Tauck River Cruises, The Black Sea to Budapest, August 14, 2023

Cruising from: Bucharest, Romania;

Departure Date: 14 August, 2023;

Cruise Line: Tauck River Cruises;

Cruise Ship: MS Esprit;

Duration: 13 days;

Ports of Call: Bucharest, Transylvania, Bucharest, Constanta, Ruse, Vidin, Iron Gates, Belgrade, Vukovar, Mohacs, Budapest, Budapest, Budapest;

Day 0 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 1 Transylvania, Romania

Transylvania, Romania. Cruising Danube. Romania river cruise.

Day 2 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 3 Constanta, Romania

Constanta is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Romania and the country's largest seaport. Constanta is an important cultural and economic centre, worth exploring for its archaeological treasures and the atmosphere of the old town centre. Its historical monuments, ancient ruins, grand Casino, museums and shops, and proximity to beach resorts make it the focal point of Black Sea coast tourism.

Day 4 Ruse, Romania

Whether you spell it Ruse, Russe, or Rousse, this city in northern Bulgaria is located on the right bank of the Danube River, not far from the mouth of the Rusenski Lom River and directly across from the Romanian city of Giurgiu via the Friendship Bridge. This is a major commercial, cultural, and industrial hub, and one of the largest cities in the country. Ruse was also known as "The Small Vienna" because to the stunning architecture and intricate interior design of the buildings created by Italian, Austrian, German, and Bulgarian architects. Ruse Carnival, March Music Days, Autumn Days of Arts and Science, etc., are only a few of the cultural events that take place in the city. There are many cultural institutions in Ruse, such as an agricultural research center, an opera house, a state symphony orchestra, a museum, and an art gallery.

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 Iron Gates, Serbia

The Iron Gates is a gorge on the river Danube. It forms part of the boundary between Serbia (to the south) and Romania (north). In the broad sense, it encompasses a route of 134 km. At this point in the Danube, the river separates the southern Carpathian Mountains from the northwestern foothills of the Balkan Mountains. The Romanian side of the gorge constitutes the Iron Gates natural park, whereas the Serbian part constitutes the Đerdap national park.

Day 7 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 8 Vukovar, Croatia

Vukovar, the beautiful Baroque city is situated at the banks of the Vuka and Danube Rivers, saw the worst years of its turbulent history in the last decade of the 20th century. It is slowly but unwaveringly returning to former glory and can once again look towards a brighter future. Today its two fantastic museums - the Vučedol Culture Museum and Castle Eltz - have restored some of the town's cultural sheen and are well worth the trip south to visit. Many pock-marked and blasted facades remain though, and the former water tower on the road to Ilok has been left as a testament to the destruction.

Day 9 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 10 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 11 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 12 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.