12 Day Black Sea Explorer

Budapest to Bucharest

Overview

DAY 1: Budapest (D)
Welcome to Budapest. Budapest is one of Eastern Europe’s most ancient and fascinating cities. You will be met at the airport by your Scenic Tours Representative and transferred* to your hotel situated on the banks of the Danube river. Tonight enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Two Night Stay: Budapest

DAY 2: Budapest (FB,HD)
This morning Included tour will visit both towns of Buda and Pest, linked by the famous Chain Bridge. Guarded by the two lion statues on both bridgeheads, the suspension bridge offers one of the cities most beautiful views. Enjoy visiting Heroes’ square, Matthias Church, the Fisherman’s Bastion and the medieval town on Castle Hill. This evening enjoy an Included highlight dinner at a Hungarian restaurant.

DAY 3: Budapest – Embarkation (FB,D)
Enjoy free time to explore more of Budapest on your own. This afternoon your Scenic Tours Representative will transfer you from your hotel to your Scenic ‘Space-Ship’. On arrival you will be personally welcomed by our friendly dedicated staff. This evening join your fellow guests for a Welcome Cocktail in the lounge.

DAY 4: Kalocsa (FB,L,D)
The Baroque provincial town of Kalocsa lies at the periphery of the great Hungarian plain and is renowned for its decorative embroidery and paprika production. Today we will visit a Hungarian Puszta horse farm and enjoy a show before tracing the Turkish origins of paprika.

DAY 5: Vukovar – Novi Sad (FB,L,D)
Vukovar is situated at the confluence of the Vuka River and the Danube. See architectural monuments and baroque squares, along with sombre reminders of the Balkan Wars on your Included guided tour. We cruise the Danube to Novi Sad where our Included guided tour reveals the multicultural origins of the city.

DAY 6: Belgrade (FB,L,D)
Today we explore Serbia’s capital Belgrade, one of the oldest capital cities in Europe and site of the famous siege in 1456 which ‘decided the fate of Christendom’. We’ll visit Tito’s memorial, Fortress Kalemegdan and St Sava Church on our Included tour.

DAY 7: Iron Gate (FB,L,D)
Be sure to have your camera ready as we cruise the spectacular Iron Gate, a narrow gorge carved by the Danube between the Carpathian and Balkan Mountains, which forms a natural border between Serbia and Romania. Relax on the sun deck or in the observatory lounge as we have a relaxing day of cruising.

DAY 8: Svistov – Veilko Turnovo – Arbanassi – Russe (FB,L,D)
Bulgaria we venture to Veliko Tarnovo, a town with a rich historical past. In the 14th century as the Byzantine Empire weakened the town was the Bulgarian capital and known as the third Rome. The nearby leafy village of Arbanassi, is Included in UNESCO’s world heritage list of valuable cultural sites.

DAY 9: Cernavoda / Black Sea (FB,L,D)
Cernavoda in Romania is our ship’s base today for an excursion to the seaside town of Constanta, the gateway to the Black Sea coast with the largest harbour in the Black Sea. We also visit Mamaia. This popular resort town stretches 8 kilometres in length with only a 300 metre sliver of land separating the Black Sea shore from the waters of Lake Siutghiol.

DAY 10: Bucharest (FB,D)
This morning we disembark our Scenic ‘Space-Ship’ and travel to the Romanian capital of Bucharest. A more modern structure, Ceauçescu’s imposing Palace of the Parliament is the largest building in Europe. Today enjoy an Included sightseeing tour of the town.
Two Night Stay: Bucharest

DAY 11: Bucharest (FB)
We journey through the farmland and valleys of The Transylvanian plateau today. We’ll visit Bran Castle, originally a stronghold of the Teutonic Knights and of strategic importance as a barrier to invading Ottoman forces. Of course, it is more widely known as the legendary home of Count Dracula.

DAY 12: Bucharest (FB)
After breakfast transfer* to Bucharest Airport.

*Check transfer entitlements with your travel agent. For passengers who have already received documentation - refer to your booking summary.