listed frescoes dating back to the 14th century.

Our next mooring is Vidin, home to the Baba Vidin, the only entirely preserved medieval fortress in the country. From here we drive into the rugged wilderness to view the Belogradchik Rocks, huge sandstone cliffs in a spectrum of orange-red and yellow hues that have been eroded into gigantic natural sculptures, Some have been named after objects they are thought to resemble, while others are associated with colourful legends. They cover an area of 35 square miles, with some reaching as high as 600 feet.

Returning to our ship, a highlight of our cruise is passing through the dramatic splendour of the Iron Gates Gorge in the heart of Serbia’s Djerdap National Park. Actually four gorges rolled into one, and stretching for 90 miles, the gorge divides the Carpathian and Balkan Mountains and narrows to under 500ft at one point. A colossal 40ft rock carving of King Decebalus, the last king of Dacia who fought against the Romans, guards the entrance to the gorge. Ancient oak, hazel and beech trees are found in the dense woodlands that line the gorge, as well as eagles, falcons, deer, wild boar, mountain goats, bears, wolves, foxes and wildcats.

Donji Milanovac is our next stop, where we take a short drive to Lepenski Vir, one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe, dating back to 9,500 BC. It consists of a series of Mesolithic villages located on a high terrace overlooking the Danube. The wooden houses were laid out in a fan shape and used one of the first types of concrete as their foundations, while their floors were made of sandstone, often covered with limestone plaster and decorated with red and white pigments.

The numerous fortresses along the Danube are reminders that the area has been fought over for centuries and today we pass one of the most impressive – the medieval Smederevo Fortress. We moor in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second largest city, in the shadow of the Fruska Gora Mountain, its fertile slopes terraced with vineyards. This region’s climate is ideal for wine production - particularly Riesling, but also Bermet, a dessert wine with an aromatic sweetness. This city flourished during the 18th and 19th centuries, becoming known as the ‘Athens of Serbia’. It has an old Town Hall set on the impressive main square, flanked by lovely 19th century architecture, an ancient castle and synagogue. Towering over it is the mighty Petrovaradin Fortress with its complex system of underground tunnels. The minute and hour hands of its iconic clock face are reversed, supposedly so that fishermen could still tell the time at a distance.

We then cross into Croatia and stop in Vukovar, the country’s largest river port located at the confluence of the Danube and Vuka Rivers. This was a prosperous manufacturing town with a picturesque Baroque centre, until the tragic events of the civil war, when the city was almost completely destroyed. Renovation to restore the city to its former glory is ongoing. We then drive to the historic city of Osijek, which hugs the banks of the River Drava. We explore the Old Town – behind its thick stone walls lies an intriguing market square, lined with handsome buildings with pastel-coloured facades. In the Upper City you’ll see the neo-Gothic cathedral, its red-brick spire soaring above the rooftops. Much of Osijek has been restored, but some buildings still bear the scars of the fighting.

As our cruise nears it end, we cross back into Hungary and the famous skyline of Budapest comes into view once more. Straddling the Danube, this imperial capital is divided into two sections by the river – Buda and Pest – and is spanned by the famous 19th century Chain Bridge. It is a collage of palatial buildings, grand domes and attractive Baroque churches with soaring spires. From Roman ruins to Ottoman Turkish baths and elegant Art Nouveau facades, the eclectic mix of architectural styles reflects the city’s varied history, with numerous foreign powers having ruled here over the centuries. It is packed with history and culture, and is also the city with the highest number of thermal springs in the world. Szechenyi Thermal Bath is the largest, whilst Gellert Bath is noted for its fine architecture. Be sure to visit Buda Castle with its panoramic views over the city, and take in the superb architecture of the iconic Hungarian Parliament Building. You can also visit the National Gallery, with its huge collection of Hungarian masterpieces, and Matthias Church with its intricate rose windows.

At the end of your cruise, transfer to Budapest airport for your flight home.

PRICING

Price is based on two adults sharing a twin cabin on a full board basis, including morning and afternoon tea. An optional drinks package is available on request. Airport and port transfers are included but not flights, which can be arranged on request.

We offer a choice of river cruises at different prices, so please discuss your requirements with us. All cruises and cabin classes are subject to availability.

It is essential that you have personal holiday insurance. The FCO should also be consulted.