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Welcome to Vilshofen, the riverside town in Bavaria where our Grand Danube voyage begins. We board our ship and settle in ahead of the journey along the river.
This evening we gather for a private Oktoberfest celebration, with live music and a taste of the local Bavarian beers to mark the start of our cruise.
Special Information
Airport and port transfers are not included. Please make your own way to the ship for embarkation in Vilshofen.
Your final travel documentation, including embarkation details, will be provided approximately 30 days prior to sailing.
Visa requirements vary by nationality and by the countries visited on this cruise. Australian passport holders should refer to Smartraveller and New Zealand passport holders to SafeTravel for current entry requirements, including any Schengen visa.
Day 2 - Vilshofen [Ship] Passau
This morning after breakfast we take a stroll through Vilshofen before continuing along the river to Passau, known as the City of Three Rivers where the Danube, Inn and Ilz meet.
Passau rewards exploration on foot, with its Gothic and Baroque streets, or from the heights of the Veste Oberhaus fortress. Those after something more active can cycle along the River Inn.
Choose from a range of included shore experiences:
Free time
"City of Three Rivers" Walking Tour
Passau Castle Hike
River Inn Bike Tour
Day 3 - Passau [Ship] Linz
We arrive in Linz, a UNESCO City of Media Arts on the banks of the Danube, and the base for a choice of full day excursions.
We can travel to Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart and the setting for The Sound of Music, or cross into the Czech Republic to visit Cesky Krumlov and its medieval old town. Those who prefer to stay in Linz can explore the city on foot or by bike, and round off the day with a guided distillery tour.
Choose from a range of included shore experiences:
"UNESCO City of Media Arts" Walking Tour
"Cultural Mile" Bike Tour
Full Day Salzburg Excursion
Full Day Cesky Krumlov and Linz Excursion
Distillery Tour
Day 4 - Linz [Ship] Weissenkirchen
Today we cruise into the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO listed stretch of the Danube lined with terraced vineyards and castle ruins.
In Durnstein we can wander the cobbled lanes or climb to the fortress ruins where Richard the Lionheart was once held. The valley is also known for its apricots and white wines, with tastings on offer in Weissenkirchen.
Choose from a range of included shore experiences:
Scenic Cruising Through Strudengau and UNESCO Wachau Valley
Durnstein Walking Tour and Weissenkirchen Wine Tasting
Durnstein Fortress Hike and Weissenkirchen Wine Tasting
Wachau Valley Bike Tour
This morning after breakfast we visit Melk Abbey, a Baroque monastery set above the Danube and known for its frescoes and historic library. There is time afterwards to wander the village of Melk at our own pace.
For a more active morning we can join a guided bike ride through the Wachau Valley, following riverfront paths past its vineyard slopes. Wine lovers may prefer a cellar tour and tasting at Schloss Gobelsburg.
Choose from a range of included shore experiences:
Melk Abbey Visit
Wachau Valley Bike Tour
Schloss Gobelsburg Cellar Tour and Tasting
Day 6 - Weissenkirchen [Ship] Vienna
We arrive in Vienna, the Austrian capital long associated with music and the Habsburgs.
This morning we can join a walking tour taking in the Opera House, the former Imperial Palace and St Stephens Cathedral, finishing in the old city centre. A guided bike tour offers another way to see the citys landmarks.
Choose from a range of included shore experiences:
"Imperial Vienna" Tour
Vienna Bike Tour
Day 7 - Vienna [Ship] Budapest
We arrive in Budapest, the Hungarian capital divided by the Danube into the hills of Buda and the flatter plains of Pest.
On the Buda side we can join a guided tour of the Castle District, taking in Fishermans Bastion and Matthias Church, with wide views back across the river. A guided walk up Castle Hill is available for those after a more active morning.
Choose from a range of included shore experiences:
Buda city tour
Castle Hill Hike
Today we can step into Hungarys royal past at Godollo Palace, once a residence of Empress Elisabeth of Austria.
