Danube Cruise From Budapest and Stay at Black Sea Coast
Start this Danube river cruise holiday for over-50s with a culinary tour of Budapest, then sail through grand Central European cities, and go through the famous Iron Gates gorge to approach the Black Sea Coast. Compare and contrast the historic cities of Budapest, Belgrade and Rousse on a seven-night Danube river cruise, during which you’ll enjoy an included sightseeing tour of Budapest and a visit to Kalemegdan Fortress, which stands guard over the Sava and Danube rivers in Bucharest.
After disembarking Spirit of the Danube you’ll travel to Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, stopping in UNESCO-listed Nessebar for an included walking tour before arriving in Varna for a two-night hotel stay. Once one of the most important ports on the Black Sea, Varna is still referred to as the ‘Sea Capital’ of Bulgaria. Discover some of the highlights on an included tour, such as the cathedral and Roman baths. You’ll also visit the Retro Museum, where Bulgaria’s socialist era has been recreated. Spend the final two nights of your holiday at a hotel located in the well-manicured Sea Garden of Burgas on the Bulgarian Riviera. While here you’ll have the opportunity to embark on a birdwatching trip to a nature conservation centre and a visit to the seaside town of Sozopol during optional excursions.
Your Tour Includes
TRAVEL
VIP door-to-door travel service from anywhere on the UK mainland
Included travel insurance
Return flights and transfers
ACCOMMODATION
7 nights Full Board aboard the ship, 4 nights Half Board in a hotel
Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
All gratuities on board
EXPERIENCES
Cruise Host
Budapest city tour OR Budapest culinary walking tour
Belgrade and the Kalemegdan Fortress
Pleven panoramic
Varna city tour and Retro Museum
Walking tour of Nessebar
FOOD & DRINK
30 meals: 11 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 11 dinners
Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on the ship
Day 1 UK - Budapest
Fly to Budapest before being transferred to the port where you will embark Spirit of the Danube.
Look forward to your welcome drink reception and dinner as you remain moored here overnight.
Day 2 Budapest
Enjoy a day exploring the historic treasures of Budapest.
This morning, uncover the city’s thriving food and cultural scene on an included culinary walking tour, which visits the First Strudel House and Central Market Hall, or join an included city tour that will reveal the main highlights. A city of two halves – Buda and Pest – the Hungarian capital is a cosmopolitan, culture-rich centre. Buda is the older part, with cobbled streets and medieval architecture, while Pest is the administrative and commercial centre, with wide avenues and 19th-century public buildings.
The Parliament Building dominates the Pest waterfront. St Stephen’s Basilica is also in Pest, and home to a holy relic of St Stephen, the first king – his mummified right hand! The Fisherman’s Bastion has seven towers, each one symbolising one of the Magyar tribes that came to Hungary in 896, and from here you can enjoy superb city views. Heroes’ Square, flanked by the Palace of Fine Arts and the Palace of Art, is another of Hungary’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
This afternoon, perhaps join an optional excursion to Gödöllo Palace or to the Lazar Equestrian Park Horse Farm before your ship sets sail this evening.
Day 3 Kalocsa - Mohacs
Arrive very early this morning in Kalocsa. Don’t miss an optional excursion to the Puszta where you’ll see displays of traditional Hungarian horsemanship. Meanwhile your ship continues to Mohacs, arriving at midday and pausing briefly for excursion participants to rejoin the ship, you may wish to take the opportunity to join an optional city walk in Mohacs.
Later this afternoon, cruise towards Serbia's capital, Belgrade, via Novi Sad.
Day 4 Novi Sad - Belgrade
Arrive in Novi Sad in the early hours of the morning and either go ashore for an optional walking tour of Novi Sad, or stay on board as your ship continues cruising to Serbia's capital, arriving around midday.
Enjoy an included tour of the city built at the junction of the Danube and Sava rivers. Belgrade has been destroyed and rebuilt an astonishing 20 times during its 2,000-year-history! Enjoy exploring one of the oldest European cities, which features a large number of monuments from different eras and cultures. Highlights include the National Museum, the parliament and St Sava Cathedral – the largest Orthodox church in the world. The impressive Kalemegdan Fortress, which you will visit during your tour, encloses the tomb of the Turkish Grand Vizier, Ali Pasha, and now serves as the city's central park.
Later this evening your ship departs and cruises overnight towards the Iron Gates gorge.
