Transylvania & Enchantment of Eastern Europe & Budapest Escape: 15 days Bucharest to Budapest

Upon arrival in Bucharest, you'll be met at the airport and transferred to your centrally-located hotel for your included one-night stay in the vibrant capital of Hungary. Later, enjoy a welcome drink with your tour director and fellow guests.

This morning, after breakfast, your Transylvanian adventure will begin. A legendary region in Romania, Transylvania is famed for its picturesque landscapes, medieval castles, rich history and charming towns. It comes steeped in folklore, most notably associated with the legend of Dracula – otherwise known as Vlad the Impaler. You’ll be transferred by coach for your drive to Brasov, a harmonious mixture of traditional medieval charm and modern city life, located at the heart of Transylvania. In Brasov, enjoy an included hotel stay for three nights.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Bran Castle with lunch
On your way to Brasov, for today's included excursion, you’ll visit the world-famous Bran Castle, otherwise known as Dracula's Castle - a spectacular setting for a vampire lord. Although there is no clear evidence that links Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) to Bran Castle, much of the myth surrounding Prince Vlad is true. Dracula ruled this extraordinarily beautiful place for a couple of decades during the 15th century. Soaring high on a rocky hilltop, Bran Castle visit is sure to amaze with its remarkable architecture and mystical history.

Soak in the sights of Brasov on your included morning tour. Later, you may choose to join an optional Emerald DiscoverMORE excursion or continue exploring the city at leisure.

Included Excursion
Guided city tour of Brasov
Your panoramic city tour of Brasov will explore its rich multicultural past with a visit to the Museum of Urban Civilisations, highlighting the city’s Saxon roots and historic urban identity. The largest Gothic church east of Vienna, Black Church, is also part of this immersive experience.

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Prejmer & Harman UNESCO Fortified Churches (extra expense)
With their famous Saxon fortified churches, the Transylvanian villages of Prejmer and Harman you’ll visit today provide you with a vivid picture of the rich cultural landscape of southern Transylvania. Founded by the Transylvanian Saxons, these are characterised by a specific land-use system, settlement pattern, and organisation of the family farmsteads that have been preserved since the late Middle Ages. The villages are dominated by their fortified churches, which illustrate striking building styles from the 13th to the 16th centuries.
Duration: 3 hours, Activity level: moderate

While based in the heart of Transylvania, you may wish to explore some of the key sights in Brasov at your own pace. Perhaps visiting the Old Town Square, wandering through the narrow, atmospheric streets, or hiking up Mount Tampa. Wherever you choose to explore, your tour director will be available to assist you with your plans and answer any questions you have that may arise.

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Sighisoara & Viscri Village (extra expense)
Nowadays designated a World Heritage-listed site, Sighisoara was founded by German craftsmen and merchants known as the Saxons of Transylvania. This is a fine example of a small, fortified medieval town which played an important strategic and commercial role on the fringes of Central Europe for several centuries. Stroll through the hilly streets of this well-preserved, 16th-century gem before visiting Viscri Village and enjoying a delicious lunch with the locals.
Duration: 8 hrs 30 mins (incl. free time for lunch), Activity level: Moderate

This morning, after breakfast, you'll check out of your hotel and board your coach for the picturesque drive back to Bucharest, where you'll enjoy an included hotel stay for one night before embarking on your luxury river cruise.

Included Excursion
Peles Castle visit with lunch
En-route to Bucharest, you'll cross the Carpathian Mountains to reach Sinaia. Known as the 'Pearl of the Carpathians,' Sinaia is home to one of Romania’s most beautiful palaces, Peles Castle, which you'll visit for today's included excursion. This stunning building was built by the first King of Romania, Carol I of Hohenzollern – Sigmaringen and used as a summer residence. Inaugurated in 1883, the castle contains 160 rooms with opulent decor and priceless collections of art and furniture.

Explore Bucharest this morning. After your insightful tour, you’ll be transferred from Bucharest to Giurgiu, on the banks of the Danube, where a warm welcome from your captain and crew awaits on board your Emerald Star-Ship.

Included Excursion
Guided drive through Bucharest with a visit to the Spring Palace
Learn about Bucharest’s vibrant history on a guided coach tour, passing by the Palace of Parliament. Visit the Spring Palace and the private residence of Nicolae Ceausescu.