In the afternoon we travel out to the Great Hungarian Plain for a farm visit, where local horsemen demonstrate the traditions of Magyar horsemanship.
Choose from a range of included shore experiences:
Godollo Palace and Puszta Excursion
Day 9 - Budapest [Ship] Mohacs
We arrive in Mohacs in southern Hungary. From here we can travel to Pecs, a UNESCO World Heritage city shaped by Roman and Ottoman history, with its early Christian sites, former mosque and open squares.
Alternatively we can cycle along the riverbanks near Mohacs, or visit Szekszard, one of Hungarys oldest red wine regions, for a tasting.
Choose from a range of included shore experiences:
Pecs Excursion
Guided Bike Ride Along the Danube
Szekszard Wine Tasting
Day 10 - Mohacs [Ship] Vukovar
We cross into Croatia and arrive in Vukovar, a city on the Danube that has been rebuilt since the conflict of the 1990s. We can explore it on a guided tour, or visit the older streets of nearby Osijek.
The afternoon brings a choice of regional wine tasting in Croatias Old Cellars or a visit to the Vucedol Culture Museum, which tells the story of one of the regions earliest civilisations.
Choose from a range of included shore experiences:
Highlights of Vukovar Tour
Osijek Tour
Guided Bike Tour
Croatian Wine Tasting
Vucedol Museum
Day 11 - Vukovar [Ship] Belgrade
We arrive in Belgrade, the Serbian capital set where the Sava meets the Danube. A guided tour takes in Kalemegdan Fortress and the Temple of Saint Sava, followed by a tasting of Serbian brandy and local specialities.
Alternatively we can head to Novi Sad, or see the city from a different angle on a guided bike ride or a walk up to its viewpoints.
Choose from a range of included shore experiences:
"the City by Two Rivers" Tour
Belgrade Fortress Hike
Belgrade Bike Tour
"brandies of Belgrade" Tasting
Novi Sad Tour
Day 12 - Belgrade [Ship] Iron Gates
Today we sail through the Iron Gates, the series of gorges where the Danube narrows between the Carpathian and Balkan mountains. This is one of the most scenic stretches of the river and is best enjoyed from the ships decks.
We also visit the medieval Golubac Fortress at the entrance to the gorge, with a tasting of regional produce.
Choose from a range of included shore experiences:
Full Day Scenic Cruising
Golubac Fortress with Tasting of Local Fare
Day 13 - Iron Gates [Ship] Vidin
We cross into Bulgaria and arrive in Vidin, home to the Baba Vida Fortress, the best preserved medieval castle in the country. A walking tour takes in the fortress and the riverside town.
We can also visit a local home for a hands on session making Banitsa pastry and Bulgarian yoghurt, or join a guided bike tour along the river.
Choose from a range of included shore experiences:
Baba Vida Fortress and Vidin Walking Tour
Banitsa Pastry and Yogurt Making
Vidin Bike Tour
Day 14 - Vidin [Ship] Rousse
We arrive in Rousse, a Bulgarian city on the Danube known for its nineteenth century architecture. From here we can visit Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgarias former capital, or the UNESCO listed Rock Hewn Churches of Ivanovo.
Alternatively we can cross into Romania for a full day excursion to Bucharest, with a tour of its wide boulevards and Belle Epoque buildings.
Choose from a range of included shore experiences:
Veliko Tarnovo Excursion
Veliko Tarnovo and Wine Tasting
Ivanovo Rock Hewn Churches and Rousse Highlights Tour
Bucharest Excursion
Day 15 - Rousse [Ship] Giurgiu
Our Grand Danube voyage comes to an end this morning in Giurgiu, Romania. After breakfast onboard, we disembark.
Thank you for travelling with Inspiring Vacations. We hope you had a memorable journey along the Danube.
Special Information
Airport and port transfers are not included. Bucharest airport is approximately one hour from Giurgiu.