Day 5 The Iron Gates
Cruise along a particularly scenic stretch of the river, as the Danube passes through the southern stretch of the dramatic Carpathian mountains and the foothills of the Balkans to the ‘Iron Gates’, a gorge framed by sheer cliffs. The passage was infamous in ancient times as the water level was much lower, making navigation treacherous.
Your cruise continues this evening and overnight.
Day 6 Nikopol - Svistov - Rousse
Arrive in Nikopol early this morning where you’re sure to enjoy an included excursion to the town of Pleven where you’ll walk through the town with your guide to the Pleven Panorama and afterwards enjoy a glass of Bulgarian wine.
The ancient city is known for its museums and is famous for the 1877 siege which saw Bulgaria break away from Ottoman rule. This afternoon an optional excursion visits Veliko Tarnovo. The town sits across three hills beside the dramatic gorge of the Yantra River with a medieval fortress complex that was the centre of the Second Bulgarian Empire, which ruled the region from the 12th to 14th centuries.
Excursion participants will rejoin the ship in Svistov before you sail on to Rousse for an overnight mooring.
Day 7 Rousse - Silistra
Rousse has been nicknamed 'Little Vienna' due to its belle époque architecture.
The city prospered from its location on the Danube, becoming Bulgaria’s main port, so it’s home to many grand buildings, a good example of which is the Building of the Tax Administration with its elaborate facade. Perhaps join an optional morning tour before your cruise continues shortly after lunch.
This evening your ship arrives in Silistra where it moors overnight.
Day 8 Silistra - Varna
Disembark Spirit of the Danube after breakfast and transfer to the locally rated 5-star Rosslyn Dimyat Hotel (4Q) in Varna, a journey of approximately two hours.
Your two-night stay is on a half-board basis, with lunch included today. The hotel has a central location next to the Seaside Garden, Varna’s popular landscaped coastal park. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant and lobby bar with a large terrace. There are 95 bedrooms, most of which have views of the Seaside Garden and bay.
Day 9 Varna
Spend the morning exploring Varna, the largest city on the Black Sea coast, during an included tour.
Once one of the most important trading centres on the Black Sea Varna is still referred to as the ‘Sea Capital’ of Bulgaria. Highlights include the cathedral, the impressive Roman baths, a selection of museums and a large park where locals and visitors alike can stroll or visit the planetarium or aquarium. Enjoy an included visit to the fascinating Retro Museum, where Bulgaria’s socialist era has been lovingly recreated. To a background of Bulgarian music of the period you can view displays of artefacts of the time – 1944 to 1989 – from cars to waxwork images of famous people to everyday household items.
This afternoon you may like to join an optional wine tasting session or visit to the Balchik Botanical Gardens and Queen Palace.
Day 10 Varna to Burgas
Check out of your hotel after breakfast and board your coach for Burgas.
En route you’ll stop off at Nessebar which you can discover on an included walking tour, with lunch included. Virtually an island, the walled UNESCO-listed old town on a man-made rocky peninsular is linked to the new town on the mainland by just a narrow isthmus or strip of land. Explore the narrow lanes and discover remains of Roman and Middle Age forts, the many Byzantine churches, and wooden houses from the National Revival period, of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Afterwards, continue your transfer to Burgas, where you’ll stay for two nights at the locally rated 5-star Grand Hotel & Spa Primoretz Burgas (4Q), on a half-board basis. The hotel, which is located in the Burgas Sea Garden next to the beach, has two restaurants, three bars and a spa and wellness centre with a gym and indoor pool. There are 87 air-conditioned rooms, each with cable television, telephone, cable internet access, a minibar (extra charge), safety deposit box and hairdryer. You have the rest of the day to settle in and perhaps do a little local exploring… Dinner is included at the hotel this evening.
Day 11 Burgas
This morning you’ll have the opportunity to embark on an optional birdwatching trip or join an optional half-day visit to Sozopol, one of Bulgaria’s most popular seaside resorts.
Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Perhaps go exploring the fourth largest city in Bulgaria. Wander through the streets window-shopping or head to the beach front to discover the bars, cafes and casinos. Stroll through Marine Park, a scenic walking route along the coast where you might see art installations, live music and other events. Or venture further afield to Lake Pomorie and treat yourself to a therapeutic mudbath!
Day 12 Burgas to UK
After breakfast, travel to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