Today, your Emerald Star-Ship will cruise into Rousse, Bulgaria’s most elegant city. This important port on the Danube is often called ‘Little Vienna’ thanks to its elegant Belle Epoque and Neo Baroque architecture, leafy squares and wide boulevards. 

Included Excursion
Walking tour of Rousse
Be immersed in history as you wander through Bulgari’s ‘Little Vienna’. Admire the Court House, City Hall, Opera Building, the main shopping street Alexandrovska and St. Trinity Church, then enjoy coffee and cake at a local restaurant.

EmeraldACTIVE
Guided hike to Ivanovo Church
Transfer to the River Lom Nature Park for an active hike to the World Heritage-listed Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo. Dating from the 13th and 14th centuries, these remarkable structures are lined with exquisite frescoes representing biblical scenes.

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Full day Tour of Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi extra expense)
Visit Veliko Tarnovo and learn about its rich history as the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire. This medieval city was built atop three hills, and its fortifications and cobbled streets will delight history lovers. Nearby, Arbanasi sits on a high plateau overlooking the Yantra. Each street in the area is lined with traditional houses, and old churches offer centuries of exploration.
Activity level: Moderate, Duration: 8.5 hours 

Viticulture is at the heart of the most western town in Bulgaria, where sweeping vineyards pepper the banks of the Danube and winemaking has prospered for generations. Vidin is one of Bulgaria’s oldest riverside towns, beginning life as a Thracian settlement more than 2,000 years ago, and is home to Baba Vida, a preserved medieval fortress in the country.

Included Excursion
Visit to a local vineyard with wine tasting & a visit to Baba Vida Fortress
Get an introduction to the best of Vidin’s viticulture, as you stroll through a local vineyard and enjoy a tasting session of their local wines like gamza, the region’s signature pale red varietal.

Later, visit Baba Vida, a medieval fortress whose name can be translated to mean ‘Granny Vida’.

EmeraldACTIVE
Guided hike to Belogradchik Fortress
Transfer to Belogradchick Rock Fortress Park for a guided hike to its ancient mountaintop fortress. First built when the region was part of the Roman Empire, it has been used and extended in the 14th century and by the Ottomans in the 19th century, right up until the Serbo-Bulgarian War in 1885.

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Traditional Bulgarian pastry making (extra expense)
Watch your host prepare a traditional Bulgarian banitsa pastry, before joining a demonstration and learning to make your own. Banitsa is a very popular Bulgarian dish, consisting of dough sheets with various fillings, the most popular being white cheese and eggs. Afterwards, enjoy a tasting, served with a bowl of the famous Lactobacillus Bulgaricus yoghurt.
Activity level: Easy, Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes

Relax on board as you cruise through the Iron Gates, a picturesque narrow gorge that meanders between the Carpathian Mountains and the European Alps. Look out for the huge rock carving of Decebalus, the last King of Dacia.

Later, cross into Serbia and dock in the town of Donji Milanovac, set on the right bank of the Danube. Surrounded by spectacular landscapes and with a rich heritage, it’s the gateway to one of Europe’s most important archaeological sites.

Included Excursion
Visit to Lepenski Vir archaeological site and museum
Visit the Palaeolithic site of Lepenski Vir, the oldest urban settlement in Europe. Enjoy learning about the significance of this archaeological site, which changed modern understandings of the early Stone Age, and its illustrious history, spanning over eight millennia.

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Golubac Castle Visit (extra expense)
Take a walking tour of the medieval Golubac Fortress. The castle was built at the entrance to the Iron Gates, at the point where the Danube is the widest and then runs into the gorge of the Carpathian Mountains. An exceptional strategic point, it enabled easy control of all the land and waterways that connected the East and the West, whereas the steep and inaccessible cliffs on which the fortress was built offered natural protection.
Activity level: Moderate, Duration: 2 hours

The Serbian capital Belgrade is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in Europe and has lived a multitude of lives over the last 2,000 years. It has been shaped by conflict and still bears the scars of bombings from World War II through to the 1990s. At the same time, this gritty centre is filled with beautiful architecture, engaging street art and a legendary cafe culture that can be traced back to the Ottoman Empire.

This evening, you will be invited to the Horizon Lounge, where a traditional Serbian folklore show will provide spectacular entertainment.

