Avalon Waterways, Balkan Discovery from Budapest, September 16, 2023

Cruising from: Budapest, Hungary;

Departure Date: 16 September, 2023;

Cruise Line: Avalon Waterways;

Cruise Ship: Passion;

Duration: 9 days;

Ports of Call: Budapest, Mohacs, Novi Sad, Belgrade, Donji Milanovac, Vidin, Veliko Tarnovo, Bucharest, Bucharest;

Day 0 Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is the capital and the most populous city of Hungary. With its wide boulevards and stunning architecture, steamy thermal baths, Budapest is a true cosmopolitan European capital. No trip to Budapest is complete without a visit to the Castle Quarter, including Buda Castle, Fisherman's Bastion, and the quaint cobbled streets and pastel buildings throughout. In a city filled with spectacular architecture and sites, the Hungarian Parliament Building stands out as a symbol of the city and impossible-to-ignore presence on the Danube.

Day 1 Mohacs, Hungary

Mohacs is a town in Hungary on the right bank of the Danube. The town's identity is rooted in a major battle that took place here in 1526 when the Turks swept in, defeated the Hungarians, and then ruled over them for some 450 years. The Historical Memorial Park just outside of town has a comprehensive collection of clothing, tools, and arms. Main sights are the Cathedral of Pecs, and Szechenyi Square.

Day 2 Novi Sad, Serbia

Novi Sad is the second-largest city in Serbia. Lying on the banks of the Danube river, the city faces the northern slopes of Fruška Gora. Novi Sad is the city of young people, music, fun and great nightlife. It is the home of The EXIT festival, one of the best music events in Europe. The most visited tourist attraction in Novi Sad is Petrovaradin Fortress.

Day 3 Belgrade, Serbia

Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. One of the oldest cities in Europe and the only one built on the confluence of two rivers, Belgrade is the city that never sleeps and the symbol of great nightlife. Belgrade has wildly varying architecture. The oldest architecture is found in Kalemegdan Park. Like any other metropolis, it has many museums, annual cultural events and different sites to visit

Day 4 Donji Milanovac, Serbia

Donji Milanovac is a small place in Bor county, in Majdanpek town. It is located on the riverside of Danube, near locality Lepenski Vir and National park Djerdap. It's location today is in the central place of National park Djerdap. There can be found very old traces of humanity and human origins from a long time ago.

Day 5 Vidin, Bulgaria

Vidin is one of the oldest towns along the Bulgarian Danube bank. The small town has a lovely, tree-lined city park along the Danube that leads from the cruise ship dock to Baba Vida, a medieval fortress built by the Bulgars in the 10th to the 13th centuries. Baba Vida is one of the last remaining intact Bulgar fortresses. Vidin also has intact sections of the city wall, a large downtown square, and a lively city market, so it's a fun place to spend a few hours exploring on foot. Some of the old buildings along the river are quite impressive, and the architecture of the town is an interesting blend of many cultures such as Roman, Bulgarian, Turk, Communist, and modern

Day 6 Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

Veliko Tarnovo is located on the Yantra River and is famously known as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, attracting many tourists with its unique architecture. Today's Tarnovo has Bulgaria's second-largest university and is home to a multicultural expat scene. The most significant monument of culture in Veliko Tarnovo is the medieval fortress Tsarevets, situated on the homonymous peak, surrounded on three sides by the river Yantra. The town is magnificent with its beautiful houses and a rich history of landmarks that are attractive for the guests, so It is not accidental that Veliko Tarnovo was declared a Balkan capital of cultural tourism, and a few times it was awarded the prize The Most Beautiful Town in Bulgaria.

Day 7 Bucharest, Romania

Bucharest is the capital and largest city of Romania, as well as its cultural, industrial, and financial centre. It is located in the southeast of the country. Bucharest is known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, glorious Belle epoque buildings and a reputation for the high life which in the 1900s earned its nickname of "Little Paris. Bucharest has landmark buildings and monuments. The most prominent of these is the Palace of the Parliament, the largest Parliament building in the world, built in the 1980s during the reign of Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.

Day 8 Bucharest, Romania

Bucharest is the capital and largest city of Romania, as well as its cultural, industrial, and financial centre. It is located in the southeast of the country. Bucharest is known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, glorious Belle epoque buildings and a reputation for the high life which in the 1900s earned its nickname of "Little Paris. Bucharest has landmark buildings and monuments. The most prominent of these is the Palace of the Parliament, the largest Parliament building in the world, built in the 1980s during the reign of Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.