Included Excursion
Highlights of Belgrade
This city tour introduces you to the highlights of one of Europe’s oldest cities. Relax as your coach takes you through the centre of this peaceful city to see the symmetrical façade of the Church of Saint Sava, one of the world’s largest church buildings, the Parliament Building, Republic Square, City Hall and more. Finish with a drive through Belgrade’s wealthiest neighbourhoods and past Tito’s Mausoleum. 

EmeraldPLUS
Serbian folklore evening show on board
Watch local musicians and dancers perform traditional dances from around Serbia while wearing authentic, colourful costumes. 

EmeraldACTIVE
Guided e-bike tour in Belgrade
Cycle through Belgrade with a local guide to experience the city’s landmarks and natural beauty along the Danube. Learn about the diversity of the local area as well as the history of the city and its people, including the former country of Yugoslavia. Highlights include the Belgrade Waterfront, Staro Sajmiste (former concentration camp), and Ada Island. 

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Routes of Nikola Tesla (extra expense)
Learn the story of Serbian-American Nikola Tesla at the intriguing museum dedicated to the life and work of one of the world's most famous inventors. You’ll see magnificent working models of Tesla's machines, his various personal items and his visions of the future.
Activity level: Moderate, Duration: 2.5 hours

The second-largest city in Serbia, Novi Sad, has a relaxed atmosphere and lively spirit that sets it apart from other major cities in the region. You’ll find the locals relaxing in leafy parks, swimming in the river and sharing drinks in busy laneway bars. It’s compact and easily walkable, dotted with grand public buildings, excellent museums and the striking Petrovaradin Fortress. 

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Novi Sad
Set out on an easy walking tour of the city with a local guide. See the market, Orthodox Cathedral, City Hall, Catholic Cathedral, and enjoy a visit to the Synagogue.

EmeraldPLUS
Home-hosted lunch with a Serbian family
Visit the home of a local Serbian family and join them for a traditional lunch. During the meal, you will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss Serbian traditions and the daily life of the people. 

EmeraldACTIVE
Guided e-bike tour in Novi Sad
Discover Novi Sad on two wheels with this guided e-bike tour. Ride along the Danube promenade and pass iconic landmarks. Learn about the city’s history, culture and local life from your guide while enjoying a leisurely cycling pace.

This afternoon, dock in Ordas. This tiny village on the left bank of the Danube is in one of Hungary’s most fertile agricultural regions, which is famous for its paprika.

This evening, enjoy an authentic Hungarian folklore show and dinner on board as you cruise towards Budapest.

EmeraldPLUS
Puszta Equestrian Heritage
Travel to the Puszta, or Great Hungarian Plain, for a traditional performance showcasing the exceptional equestrian skills of the Magyar cowboys. Relax as you watch their spectacular horse parade and witness their exercise drills, most of which were practised in preparation for wartime. 

EmeraldPLUS
Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board
Enjoy a traditional Hungarian dinner, then a Hungarian folk dancing and music performance on board.

Today you’ll be transferred to your centrally located accommodation in Budapest, where a two-night stay in the historic Hungarian capital is certain to delight.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Budapest
This morning, embark on a guided coach tour through the historic capital of Hungary. Admire the 19th-century Chain Bridge that spans the mighty Danube River, connecting the ancient Buda districts of Buda and Pest and among other impressive landmarks, glimpse Budapest's impressive Parliament building.

Enjoy your time in the delightful Hungarian capital, where Eastern European heritage seamlessly blends with vibrant modernity, along the legendary Danube. Your tour director will be more than happy to help you plan your Budapest explorations during your stay. Perhaps crossing the Chain Bridge to experience how the city differs in Buda and Pest, or sampling some delicious Hungarian treats. In the evening, join your fellow guests and tour director for a convivial farewell drink.

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Tastes of Hungary (extra expense)
Embark on a flavourful journey through Budapest’s vibrant culinary scene, where tradition meets indulgence. This morning’s tasting tour invites you to sample iconic Hungarian dishes, such as rich goulash, crispy lángos topped with sour cream and cheese and sweet chimney cake fresh from the oven. Sip on the fiery fruit brandy pálinka as you explore bustling markets and hidden eateries, guided by a local expert who brings Hungary’s food heritage to life with every bite and step.
Activity Level: Easy, Duration: 1.5 hours

This morning, after breakfast, it’s time to say farewell to your fellow guests as you leave your accommodation and Budapest for your transfer to the airport, taking with you treasured memories of a home-hosted Croatian experience, Danube delights and storied folklore of Hungary.